The day Aintree royalty chatted to the real thing
A HORSE racing legend declared Aintree Racecourse the best in the world yesterday, as he made an unlikely double act with a princess at the historic attraction.
The annual Pony Club conference, normally held in southern England, came to Aintree yesterday and the Princess Royal and Ginger McCain were invited as guests of honour.
Mr McCain maintained his controversial sexist image, affirming his view that women do not have a place in horse racing, but was well matched by many prominent female faces speaking at the conference.
They included Major Erica Bridge, of the Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery and Dr Elspeth Milne, head of veterinary clinical services at Edinburgh University.
Southport born Mr McCain rose to fame as the trainer of Red Rum and is one of only two men whose horse has won the Grand National four times.
Yesterday he spoke of his fondness for Aintree and his hopes for his family’s current Grand National hope, Cloudy Lane, now his son Donald junior has taken over his training reigns.
He said: “People don’t really appreciate how unique this race is, there is not another course in the world that comes close.
“It is an absolute treasure, with a history of 200 years of brave horses and men. And this year this great horse Cloudy Lane has a very serious chance of winning the race.
“My son is a great trainer and he will get even better – he is better than me, I was lucky.”
He also thinks the course is improving: “I was looking around the facilities here now. It never ceases to amaze me, it is incredible, the improvements done over the years.”
He says he still gets a “buzz” from each race, but has not changed his mind about women’s role in horse racing.
He joked about being surrounded by women at the conference and said many female equestrian experts were not people who should be “associated with horses.”
He added: “One or two good girls rode around here but they were carried.”
During the afternoon Princess Anne spoke to the audience of more than 400 and praised the choice of venue, saying the run up to the Grand National was a “special” time in the racing calendar.
The District Commissioner for the West Lancashire branch of the Pony Club, Judy Gill, thought the day was a great success.
“It is great to have the conference up here in Liverpool as it is always down south normally,” she said.
“Riding and looking after a pony or horse enriches a child's life. It teaches responsibility and always means they will be very active and spend a lot of time outdoors which is so important to growing up.”
