Record prize for Grand National The John Smith's Grand National will carry a record prizefund of £950,000 when the world's most famous chase is run on Saturday, April 9 in 2011. The richest jump race in Europe has increased £25,000 in value, and will be the seventh under John Smith's sponsorship which starts a new three-year contract with Aintree Racecourse in 2011. Total prize money will be marginally down for the three-day John Smith's Grand National meeting, which runs from April 7-9, at £2,540,000. Despite a budgeted 18% reduction in funds from the Horserace Betting Levy Board to the racecourse, this amount is only 1.36% less than the 2010 total (£2,575,000) as a result of Aintree increasing its own investment in prize money to make up the bulk of the shortfall. By increasing its prize money investment, Aintree has managed to keep its key support races such as the Matalan 4YO Novices’ Hurdle, totesport Bowl, John Smith's Melling Chase, Topham Chase, Sefton Novices' Hurdle, the Maghull Novices’ Hurdle and the Aintree Hurdle at the same prize money level as the 2010 meeting.
