Rubstic (1969-1995) was a British-bred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are ...
racehorse who competed in
National Hunt racing
In horse racing in the United Kingdom, France and Republic of Ireland, National Hunt racing requires horses to jump fences and ditches. National Hunt racing in the UK is informally known as "jumps" and is divided into two major distinct branches: ...
.
Rubstic was owned by the former Scottish international rugby player
John Douglas. He became the first Scottish-trained horse to win the
Grand National
The Grand National is a National Hunt horse race held annually at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool, England. First run in 1839, it is a handicap st ...
when he won the
1979
Events
January
* January 1
** United Nations Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim heralds the start of the '' International Year of the Child''. Many musicians donate to the '' Music for UNICEF Concert'' fund, among them ABBA, who write the so ...
race.
Racing career
Rubstic won the Grand National at the first time of asking in 1979 under jockey Maurice Barnes. The win was even more remarkable as it marked the National debuts for not only the horse but also for the jockey, trainer and owner.
Rubstic came into the race as the smallest horse on the card and was seen as an outsider but he ran well and despite a mistake on the second fence from which he managed to recover he pulled away from Zongalero in the final straight to win by 2 lengths. The race was heavily influenced by loose horses and only seven runners finished as the race was marred by two fatalities.
Rubstic would go on to race in the next two Nationals. He fell for the only time in his career during the
1980 Grand National at the 15th fence before returning a year later and finishing seventh in 1981.
In 1995 Rubstic died at the age of 26 in
Ladykirk where he had been living in retirement under the care of his former trainer John Leadbetter.
Grand National record
Pedigree
References
{{reflist
1969 racehorse births
Racehorses bred in the United Kingdom
Racehorses trained in the United Kingdom
Grand National winners
1995 racehorse deaths