Ask just about anybody who is otherwise unfamiliar with the world of horse racing for the name of one horse that has been associated with the sport, and most will in all likelihood respond with the name Red Rum.
Steeplechaser Red Rum, whose name somebody once pointed out spells "murder" when written backwards (significance uncertain) achieved unique success at the Grand National, the UK's most popular race, winning three times - in 1973, 1974 and 1977 - as well as finishing second on two other occasions.
Red Rum's other remarkable accomplishment was that he fell just once in over a hundred competitive races. This was despite the fact that the Grand National famously includes some of the highest and most aggressive fences of any horse race known to man.
Red Rum was bred at Rossenarra stud in Co. Kilkenny, Republic of Ireland. Originally bred to win one-mile races, he went on to win his Grand National titles over the longest distance, four miles and four furlongs. The gelding began running as a sprinter in low-budget races and dead-heated over five furlongs at a flat race at Aintree Racecourse.
On one occasion in his early career he was ridden by Lester Piggott. He went on to be ridden by a total of twenty-four different jockeys. In his first National win, in 1973, he came from behind to overcome the fancied Australian chaser Crisp in what was a new record of nine minutes and two seconds. In that and in his subsequent victory in 1974 his jockey was Brian Fletcher, although trainer Ginger McCain replaced Fletcher in 1976 after the jockey had made unfavourable comments about the horse in the national press. Replacement jockey Tommy Stack rode "Rummie" to his third and final Grand National victory in 1977, by which time the horse was twelve years old.
McCain had hoped to race Red Rum at a sixth Grand National in 1978 but the horse sustained a hairline fracture and he had no option but to withdraw it from the contest. Very soon afterwards he was retired. However Rummie's celebrity status lived on and he went on to open shops and supermarkets as well as a rollercoaster called the Steeplechase. A bar at Aintree was renamed in his honour.
Red Rum passed away in 1995, aged thirty, and was buried near to the winning post at Aintree, where there is also a statue in his memory. His grave is still visited by many horse racing tipsters, race fans and enthusiasts today. The Merseyrail network named one of its trains in his honour.
His epitaph reads:
"Respect this place
this hallowed ground
a legend here
his rest has found
his feet would fly
our spirits soar
he earned our love for evermore".
Mark Richards is a professional writer working for The Middle Man, a business promotion service using its experience and expert knowledge of marketing strategy to generate important new business for its clients at a surprisingly low cost.
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