This week’s Grand National at Aintree Racecourse will see millions of people around the world celebrating 50 years since the first historic victory by the world’s most famous ever racehorse – Southport’s Red Rum.
‘Rummie’, who was stabled in Birkdale by trainer ‘Ginger’ McCain and regained his form and fitness by galloping along the beach in Southport and Birkdale, won the first of three historic Grand National races in 1973.
The bane of bookies’ lives, especially in his home town of Southport, Red Rum went on to enjoy further victories in 1974 and 1977, and finished second in 1975 and 1976.
Rummie was the world’s greatest ever racehorse, feted wherever he went, greeted by huge crowds – such as when he was given the Freedom of Southport Sands at the Floral Hall Gardens in 1978.
Many people in Southport will remember those glory days with happy memories – if so we’d love to hear your stories and see your pictures. Please email me at: [email protected] or post into our Stand Up For Southport Facebook group.
Red Rum with Ginger McCain receive the freedom of Southport Sands in recognition of their achievements in promoting Southport 1978
There are some signs that Southport was home to the world’s greatest racehorse. It would be nice to see more.
Back in the 1970s and 1980s we The Red Rum Hotel, including Rummy’s Bar, stood proudly on Lord Street, where The Carlton is now.
A Red Rum statue has stood for many years inside Wayfarers Arcade on Lord Street.
Last year, street artist Paul Curtis created a floor-to-ceiling Red Rum mural inside The Atkinson as the centrepiece of an exhibition.
He previously created a four-storey Red Rum mural, which stands at the junction of The Promenade and Scarisbrick Avenue.
A huge mural of legendary racehorse Red Rum by acclaimed street artist Paul Curtis was unveiled in Southport in March
Pau has also created a Red Rum mural on the side of The Bold Hotel on Lord Street, owned by Mikhail Hotel and Leisure Group.
A spokesperson for MHALG said: “Did you know, that The Bold Hotel has strong links with Aintree, in particular, the most famous Grand National name of them all, Red Rum?
”The treble race winner spent the night in what is now the function suite, now named after the famous horse the night before his first win in 1973 and actually walked through the room for a party in his honour after his third win on 2nd April 1977.
“What better way to celebrate this year’s festival than to party like Red Rum!
“The afternoon is a wonderful way to raise money for MacMillan, a charity that I am sure has touched many lives, whilst having some fabulous fun.”
Artwork of Red Rum’s Grand National triumph, by Paul Curtis Artwork, on the side of The Bold Hotel on Lord Street. Photo by Andrew Brown Media
This magnificent racehorse owed his three Grand National wins to his regular gallops along Southport Beach, which helped cure a condition which had left him lame. He was stabled on Upper Aughton Road in Birkdale and trained by local horse racing trainer Ginger McCain.
Many places graced by such a legend would have had more than a Red Rum Hotel for just a few years – they would have opened a Red Rum Museum; turned his stables into a tourist attraction; started a Red Rum trail; named roads or pubs after him.
With Southport so close to Aintree racecourse, enjoying such a resurgence in recent years, the potential for growing tourism is apparent.
Forty years ago, thousands of people greeted Red Rum’s return to Southport from his Grand National wins.
Red Rum with Ginger McCain recieve the freedom of Southport Sands in recognition of their achievements in promoting Southport 1978
He is still revered and will be celebrated and mentioned time and time again when the Grand National takes place this week at Aintree.
Rummy’s first Grand National victory in 1973 on its own would have given a superb fairytale ending – but this superb racehorse then repeated the trick the following year too in 1974.
Bookies across Southport, never mind Britain, were cleared out, and the pubs were drunk dry.
Already assured his place in Grand National history after becoming the magnificent seventh to land two successes, Ginger McCain’s star travelled to Aintree Racecourse every year in the mid-1970s with high expectations.
Stable lad Billy Beardswood takes Red Rum for a stroll through the streets of Southport in April 1978
But after his back-to-back successes in 1973 and 1974, his bid to stand alone as the only hat-trick hero in Aintree history stuttered.
For any normal horse and connections finishing second two years in a row – as he did behind L’Escargot and Rag Trade in 1975 and 1976 respectively – would have been the pinnacle of a career.
For Red Rum it appeared a signal his glories were behind him. In the 1976-77 season there were concerns that McCain’s old friend had ‘gone’ after some lacklustre displays.
But after a promising prep, when sixth again in the Greenalls at Haydock, he set off for a fifth successive Grand National on April 3.
Red Rum makes a triumphant return to his stables in Birkdale, Southport, after his 1973 Grand National victory
Those lucky enough to be there were transfixed as McCain’s star created history. And the millions watching around the world were inspired by Red Rum’s heroics.
Despite being a 12-year-old, he was made the 9-1 joint-favourite by his legion of supporters.
Red Rum travelled and jumped just as well as he had ever done.
Stalking just off the pace, he eventually took it up at Becher’s Brook on the second circuit when leader and fellow joint-favourite Andy Pandy fell.
Stable lad Billy Beardswood takes Red Rum for a stroll through the streets of Southport in April 1978
He barely saw another rival and went on to score by 25 lengths from Churchtown Boy to a tumultuous reception.
And the famous commentary of the late Sir Peter O’Sullevan was correct – they hadn’t seen anything like it before.
Speaking in 2003, the late McCain recalled the moments after Red Rum had become the first – and still the only – horse to win the race three times.
He said: “The owner and trainers’ area at Liverpool goes right up all those wooden steps at the top of the stand. But I came down them without touching a step – it was a magic feeling.”
A triumphant Red Rum is welcomed by the crowds back to his stables in Birkdale, Southport, after his dramatic Grand National victory in 1973
The Irish jockey Tommy Stack, who had replaced Brian Fletcher in the saddle the previous year, paid tribute after the race, saying: “He is the most tremendous horse round Aintree. I am just glad to be part of this horse. He won it. Not me.”
Horses are so often talked about in human terms. But if any horse had human qualities it was Red Rum.
He was as much at home on a racetrack as when mixing with his adoring public.
He was led into the after-race party in the Bold Hotel in Lord Street, Southport, the same night as his historic third win, without so much as a hair turned on his mane.
Red Rum meets fans at Wayfarers Arcade in Southport in September 1982
A month later he was ridden down Lord Street by Stack as Southport threw a civic reception in his honour with thousands of people lining the streets.
He also opened the Steeplechase ride at Blackpool’s Pleasure Beach that year and helped switch on the Illuminations at the seaside resort. His celebrity was assured.
Red Rum graced all manner of memorabilia from jigsaws to china, records to tea towels.
A shop was opened across the road from Ginger McCain’s car showroom on Upper Aughton Road in Birkdale dedicated to selling Red Rum merchandise while supermarkets, pubs and betting shops were opened up and down the country.
Red Rum was rarely off television as well as the front and back pages of the newspapers – he transcended his sport during and after his racing career.
Matthew Ormesher (left) with Red Rum and Andy the donkey in a field at Kew, Southport. Photo by Harry Ormesher
Red Rum stayed with the McCains until he was 30, initially at stables on Upper Aughton Road in Birkdale in Southport and then at Bankhouse Stables in Cholmondley in the Cheshire countryside following the move in 1990.
He died on October 18, 1995 and was buried, fittingly, by the winning post at Aintree. The spot is marked by a headstone listing his unparalleled National record.
Red Rum, the world’s greatest racehorse and one of Southport’s most-loved residents, will never be forgotten.
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