The record for training the most Grand National winners is currently held, jointly, by George Dockeray, Fred Rimmell and “Ginger” McCain, who all saddled four winners apiece.
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The current, still active, trainer who has won the Grand National the most times is Gordon Elliott, who so far has saddled three winners.
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George Dockeray (1839, 1840, 1842, 1852)
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Fred Rimell (1956, 1961, 1970, 1976)
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Ginger McCain (1973, 1974, 1977, 2004)
George Dockeray
Considering the challenging nature of the early Grand National course, which included stone walls and ploughed fields, George Dockeray’s achievement of training four different winners is pretty much off the scale.
His first win was with Lottery in 1839, the year now recognised as the first official Grand National. Lottery won at odds of 5/1, in a time of 14 minutes and 53 seconds, which is also the slowest winning time in the race’s history.
In 1840, Dockeray repeated his success with a horse called Jerry, who won at odds of 12/1 and with a quicker time of 12 minutes and 30 seconds.
Dockeray’s third victory came in 1842 with Gaylad who won at odds of 7/1, completing the course in 13 minutes and 30 seconds.
His final Grand National triumph was with Miss Mowbray in 1852. Miss Mowbray was one of only 13 mares to have won the Grand National and the last to do so since Nickel Coin in 1951.
Fred Rimell
Before becoming a trainer, Rimell was a successful jockey, winning the jockey’s championship three times.
Rimell’s first Grand National victory came in 1956 with E.S.B, a race made famous due to the fact that the Queen Mother’s horse, Devon Loch, inexplicably collapsed within sight of the winning post while in a clear lead.
In 1961, Rimell claimed his second National with Nicolaus Silver, a 28/1 outsider. while his third victory came in 1970 with Gay Trip, who obliged at odds of 15/1.
His final Grand National victory was in 1976 with Rag Trade, who upset the party when he defeated the legendary Red Rum, who was seeking his third victory in the race.
Rag Trade’s odds of 14/1 cemented Rimell’s status as a Grand National training master.
Donald “Ginger” McCain
Ginger McCain is undoubtably the most famous of the three four-time winning trainers, largely due to his association with the legendary Red Rum.
McCain’s first three Grand National victories all came with Red Rum. With the first coming in 1973.
“Rummy” overcame a 30-length deficit to beat Crisp in the final strides, setting a new course record in the process.
The same feat was repeated in 1974 whilst carrying the top weight of 12 stone. No other horse has won the Grand National carrying top weight since.
In 1977, Red Rum, then aged 12, completed a historic third Grand National victory and has become one of the most talked-about and revered Grand National winner ever since.
McCain’s fourth Grand National victory came some 27 years later, in 2004, with Amberleigh House who was ridden by Graham Lee.
*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to Alamy
