But while many racing enthusiasts who are relishing Saturday’s race at Aintree, there are plenty of people not looking forward to the spectacle.
As has become customary before each of the big meetings, anti-horse-racing protestors have made their feelings on this year’s race known.
Protesters often stand outside race courses handing out leaflets which detail the dark side of horse racing to punters.
And this year has been no different.
Ahead of this year’s Grand National, anti-horse-racing advocates Animal Aid have been circulating leaflets showing horses with broken legs.
The use of the graphic image is a harsh reminder of the dangers racehorses face each and every time they leap over a fence.
Horses that break their legs are more often than not put down, a controversial practice in the eyes of many.
Animal Aid are actively seeking to end the Grand National and commercial racing as a whole.
“Animal Aid’s main campaigning goals are: force the racing authorities to publish details of on-course Thoroughbred deaths (currently running at around 200 a year); an end to the Grand National; proper provision for horses when their racing days are over; and a ban on the whip,” a blurb on their website read.
“We want to see an end to all commercial racing, because it is an intrinsically cruel and exploitative industry that sends around 1,000 horses each year to be slaughtered.
“We believe the way forward is to encourage the public to withdraw their support for racing, rather than to look to the government to enforce a unilateral racing ban.
“After many years of exposing the truth about a heavily romanticised industry, Animal Aid has succeeded in changing the public perception and media coverage of racing.”