Noel Le Mare is a name you may or not remember. Although I am sure horse racing fans from yesteryear will have fond memories of this elegantly dressed gentleman.
Le Mare had three ambitions in life:
- To get married to a beautiful woman.
- To become a millionaire.
- To win the Grand National.
When he achieved them all, he had fulfilled his ambitions. He said: ‘Now my life is complete.’
Neol Le Mare was in fact the owner of the most famous winner of the the Aintree Grand National.
Red Rum.
He not only won the National once but three times in 1973, 1974 & 1977. ‘Rummy’ as he was known was to touch the heart and mind of all and looking back to those days and commentary of the Voice of Racing Sir Peter O’Sullevan it still sends shivers down the spine.
However, the story of Red Rum was as much about fate as anything.
For instance, if Donald ‘Ginger’ McCain hadn’t been a taxi driver as well as a small-time horse trainer he would never have met Le Mare who he used to drive every Saturday evening to the local dinner and dance. Their passion for horse racing and specifically winning the Grand National came to fruition.
Not that was as straightforward as it seemed because Le Mare had a horse with McCain which was meant to run in the 1972 Grand National. However, the trainer mistakenly withdrew the horse. This led him to buying Red Rum from the sales ring for 6,000 guineas. The horse arrived at the stables lame.
The soft sand of Southport beach and sea water miraculously healed Red Rum’s poorly legs and time would tell captured the heart and mind of a fans across the world.
Perhaps sometimes in life all you need are three ambitions.
