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RED RUM: A NATIONAL TREASURE









He won the Grand National on a record three occasions, was a contender for the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year and even switched on the Blackpool lights. In all, RED RUM competed 100 times over jumps, winning 24 of his starts. But it was those five races over Aintree's perilous 30 fences that brought him to the nation's heart.
The spotlight first fell on him in 1973 at his first appearance at Aintree. Just yards from the line he swept past the exhausted CRISP in one of the Nation's most dramatic finishes. A year later, carrying a punishing top weight, he won again and for the next two years he was second. In 1977, back for a fifth attempt, he won by 25 lengths completing a unique achievement of three wins.
Being a bookies' nightmare wasn't the only appeal of RED RUM, his stables were behind a used car lot in Southport; he recovered from a career-threatening form of arthritis through walks in the nearby Irish Sea; he had a penchant for Polo mints; opened betting shops, garden fetes and parties; celebrated with supporters and brought Liverpool's traffic to a standstill as crowds took to the street to greet him.
At the age of 30, RED RUM, suffering from circulatory problems, died at his Cholmondeley stable. Laid to rest at Aintree's winning post, he will be forever linked with the greatest race and always have a special place in the nation's heart.
(75 Minutes)
Listing Info: | |
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Listing ID: | 380 |
Format(s) Available: | DVD And VHS |
Category: | National Hunt / Jumps / Steeplechase |