h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Red Rum is the only horse to win the Aintree Grand National three times (1973, 1974 and 1977)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/liverpool/localhistory/journey/stars/red_rum/profile.shtml

Oh you are not doing the old boy justice.

Why is Red Rum so special? Because he not only won the race three times, but for five years he was either first or second. The National was a much stiffer test of stamina and jumping ability in the 70s.

He won back to back Nationals in 1973 and 1974, but in 1975 he was beaten into second place by the Gold Cup winner L'Escargot. In 1976 he was second again to Rag Trade. By 1977 he was 12 years old and his trainer, Ginger McCain realised that this was one last chance to do the triple. But what a horse! It didn't matter who you backed that year, everyone wanted only one winner and there wasn't any one on the course at Aintree who wasn't cheering themselves hoarse as they watched Rummy come home. He might have won the following year to but he always had had dodgy legs and he was retired because of an injury in 1978.

Rummy was also the only equine winner of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year. Many people would disput whether a horse should be classed as a personality, but Rummy was a legend. There are very few people who don't know who he was and what he achieve. His retirement was spent opening betting shops and making personal appearances. I saw him once at a local point to point. He was surrounded by huge huge crowd, kids crawling all over him, but he never batted an eyelid. He loved the attention and he knew he was a star.

We will not see his like again.

Thanks for that Abi.

Bob Champion, Frankie Dettori and Phar Lap need recognition too.