The winner of the Grand National an unprecedented three times, in 1973, 1974 and 1977, is one of the most famous, if not the most famous, racehorses in British history. He was bought, for 6,000 guineas, by trainer Donald ‘Ginger’ McCain on behalf of owner Noel Le Mare after finishing fifth in the Scottish Grand National at Ayr in 1972. McCain famously trained him, unconventionally, on the sands of Southport, which allowed to overcome pedal osteitis, a chronic hoof disease.
In 1973, when ridden by Brian Fletcher, Red Rum was considered the villain of the piece by some observers, despite being sent off joint-favourite and winning the National in a course record time. The other joint-favourite, Crisp, trained by Fred Winter and ridden by Richard Pitman, made most of the running and was still 10 lengths clear halfway up the run-in, but stopped to nothing in the closing stages, allowing Red Rum, who was receiving 23lb, to sweep by in the dying strides and win by three-quarters of the length.
In 1974, Red Rum, himself, was saddled with 12 stone, but was still sent off at 11/1 third favourite on his attempt to become the first horse since Reynoldstown, in 1936, to record back-to-back victories in the Grand National. He did so with something in hand, coming home seven lengths ahead of former dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner L’Escargot, to whom he was conceding 1lb. Two weeks later, Red Rum carried 11 st 13lb to victory in the Scottish Grand National at Ayr, thereby becoming the only horse to win both races in the same season.
Red Rum finished second in the Grand National for the next two years, behind L’Escargot in 1975 and Rag Trade in 1976. However, he returned to Aintree, as a 12-year-old, in 1977 when, in the hands of Tommy Stack – who had replaced Fletcher after he fell out with McCain – he came home in splendid isolation, 25 lengths ahead of his nearest pursuer, Churchtown Boy. As BBC commentator put it, “You’ve never heard a reception like it at Liverpool. Red Rum wins the Grand National.”