Verses on horses

In Competition No. 2894 you were invited to submit a paean to a famous racehorse. Thanks to David Pearn, who suggested what proved to be an excellent competition. P.C. Parrish, Roger Theobald and Peter Goulding impressed, but I could almost hear the thunder of hooves as I read Chris O’Carroll’s bonus-fiver-winning entry. His fellow winners take £25 each.

O equine Nelson, crippled yet victorious,
The bone disease that made your gait laborious
Rendered the glory you achieved more glorious.
You suffered and did not succumb, Red Rum!
 
Great hero of the greatest steeplechase,
Thrice in a five-year span you won the race,
And also finished twice in second place.
Such prowess strikes us dumb, Red Rum, Red Rum!
 
Even abstainers love your ardent spirit.
No fearsome fence could quell your will to clear it.
No mount can match your record nor come near it.
Your hoofbeats drum — Red Rum, Red Rum, Red Rum!
 
Resting in peace at Aintree’s winning post,
Where each year’s champion salutes your ghost,
You are the racing world’s eternal toast —
Red Rum, Red Rum, Red Rum, Red Rum, Red Rum!
Chris O’Carroll
 
Irish eyes were born to sparkle
Having bred that champion Arkle,
Crowned the fastest steeplechaser
Not a rival matched this racer.