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A giant chestnut colt by Matador, Red Rodney made his debut in the Fountains Plate at Ripon in April 1970. He didn't trouble the judge as a juvenile but would make amends in his later career.
Red Rodney's first win came in the Lambton Stakes at Teesside Park in 1971, defeating Slip Lead by a length, ridden by Lionel Brown. He also won at Hamilton and then took the York Apprentice Handicap on his local course.
At four he was a winner at Newcastle and Ripon before taking his biggest prize, the Bass Rosebowl at Redcar. The following season he tried to win the Rosebowl again but was disqualified for his efforts!
In 1973 he won the 'Perkins Memorial Cup Handicap Stakes' at Newcastle, ridden by Willie Carson, where he defeated Flintham by a length and a half. The following season Red Rodney recorded wins at Redcar and Ayr, his victory in Scotland being the last time the chestnut would grace the winners' enclosure. Red Rodney ran his final race at Carlisle in 1975, finishing unplaced.
Brian Bivens who looked after him and rode him as an apprentice remembers the horse well.
"Red Rodney never won a race unless he was sweating and shaking in his box at the races. We always knew he was spot on when he was like that. He was right character. I loved him. He used to eat the light bulbs in his box."
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