It all started at the Rossenarra Stud in Kells in County Kilkenny, Ireland. From his Sire, a grey stallion named 'Qorum' and his Dam 'Mared' on 3 May 1965, this is where arguably the most famous race horse of all time was born.

As you may now be able to work out, by using the last three letters of the Sire and Dam's names, the bay foal was christened 'Red Rum'. It was also famously noted at a later date that it also spelt murder backwards, but this is pure coincidence.

Red Rum was bred by sprinter Martyn McEnery and it was hoped that he would eventually evolve into a decent flat racing horse, and in fact in his debut race on 7 April 1967 (funnily enough at Aintree, where he would go on to flourish) he ran in the Thursby Plate, where he finished in a dead heat with a horse called Curlicue.

As is often the case with many famous race horses, Red Rum was considered to be an unremarkable runner to begin with. It also appeared that his sprinting days were numbered.

An Unconventional Racing Start

At a price of 400 Guineas, Red Rum the yearling was bought and broken in by former Champion Hurdle-winning jockey Tim Molony. However, Red Rum would then be passed from yard to yard, a far cry from the famous race horse that he became.

Eventually he ended up under the ownership of a woman called Lurline Brotherton, whose sole ambition was to own the winner of the Grand National.

It was at this point that great things were expected of Red Rum (often affectionately known as 'Rummy'), but during the 1969/1970 season after having run fourteen times over hurdles, he did not record a single victory. The loss of form was a mystery.

By October 1970, Red Rum embarked on the Novice Chase Campaign and by the end of the season had won or been placed in all 13 of the chases that season. And so it appeared that perhaps his form had returned.

The Course Of Racing History Was Changed With One Decision

However, during the 1971/1972 season things again were not so easy going. the season was a tough one, and although Red Rum did record 2 victories at Catterick it was feared that he would not fulfil his potential.

A huge decision was made by Lurline Brotherton, who frustrated by Red Rum's mixed race fortunes and escalating vet bills due to the bone disease pedalostitis, she entered him for Doncaster's August Sale of 1972.

This was to be the start of a new beginning for the soon to be famous race horse.

And so despite question marks over both his health and his form, Red Rum was bought for the sum of 6,000 Guineas on behalf of Noel le Mare. This is where the then seven-year-old would begin his long and famous tenure at car dealer Donald "Ginger" McCain's Upper Aughton Road stables in Liverpool.

At the time in the Summer of 1972, who would have thought that this would be a famous and successful partnership that would continue for the next 23 years?

Against All Odds His Potential Would Be Realised

Red Rum's association with Liverpool began long before his reign as arguably the most famous racehorse in Britain. As previously mentioned, as a two-year-old he made his debut at Aintree, ending in a dead-heat with Curlicue. This was however on the flat course at Aintree and not the famous National Hunt course we all know and love.

Interestingly, watching the race that day was none other than Ginger McCain, who’s name would be forever associated with the famous Red Rum.

Although Red Rum suffered with a debilitating bone disease in his foot, Ginger McCain saw the potential of the horse and felt it was a minor obstacle that could be overcome. For many horses and their trainers, this would mean the end of a racing career before it even began, but not Red Rum.

Ginger McCain trained Red Rum in the sand and shallow waters at Southport in Merseyside, not far from Liverpool. It is believed by many experts that this is the reason that Rummy was able to overcome his disability and race at an unprecedented world-class level.

History In The Making

Ginger McCain now believed that Red Rum was in his prime, and in 1973 the racing public saw Red Rum, benefiting from the training on the local Southport sands, winning what is considered the most exciting Grand National race of all time.

Having been at one stage more than 20 lengths adrift of the giant Australian horse Crisp, ridden by Richard Pitman, the great horse kept going, running the race to absolute perfection. With Crisp showing signs of tiring, Red Rum would steadily eat into his lead, and push on as they reached the famous elbow at Aintree.

Crisp was exhausted at this point, having lead the race from the start, but could only watch as Red Rum pipped him at the post to win a memorable race. This is perhaps the moment that signified Red Rum's destiny to become the famous race horse that he became.

And Rummy would repeat the feat the following year. In 1974's race, Red Rum was listed as third favourite at 11-1, however he secured his second Grand National with a near perfect run. By the Canal Turn second time round he was right up with the leaders and yet still on the bridle! With four fences left he had the lead and never lost it.

Winning the 1973 and 1974 meant that Red Rum was the first horse since Reynolds Town back in the 1930’s to win successive Grand Nationals, and at this stage the experts were predicting he was a famous race horse in the making.

In fact 1974 was arguably Red Rum’s best season, as in addition to winning his second Grand National at Aintree he landed the Scottish National as well, and only narrowly lost out to Red Candle in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury.

Mission Accomplished

The third of Red Rum's classic Grand National victories came in 1977, when the now great horse was 12 years old. Ginger McCain had meticulously prepared and trained especially for this race and Red Rum did not disappoint, putting in another tremendous performance.

He showed throughout that he was in perfect form for this race, and just after second Becher’s he took the lead and continued on to win in style.

No horse since has come close to emulating the feat of winning a hat trick of Grand Nationals, which was made more incredible considering his well documented foot problems.

In fact, very few would have imagined that Rummy would become the famous race horse that he became due to the severity of his condition, however his courage saw him overcome that obstacle as successfully as he would jump over the fences at his favourite Aintree course.

Most experts were convinced however, that his enforced unorthodox training grounds on Southport sands (in the absence of proper gallops) helped him overcome a condition that had plagued him during his early years.

To emphasis the consistency of this famous race horse consider this;

Red Rum won the Grand National in 1973, 1974 and 1977 however, it should also be noted that in the 1975 and 1976 Grand Nationals, this magnificent horse came second on both occasions. Can you imagine that with a little bit more luck Rummy could've had beaten L'Escargot (1975) and Rag Trade (1976), and then we'd be looking the even more spectacular feat of five consecutive Grand National wins.

Injuries Finally Caught Up With The Great Horse

Red Rum was entered in the Grand National in 1978, and he was working well in the build up to the race. Unfortunately, in an unlucky twist of fate he was declared a non-runner the night before due to lameness. He was later found to have a hairline fracture and would never race again, bringing about his retirement.

It was not a surprise that his withdrawal from the National in 1978 dominated all the news. It was a testament to this famous race horse's enormous public following and although his injury ruled him out of competing, that day the Liverpool crowds were not to be disappointed.

He would make an appearance by leading the pre-race parade, an engagement that would later became an annual event.

Red Rum’s retirement was announced by his trainer Ginger McCain on Friday 31 March 1978. During his retirement it seemed that Rummy was still as popular as he had been throughout his racing career.

During his retirement he made numerous public appearances, most memorably walking calmly on stage for the BBC Sports Review of the Year.

Red Rum sadly died on Wednesday 18 October 1995 aged 30, having enjoyed a long and happy retirement to follow his long, happy and successful racing career.

He was finally put to sleep having suffered a heart attack, and was fittingly laid to rest in the shadow of the winning post at Aintree, the course he had made his own.

Red Rum won a total of 27 races during his career, amassing over £100,000 in prize money (which was a record for a jump horse at the time).

Throughout his turbulent career he had many jockeys, but Tommy Stack who rode him as a five, six and seven year old, and again in his later years (including his final two Grand Nationals) remains his most successful partner.

Many will however, think of Brian Fletcher as his regular jockey. Particularly given the awesome partnership they formed to win the 1973 and 1974 Grand Nationals and who could forget his first victory in the race when beating the great Australian Crisp, in what is still considered by many to be the greatest ever Grand National.