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Red Rum

by Owyn from Boulder

"And he is coming up to the last fence in the lead by 25 lengths. And he won!" Red Rum won the Grand National Steeplechase for the third time. No horse had ever done this before. 



Early life
It all started on May 3, 1965 at the Rossenarra stud in Kells, Ireland. He was bred to be a sprinter not a steeplechase horse. Noel Le Mare went to Rossenarra stud to look at a different horse. But when she saw the the crippled colt it was love at first sight. That day, instead of coming home with the horse she planned to come home with, she came home with Red Rum.
Red Rum ready to race
Red Rum ready to race

              First steps in racing
Red Rum recovered from the crippled bone disease when he was 8 years old (1972) and moved right into his first race in 1973. He won his first race in a record time of 9 minutes 1.9 seconds. He also spurted ahead in the last 100 yards and was first to cross the line right before his biggest rival, Crisp. The crowds were yelling "Rummy, Rummy!" (Rummy was his nickname.)

  His second race was also a major success, when he won by ¾ of a length.  But the winning streak ended in 1975 and 1976 when he came in second. His rider, Tommy Sack, was about to get fired by Red Rum's owner, Noel Le Mare, when Donald McCain (Red Rum's trainer) stepped in and said that all miss a win every now and then.


Red Rum's grave
Red Rum's grave
                                                                           The sad part
                 
 Then Rummy made a huge come back in 1977 and after he won his last race he retired on a good note. He died as the most loved steeplechase horse, on October 18, 1995. He was buried at the winning post at the Grand National course. But he lives on. He foaled over 100 colts and fillies and his trainer (Donald McCain) says each and every one of his foals has a dash of Red Rum.

I picked Red Rum as my hero because when I hear his name I think of a valuable lesson: Never give up!






Page created on 1/19/2016 5:06:19 PM

Last edited 1/19/2016 5:06:19 PM

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Related Links

The my hero project - If you liked this story read this one
This day in history - here is some more info

Bibliography

britannica, the editors of. "Red rum." [Online] Available http://www.britannica.com/topic/Red-Rum.

McMCoy, AP. Red Rum. feedback10

sharpio, T. Rees . Red Rum. the washington post2