The historic Aintree Racecourse mounting bell, inscribed AINTREE RACECOURSE, 1831, above four mask motifs, cross-beam suspension, height 35cm., 13 3/4

The historic Aintree Racecourse mounting bell, inscribed AINTREE RACECOURSE, 1831, above four mask motifs, cross-beam suspension, height 35cm., 13 3/4in., diameter 32cm., 12 1/2in. This bell has been used to signal the instructions for jockeys to mount their horses before every race at every race meeting held at Aintree since 1831, and as such even predates the first running of the Grand National in 1839. The bell has always been in the ownership of the Topham family rather than the racecourse itself and represents a rare opportunity to acquire a truly historic item of racing memorabilia.