The Grand National is a British institution.
The race at Aintree Racecourse in Merseyside is also the premier event in the racing calendar.
Winning such a prestigious event will hurtle a horse, as well as its owner, trainer and jockey into the national limelight.
But what makes the Grand National so special is that being a handicap race, there is still the prospect of a lesser-known horse stealing the glory and coming out on top at Aintree.
Aside from fandom, there is also a monetary reward to be had from the Grand National.
Slated to take place on Saturday 6th April, the Grand National is one of the richest races on the planet, in terms of the prize fund attached to the contest.
Last year it was Tiger Roll, ridden by Davy Russell, who got a taste of this two-pronged success.
Trained by Paul Nicholls, Tiger Roll pipped Pleasant Company to the post in a photo finish at Aintree.
The result also made Tiger Roll’s various owners, which included TV personality Jeremy Kyle, a whole lot wealthier in the process.
But just how much will the Grand National winner in 2019 receive?
Here’s a breakdown of the prize fund, detailing who will get what when all is done and dusted in Merseyside.
How much will the winners receive?
The total prize fund for the 2019 Randox Health Grand National is £1million.
Unlike other races, each runner down to tenth place will receive a share of that amount.
With 40 horses competing in the Grand National, that means around 25 per cent of the runners will receive a share of the prize fund.
The winner will receive a whopping £561,300, whilst the second placed runner will take home £211,100.
That means a huge £350,200 separates first and second, which stands even if a photo finish is required to separate the runners.
A nose is all that was between winner Tiger Roll and Pleasant Company in 2018.
Here’s a full breakdown of how the prize fund will be distributed:
- 1st - £561,300
- 2nd - £211,100
- 3rd - £105,500
- 4th - £52,700
- 5th - £26,500
- 6th - £13,200
- 7th - £6,800
- 8th - £3,600
- 9th - £2,000
- 10th - £1,000
How much do the jockeys get?
There is no steadfast rule when it comes the amount jockeys receive.
A normal National Hunt rider will receive in the region of £169.85 over jumps per ride.
However, with the stakes so high in the Grand National, this arrangement is not up to scratch.
In principle, the victorious jockey will earn around eight to eight and a half per cent of the prize fund, whilst those who place lower will the home between four to five per cent.
According to these estimates, the winning jockey in the Grand National will pocket around £45,000 for riding the winning horse.
It is not unusual in the racing world for leading jockeys to agree to a ‘retaining’ deal, which sees riders paid an annual fee to race an owners horses.
Irish businessman and famous owner JP McManus repeatedly paid AP McCoy a £1million annual salary in the past to race for him.
Will the winner receive any other bonuses?
The £561,300 official prize fund is only the beginning for the winning runner.
The fame garnered from the victory is likely to present ample opportunities for spin-offs and public appearances.
