1977 Grand National
| Grand National | |
| Location | Aintree Racecourse |
|---|---|
| Date | 2 April 1977 |
| Winning horse |
 Red Rum
|
| Jockey |
Tommy Stack
|
| Trainer |
 Ginger McCain
|
| Owner |
Noel Le Mare |
| Conditions | Good |
|
← 1976
1978 →
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 Replay of the 1975-79 Grand Nationals in full Racing UK, BBC Sport, YouTube |
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The last stages of the 1977 Grand National BBC Sport |
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The Grand National 1977 British Movietone |
The 1977 Grand National (known as the News of the World Grand National for sponsorship reasons) was the 131st renewal of the world-famous Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England, on 2 April 1977.
The race is best remembered for being Red Rum's third Grand National win, a record that still stands today. He completed the course in 9 minutes 30.3 seconds and went off as 9/1 joint-favourite.
The crowd are willing him home now. The 12-year-old Red Rum, being preceded only by loose horses, being chased by Churchtown Boy... They're coming to the elbow, just a furlong now between Red Rum and his third Grand National triumph! He gets a tremendous reception, you've never heard one like it at Liverpool... and Red Rum wins the National!
Before the race, Red Rum was generally thought too old — at the age of 12 — to win the Grand National for a third time, having come home first in 1973 and 1974, and second in 1975 and 1976. However, being ridden by jockey Tommy Stack for the second consecutive National, the gelding clinched his unprecedented third title, bringing his career earnings to a then steeplechasing record of £114,000.
Red Rum's 1976/77 season had begun badly. After an initial small win at Carlisle he appeared lacklustre in his next four races, and owner Ginger McCain lost confidence in him. However, the horse finally returned somewhat to his best form when coming sixth in his preparatory race to the 1977 Grand National, the Greenall Whitley Chase at Haydock. In his last gallop before the National, he was back in fine form.
Red Rum was given the top weight for Aintree, but it had dropped to 11 stone 8 lb.
A large portion of the 42-strong field was eliminated from the race on the first circuit: 19 had fallen or unseated their riders before the second circuit, including seven at the first fence. Going onto the second round, Boom Docker held a significant lead (the biggest going onto the second circuit in Grand National history) but he refused to jump the 17th fence.
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Wikipedia