The Grand National didn't start in 1839 - this is the true story of racing's greatest race

Through 2025, the Racing Post will be telling the history of racing through the stories of the 20 most significant races ever run. Lee Mottershead continues the series by recounting the tale of the first ever running of the Grand National

Part one:

• The day racing changed forever: how the 1780 Derby sparked a 250-year turf revolution 

By the time the clock struck two, a crowd of maybe 30,000 people had assembled at what was, and still is, Aintree racecourse. On a beautiful spring afternoon they were waiting to see something the likes of which had never before been witnessed. It was the last day of February 189 years ago and a huge chapter in the history of racing was about to be written.