THE SUPPORT TEAM

The Grand National Festival’s biggest cheerleaders who play a part in bringing magnificent racehorses to the track

The world’s most famous horserace, it is no surprise that it ‘takes a village’ to get the equine athletes to the start line of the Grand National. From 13-15 April, more than 150 horses will perform on one of the sport’s greatest stages during the Grand National Festival at Aintree.

The thrill of horseracing has long captured our nation, in fact it’s our second biggest spectator sport. But the high-octane thrill of the raceday is a far cry from the calmer day-to-day life of these spectacular athletes. Whether it’s a morning run on the gallops, taking a restorative swim in a state-of-the-art equine swimming pool or a physiotherapy session to ease away any aching muscles, there’s a huge team involved in keeping a racehorse fit and healthy.

Like all athletes, racehorses have tailored training programmes to suit their individual needs and it takes an extraordinary partnership between a racehorse and those that support it to understand what works best.

Typically, a racehorse will have a team of at least six core people involved in the 365 days of care and raceday preparation. The core team is made up of a trainer, yard sta , work rider, farrier, vet and physio not to mention the wider dedicated team members such as the secretary, jockey, nutritionist, chiropractor, travelling team and equine dentist.

Yard sta spend the most time with the horse and have a vital role to play in a racehorse’s day-to-day care that contributes to their performance on a raceday. Each horse will be tended to by a member of yard sta who will feed them, wash them down after exercise, ensure the horse is the right temperature and often travel with the horse when racing for familiarity.

As well as the current equine stars of the sport, the Grand National Festival hosts parades from former racehorses who have gone on to new careers, as well as those who have turned their foot to a slower pace of life.

To find out more about the welfare of horseracing’s stars visit greatbritishracing.com

• There are 16 fences on the Grand National course, 14 of which are jumped twice.

• The Grand National is four miles and two and half furlongs long, the longest jump racing distance in the UK.

• Racecourses across Britain, including Aintree, have changed jump fences from orange to white to improve equine vision and safety.

• Huge improvements have been made in recent years at Aintree Racecourse to improve the welfare of horses racing there. Changes introduced since 2012 include adapting and rebuilding the fences, facilities and stables.

• A total of £1.5 million has been invested at Aintree to ensure the safest ground is available to be raced on at all times.

• In 2021 when Rachael Blackmore won with Minella Times, a peak of 8.8 million. people tuned in to watch the race at home

• The Grand National is worth £1million in prize money.