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| Red Rum 1973 Grand National Winning Legend |
In 2009 John Smith's launched a poll to determine five personalities inducted into the inaugural Grand National Legends initiative, inscribed on a commemorative plaques at Aintree.
They were:
- Ginger McCain and Red Rum record three wins in the Grand National
- John Buckingham and Foinavon, the most unlikely winner in 1967
- Manifesto, who holds the record for the most runs in the race, eight including two victories
- Jenny Pitman, the first woman to train the winner of the race in 1983 with Corbiere
- Sir Peter O'Sullevan, the commentator who called home the winner of fifty Grand Nationals on radio and television from 1947 to 1997.
Three additional legends were selected
- George Stevens - record five times winning jockey between 1856-1870
- Captain Martin Becher - who helped bring the National to Liverpool, winner of one of the first races in 1836, first to fall into the brook at the 6th fence, which took his name
- Edward Topham - who devised the handicap weights system from 1847 and family played a part in the success of this race for 125 years
In 2011 nine additional legends were added:
- 1981 Grand National winner - Bob Champion & Aldaniti
- 1986 West Tip - who raced in six consecutive Nationals and won once
- Richard Dunwoody - who competed in 14 Nationals and placed eight times
- Brian Fletcher - winning jockey three times including Red Rum's first victory in 1973
- Vincent O'Brien - trained three consecutive winners in the 1950s
- Tom Olliver - rode in 19 Nationals, 17 consecutive, 3 wins, 3 seconds and 1 third
- Count Karl Kinsky - first International winner when riding Zoedone 1883
- Jack Anthony - three time winning jockey 1911, 1915 and 1920
- Peter Bromley - who covered 42 Nationals until his retirement (BBC Radio)
In 2012 and 2013 additional legends were added.