A former national serviceman in the Royal Air Force as a motorcycle dispatch rider, he was also a member of the RAF scrambling team.
In his final Grand National in 2006, McCain entered three horses: Inca Trail, who ran well for a long way until running out of stamina two fences from home and finishing eighth; Ebony Light, who fell; and Amberleigh House, who was pulled up.
[citation needed] McCain married Beryl Harris in Southport in March 1961; the couple had two children: Joanne and Donald Jr.[9] McCain 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, on whose behalf Red Rum was purchased.
[11] On the opening day of the 2012 Grand National a bronze statue of McCain was unveiled at Aintree Racecourse looking down on the winning post where his victories unfolded.