Whether it’s an opportunity to get suited and booted, a chance to beat the bookies or even if you’re just a lover of the racing – Aintree Festival is a weekend that can’t be ignored.
According to the BBC, in 2024, around 800 million people across 170 countries tuned into watch the Grand National, with 150,000 people attending the event over the three days.
And similarly in this year’s National, the grandstands were packed out again, hitting that 150,000 mark.
However, just the year before, the numbers weren’t quite as high, with just under 130,000 attending the festival.
So, what could it be that’s made a day at the races more attractive in the last two years?
Aintree’s been owned by The Jockey Club since 1982, the largest commercial group in British Horseracing.
The organisation owns 15 racecourses, including Cheltenham and the Epsom Downs, running hundreds of events every year.
It’s fair to say the Jockey Club’s shifted away from traditional marketing strategies by targeting a much younger audience.
According to Pitchcare, this year’s Ladies Day had a 53% increase in attendance of 18–24-year-olds compared to 2024.
The Jockey Club partnered with the student events company INVADES who run a yearly November ‘student races’, with this year’s day reportedly hosting 10,000+ racegoers according to FIXR.
Turning what used to be a formal expensive event into fashionable affordable one not only increases the organisers financial gain in the short run but also hooks a new generation for years to come.
Betting is deeply tied into the Grand National as a whole, with ITV constantly projecting odds graphics during their live broadcast, increasing engagement and interest in what’s seen by most as quite a dull sport, especially for the armchair viewer.
According to BetVictor, it was estimated that £500 million was staked in 2023 across the three days, with £150 million on the Grand National alone.
It’s without saying the increased access to betting from home has had a big impact sports betting as a whole.
But for Aintree and the National, it’s probably not helped in the long run.
According to Entain, in 2024, the Grand National amassed a staggering 700% more bets than its closest rival: the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
A whopping 82% of cash bets on the National were £5 or less with under 1% of bets exceeding £20.
This shows that the spotlight is no longer with the racing and the chance for punters to win some money.
It’s nearly all but entirely been converted to a social event, where racegoers can eat some nice food, have a few drinks and get a picture for their Instagram.
Although Cheltenham can take a much bigger crowd, the attendance has dropped by almost 10% since 2023 while the National enjoyed a 15% increase.
Whether it’s Liverpool growing as a city, the students coming in numbers or just a pure love of the game, Aintree Racecourse is at an all time high so go down and join in the fun.
