A collection of legendary racehorse hair is offered for sale at an eye-catching price

A HUGE collection of hair from legendary racehorses, including Red Rum and Desert Orchid, is on sale for £45,000.

Gee-gees fans can romp home with tail and mane strands from 102 flat and spring runners from the 20th century.

Many come from the collection of racing historian and author Michael Tanner, who collected them from trainers and owners or personally.

A second album was compiled by an enthusiast in the eighties and nineties.

In addition to three-time champion Rummie, Grand National winners Aldaniti, Corbiere and Hallo Dandy will be featured.

There's also hair from Cheltenham stars like Dessie and the great Nijinsky, who races flat.

One memorabilia expert said: “This may seem completely bizarre, but this collection will be in huge demand.

“You couldn't get a new collection with modern equivalents because of the increased security around horse and racing meetings – so you wouldn't go near the horses. This makes this unique.

“It's a unique example and should sell quite quickly as there are a lot of racing collectors with a lot of money floating around.

“There is a very good chance that the prize will go to someone who has made a significant profit with one or more horses from the collection.

“It is of course also of impeccable provenance and completely authentic, because reputation is everything in the auction game.”

Paul Fraser, founder of Paul Fraser Collectibles, said: “The list of racehorses in the collection is impossible to recreate. Red Rum, Desert Orchid, Arkle, Nijinsky, Secretariat.

“These are the greats in flat and jumping of the 20th century. Horses you loved. Horses that might have earned you a few euros. Horses that roared you over the last fence. No amount of racing memorabilia brings you closer to these great champions.”