Member Article

The Crabbie's Grand National harks back to former winner Rubio with major bus advertising campaign launch

The long and storied history of the Grand National has thrown up many tales of winning against all odds – but few more surprising than the year the race was won by a bus-horse. In 1908 Rubio came out of retirement and left behind his life of pulling horse-drawn buses in Towcester to win on the grandest stage of all at Aintree Racecourse. Now, in a nod toward that unique result, The Crabbie’s Grand National Festival has launched a major advertising campaign on buses throughout the North West. Rubio’s place as a bus-horse and a Grand National winner was out in front but the ad campaign is the total opposite. The Crabbie’s Grand National Festival images will fill the entire rear of the double-decker vehicles. Known as ‘megarear’ ads, there are three in all which will promote each of the three days of The Crabbie’s Grand National Festival – Grand Opening Day, Ladies Day and The Crabbie’s Grand National raceday. Main sponsor Crabbie’s themselves were also at Aintree Racecourse to raise a glass in tribute to Rubio from their converted classic Routemaster bus. Emblazoned in the firm’s official green colours, the historic London bus features a bar below and hospitality area on the upper deck. “The megarear adverts are very eyecatching and it will be impossible to miss them in the run-up to the festival,” said Jockey Club North West Regional Director John Baker. “Rubio’s story is one of the more unusual tales from the history of the Grand National and that is certainly as competitive list. Injured with a broken leg early in his career after coming over from the USA, Rubio began pulling buses for a hotel in Towcester. “But after three years Fred Withington put him back in training and he went on to win the 1908 Grand National. “This year we want The Crabbie’s Grand National to be the best ever for spectators, horses, owners and jockeys. Whichever day you choose to come to Aintree, we want you to feel you are part of something special and who knows, perhaps you will see another winner with a story that will go down in history.” Tickets and hospitality packages for The Crabbie’s Grand National Festival are available to purchase at www.thecrabbiesgrandnational.co.uk and via TicketQuarter in Queen Square, online at www.ticketquarter.co.uk or by calling 0844 8000 410.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Dan Minchin .