Horses

Red Rum

Perhaps not very well known to American racing fans, Red Rum is known in the British Isles as the spirit of the Grand National. The only horse to have won the race three times, his early life had very humble beginnings. Sold as a two year old for a mere 6,000 pounds. He was lame when he arrived at owner Noel Le Mare’s barn in Southport, England, where trainer Ginger McCain took over. Training the horse on the beach at Southport, the horse excelled and soon ‘Rummy’ scored his first Grand National win in 1973 and his second in 1974. Although he ran in both of the next two years he was only able to capture second in each race to the disappointment of his many fans.

This was to change the next year when, in 1977 at the age of 12, he was the 10/1 second favorite. Trainer Ginger McCain had worked all year getting the horse ready for this one big race. Red Rum did not disappoint – he took the lead and never looked back

He retired soon after this but his association with Aintree was far from over.‘Rummy would regularly lead the parade of horses before the race to the loud cheers of the fans gathered.

This great horse passed away at the age of 30 on October 18,1995 and was buried at the finish line with his head facing the winning post.

Cigar

‘Cigar assumes the crown of immortality’ went the cry as the mighty horse charged down the track to win Arlington Park's Citation Challenge in 1996. We were there at Arlington that day and to say the horse is amazing is an understatement! He came flying down the stretch to cross the finish line then, after receiving his flowers, proceeded to stick his nose into every camera he could find! He then pranced around the track as if to say, “Come on, lets do it again!”

Cigar was foaled in1990, his mare was Solar Slew and his grandsire Seattle Slew. On his fathers side, his great grand father was Northern Dancer. Despite this pedigree, Cigar was unimpressive on the turf. As a 3 year old, trainer Alex Hassinger  decided to try the horse on the dirt. The results speak for themselves. Cigar broke his maiden within the month and never looked back. After surgery in 1993 to remove bone chips, owner Allen Paulson decided to send him to his east coast stable under trainer Bill Mott. Cigar was rested until July of his 4th year and then Mott  put him on the turf yet again. This final attempt to run Cigar on the grass proved frustrating to both trainer and horse and in October Mott switched him back to the dirt at Aquaduct. With Jockey Mike Smith onboard, Cigar sailed passed the competition to win by 8 lengths.

History shows that the horse completed a perfect season as a 5 year old including wins in the Woodward Stakes and the Jockey Club Gold Cup and of course the Breeders Cup with Jerry Bailey up. Cigar set a new stakes record as he ran the1 ¼ miles in 1:59 2/5.

John Henry

John Henry arrived in the world on March 9, 1975 at Golden Chance Farms in Lexington, Kentucky. His sire, Gold Cup winner Ole Bob Bowers, traced his roots to the Domino line. Unfortunately most of John Henry’s early owners had little faith in the knob kneed colt, feeling that the only thing he had inherited from his sire was a bad disposition and even nastier temper. John Henry was to prove his critics wrong with a stellar career that included not one but two Arlington Million wins. The first in 1981, with the immortal Bill Shoemaker in the irons, was nearly too close to call. A photo finish was to show that John Henry got his nose down in time to defeat The Bart. This led to John Henry being given the well earned Horse of the Year award. The win was immortalized in 1989 by the magnificent bronze statue titled 'Against All Odds' that stands proudly at Arlington Race Course. His second win in the Arlington Million came in 1984 at the advanced age of 9. Now residing at Kentucky Horse Park, John Henry is approaching his 30th birthday. He spends his time walking on soft grass, eating carrots, dreaming of past glories and still terrorizing grooms. He has truly earned the title ‘the grand old man’ of horse racing.

Shergar

In a lifetime that was far to short, Shergar was considered a wonder-horse. He was bred by the Aga Khan and was one of only a few horses to ever win both the Epsom and Irish Derbies in one year. Following his win in the Epsom derby his jockey Walter Swinburn was quoted saying, "I was just a passenger on a very good horse."

Shergar's debut race was in the Guardian Classic Where he charged passed all opponents to win by 10 lengths. He repeated the show only ten days later when he won at Chester. This time by 12 lengths!

A near disaster was averted when Shergar broke lose during a morning gallop at Epsom. His handlers were in a near panic as all attempts to find the horse had failed when he suddenly appeared under the control of a van driver who had caught the horse outside Henry Cecil's stable.

We wish we could end the story on a high note, saying this mighty, gallant horse was happily retired to stud, siring many of today’s greatest horses, unfortunately the remainder of the story is not a happy one. Shergar was kidnapped and murdered by people believed to be involved with the Irish Republican Army on February 9, 1983. When the Aga Khan refused to give in to terrorism the horse was killed. Race fans from all of Britain were devastated by this incredible act of needless cruelty, any many to this day still mourn the loss of this great champion.