2011

GINGER McCain, trainer of the mighty Red Rum and one of the best-loved characters in racing, died in the early hours of Monday morning. He was 80.

A bluff, hearty, no-nonsense character, McCain became an Aintree legend when saddling Red Rum to win the Grand National in 1973, 1974 and 1977. Given modern handicapping, and the tendency to make things hard for previous winners, the feat is most unlikely to be repeated.

McCain also won the race with Amberleigh House in 2004, before retiring two years later. His son Donald, who has made such a success of the family yard at Cholmondeley in Cheshire, sent out this year’s winner, Ballabriggs.

Ginger McCain started with very little. He saw his first Grand National at the age of 10 from a barge on the canal and fell in love with the race, never dreaming that he would one day become synonymous with a grand old Liverpool institution.

He was a taxi driver at one stage, which is how he came to meet Red Rum’s subsequent owner, Noel Le Mare. As canny as they come, McCain bought the horse for 6,000gns, even though he had been in several stables and suffered from lameness. He trained him on the beach at Southport.

The first of his Grand National victories came in 1973 when, receiving 23lb from the gallant Crisp, he galloped past his exhausted rival close home. Brian Fletcher was again on board when he won in 1974, but Tommy Stack had taken over by the time Red Rum completed his unique treble. He also finished second in both of the intervening years.

Talking horses

If horses could talk, Red Rum would probably admit that celebrity status suited him very well, thank you. In retirement he was much in demand at official functions, being invited to switch on the Blackpool illuminations one year, and featuring on BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year programme.

His trainer could undoubtedly talk, and gave some of the most entertaining interviews ever heard on racing programmes or at racing lunches, dinners and the like.

Whilst it is true to say that political correctness is unlikely to have played a major role in family conversations, there is no doubt that Ginger, warming to his theme and with a twinkle in his eye, would tease interviewers with deliberately forthright opinions that were near the knuckle, to say the least – much to the delight of the audience.

He was a lovely, warm-hearted man who always said yes, and for whom nothing was ever too much trouble. He loved Aintree and it loved him back. If you did your best and spoke your mind, you were all rights as far as Ginger was concerned.

As Donald said this week: “The biggest thing he taught me was that if you are good, straight and honest, you’ll never come to too much harm.” Amen to that.

Stack tribute

Tommy Stack, who rode Red Rum to victory in the Grand National in 1977, and twice into second place, commented: “Ginger was a wonderful man and a great friend. It was a pleasure to ride for him, and when he asked me about Red Rum at Doncaster, I said never to school him.

“To produce Red Rum for the Grand National five times, and to win three times and finish second twice, is an achievement that will never be matched.”

Ginger died peacefully after watching the racing on television a day or two earlier. He lived the life he wanted, and people were happy to bask in the glory of his bluff, gruff, generous, work hard, play hard and bugger the rest personality.

He leaves his wife Beryl and daughter Joanne, as well as Donald junior. There will never be another like him.

John Oxx has Kastoria at perfect pitch

2006

JOHN Oxx registered his third The Irish Field St Leger triumph as Kastoria and Michael Kinane edged out top stayer Yeats in a thrilling stretch duel that decided the final classic of the domestic season.

Sixteen years after his last victory in the race, which came courtesy of Petite Ile, Oxx produced the lightly-raced Aga Khan-owned mare in terrific shape to make a winning debut at the highest level. In taking her career tally to six wins from 11 starts, the five-year-old daughter of Selkirk may well have earned a trip to Woodbine next month for the Canadian International.

The race only began in earnest with over five furlongs to run, as Yeats struck for home. The dual Group 1 winner had most of his rivals in trouble turning for home but Kastoria soon loomed up, travelling easily in his slipstream.

Nonetheless, Kinane was content to bide his time over the final quarter of a mile before committing. Once asked for her maximum, she picked up well to assert herself 100 yards out and prevail by half a length. There was a gap of 10 lengths back to last year’s runner-up, The Whistling Teal.

Good mare

“I didn’t think that she would beat Yeats, but I felt that’s he would run him close,” said Oxx. “She has gotten better with racing, and today she ran the race of her life. She’s a very good mare and has always had a bit more in the locker.”

Michael Kinane, who recorded successive victories of this race aboard Vintage Crop, was suitably impressed with Kastoria’s efforts, saying: “She really has improved in her work and we knew that she was never better. She is a genuine Group 1 mare.”

Yeats lost nothing in defeat, and his trainer Aidan O’Brien reflected: “Take nothing away from the winner; she’s done it very well.”

[Kastoria won six races at four and five, including the Group 1 The Irish Field Irish St Leger, Group 3 At The Races Curragh Cup, Listed EBF Galtres Stakes, Listed Ballyroan Stakes and Listed Vintage Crop Stakes. She was runner-up in the Group 1 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Vase. She bred two winners but died, without any more produce, after selling for €100,000 at Goffs to Lanwades Stud]

Golden Fleece impresses on his debut

1981

LAST Saturday’s Leopardstown meeting lived up to expectations, with as fine a day’s racing as could be wished for.

Unfortunately, no cooperation was forthcoming from the weather and the rains came at an early stage, getting worse as the afternoon progressed. Fortunately, the track in on par with the best in these islands with regard to covered accommodation, and racegoers had, at least, the option of staying dry.

Owner Mr J.P. Binet, trainer Vincent O’Brien and jockey Pat Eddery shared a hat-trick with Golden Fleece, Longleat and Kings Lake, the last named proving a most impressive winner of the Group 1 Joe McGrath Memorial Stakes.

Erins Isle put in a determined bid in the closing stages, but was never going to reach the winner who scored by a comfortable length, with Kind Of Hush third, another three lengths back. Blue Wind, who started favourite, failed to produce anything in the way of acceleration.

For my money, the best juvenile performance to date was turned in by newcomer Golden Fleece in the first division of the Oldbawn Two-Year-Old Stakes.

His price tag [$775,000] may well be justified both on the racecourse and at stud.

A particularly generously-framed horse, he was reluctant to enter the stalls but, once out, showed no inconvenience on the bends.

Set alight turning for home, he was about four of five lengths clear in an instant, and Assert, probably a good colt in his own right, could make no impression.

[Golden Fleece was unbeaten in four starts, culminating with victory in the Derby at Epsom. He beat the best runners of his generation and was described by Pat Eddery as the best horse he ever rode. Retired to Coolmore, he had an equally short career at stud, covering for just a single season]