If you love your films and Grand National horse race you may have noticed an eerie connection between the world's most famous steeplechase and Stanley Kubrik's psychological horror film The Shining based on Stephen King's 1977 novel of the same name.
The Shining was released in 1980, the film's central character Jack Torrence played by Jack Nicholson an aspiring writer and recovering alcoholic, who accepts the position as an off-season caretaker at the isolated historic Overlook Hotel in the Colorado Rockies. Wintering with him is his wife, Wendy, and son, Danny, who is gifted with ''the shining'' psychic abilities that enables him to see the hotel's horrific past.
To be fair, it seems a far stretch from the Grand National or is it? Those who enjoy the film may have wondered if Stephen King had an interest in the Grand National horse race with regard the usage of the term Red Rum (which spells murder, backwards).
Is there a connection between the legendary racehorse Red Rum - who won three Grand National races in 1972, 1973 & 1977 - because his successes preceded the novel.
In fact, many people have asked: ''What is the meaning of Redrum in The Shining?''
Others have asked: ''Did Redrum feature in Stephen King's novel, The Shining?''
The answer is yes, but it appeared much earlier in the book than Kubrick's film.
However, there were differences between the book and the film, most notably in the nature of Jack's insanity.
As far as we know, Stephen King didn't detail Red Rum with any reference to the Grand National winner, trained by Ginger McCain.
It would seem that the infamous word is simply a palindrome of the word murder.
For those who are new to the Grand National, it is a famous steeplechase with a rich history dating back to 1839. It is run over a distance of four miles and two and a half furlongs with horses jumping 30 fences over two laps. It is the most valuable jump race in Europe with a prize fund of over £1 million.
Red Rum is the most famous winner of the Grand National, being the only horse to win three times. In fact, upon his death in 1995, at the age of 30, he was buried at the winning post Aintree Racecourse with the fitting epitaph: ''
Respect this place/this hallowed ground/a legend here/his rest has found/his feet would fly/our spirits fly/he earned our love forever more''.
A great race horse and a superb film.
Good luck if you are betting on this year's Grand National.
© 2024 GROUP HORSE