Best Horse Race Ever

by Alex

Horse racing throws up a lot of tales of heroism and derring-do. From Secretariat to Phar Lap, so many of these have been immortalised in the movies. But one that hasn't is the amazing tale of Red Rum.

Everyone in the UK has heard of Red Rum. To this day, almost 20 years after his death, his feats in what has to be one of the world's most famous races, the Grand National, during the 1970s have secured his fame forever.

But it was one Grand National more than any other that really ensured his name would go down in history – and for those of us that witnessed it, this was surely the greatest horse race ever.

The Grand National needs no introduction. Run in Liverpool each April of some of the world's most dauntingfences, it's a gruelling test of man and beast over four and a half miles and two circuits of the famous Aintree course.

It's one of the biggest gambled-on racesin the world with hundreds of millions of dollars being wagered in the UK alone each year. If you fancy a longshot punt of your own on the race, by the way, then go to the ca.32red.com the online casino and pick up the free $32 on offer for each $10 deposited then after you've played through, you may be lucky enough to have a free bet on the 32 Red sports-bookon the Grand National.

Each year is a memorable one for the great race – but there'll surely never be another like the 1977 running. Red Rum had won the race in record time at his first attempt in 1973. He came back the following year and managed to win again under far more weight (the Grand National is a handicap). No horse had managed this since the 1930s – and none have managed it since. The following two years saw "Rummy" ran gallant seconds as the crippling weight got the better of him each time.

Then, for the 1977 race, he was again given a big weight and was now 12; a ripe old age for a Grand National horse. But his jockey that year, Tommy Stack, rode the perfect race. Dropping Red Rum out of things for the first circuit, he gradually made his way through the field on the second circuit and when they reached the second last fence – he was leading and moving comfortably away from eventual runner-up Churchtown Boy.

You can watch the race on YouTube and you'll get a small amount of the excitement the whole of the UK felt as Red Rum won – a feat which saw him appear as a special guest on the UK Sports Personality of the Year award show.

There wasn't a dry eye in the house when Red Rum – incredibly – won this third Grand National which goes down in history as the best horse race ever for millions of fans the world over.