The 2025 Grand National is just around the corner and as such, this is a great time to register with leading bookmaker Ladbrokes where you can indulge yourself with an excellent ‘Bet £5 Get £20 in Free Bets’ welcome bonus – new customers only, subject to full terms and conditions.
The Grand National That Nearly Wasn’t: How Aintree Almost Lost Its Greatest Race
In 1966, horse racing’s crown jewel came within inches of disappearing forever – here’s how the Grand National was saved
It is almost unthinkable today, but in April 1966, the Grand National — one of the world’s most famous horse races — came closer than ever to being run for the very last time.
With its place in the sporting calendar seemingly assured and its global appeal growing, few spectators that day at Aintree Racecourse realised just how precariously the race’s future hung in the balance. What unfolded over the following days would prove to be one of the most pivotal episodes in British racing history — a behind-the-scenes drama of legal battles, development threats, and last-ditch efforts that ultimately ensured the National survived.
A Grand Day in Liverpool – But with a Dark Cloud Overhead
On Saturday, 26 March 1966, the Grand National took place much as it always had — a bustling Liverpool crowd packed Aintree, all police leave was cancelled, and even Paul McCartney was mobbed for autographs upon arrival at Speke Airport. Around the world, millions tuned in, with television pictures beamed live as far as Adelaide, where the Queen Mother — then on royal tour — watched from across the globe.
But despite the outward spectacle, storm clouds were brewing behind the scenes. Mirabel Topham, the formidable matriarch of Tophams Ltd, the family firm which owned Aintree, had already hinted that this might be the final Grand National ever held on the historic turf. The race was a labour of love for the Tophams, but it had become a logistical and financial nightmare.
“I will not let the National die an ignominious death,” Mrs Topham declared defiantly that morning.
“But no-one knows what a nightmare this last Grand National has been… this is the last one we can do under these conditions.”
The future was far from secure. A legal challenge loomed — one that would determine whether the course could be sold and developed for housing.
The Legal Tangle: Lord Sefton’s Clause and Topham’s Fight
At the centre of the turmoil was a legal stipulation attached to the sale of the Aintree estate. When Lord Sefton sold the land to Tophams Ltd in 1949, it came with a caveat: the land could only be used for horse racing or agriculture — and only while Lord Sefton remained alive.
By 1966, Tophams were appealing this restriction in the House of Lords, seeking permission to sell Aintree for redevelopment — most likely a housing estate. On Wednesday 30 March, just four days after the 1966 Grand National had been run, the ruling came through: Tophams’ appeal was upheld.
Aintree could now be sold.
Lord Sefton, while disappointed, found some solace in the fact that any redevelopment plans would still require planning permission. Liverpool City Council immediately signalled it would resist large-scale development and fight to preserve the racecourse.
Panic, Proposals, and a Public Outcry
The decision sparked panic across the racing community. Major Peter Cazalet, trainer to the Queen Mother, rallied support:
“Everyone must get together to try and stop it. There must be a concerted effort to keep Aintree in racing.”
Bookmakers began suggesting alternatives. William Hill proposed moving the Grand National to Ascot, and Ladbrokes put forward Doncaster as a potential new home. But many knew that replicating the unique challenge and character of Aintree would be impossible.
Lord Sefton himself issued a rallying cry, urging the British public to stand firm and protect the sport’s most iconic race.
On 6 April, a glimmer of hope emerged: Liverpool City Council formally declared its intention to retain Aintree as a ‘green lung’ for the city, blocking any immediate development. But the threat had been very real — and it wouldn’t be the last time the race’s future would be called into question.
The Narrow Escape – and What Came Next
Though the 1966 race was dubbed the “last Grand National” at the time, plans to host the 1967 renewal went ahead. The racecourse remained intact, albeit under persistent threat. Then came the miracle of Foinavon — the 100/1 outsiderwho capitalised on chaos at the 23rd fence to win by 30 lengths in 1967, a story that revived public affection and rekindled support for preserving the event.
Had Aintree shut its gates in 1966, some of racing’s most enduring moments would never have happened:
- The three legendary wins of Red Rum in the 1970s
- Bob Champion’s emotional 1981 triumph aboard Aldaniti
- The 1993 void race, a surreal chapter in racing folklore
- The 1997 bomb scare, which postponed the race to Monday
Each of these events contributed to the Grand National’s mystique — a mystique that could have been lost forever had history taken a different turn in 1966.
From Near Collapse to Global Icon
In the decades since, the Grand National has grown into a global phenomenon. Now broadcast to 600 million people worldwide, it is a staple of the sporting calendar and a cultural institution in Britain. Aintree Racecourse has been transformed, with modern facilities, increased safety standards, and a thriving three-day festival atmosphere.
The race has weathered commercial pressures, political uncertainty, and changing social attitudes — but none of those threats came as close to ending the National as the battle fought in the spring of 1966.
A Near Miss That Made History
Today, it is almost impossible to imagine Aintree without the Grand National — or the Grand National without Aintree. But that near-death experience almost six decades ago serves as a reminder that even the most cherished traditions must sometimes be fought for and fiercely protected.
Thanks to the determination of people like Mirabel Topham, Lord Sefton, and racing’s wider community, the National endured. It didn’t just survive — it thrived.
In 2025 and beyond, when the runners line up at the tape and 30 fences lie ahead, they’ll be following in the hoofprints of history. And it’s all because, in 1966, the Grand National was saved in the nick of time.
