Red Rum, who won the Grand National a record three times in a row, captured the imagination of the public.
Neil Clark says that securing this race’s future is essential.
Before settling down to read about the remarkable Red Rum, be sure to check out more racing features from The Field, including 100 years of the Cheltenham Gold Cup and our guide to the best luxury country hats – essential to top a grand day out at Aintree.
Red Rum: the story of Aintree’s finest
Aintree is the location and the date is 30 March 1974. At the start of this 128th Grand National, 42 horses will be lined up. Scout is the 7/1 favourite, followed at 17/2 by the dual Gold Cup winner L’Escargot, who was third 12 months earlier. The previous year’s winner, Red Rum, is only third favourite and has drifted out to 11/1 just before the off.
In 1973 Ginger McCain’s locally trained charge had played the role of pantomime villain as he deprived the gallant, front-running Crisp of victory in the dying strides of the four-mile, four-furlong marathon. Crisp had a lot of sympathy back then, but in 1974 Red Rum was the one who now has to carry 12…
