News on the 2014 Grand National

Aintree has recently signed a new sponsor for its annual Grand National event. Crabbie's has penned a three year deal from 2014-2016 to replace John Smith's as the sponsor of the National. Crabbie's who specialise in making alcoholic ginger beer will be fronting the National taking over from the 9 year John Smith's backed race. The brand is known in the horse racing industry for having sponsored several races at a lower level. There had been fears over finding consumer sponsorship for the 4 mile and 4 furlong event on a number of reasons. One reason was the difficulty of consumer sponsorship amidst the volatile economic climate and doubts over consumer brand sponsoring the event following equine fatalities in both 2011 and 2012. Executives of the festival favoured the sponsorship of a consumer brand rather than the bookmaker to brand the Grand National. A number of bookmaking firms had been reported to have outlined their interest in sponsoring the race however it was suggested that they were

informed that they would not be considered.

As part of the deal Crabbie's have negotiated the naming rights for three Grade One races over the Aintree Grand National festival. The races during the meeting that the drinks company will sponsor are the Crabbie's Fox Hunters Chase, the Crabbie's Topham Chase and the Crabbies Grand national. A number of other Grade One events at the meeting that had been previously sponsored by John Smith's in recent years such as the Aintree Hurdle and the Liverpool Hurdle, to mention a few, have not been included in the deal involving Crabbie's.

The Crabbie's brand based in Merseyside, who launched alcoholic beer in 2009 are owned by Halewood International who are also known to own the likes of Tsingtao. Halewood International has strong links with Liverpool, Aintree and the Grand National. The firm was established by the late John Halewood who has rooted connections with the Aintree Grand National, who owned Amberleigh House, the winning horse of the 2004 Grand National. Amberleigh House had been trained by Aintree legendary trainer Ginger McCain.

The resulting deal involving Crabbie's will see prize money for the Grand National to the sum of £1 million. The deal will see the Prize money reach the £1 million mark for the first time in the 167 year history of the event. The prize money for this year’s Grand National winner, Auroras Encore was £950,000. However, concern still surrounds sponsorship for the other events at the meeting. The Aintree executives are still hunting to fill the sponsorship voids for some of the historic races that currently remain without sponsors. Of those races that have yet to be sponsored are Grade One and Grade Two events. The most likely candidates to sponsor the events are most likely to be the bookmaking firms if Aintree fails to tie down consumer sponsors.

The Crabbie's Aintree Grand National will be held on 5 April 2014. Tickets are currently available for entry to the various days of the Aintree festival including entry to the historic Grand National.

 

The Bet Doctor has spoken.