The sporting world is in mourning after horse racing great Donald “Ginger” McCain died on Monday morning, aged 80. The legendary trainer, arguably best known for brilliantly handling the delicate Red Rum in the 1970’s, would have turned 81 on Wednesday.
It was revealed by Ginger’s wife Beryl, shortly after his death, that he had died in his sleep after suffering from cancer.
McCain started off his training life in 1962 with small stables behind his car showroom in Southport, but rose to worldwide prominence with the famous three Grand National successes of Red Rum in 1973, 1974 and 1977. Training the National hero on the sands of Southport beach, the emphatic victories of “Rummy” led to celebrity status with memorable appearances on several shows, including the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year. The ever popular horse even opened a ride at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.
Amberleigh House provided McCain and Red Rum fans with another emotional win in the great race in 2004 and in 2006, McCain passed his training licence down to his son Donald Jnr. Keeping the tradition alive, Donald Jnr fittingly trained his first Grand National winner this year, after Ballabriggs saw off the challenge of thirty-nine other runners to triumph, with an unusually teary Ginger in attendance.
McCain’s story is an inspirational one. Having been a taxi driver in Southport, once driving Frank Sinatra around, McCain kept horses at the back of his garages. Upon acquiring Red Rum, McCain always had confidence in him, confidence which was justified by the fact that the horse became the most famous of all time. His Aintree feats will never be achieved by any horse again. Such results saved not only a dwindling Grand National, but Aintree Racecourse itself. McCain and Red Rum will forever be racing immortals.
Branded by fellow legend Jenny Pitman as ‘irreplaceable’, McCain was never afraid to speak his mind in these times of political correctness. Always honest, McCain was a caring husband, father and grandfather and a character which racing owes an incredible debt. A regular sight on any racecourse, Ginger will be greatly missed by racing and non-racing folk alike.
