<P> Commentator Peter O'Sullevan describes Red Rum's record third Grand National win in 1977 </P> <P> During this period, Red Rum was breaking all records to become the most successful racehorse in Grand National history . Originally bought as a yearling in 1966 for 400 guineas (£ 420), he passed through various training yards before being bought for 6,000 guineas (£ 6,300) by Ginger McCain on behalf of Noel le Mare . Two days after the purchase while trotting the horse on Southport beach, McCain noticed that Red Rum appeared lame . The horse was suffering from pedal osteitis, an inflammatory bone disorder . McCain had witnessed many lame carthorses reconditioned by being galloped in sea - water . He successfully used this treatment on his newly acquired racehorse . </P> <P> Red Rum became, and remains as of 2018, the only horse to have won the Grand National three times, in 1973, 1974, and 1977 . He also finished second in the two intervening years, 1975 and 1976 . </P> <P> In 1973, he was in second place at the last fence, 15 lengths behind champion horse Crisp, who was carrying 23 lbs more . Red Rum made up the ground on the run - in and, two strides from the finishing post, he pipped the tiring Crisp to win by three - quarters of a length in what is arguably the most memorable Grand National of all time . Red Rum finished in 9 minutes 1.9 seconds, taking 18.3 seconds off the previous record for the National which had been set in 1935 by Reynoldstown . His record was to stand for the next seventeen years . </P>

Lad's colour in grand nationals of the 1970s