People can learn more about the life and times of the world’s most famous racehorse in a free online talk this week, courtesy of The Atkinson in Southport.
Dr Alexandra Fletcher, from The National Horse Racing Museum in Newmarket, will be giving a talk on triple Grand National winning horse Red Rum at 1pm this Wednesday (8th September).
The talk is free – you just need to book a place:
Dr Alexandra Fletcher is one of the senior management team at the The National Horseracing Museum in Newmarket. She will be looking at the story of Red Rum, a horse that holds a very special place in the history of Southport and of Sefton.
Rummie achieved an unmatched historic treble when he won the Grand National in 1973, 1974 and 1977, and also came second in the two intervening years, 1975 and 1976. The Grand National is a notoriously difficult race that has been described as “the ultimate test of a horse’s courage”. He is also remembered for his jumping ability, having not fallen in 100 races.
The 1973 race in which Red Rum secured his comeback victory from 30 lengths behind is often considered one of the greatest Grand Nationals in history.
You can book your place on the talk by clicking on this link here
The Atkinson, on Lord Street in Southport, is currently hosting an exciting new exhibition which pays homage to Red Rum, who rose from the humblest beginnings to become Britain’s best-known and best-loved racehorse.
His unequalled record of three wins and two seconds in the Grand National actively saved the race itself when its future was in serious doubt.
The free exhibition traces Red Rum’s life through a racing career which took him over 300 miles and 1,800 obstacles to his becoming an iconic sports celebrity in retirement.
The regular sight of Red Rum flying over the Southport sands where he trained thrilled many a local resident and this exhibition hopes to capture some of that magic as we tell his unique story.
Artist Paul Curtis has created a Red Rum mural for a new exhibtion at The Atkinson in Southport. Photo by Paul Curtis Artwork
Central to the exhibition is a mural of Red Rum by Liverpool-based artist and Liverpool City Region’s Artist of the Year 2020, Paul Curtis, who is currently painting the Toad Hall mural in Ainsdale.
The mural at The Atkinson depicts Red Rum’s hat-trick at the Grand National in 1977 with Churchtown Boy ridden by Martin Blackshaw coming in second behind him.
Paul specialises in street art and large murals. His work will be familiar to many from the 15 metre high mural of Red Rum situated on the Promenade and the white line Red Rum mural on the side of The Bold Hotel on Lord Street, both in Southport.
The Red Rum exhibition at The Atkinson is available to see until 30th October, 2021, and is curated by Jane Clarke, Historian of Aintree Racecourse and Curator of The Grand National Museum.
For more details about what’s on at The Atkinson in Southport, please visit: www.theatkinson.co.uk
Do you have a story for Stand Up For Southport? Please message Andrew Brown via Facebook here or email me at: mediaandrewbrown@gmail.com
