What’s the most famous horse race in the world?
The Grand National!
A steeplechase which dates back to 1839.
As so many punters say: ‘It’s a Lottery.’
The Grand National is one of those races which captures the attention of the everyday punter, professional gambler and your old aunt who has a penchant for the number 13 and the colours red, white and blue.
It’s not just the population of the UK which takes an interest but people from around the world.
Millions of people.
If there is one racehorse synonymous with the Grand National then I’m pretty sure it is either in your mind, on the tip of your tongue or you just shouted out proudly – Red Rum. I’m pretty sure a good percentage of the population could tell me the years he won.
1973, 1974 & 1977.
Red Rum finished runner-up in 1975 & 1976.
He didn’t need to win those other two races, but I often wonder what would be his legacy if he had.
‘You remember Red Red? He won the Grand National 5 time!’
I guess what matters is that Red Rum, trained by Ginger McCain and owned by Noel Le Mare holds the record for the most wins. There were a number of other horses who won twice and a few of them on consecutive years.
1850 – Abd-El-Kader (no odds)
1851 – Adb-El-Kadar (7/1)
1852 – Adb-El-Kadar (PU)
1869 – The Colonel (100/7)
1870 – The Colonel (7/2f)
1871 – The Colonel (6th)
1935 – Reynoldstown (22/1)
1936 – Reynoldstown (10/1)
1937 – Reynoldstown (Didn’t run)
2018 – Tigeroll (10/1)
2019 – Tigeroll (4/1f)
2020 – Tigeroll (Cancelled due to the COVID 19 pandemic)
These third races have been added for context as it helps appreciate if any of these horses went close to matching Red Rum.
You have to feel sorry for Tigeroll who may well have been favourite for the 2020 running. Whether Gordon Elliott’s horses, in the ownership of Gigginstown House Stud, would have achieved this goal no one can tell. This pint-sized horses was consider for 2021 but it didn’t happen and he was subsequently retired in March 2022.
Life is full of twists and turns. For the Grand National this was a big moment in time. I’m sure there would have been many horse racing fans wishing Tigeroll not to win three races on the trot. Sure, there would be many who would have been overjoyed to see him win.
In truth, it is difficult to write an original story about Red Rum. I’m sure there are people who say so much more.
Red Rum Achieved So Much:
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He never fell in 100 races
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That he dead-heated in his first ever race on the Flat in a five-furlong sprint
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Twice ridden by legendary jockey Lester Piggott (Flat, turf)
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That Red Rum used to gallop through the sea at Southport beach to treat incurable bone disease in his hoof
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He also won the Scottish National in 1974
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The only horse to win both races in the same season
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The retirement of Red Rum in 1978 was broadcast on the 9 O’Clock News on BBC1
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The biggest seller of horse racing merchandise ever
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Led the Grand National Parade for years after his successes
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He switched on the Blackpool Illuminations
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Appeared on the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards (1977)
Red Rum lived to the grand age of 30.
He is buried at the winning post of Aintree Racecourse.
What is most fitting about the story of Red Rum is that even to this day he lives long in the heart of all who watched, read stories or told of the greatest racehorse who won the greatest most famous race in the world.
Three times.