Owner of first Scottish winner of Grand National on Aintree triumph

His wife Frances has brought the trophy through from the room off the hall where it has pride of place, but not to show it off. That just isn’t their way. “It’ll cover his jersey that looks a bit scruffy if you are taking his picture,” she said with a smile as she carefully gives it to her remarkable sports-loving husband who, not content with owning a Grand National winner, was capped 12 times in the back row for Scotland, toured with the 1962 British and Irish Lions to South Africa and was the 1961 East of Scotland Amateur Heavyweight boxing champion.

John Douglas (left) in action for Scotland (Image: PA)

The room off the hall where the trophy sits on an antique table is full of family pictures and images of the famous horse that was trained by John Leadbetter at his yard at Denholm near Hawick and ridden by jockey Maurice Barnes to Grand National victory. On one wall there is a striking oil painting of Rubstic with his No.22 clearly seen as the horse goes over the water jump at Aintree. There is also a photograph of the gelding in its light-blue colours with green cross of Lorraine going over Bechers Brooke.

“John always had an interest in horse racing and had shares in some horses before Rubstic came along,” said Frances. “He always loved his rugby and one was called Rugby Special [former Scotland rugby international and ex-BBC commentator Ian Robertson had a share in it] and another Barbarian Blue, another rugby connection. Running Deep was another.”

He bought Rubstic for £1300 from trainer Harry Bell of Hawick and placed him first with Gordon 
Richards at Penrith before moving him to Leadbetter’s stables. The horse started to make people in 
Scotland sit up and take notice when he finished second in the 1978 Scottish Grand National.

The oil painting of Rubstic going over the water jump at Aintree (Image: Rob Robertson)

There may have been a bit of excitement north of the border but overall there wasn’t that much buzz around Rubstic heading into the race which wasn’t surprising as it was the National debut not just for the horse but also for the jockey, trainer and owner. “It was a shock to most people when Rubstic won,” said Frances as John listened intently, sitting on his favourite chair with his dog Molly at his feet. 

“John is always known as the owner but strictly speaking he was the main shareholder and there were three others but John did all the organising and planning so that is why we have the owner’s trophy in our home.

“We were as surprised as anyone when our horse won as we went down on the Friday not expecting too much. We stayed in a Holiday Inn in Liverpool and watched the race on television in a marquee near the finishing line as that was the only way we could see every fence. The atmosphere in the marquee was incredible – partly because I think everybody in that marquee had a bet on Rubstic.”

Rubstic being the first Scottish winner of the Grand National wasn’t lost on legendary BBC racing commentator Peter O’Sullevan. “It’s anybody’s race as they race into the final furlong and it’s Rubstic on the nearside with the advantage over Zongalero and the weakening Rough and Tumble as they race up towards the line,” O’Sullevan told the massive BBC television audience. “It’s going to be a victory for Scotland, it’s Rubstic from Zongalero in the National and as they come to the line Rubstic wins it.”

“When Rubstic won John just took off from the marquee like a shot and led the horse into the winners’ enclosure,” said Mrs Douglas. “We had three parties that night we went to. One for the trainer and those associated with the horse, one for everybody in the Holiday Inn where we were staying and another that went into the wee small hours for our personal friends. The champagne flowed all night.” Liverpool fan John interjects to remind her that Scotland and Liverpool footballer Graeme Souness was at one of the parties. “Yes, it was quite a night,” she smiles.

The next time a Scottish horse won the National was when the Lucinda Russell-trained One For Arthur triumphed in 2017. It was No.22 in the running list, just like Rubstic had been when it had won 38 years previously. Russell also trained Corach Rambler to Grand National success last year.

Will John be putting a bet on Corach Rambler to record back-to-back wins? There is a loving glance between John and his wife. “Since he had his stroke a few years ago he very kindly handed over his Ladbrokes account to me,” she said. “I consult with John and I put on 25p or 50p each way almost every day for us. We will be putting a bet on Lucinda’s horse but it was 4-to-1 when I last looked which is ridiculous odds for any horse in the National and not good value.

Lucinda Russell with Corach Rambler (Image: PA)

“John is looking forward to the National as he would love Lucinda’s horse to win back to back for Scotland. What makes it even more special was that he was given three weeks to live and we are into 31 weeks now. Through in the bedroom I have all the end-of-life care stuff because they were so convinced he wasn’t going to be here. They say it is partly down to him playing so much sport that has helped his core strength. He can still get out of his armchair with a bit of help and into his wheelchair, into the chair lift into the garden, out to the garage, into the car and down to Muirfield golf club for lunch. The last time he did that was two weeks ago.

“St Columba’s Hospice in Edinburgh have been so helpful through it all. John is happy, was cheering Liverpool on against Manchester United in the football. He is eating well and thankfully not in pain and will be cheering on Lucinda’s horse on Saturday.”

Before I leave, I asked John for his favourite sporting memory, assuming he would say being the Scottish owner of the first Scottish-trained Grand National winner. His two-word answer surprised me. “Lions, friends,” he said. Beside him is a jewellery box presented to every member of the 1962 Lions squad and inside the Scottish contingent Gordon Waddell, Arthur Smith, Ronnie Cowan, Mike Campbell-Lamerton and David Rollo as well as John have all signed their names. For all the glory and the financial gain he earned from making history by owning a Grand National winner it seems that friendships that lasted a lifetime with his fellow Lions rugby players means so much more. “Lions, friends,” he says again to reiterate his point as I leave the room and John , with a big goodbye smile on his face, goes back to watching Manchester United against Liverpool. Let’s hope this afternoon he has another big smile on his face and Corach Rambler wins the National for Scotland just like his horse Rubstic did 45 years ago.