Celebrating Red Rum 50 years on from first Grand National win
These brilliant photos are bound to stir some memories
It's now been 50 years since the great racing legend Red Rum won his first victory at Aintree.
Born on May 3, 1965 at the Rossenarra stud in Kells, County Kilkenny in Ireland, Red Rum was bred to be a sprinter, but would go on to become one of the greatest long-distance chasers. Owned by Noel Le Mare, it was Southport car dealer Ginger McCain who spotted Red Rum and famously trained the horse on the sands at Southport beach.
During his career, Red Rum was ridden by 24 different jockeys, jumped something like 1800 fences and covered close on 300 miles in his races. But he is most remembered for achieving an unmatched historic treble when he won the Grand National in 1973, 1974 and 1977, as well as coming second in the two intervening years, 1975 and 1976.
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After years in the spotlight, Red Rum died at the age of 30 on October 18, 1995, and is buried, fittingly, by the winning post at Aintree racecourse. He is still up there with best-known horses in Britain and remembered fondly by the racing community, the residents of Merseyside and more.
To celebrate 50 years since Red Rum's 1973 win at the Grand National, we take a brief look back at his stellar career in photos.
For beautiful, historic images from the past have a look at memorylane.co.uk/ and see what you can discover
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Red Rum, pictured in his stable in 1988
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Red Rum winning the 1977 Grand National with Jockey Tommy Stack. April 2, 1977
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It's an all Lancashire run-in for the four football league championships and the four captains of the top teams gathered for a friendly game of chess. The players involved are Tommy Smith (Liverpool), Martin Dobson (Burnley), Warwick Rimmer (Bolton) and John McPhee (Southport). After the game the four footballers cracked open a bottle of champagne to toast the health of another Lancashire champion – Red Rum, winner of the Grand National, pictured in his Southport stable. April 6, 1973
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Red Rum at full stretch as he jumps over fence on his way to winning the Grand National for the third time at Aintree. April 1, 1977
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Two Liverpool legends together. Bill Shankly the Liverpool FC manager is seen here with three time Grand National winner Red Rum at Ginger McCain's Yard, circa 1977
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Donald "Ginger" McCain, the trainer of three times Grand National winner Red Rum, pictured with the famous racehorse at their stables in Birkdale, Southport in Merseyside. January 13, 1978
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Grand National winner Red Rum with trainer Ginger McCain drinking from bucket. June 26, 1980
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Red Rum back home in his stable after winning the Grand National for the third time. April 1977
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Grand National 1973 Red Rum ridden by Brian Fletcher jumps a fence and goes on to win
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Red Rum and jockey Brian Fletcher win world-famous chase at Aintree Racecourse. Here Red Rum leads the horses around the course before the race
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The Grand National Aintree, March 1974. Red Rum and jockey Brian Fletcher win racing's premiere hurdle event
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Red Rum and jockey Tommy Stack check the 1st fence before the world-famous chase at Aintree Racecourse
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Racehorse Red Rum and jockey Brian Fletcher at the 1974 Grand National at Aintree
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Legendary racehorse Red Rum and trainer Donald 'Ginger' McCain shar a joke at his Southport stable, following victory in the Grand national for a record third time at Aintree. Photographer Stephen Shakeshaft managed to get Red Rum to 'laugh' by giving him a polo mint, April 3, 1977
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Donald "Ginger" McCain, the trainer of famous racehorse Red Rum, pictured celebrating in the bar following Red Rum's win in the Grand National race at Aintree, the first of his three victories. March 31, 1973
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Three times Grand National winner Red Rum arrives for opening the Rum Runner nightclub in Queen Street, South Shields. July 10, 1981
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Three times Grand National winner Red Rum arrives for opening the Rum Runner nightclub in Queen Street, South Shields. July 10, 1981
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No3 Red Rum with trainer Ginger McCain
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Reception for Red Rum after winning the 1977 Grand National. April 2, 1977
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Red Rum and jockey Brian Fletcher win the Grand National at Aintree for the second successive year in 1974
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Amanda Barrie (Alma Baldwin) with Grand National winner Red Rum, March 1992
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Red Rum with stand in jockey Richard Pitman. March 27, 1976
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Brian Morris meets Red Rum at his stable
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