Record Prize Fund For John Smith’s Grand National
Aintree has announced that total prize money for the John Smith’s Grand National meeting in April will hit an all-time high of over £2.7 million, an increase of £185,000 (7.3%) for the three days from 2012.
Thirteen of the 21 races at the meeting – running from Thursday to Saturday, 4th to 6th April – have boosted prize money.
Meanwhile, the Grand National itself remains at £975,000, with an estimated purse of nearly £550,000 for the winner, as the race enters its final year of title sponsorship with John Smith’s.
2013 will be the ninth consecutive year that the Heineken-owned brand has backed the race, after announcing a three-year deal back in 2004, with subsequent extensions in 2006 and 2009.
There has also been recent speculation that the first ever £1 million Grand National could be used to attract new sponsorship for the 2014 edition of the annual meet.
The Grand National is the richest British jump race and has risen in value from £600,000 under John Smith’s sponsorship.
In line with the Jockey Club Racecourses’ prize money pledge, Aintree’s total prize money for 2013 has increased to £3,386,500 (from £3,106,000), with new funds injected throughout the year for Aintree’s five other racedays as well the John Smith’s Grand National meeting.
Last month, the Jockey Club also announced that its racecourse arm was offering more than £40 million in prize money for 2013, an increase of £5 million on 2012 – including a record £18.6 million contribution directly from Jockey Club Racecourses.
Meanwhile, the John Smith’s Aintree Hurdle has been switched to the first day of the meeting on Thursday, 4th April, with the prize fund raised by £40,000 to a record £200,000.
