Red Rum
Grand National legend: Red Rum
One of the sporting calendar occasions I look forward to the most, is the Grand National.
Every year in April, Aintree racecourse is home to a race of 40 horses, who go hell for leather over fences that are huge!
Great horses and legendary jockeys have tried and failed to win “the National” its a race of chance, luck and heart. Even with todays race limited to 40 horses, it deserves its rightful place as one of the best sporting occasions of the year.
It is not just the race itself, its the occasion. Betting shops around the UK are packed out as housewives and regular punters stake money on their own favourite. Some stick pins into a newspaper page to select their would be winner, others take part in sweepstakes at work or with family. Housewives gamble the gas money for the week, and once the opinion and forcasting is over, the entire country stops by a television, to watch 7 or 8 minutes of drama as the race unfolds.
Why is Red Rum such a legend?
Red Rum ran the race 5 times during the 1970s.
Not only did he complete the course everytime, but the fences back then were far bigger than they are in todays race.
His record in those five races:
1973 Won
1974 Won
1975 2nd
1976 2nd
1977 Won
He loved the Aintree course and the whole Grand National occasion, clearly visible, as he was unfit to race in 1978, he led out the parade and was bouncing around thinking he was running!
Not only is his record in the race unequalled, but he acheived it by carrying the top weight in most of them!
Red Rum wins the 1973 grand national
Red Rum wins the 1974 grand national
Red Rum wins the 1977 grand national
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