Red Rum's Trainer Objects to Statue

He was the only horse to win the Grand National three times; he was once crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year (despite being equine) and he appeared at the switch-on of Blackpool illuminations.

But people who worked with him say the bronze half life-sized statue of Red Rum looks more like a donkey. Now the statue is at the centre of an extraordinary spat after plans were announced to move it temporarily to an exhibition of Red Rum memorabilia at Newmarket.

Ginger McCain, Red Rum's trainer, and his wife Beryl say the National Horseracing Museum in Suffolk should not borrow the statue for its forthcoming exhibition.

Mrs McCain said: "We will not have that statue in the exhibition. It is absolutely dreadful. Nobody in the horseracing industry likes it. It doesn't even look like him - it looks more like a donkey."

The statue, housed in a shopping arcade in Southport, Merseyside, was described by Mr McCain when it was unveiled in 1979 as "a bit plump and heavy". He added that the horse looked "thick-set and short".

But it is incredibly popular, drawing hundreds of fans every year who pay homage to the great horse and occasionally leave packets of his favourite sweets, Polo mints.

Annette Yarrow, the sculptor of the bronze, said yesterday: "He certainly does not look like a donkey and there are many other people who were very happy with it.

"One of the problems at the time was about the cost, but I did it at cost price."

Fans called for a life-size model which was later installed at Aintree racecourse. It is the only statue which has been approved by the McCains.

Hilary Bracegirdle, director of the National Horseracing Museum, said the row put her in an awkward position: "I think the difficulty is if you love horses then you know them to be as individual as your own son's face.

"Clearly, Mr McCain is very passionate about Red Rum and feels it hasn't done him justice. It is a terribly difficult position for me to be in and I had absolutely no idea they didn't approve of the statue."