Ballyregan Bob Explained

Greyhoundname:Ballyregan Bob
Sire:Ballyheigue Moon
Dam:Evening Daisy
Sex:Dog
Whelped:12 May 1983
Death Date:3 April 1994 (aged 10)[1]
Color:Brindle
Breeder:Robert Cunningham
Owner:Kevern family
Trainer:George Curtis (Brighton)
Racerecord:World record holder (32 consecutive victories)
Otherawards:1985 Greyhound of the Year
1986 Greyhound of the Year

Ballyregan Bob (12 May 1983 to 3 April 1994) was a racing greyhound who, along with Mick the Miller and Scurlogue Champ, is one of the most revered racing hounds in British greyhound racing.[2] [3] [4] [5]

Ballyregan Bob was a brindle dog and was whelped in May 1983. Trained by George Curtis he would become world famous for breaking the world record for consecutive race wins.[3]

Racing career

In 1985 Ballyregan Bob won three major events, the Olympic at home track Brighton, the Test at Walthamstow and the Essex Vase at Romford. Whilst winning these events he remained unbeaten and was on his way to setting the world record.He also qualified for the final of the classic race the St Leger at Wembley but was a non runner in the final.

Wins and track records continued to come his way in 1986 until on 9 December he lined up for the Racing Post Challenge at Brighton and duly broke the world record held by American greyhound Joe Dump by winning his 32nd consecutive race.[6] [3]

Retirement and death

After retirement Bob was put to stud and sired many litters. In 1990 he returned from the United States where he had undertaken stud duties and was sent to Germany where he stood with breeder Franz Joseph Gillett, before eventually returning to Britain.[7]

Ballyregan Bob has the unique distinction of being the only dog ever nominated as Guest of Honour at the commissioning of Royal Navy patrol boat HMS Pursuer - an accolade awarded because of the depiction of a greyhound in the ship's badge.

After his death of old age in 1994, the greyhound was exhibited in the Natural History Museum at Tring along with Mick the Miller.

World record

width=100Date
1985
width=100Distance
(metres)
width=170Venuewidth=100Starting Pricewidth=50Trapwidth=100Win distance (lengths)width=100Timewidth=300Race
May 9 5154-11 6 3 ¾ 29.63Olympic Heats
May 11 5152-9 6 4 ¼ 29.67Olympic Semi Finals
May 16 5152-5 4 1 ½ 30.04Olympic Final
May 28 6401-4 6 9 ½ 39.40 TRTest Heats
June 4 6401-3 4 13 39.92Test Semi Finals
June 11 6401-4 3 9 ¾ 39.59Test Final
June 22 6601-4 6 12 40.43Derby Final Night Stayers
July 2 5754-11 5 Shd 35.48Essex Vase Heats
July 6 5754-7 4 11 ½ 35.21Essex Vase Semi Finals
July 9 5751-2 5 2 ¼ 35.15 =TR [8] Essex Vase Final
Aug 19 655Wembley4-9 5 3 ¾ 40.15St Leger First Round
Aug 23 655Wembley1-3 5 8 39.46 TRSt Leger Second Round
Aug 26 6554-9 5 1 40.56St Leger Semi Finals
Nov 2 6951-8 5 14 ¾ 41.13 TROpen
Nov 9 6801-4 5 6 ¼ 41.87 TROpen
Nov 16 683Hackney 1-6 5 8 42.24 TROpen
Nov 23 6601-6 6 7 ½ 40.35 TROpen
Nov 30 7151-7 6 20 44.41Open
Dec 6 6882-7 6 14 41.94 TROpen
Dec 12 7104-9 4 11 ¾ 42.63 TRJohn Power Showdown
Dec 21 7403-10 5 9 44.65Invitation
width=100Date
1986
width=100Distance
(metres)
width=170Venuewidth=100Starting Pricewidth=50Trapwidth=100Win distance (lengths)width=100Timewidth=300Race
Mar 22 695None 5 11 ¾ 42.21Open
Apr 2 6551-8 5 9 ½ 39.57Trainers Championship
Apr 10 6801-7 5 3 41.99Open
Apr 19 6601-9 5 13 ¾ 40.15 TROpen
Apr 26 6501-10 5 14 ¼ 39.60 TROpen
May 8 6701-9 5 15 41.15 TROpen
May 17 6601-5 5 5 ¾ 40.23Racing Post International
Nov 13 6951-5 6 9 42.36S1 Graded
Nov 21 6881-7 4 10 ½ 42.00Open
Nov 28 6881-10 5 16 41.74 TROpen
Dec 9 6951-4 6 9 ¼ 42.04 TRRacing Post Challenge

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: REMEMBER WHEN: APRIL. Greyhound Star. 28 April 2016. greyhoundstar.co.uk. 26 August 2017.
  2. Book: Genders, Roy. The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. 1981. Pelham Books Ltd. 07207-1106-1.
  3. Book: Racing Post Greyhound Year, pages 38-40. 1986. Racing Post. 0-9512081-0-1.
  4. Book: Barnes, Julia. Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File, pages 399-401. 1988. Ringpress Books. 0-948955-15-5.
  5. Book: Montague, Trevor . A-Z of Sport, page 378 . 2004 . Little, Brown . 0-316-72645-1.
  6. Web site: Ballyregan Bob profile. Greyhound Data. 29 July 2022. subscription.
  7. News: Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 1990) November edition. 2018. Greyhound Star.
  8. Web site: Remember When July. 28 July 2019. Greyhound Star.