Red Rum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Red Rum |
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Red Rum at Castle Park, Bristol in 1981
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| Sire | Quorum |
| Grandsire | Vilmorin |
| Dam | Mared |
| Damsire | Magic Red |
| Sex | Gelding |
| Foaled | 7 May 1965 |
| Country | Ireland |
| Colour | Bay |
| Breeder | Martyn McEnery |
| Owner | Noel le Mare |
| Trainer | Ginger McCain |
| Record | 100: 24-15-23 |
| Earnings | £146,409.80 |
| Major wins | |
| Grand National (1973, 1974, 1977) Scottish National (1974) |
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| Honours | |
| Life-size statue at Aintree Racecourse Smaller bronze statue inside Wayfarers Arcade, Southport Red Rum Handicap Chase at Aintree |
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| Last updated on February 15, 2009 | |
Red Rum (born May 7, 1965 – died October 18, 1995) was a super famous racehorse. He was a champion Thoroughbred steeplechaser. This means he was a special horse trained for races with fences and ditches.
Red Rum made history by winning the famous Grand National race three times. He won in 1973, 1974, and 1977. He also came in second place in 1975 and 1976. The Grand National is a very tough race. People call it "the ultimate test of a horse’s courage." Red Rum was also known for being a great jumper. He never fell in 100 races!
His 1973 win was amazing. He came from 30 horse lengths behind to win. Many people think it was one of the greatest Grand Nationals ever. In 2002, a UK poll voted his third Grand National win as the 24th greatest sporting moment of all time.
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Red Rum's Early Life and Training
Red Rum was born in Ireland at a place called Rossenarra stud farm. His breeder was Martyn McEnery. Red Rum's father was named Quorum, and his mother was Mared. McEnery gave Red Rum his name by taking the last three letters of his parents' names.
Red Rum was bred to run short, fast races. But he became famous for winning the Grand National, which is a very long race. It is four miles and four furlongs long! He started his career in small races. He even tied for first place in his very first race. This was a short, five-furlong race at Aintree Racecourse.
He was ridden by famous jockey Lester Piggott twice when he was young. Even comedian Lee Mack had his first riding lesson on Red Rum when he was a stable boy!
Red Rum moved between different training yards. Then, a car dealer from Southport named Ginger McCain bought him. McCain trained Red Rum in a very special way. He would gallop the horse on the sandy beaches of Southport, England. Running through the sea water was very good for Red Rum's hooves. McCain even took Red Rum for swims in the sea. This helped treat a hoof problem called pedal osteitis. This problem can make a horse's hooves hurt. McCain later won the Grand National again in 2004 with another horse, Amberleigh House.
Red Rum's Grand National Wins
The crowd are willing him home now. The 12-year-old Red Rum, being preceded only by loose horses, being chased by Churchtown Boy... They're coming to the elbow, just a furlong now between Red Rum and his third Grand National triumph! It's hats off and a tremendous reception, you've never heard one like it at Liverpool - Red Rum wins the National!
In the 1973 Grand National, Red Rum raced against a strong horse named Crisp. Crisp was carrying more weight. Crisp led the race for almost the whole way. At the last fence, Crisp was 15 lengths ahead of Red Rum. But Red Rum and his jockey, Brian Fletcher, caught up quickly. Just before the finish line, Red Rum won by a very small amount. It was one of the most exciting Grand Nationals ever! Crisp's jockey, Richard Pitman, said he still dreams about that race.
A year later, Red Rum won the Grand National again in 1974. He also won the Scottish Grand National that year. He is the only horse to win both races in the same season!
Red Rum came in second place in 1975 and 1976. In 1976, Tommy Stack became his new jockey. Red Rum still ran his best at Aintree. But he was beaten by another horse named Rag Trade. The next year, in 1977, Tommy Stack rode Red Rum to his third Grand National win. Red Rum was 12 years old then. This win is seen as one of the greatest moments in horse racing history.
Red Rum's Retirement and Fame
Red Rum was getting ready to try for a sixth Grand National in 1978. But he got a small crack in his leg bone. So, he had to retire from racing. This news was so big that it was the main story on the BBC news! It was also on the front page of newspapers.
Red Rum became a huge celebrity. He would open supermarkets and lead the Grand National parade every year. You could find his picture on playing cards, mugs, posters, and puzzles. Many books were written about him. He even helped open a rollercoaster called Steeplechase at Blackpool Pleasure Beach in 1977. That same year, he turned on the famous Blackpool Illuminations lights!
In 1977, Red Rum was a special guest on a TV show called BBC Sports Personality of the Year. People loved it when he seemed to know his jockey Tommy Stack's voice. Tommy was talking to him from another place on a video screen.
Red Rum's Legacy
Red Rum's feats, of three Nationals and two seconds, are legendary. They will never be equalled, let alone surpassed. They say records are there to be broken, but Red Rum’s at Aintree is one which will stand the test of time.
Red Rum passed away on October 18, 1995, when he was 30 years old. His death was big news on TV and in newspapers.
He was buried at the winning post of the Aintree Racecourse. This is where he won his famous races. Many fans still visit his grave. The words on his grave say: "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."
Years after he died, a survey showed he was still the most famous racehorse in the UK. When asked to name a horse, 45% of people named Red Rum. Black Beauty was second with 33%. In 2002, people in the UK voted Red Rum's third Grand National win as #24 on a list of the 100 Greatest Sporting Moments.
In the early 1970s, the future of the Grand National race was not clear. But Red Rum's amazing wins made people love the race again. This helped get a lot of support to buy Aintree Racecourse and keep the Grand National going.
Red Rum's trainer, Ginger McCain, died on September 19, 2011, at age 80.
Red Rum's Grand National Record
| Grand National | Position | Jockey | Age | Weight | SP | Distance |
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| 1973 | 1st | Brian Fletcher | 8 | 10–5 | 9/1 JF | Won by ¾ Length |
| 1974 | 1st | Brian Fletcher | 9 | 12–0 | 11/1 | |
| 1975 | 2nd | Brian Fletcher | 10 | 12–0 | 7/2 F | |
| 1976 | 2nd | Tommy Stack | 11 | 11–10 | 10/1 | |
| 1977 | 1st | Tommy Stack | 12 | 11–8 | 9/1 JF | Won by 25 lengths |
Commemorations and Tributes
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- The Red Rum Handicap Chase is a race held at Aintree.
- There are statues of Red Rum at Aintree Racecourse, in Southport, and at Ayr Racecourse.
- Merseyrail named one of its trains after Red Rum in 2008.
- A fire engine in Southport was named Red Rum in 1979.
- There is a street called Red Rum Drive in Ashburn, Virginia, USA.
- There is also a street called Red Rum Close in Fazakerley, Liverpool.
