Aintree Grand National was once held 250 miles away – at London Gatwick Airport site
dailystar.co.ukworld's most famous steeplechase, but Merseyside isn't the only place to have put on the Grand National.For three years during the First World War, the race was held down south instead at the site which now houses London's Gatwick Airport was chosen to host.
The move was required as the facility at Aintree had been taken over by the War Office.It initially looked as though the Grand National would not be affected as the 1915 race – nine months after the conflict began – went ahead.
But after that the racecourse was used for the war effort, meaning a change of venue would be required if the race was going to go ahead.And so the racecourse in Gatwick was chosen and the race was moved around 250 miles south from its usual home.
It had been opened two decades earlier, and was a much more modern venue than Aintree which was almost 90 years old already.But it wasn't as prestigious or as advanced, as a special course was constructed in Gatwick especially for the National.
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