Aintree legend Ginger McCain, trainer of the great Red Rum, has died aged 80.
McCain saddled Red Rum to win the Grand National three times, in 1973, 1974 and 1977, before winning the Aintree marathon for a fourth time with Amberleigh House in 2004.
McCain's wife Beryl said: "Donald, Ginger as we all knew him, passed away peacefully in his sleep after a short illness this morning - he would have been 81 on Wednesday.
"There will be a private family funeral followed by a later memorial service, for which there will be more information in the coming weeks.
"Joanne (daughter), Donald Jnr (son) and I appreciate all the kindness we are being shown and, at this difficult time, would appreciate it if we were afforded some privacy."
Jenny Pitman, who became the first woman to train the winner of the National when Corbiere won in 1983 and again with Royal Athlete in 1995, was "gutted" on hearing the news.
"Ginger's words when Red Rum died come to mind - 'We'll miss the old bugger'," she said.
"Ginger is just irreplaceable. We've known one another a very long time.
"We didn't always see eye to eye, but it was all done with good humour. He gave me stick, I gave him stick.
"He was a unique character. He told it how it was which most people are afraid to do these days.
"He was afraid of nothing. He said it how he saw it and he put structure and foundation into the McCain family life and he has built a sound basis for Donald to continue the McCain legacy.
"He was one of life's colourful, special people. You are glad you knew them so well. We may not see one another for 12 months but he was always the same.
"We send out our best wishes from my family to the McCain family. It's just sad.
"It's a massive loss to us in the racing industry as a friend, but to the McCain family he was such a big powerful structure. He's going to be hugely missed by them. He was special."
McCain began his training career as a permit holder in 1953 and took out a full licence in 1969 when his stables were behind his car showroom in Southport.
He worked as a taxi driver to supplement his income as a trainer prior to finding Grand National success. It was as a taxi driver that he became acquainted with Noel le Mare for whom he bought Red Rum.
He retired after the 2006 Grand National and handed over the licence to his son Donald, who maintained the family tradition by winning this year's race with Ballabriggs from their base at Cholmondeley in Cheshire.
The "voice of racing" Peter O'Sullevan commentated on all of Red Rum's Nationals for the BBC and believes McCain played a big part in helping to save the race.
"It was a career of remarkable achievement," he said.
"He will always be remembered for Red Rum and rightly so because he and the horse appeared absolutely at the right time and were very much instrumental in saving the National at a period when it was very much in peril."
Former Aintree managing director, Charles Barnett, echoed that view.
"He was instrumental in helping to save the Grand National," he said.
"At that time in the early 1970s when Red Rum was winning his three races, Ginger was very supportive to it (Grand National) and he got the public very much behind the appeal to purchase the track."
Graham Lee was the man in the saddle on Amberleigh House and he admits he will always owe a huge debt to McCain for giving him the opportunity.
"What he did with Red Rum was great, but for him to go and do the same with Amberleigh House was fantastic as well," said Lee.
"It's every jockey's dream to win the Grand National and I will be forever grateful that he gave me the chance to do it.
"He'll be greatly missed."
Champion jockey Tony McCoy knows better than most how difficult it is to win the Grand National, having finally got off the mark in the world's most famous steeplechase at the 15th attempt on Don't Push It in 2010.
"What he achieved with Red Rum was amazing. I know how difficult it is to win one Grand National and it looks impossible to win two," said McCoy.
"For him to train the same horse to win the race three times, I think that is an achievement that won't be matched in a long, long time.
"All records are there to be broken of course, but that is one that is going to take some beating. Red Rum is one of the most famous horses of all time.
"For him to then train Amberleigh House to win does the man even more justice and of course his name will always be synonymous with Aintree - he's an Aintree legend.
"I'm sure he was extremely proud to see Donald train the National winner in his last year of life. That would have been fantastic for him."
In his own inimitable style, McCain courted controversy prior to the 2005 Grand National when he made tongue-in-cheek remarks about jockey Carrie Ford.
Ford was due to partner leading hope Forest Gunner, trained by her husband, Richard, but McCain joked: "Horses do not win Nationals ridden by women".
He also labelled Ford a "broodmare" after taking the Aintree ride just weeks after giving birth.
Ford ended up guiding Forest Gunner to a highly creditable fifth placed finish and, six years on, she says she took McCain's comments with a pinch of salt.
"I've been riding out for Donald on weekends for the last 12 months or so and after riding out on Saturday I was told he was very poorly. When I got the message this morning, it was dreadfully sad," said Ford.
"My first thoughts were obviously for Donald, Beryl and his daughter, Jo, but after that I was just thinking how poignant it was that Donald won the National this year with his Dad there.
"I hope he can win many more, but I think it was very special that his Dad was there to see it.
"Looking back at those comments years ago, it was all very much tongue in cheek and in good humour.
"I actually rode for Ginger a few times. I didn't have much luck but I rode in a couple of point-to-points and once at Plumpton.
"Racing has lost a huge legend and there'll never be another one like him."
