Mirabel Topham

Mirabel Topham (15 August 1891 – 28 May 1980) was chairman and managing director of Topham Ltd for 36 years to 1973 and owner of Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool, England, where the Grand National horse steeplechase is held. She was one of the colourful and controversial personalities in UK racing during this time. She had one brother (Cedric, died 1991, aged 99), a sister Beatrice (1895–1988) and a second sister who died in infancy. Ronald Topham was not suited to business life but Mirabel demonstrated business expertise and a real interest in the race course.

Under her Chairmanship the freehold of the Aintree Racecourse was purchased from Hugh Molyneux, Earl Sefton in 1949 for £275,000. She was involved at the start of a campaign for bookmakers to pay for information from the course that became the Racecourse Amenities Fund to distribute money from all bookmakers to the racecourses.

There were several new developments at Aintree during her Chairmanship. The Topham Steeplechase for the Topham Trophy was added to the Grand National in 1949. In addition, the 1 mile 4 furlongs Mildmay Steeplechase course was added in 1953 to increase the racing options. From the late 1950s attendance at horse racing declined. A new attraction of motorcar racing was introduced on a 3-mile Grand Prix circuit built within the racecourse at Aintree. Between 1955 and 1962 Aintree hosted five British and one European Grand Prix, including in 1955 the first Formula One British Grand Prix won by Stirling Moss. However, 1962 saw the last British Grand Prix on this track.

These developments were not sufficient for financial stability at Aintree. The racing calendar declined from the 1950s and 60s so that by the early 1970s it consisted of a single three-day meeting each year that included the Grand National. In addition, the stands and facilities had become notably dilapidated. Although the covenant was upheld by the lower courts, an appeal to the House of Lords ruled in Topham Ltd's favour in 1966. Aintree was finally sold to the Walton Group owned by property developer William Davies in 1973. The land remained a racecourse where the Grand National continues to be held.

Mirabel Topham was a patron of the arts and benefactor of the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool. In 1973 she allowed filming at Aintree for Dead Cert (based on a Dick Francis novel) that starred Judi Dench and Michael Williams. Following the sale of the racecourse she continued to live at Paddock Lodge for the rest of her life. She also owned a house in Regent's Park, London and a holiday home on the Isle of Wight.