Horse racing fans will need little prompting to know the answer to this question, and they may well have a few quotes of their own.
I first saw Le Mare, being interviewed on the BBC after Red Rum won his second Aintree Grand National. I’m not sure if the presenter was David Coleman, but I was struck by Le Mare, an elegant gentleman wearing a bowler hat, brown overcoat, white shirt and patterned aqua-blue tie. Large spectacles framed his eyes. Next to him a lady dressed in shocking pink with a white hat. Before the interview was over, Noel Le Mare was holding the Grand National trophy.
Red Rum would make history winning the Aintree Grand National for a third time in 1977.
I couldn’t help but see at Le Mare as a wise, old owl. In 1974, he was in his 80s but if there was ever a man with a story to tell it was him.
His conntection with horse trainer Donald ‘Ginger’ McCain come about as an unlikely partnership. McCain was a second-hand car dealer who trained racehorses, at a former brewer’s yard. In fact, the stables were behind the car showroom near Southport, on the Lancashire coast.
In the 1970s, McCain was a small trainer, and his relationship with Noel Le Mare was more about finding a regular taxi driver than racehorses. In fact, he use to drive the elderly local businessman to the Prince of Wales hotel for the dinner-dance every Saturday night.
McCain said: The ride cost three or four shillings each way but he always gave me a pound tip.’
They struck up an unlikely friendship and their passion was horseracing, specifically winning the Grand National.
Le Mare, the founder of the Norwest Construction Company, had horses in training with McCain and they planned to run Glenkiln in the 1972 National. However, he mistakenly withdrew the horse. This led to McCain going to the Doncaster Sales and purchasing a seven-year-old gelding called Red Rum for 6,000 guineas. A horse that had been with four other trainers with leg problems after a busy racing career starting at two and even ridden by Lester Piggott. In fact, he arrived at the stables lame.
Training on the Southport beach, which he prepared with a harrow attached to the rear of his van, and galloping in the sea transformed Red Rum to a history-making horse.
It was a techinique he’d observed from old shrimpers buying horses destined for the knacker’s yard.
Le Mare said: ‘Red Rum was half Liverpool and half Southport.’
He won the 1973, 1974 & 1977 Grand National.
Who can forget the commentary from Sir Peter O’Sullevan: ‘It’s hats off and tremedous reception – you’ve never heard one like it at Liverpool Red Rum wins the National.’
Not only did Red Rum win the National three times but he was runner-up in 1975 & 1976.
In fact, he beat L’Escargot twice and runner-up once against a horse who had twice won the Cheltnhan Gold Cup (1970, 1971).
Red Rum’s victory over Crisp in 1973 is considered one of the greatest performances in the history of the race.
The romantic tale of Noel Le Mare, Donald ‘Ginger’ McCain and Red Rum transcends life.
Noel Le Mare fullfilled his lifelong dream. He passed away on the 25th June 1977, at the age of 88.
Red Rum was retired days before the 1978 Grand National after sustaining an injury. Many fancied his chances of winning his fourth National at the age of 13. He passed away at the age of 30 on the 18th October 1995. He was buried near the finish of the winning post at Aintree Racecourse.
Donald ‘Ginger’ McCain passed away at the age of 80 on the 19th September 2011.
In a fitting quote Le Mare said:
‘I’ve had three ambitions in life. To marry a beautiful woman, to be a millionaire and to win the National. Now my life’s complete.’