01.06.10 - RACING AT AINTREE

The first 2011 John Smith's Grand National tickets go up for grabs at Aintree's season closer

Aintree Racecourse today announced that four lucky racegoers will get their hands on the very first 2011 John Smith’s Grand National tickets on the final night of the racecourse’s summer racing and music series on Friday 11th June, when the internationally acclaimed ABBA show, Björn Again, will perform at the famous Liverpool course after racing.

The tickets will be given to four faces in the crowd who will be picked out randomly by Aintree’s CCTV and will be the first tickets issued ahead of the racecourse going on sale for the prestigious 2011 race meeting in August.

Members of the public will themselves be able to secure tickets and hospitality for the 2011 John Smith’s Grand National, which returns to the famous Liverpool course next year from Thursday 7th to Saturday 9th April by purchasing online, over the phone or in person from August onwards.

Season Tickets, three-day badges and hospitality packages will be the first to go on sale from 9am on Tuesday 3rd August.  Season Tickets give racegoers a priority chance to secure grandstand badges for all three-days of the Grand National meeting in addition to providing admission to 6 additional racedays at Aintree in 2011 for a value for money price.

All remaining tickets and badges, including grandstand seats, will go on general sale via aintree.co.uk from 9am on Monday 16th August, and over the phone from Wednesday 18th August at 9am, through the ticket sales hotline on 0844 579 3001.

Customers wishing to purchase tickets and badges in person from the racecourse can do so by visiting the booking office from Tuesday 31^st August, which will be open during sales office hours, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

Commenting ahead of the ticket giveaway on the final race night in Aintree’s summer series, Marketing & PR Manager, Emma Owen, said: ‘Tickets for the John Smith’s Grand National are always in great demand when we go on sale in August, so we thought we’d reward those coming to the final night of our summer racing and music series in June with the chance to win the very first tickets issued for the prestigious 2011 race meeting.’

Tickets for Aintree’s June fixture can be purchased in advance by visiting www.aintree.co.uk.  Admission costs for adults, £16 if purchased up to 48 hours before the race evening (£19 after this time and on the night). A premium grandstand badge is available within the Platinum County Lounge for £25 in advance (£30 from 48 hours before the meeting).  Restaurant hospitality is also available on all evenings for £83 person. The Björn Again show will perform for 90-minutes following the final race of the evening.

For more information and for image/interview requests, please contact Sarah Driscoll by email sarah.driscoll@thejockeyclub.co.uk or phone 0151 522 2915.