Aintree has been a race venue for a very long time and will continue to thrill its visitors for many years to come. This collection of images, sometimes serious sometimes amusing but always fascinating, will help readers to relive some of those precious moments experienced in the company of friends, family and colleagues. Setting out to capture the spirit of the event, spread over a three day period, the author conveys some of the atmosphere and excitement of Aintree during a Grand National meeting from a spectator’s perspective. The result is a book which will be valued equally by both occasional and regular visitors to this three-day meeting, regardless of how much or how little they know about the a sport of kings.
From punters pouring off the trains into Aintree station which handles 30,000 passengers a day during the meeting, to sombre reflection over Red Rum’s grave, and from the tipster to the tipsy, Andy Stansfield’s lens picks out with unerring accuracy those little cameos which make a day memorable. Ladies Day in particular provides a fascinating diversion from equine matters as glamour and glitz compete with colour clashes and costume jewellery.
Then there’s Grand National day itself, with Aintree’s inescapable and colourful past echoed in the names of fences, stands and complementary facilities which make up the hug complex bordering the historic track. If you are as amused by people watching as you are by the racing, you’ll find this book contains a treasure trove of human interest images as well as capturing the spirit of Aintree.
Hardback.