Racing mourns Grand National legend McCain
McCain, affectionately known as Mr Grand National, made racing history by saddling Red Rum to win the great race three times in 1973, 1974 and 1977.
He added a fourth towards the end of his career with Amberleigh House in 2004 to give Halewood his greatest thrill as an owner.
“I was fortunate to have known Ginger for nearly 30 years – he was a good friend and I remember him not just for the horses we had together, but also for the great fun we shared,” he said.
“It is impossible to replace him – he was a man’s man in every sense and it is a very sad end of an era.”
McCain began his training career as a permit holder in 1953 and took out a full licence in 1969 when his stables were behind his car showroom in Southport. In 1990 he moved to Cholmondeley in Cheshire.
He worked as a taxi driver to supplement his income as a trainer prior to finding Grand National success.
It was as a taxi driver that he became acquainted with Noel le Mare, for whom he bought Red Rum. McCain retired after the 2006 Grand National and handed over the licence to his son.
Tommy Stack rode Red Rum to that historic third National success. “Ginger was a great man and a great friend and it was my pleasure to have known him,” he said
“I rode for him in numerous occasions and when he asked me about Red Rum at Doncaster Sales, I said never school him.
“He asked me to ride him when he first got him and he also asked me to ride him in his first Grand National, but I was retained by somebody else.”
Red Rum’s first National triumph came at the expense of Crisp who was collared in the final strides after making the fearsome Aintree fences look like twigs.
His jockey Richard Pitman said: “He was such a marvellous man. Legend is used quite widely but he was a legend and he was bigger than life. You couldn’t fail to enjoy yourself in his company.”
Ballabriggs’ owner Trevor Hemmings held McCain in the greatest respect. He said: “Legend is the correct word for Ginger. I’ve known the family since 1969, which is a long time.
“He was a remarkable man and despite the way he represented his personality, he was very astute, his timing was very accurate and he knew what he was doing.
“If he was going to cause controversy, he’d know exactly what he was doing and why. As much as racing did for him, racing owes Ginger a lot as well.”
