FIFTY years after he galloped home to win his first Aintree showpiece, wonder horse Red Rum has returned.
Displaying the power and poise that saw him land three Grand Nationals in five years, a hologram of Rummy has brought the beloved racehorse back to Liverpool.
The hologram of Red Rum was beamed onto Liverpool’s famous Royal Liver Building
Rummy takes the last fence in his 1973 Grand National – the first of his five wins
Trained on the beach at Southport, 20 miles north of Liverpool, by used car dealer Ginger McCain, above in 1992, the gelding became Britain’s best-loved animal
The images beamed on to the city’s famous Royal Liver Building were a tribute to the nation’s favourite steeplechaser on the golden anniversary of his 1973 win.
It was one of the finest Nationals ever, Red Rum relentlessly reeling in runaway leader Crisp to pip him at the post.
Crisp, who at one point had a seemingly unassailable 30-length lead, was still 15 lengths clear of Rummy and his rider Brian Fletcher at the last fence.
Crisp’s jockey Richard Pitman said later: “I still dream about that race, of Crisp running so strongly and jumping so fearlessly, and then the sound of Red Rum’s hooves as he got closer and closer at the end.
“I felt as though I was tied to a railway line with an express train thundering up and being unable to jump out of the way.”
Bookmaker Coral, which organised the hologram event as a prelude to tomorrow big race, said Red Rum was still the race’s “most popular and best-loved winner”.
Rummy went on to win the race again in 1974 and 1977 and was second in 1975 and 1976.
Tony McCoy, 20 times champion jockey, said the horse’s record “will never be equalled, let alone surpassed”.
Trained on the beach at Southport, 20 miles north of Liverpool, by used car dealer Ginger McCain, the gelding became Britain’s best-loved animal.
McCain’s son Donald, who trained Ballabriggs to win the 2011 National, said of Red Rum’s third victory: “I remember him arriving home — and looking out of my bedroom window, and the whole street was people on the roofs.
“The street was shut. It was like watching Liverpool returning with the Champions League trophy.”
After his retirement Red Rum took to showbiz like a horse to water.
He was a studio guest at the 1977 BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards ceremony and his image appeared on posters, mugs, jigsaw puzzles and playing cards, and statues of him were commissioned.
Rummy’s star power saw him appear as Blackpool Illuminations were switched on, and he drew adoring crowds as he attended the opening of supermarkets, fetes and betting shops.
The beloved horse died aged 30 in 1995 and was buried, where else, at the winning post at Aintree.
Tomorrow’s Grand National, which will be watched by 600million around the globe, is a testament to the popularity that Rummy’s heroics gave the race.
ITV Racing’s Luke Harvey, an ex-jockey, summed it up: “Watching Red Rum win those Nationals as a child instilled a love of horse racing in me.
“He had star quality and loved the crowds. He was a bit of a showoff and knew they were cheering for him.
“To see him back at the gallop in Liverpool is fantastic. He’s part of the folklore of the Grand National and British sport.”
