The first race was held in 1839, but it started in inauspicious circumstances, going off two hours late after confusion over weighing procedures. The aptly named, and 5-1 favourite, Lottery came home first.
The first five Grand Nationals included one jump that was a stone wall. It was situated where the water jump now stands.
Becher's Brook earned its name when a top jockey, Captain Martin Becher, took shelter in the brook after being unseated. "Water tastes disgusting without the benefits of whisky" he reflected.
The Chair is the tallest fence at 5ft 3ins, and the broadest. The fence got its name as it was once alongside the seat used by the distance judge.
The fences at Aintree are made up of spruce from the Lake District. The cost of the building work is tens of thousands of pounds and takes a month to complete.
The 1929 National featured the most starters in the race when 66 horses lined up.
The smallest field was in 1883 when just 10 faced the starter.
The fastest ever time is the 8 minutes 47.8 seconds Mr Frisk recorded in taking victory in 1990.
The smallest number of finishers was in 1928 when Tipperary Tim, a 100-1 outsider, was the first of two past the post.
The greatest number of horses to finish was 23 in 1984. Hallo Dandy, ridden by Neale Doughty, was the winner.
The 1997 Grand National, which was won by Lord Gyllene, was the 150th running of the race at Aintree and Sir Peter O'Sullevan's 50th and final commentary for the BBC.
As well as horse racing, Aintree has also hosted a European and five British Grand Prix. Stirling Moss won his first Grand Prix in Liverpool in 1955.
Red Rum is the most successful horse, having won the Grand National three times: 1973, 1974 and 1977.
Abd-El-Kader was the first horse to win back-to-back Nationals, in 1850 and 1851. The Colonel, (1869 & 1870), Reynoldstown (1935 & 1936) and Red Rum (1973 & 1974) have also retained the crown.
Moiffa won in 1904 - having disappeared a year earlier. On a trip to Liverpool from New Zealand, Moiffa's ship was shipwrecked. The horse was presumed lost at sea before turning up on an outcrop south of Ireland.
The legendary Golden Miller won in 1934 and became the only horse to complete the Cheltenham Gold Cup-Grand National double in the same season.
Manifesto has run in more races than any other horse. Between 1895 and 1904, he ran in eight races, winning two and coming third on three occasions. He only failed to finish once.
In 1998, Earth Summit, owned by a six-strong partnership, became the first winner of the Grand National who was also successful in both the Scottish and Welsh Grand Nationals.
Only two greys have won the Grand National - The Lamb (1868 and 1871) and Nicolaus Silver (1961). Suny Bay finished second to Lord Gyllene in 1997 and filled the same spot behind Earth Summit in 1998.
Bruce Hobbs is the youngest jockey to have ever won the race. The 17-year-old triumphed aboard Battleship in 1938.
The late Dick Saunders is the oldest ever winner of the National, partnering Grittar to victory in 1982. Saunders was 48 at the time.
Geraldine Rees was the first female jockey to complete the course, in 1982.
In the 19th Century, George Stevens partnered no fewer than five National winners.Brian Fletcher (1968 Red Alligator, 1973 and 1974 Red Rum) shares a 20th century record with the legendary Jack Anthony (1911 Glenside, 1915 Ally Sloper, 1920 Troytown), both jockeys having ridden three National winners.
Jenny Pitman is the only woman to have trained a Grand National winner, capturing the race for the first time with Corbiere in 1983. She succeeded for a second time with Royal Athlete in 1995 and finished second with Garrison Savannah in 1991.
Fred Rimell is the most successful National trainer having guided four different horses to victory - E.S.B. (1956), Nicolaus Silver (1961), Gay Trip (1970) and Rag Trade (1976). Ginger McCain has also now had four winners, but with just two horses, Red Rum (1973, 74 and 77) and Amberleigh House (2004).
A number of famous names have owned the National winner including Freddie Starr (Miinnehoma, 1994), Anne, the Duchess of Westminster, (Last Suspect, 1985), Teasie Weasie Raymond, the celebrated hairdresser (Rag Trade 1976) and Fred Pontin (Specify, 1971).