Racing: Bookies romp home to big win at Aintree

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Bindaree, at 20-1, yesterday won a nail-bitingly close Grand National that saw Britain engage in what bookmakers believe is the largest single day of gambling in history.

Nearly £120m was staked on the race at Aintree, Liverpool, by 15 million gamblers, most of them once-a-year punters. This figure – equivalent to £2 for every man, woman and child in the country – comfortably passes last year's record of £90m and is double the stake of three years ago.

In October the Chancellor replaced the 9 per cent betting tax with a levy on bookmakers' profits, and the industry has seen turnover leap by a third. If money wagered on the Lottery and football pools on a typical Saturday is added, then optimistic Britons bet nearly £200m yesterday.

Spectators were rewarded with one of the closest finishes in the race's 155-year history, in spite of a protest outside by 150 demonstrators. Two horses were reported to have died after falling.