Delight over grand gesture by Lester; Memento: Kenny still has photo of Red Rum signed by champ jockey Piggott.Byline: Jasbir Authi LIFELONG racing enthusiast Kenny Allen Kenny Allen, (born November 22, 1956 in Shelby, NC) is a former driver in the Craftsman Truck Series. He only produced one top ten in 46 career starts. Season-by-Season Allen made his series debut in 1995 running nine races, in his own #65 Chevrolet. will be watching today's Grand National clutching a treasured memento. Mr Allen has a rare photograph of Red Rum
Red Rum (bay gelding, May 3, 1965–October 18, 1995. Sire: Quorum, dam: Mared) was a racehorse who achieved an unmatched historic treble when he won the Grand National in 1973, 1974 and 1977. , probably the greatest race horse in history, signed by champion jockey Lester Piggott Lester Keith Piggott (born 5 November 1935) is a retired English jockey, considered to be the best of his generation and one of the greatest flat jockeys of all time, with 4,493 career wins, including nine Derby victories. . Mr Allen, aged 71, from Shirley, bought a programme for the Birmingham Races meeting which was held at Bromford Bridge in 1965. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Mr Allen, Lester rode a horse called Selly Oak and some years later he thought it would be nice to get the programme signed by the man himself. Mr Allen, a grandfather-of-two who used to sell fruit at the markets in Birmingham for 35 years, said: "I rang the Birmingham Mail and I explained that I wanted it signed. "A lady working there gave me Lester Piggot's home number. I rang and his wife Susan picked it up and she told me to put the programme in the post to Newmarket. I thought well, the programme only cost a shilling so if it got lost, it didn't matter." Mr Allen was stunned when he received a reply. "He had signed the programme where it said Selly Oak but there was also another signed photograph of Lester Piggott touching Red Rum's head with the words 'two champions together'. "I couldn't believe my luck." Mr Allen's father-in-law Jimmy Jackson used to be one of the biggest bookmakers in Birmingham in his day and ran up to six offices in Solihull. Mr Allen, who has already placed a bet on State Of Play winning the national, would like to sell his t r e a s u r e d memento for charity. He said: "I would like to get Red Rum's trainer Ginger McCain to sign it and then you would have three champions. I would then sell it and donate the money for a horse charity or dogs for the blind." OUR SAY: PAGE 12 PICTURES OF THE WEEK: PAGE 31 CAPTION(S): Three times Grand National winner Red Rum and the signed programme which surprisingly included a signed picture of the horse. Kenny Allen of Shirley who is hoping to raise some money for charity by selling off his prized signed photograph of Red Rum. |
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