High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The Grand National (also known as The National) is a world-famous National Hunt horse race which is held annually at Aintree Racecourse, near Liverpool, England. It is a handicap chase run over a distance of four miles and 856 yards (7,242 m), with horses jumping thirty fences over two circuits of Aintree`s National Course. The race has been held at Aintree each year since 1839, with the exception of 1916-1918 during the First World War when it was held at Gatwick Racecourse, 1941-1945 during the Second World War when it was called off, and in 1993 when the race was declared void owing to a false start. It is currently scheduled to take place on a Saturday afternoon in early April. The next Grand National will be held on 14 April 2012.