Remembering our Red Rum

THIS week tens of thousands of people will descend on Sefton for the 2017 Aintree Grand National Festival – with many millions more from around the world tuning in.

The internationally renowned event will this year bring back memories of what happened 40 years ago when Red Rum won his historic third Grand National victory.

It was arguably the greatest moment in sporting history, sending punters into euphoria, leaving bookies cleaned out and pub landlords rushing off for more supplies.

Rummy was the world’s greatest ever racehorse, feted wherever he went, greeted by huge crowds when he was given the Freedom of Southport Sands in 1978.

So why is he now so poorly recognised in his home town?

This magnificent racehorse owed his three Grand National wins to his regular gallops along Southport Beach, which helped cure a condition which had left him lame. He was stabled on Upper Aughton Road and trained by local horse racing trainer Ginger McCain.

Back in the 1970s, the Red Rum Hotel, complete with Rummy’s Bar, stood on Lord Street, where 88 Brasserie & Bar is now.

These days the only clue to his existence locally is a small statue mounted on a plinth in Wayfarer’s Arcade (good on them for celebrating him).

Forty years ago, thousands greeted Red Rum’s return to Southport from his Grand National wins. Where has that love, that appreciation, for the world’s greatest racehorse gone?

Red Rum in his heyday put Southport on the world map – as a town we should do more to remember him, and secure the opportunities that that would bring.