Rag Trade (horse)

Rag Trade (1966–1978) was a British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who competed in National Hunt racing.

For the clothing industry, see Rag trade. For the television series, see The Rag Trade. For the TV theme, see The Rag Trade (song).

Rag Trade
Racing silks of Pierre Raymond
Sire	Menelek
Grandsire	Tulyar
Dam	The Rage
Damsire	Cagire
Sex	Gelding
Foaled	1966[1]
Country	United Kingdom
Colour	Chestnut
Breeder	Ian Williams
Owner	Pierre Raymond
Trainer	Fred Rimell
Major wins
Midlands Grand National (1975) Welsh Grand National (1976) Grand National (1976)

He is best known for winning the 1976 Grand National, denying Red Rum a third victory.

Background

Sired in Ireland by Menelek out of The Rage, Rag Trade was bred by Ian Williams, the son of Evan Williams who had won the 1937 Grand National on Royal Mail.

Racing career

Rag Trade's first trainer was George Fairbairn but by the time he was nine years old his racing record was poor, having only won two races. Due to this he was put up for sale in 1975 and was bought by Pierre Raymond for 18,000 guineas, in a public auction at Doncaster.

Bessone later sold two 25% shares in the horse to businessmen William Lawrie and Herbert Keane. With trainer Arthur Pitt the horse ran the 1975 Grand National under up-and-coming jockey John Francome. However, the lack of preparation was evident and Rag Trade could only finish in tenth place.

However, following the National Rag Trade quickly improved and three weeks later he won the Midlands Grand National at Uttoexeter before he was sent to trainer Fred Rimell at his Kinnersley stables.

With Rimell as trainer and under stable jockey John Burke, Rag Trade had a successful 1976 with five wins including the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow.^[2]

This good start to the year saw Rag Trade start the 1976 Grand National in great form with odds of 14-1 but a huge challenge of stopping the formidable Red Rum.

Rag Trade started the race well but was in contention for the lead with four other horses approaching the last fence. Red Rum was leading with Rag Trade close behind but Rag Trade accelerated to gain a four length advantage over the heavier Red Rum. Rag Trade held this lead to the finish to win the race.^[3]

Rag Trade ran in the 1978 Grand National under new trainer George Fairbairn and jockey Jonjo O'Neill. He started the race as 8/1 favourite but pulled up lame during the second circuit before fence 22, after which he was euthanised.^[4]

Grand National record

Grand National	Position	Jockey	Age	Weight	SP	Distance
1975	10th	John Francome	9	10-4	18/1	Last to complete
1976	1st	John Burke	10	10-12	14/1
1978	DNF	Jonjo O'Neill	12	11-3	8/1 F	Pulled up after fence 21

Pedigree

Pedigree of Rag Trade (GB), chestnut gelding, 1966^[5]

Sire Menelek (IRE) 1957	Tulyar (IRE) 1949	Tehran (GB)	Bois Roussel
			Stafaralla
		Neocracy (GB)	Nearco (ITA)
			Harina
	Queen of Sheba (GE) 1948	Persian Gulf (GB)	Bahram
			Double Life
		Ojala (GB)	Buen Ojo
			Dursilla
Dam The Rage 1954	Cagire (FRA) 1947	Tourbillon (FRA)	Ksar
			Durban
		Source Sucree (FRA)	Admiral Drake
			Lavendula
	Rage Bleue 1944	Plassy (GB)	Bosworth
			Pladda
		Blue Iras	Blue Skies
			Iras

References

1. "Rag Trade profile". Racing Post. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
2. "The Hairdresser Who Won the National Twice". grand-national.me.uk. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
3. "Rag Trade". grand-national.me.uk. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
4. "The Story After The Glory". The Independent. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
5. "Rag Trade pedigree". pedigreequery.com. Retrieved 17 April 2021.