Ginger McCain, the four-time Aintree Grand National winning trainer, has died aged 80 after losing his fight against cancer.
The Southport-born former taxi driver was highly regarded in the sport for a remarkable talent for spotting and training winners.
McCain's greatest achievement was the three-time winner Red Rum, who became a national celebrity in the 1970s, but he had to wait nearly thirty years for Amberleigh House to win in 2004.
Tributes have poured in for "Mister Aintree" from admirers and sports personalities. At The Races presenter Matt Chapman posted on Twitter: "What a character! Hope he's already met up with 'Rummy' to fly over an unaltered Becher's Brook together."
His son Donald has said: "I'd like to think he's a legend. If I can do half as much with my life as he fitted in I won't have done too bad."
Lord Daresbury, Aintree Chairman, said: "We are deeply saddened at the news of Ginger’s death and our thoughts are very much with the McCain family at this difficult time.
"Ginger was a local man and a true National Legend. His four Grand National victories, three with Red Rum and his more recent win with Amberleigh House in 2004 was an unbelievable achievement and brought the Grand National even closer to the Nation’s heart.
"Ginger was a terrific supporter of the racecourse. We will badly miss him at Aintree on race day."
David Jones, spokesman for Grand National John Smith's, said: "We were privileged to get to know Ginger well and each of us has an amusing tale to tell about time spent in his company.
"His contribution to the Grand National was immense. His death marks the end of an era and he'll be sadly missed by the world of jump racing."
John Burgess cared for Ginger's horses during the early years until he went onto become Chief Vet at Aintree in 1975.
He said: "Ginger was always a very colourful character and we got on very well. When I looked after his horses we agreed on everything with regard to equine care. He will be missed."
Donald 'Ginger' McCain was born in Southport on 21st September 1930 and started riding horses at the age of 14.
After he left school he worked as a taxi driver - a job once took him to Blackpool with demanding crooner Frank Sinatra in search of a hairbrush.
He continued to work as a taxi driver when he started training horses in 1962 from stables behind a used car store in Southport.
Ginger famously used the beaches to train his horses and found his first winner at the age of 35.
Beryl McCain, whom Ginger married in 1961, threatened to leave her husband when she saw the 14 year-old San Lorenzo, but the horse went on to win a selling Chase in Liverpool.
History was made when the ambitious trainer saw the potential in a sick horse nobody wanted in the late 60s.
Finishing in a dead-heat with Curlicue in a five furlong seller in 1967, Red Rum was sold for 300 guineas and his form continued to drop.
After being passed around to different owners, Ginger saw winning potential in the horse and made his greatest investment in 1972 for his client Noel La Mare at the Doncaster Sales auction for 6000 guineas.
Red Rum was taken back to Southport to train and the saltwater of the Irish sea healed his peritonis within months.
"Rummy" went on to win three Grand Nationals in 1973, 1974 and 1977 going on to become a national celebrity.
He was retired in 1978 after suffering hairline fracture and his death in 1995 made front-page national news.
Ginger had to wait 27 years after Red Rum's retirement for another winner at Aintree.
Amberleigh House won in 2004 and two years later his son, Donald McCain Jr, took over the reins of his father's training legacy when Ginger retired.
Donald Jr has continued his father's winning tradition with the 2011 winner Ballabriggs and a McCain horse is always a favourite on race day.
Up until his death, Ginger was an outspoken commentator on horse-racing and his passion never waned. He often appeared at the Grand National in support of his son and for the love of the sport.
Donald 'Ginger' McCain leaves his wife Beryl and children Joanne and Donald Jr.
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