Virtual Grand National raises £2.6 million for NHS

With all major sporting events being cancelled due to Covid-19, that also included the famous Grand National horse race. But in times of adversity, comes the opportunity to overcome and so instead, punters were treated to a virtual Grand National instead.

Virtual Grand National

If you missed the main event that took place last week, then the virtual Grand National was a computer simulated version of the famous race at Aintree. Computer Generated Imagery (CGI) was used to recreate every aspect of the race with as much detail as possible, down to the course and jumps. The creators then collected all the data on the horses taking part, including their age, weight, previous form, the weather conditions, fallen fences etc to create a mathematical algorithm to run the race with the most accuracy to the real event as possible.

The virtual Grand National actually takes place every year, but isn’t widely known considering the real even usually goes ahead. With that being said, the previous three virtual Grand National’s have been surprisingly accurate in comparison to the real race!

Profits donated to NHS

Because the Covid-19 pandemic stopped the Grand National proper taking place, instead the Betting and Gaming Council, whose members include William Hill, Bet365, Ladbrokes and Coral, decided that punters could place their wagers on the virtual version with all profits being donated to the NHS.

28% of UK viewers tuned in to watch Potters Corner win the race at 18-1 and over £2.6 million in profits were raised. 100% of these profits will be donated to the NHS via their umbrella charity, NHS Charities Together.

Michael Dugher, CEO of the Betting and Gaming Council said:

“I am proud that so many BGC members, up and down the country, are supporting in so many different ways the national effort to combat COVID-19, including here by contributing all of their race profits to NHS Charities Together.”

“I’m sorry we couldn’t have the real Grand National to find out if Potters Corner would have won or whether it would have been an historic three in a row for Tiger Roll, but at this time of need the nation used the day to come together and back our NHS.”