- Th2 2020 Randox Health Grand National was cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak
- All bookmaker profits from the 2020 Virtual Grand National were handed to NHS Charities
- The Jockey Club are to give away 10,000 free tickets to NHS workers for the first day of the 2021 festival
- The opening day of the 2021 festival will be renamed Liverpool’s NHS Day in honour of the staff dealing with the pandemic
Aintree racecourse bosses have announced that ten thousand free tickets will be given to NHS and social care workers for the first day of the 2021 Grand National Festival on 8th April 2021, this day of racing being renamed ‘Liverpool’s NHS Day’ in honour of the excellent work carried out by all the NHS services in the face of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
This is a fantastic gesture by an industry which, like many others, is struggling right now and certainly reflects the gratitude shown to the emergency services by the general public, especially over the past few weeks when they have found themselves very much on the front-line in the battle against the virus.
The three-day 2021 Grand National Festival gets underway on Thursday 8th April with tens of thousands expected to turn out for the world famous event, culminating in the Grand National itself on Saturday 10th April at 5:15pm.
Regional director of Jockey Club North West, Dickon White, said:
‘We’re delighted to donate 10,000 tickets to the NHS and professional carers across Merseyside.
‘We’re also proud to re-name the first day of the 2021 Randox Health Grand National as Liverpool’s NHS Day in recognition of the amazing NHS staff and volunteers.
‘We understand just how hard the NHS and professional carers are working right now and this is our way of showing our gratitude.
‘The ticket process and distribution will begin at the start of next year and we’ll be working with the relevant organisations to ensure those who should benefit from the initiative are included.’
Tickets for the 2021 Grand National will be released to the general public around mid-July and are expected to sell extremely fast.
