English Greyhound Derby Explained

Surface:Sand
Class:Classic
Horse Race:English Greyhound Derby
Location:Towcester Greyhound Stadium
Inaugurated:1927
Sponsor:Star Sports
TRC Events
Distance:500 metres
Purse:£175,000 (winner)

The English Greyhound Derby is the most prestigious race on the British greyhound racing calendar, with a history stretching back to 1927.

It was first held at White City Stadium, but moved to Wimbledon Stadium in 1985, and then Towcester Greyhound Stadium in 2017, Nottingham in 2019 and back to Towcester in 2021. Only four greyhounds have won the event twice, Mick the Miller, Patricias Hope, Rapid Ranger and Westmead Hawk. Trainer Charlie Lister OBE has won the event a record seven times.

History

thumb|Rapid Ranger, twice winner in 2000 & 2001thumb|Dorotas Wildcat, 2018 championThe first venue of the English Greyhound Derby was at White City Stadium, which had been built for the 1908 London Olympics. Greyhound racing had only recently started to take place there, with the first greyhound race only taking place a couple of weeks prior to the first Derby being run. Entry Badge won the first race to be held, winning a £1000 prize for the dog's trainer, Joe Harmon. Two years later, racing greyhound Mick the Miller became the first dog to win multiple Derbys.[1] The 1940 final was held at Harringay Stadium, due to the outbreak of war.[2]

In 1973, pet food manufacturer Spillers sponsored the race for the first time, the same year that Patricias Hope became the second dog to win the Derby on more than one occasion, one of only two dogs to achieve that at White City Stadium. Spillers continued to sponsor the race, increasing the prize money to £35,000 by 1980. The Daily Mirror took over sponsorship of the race in 1983; the following year the race was held at White City for the last time before that stadium closed, with Whisper Wishes becoming the final dog to win the Derby at its original location.[1]

The Derby was moved to Wimbledon Stadium in 1985, and remained there until 2016. The Daily Mirror continued to be the race's sole sponsor until 1990, when the Sporting Life became co-sponsor. In 1998, bookmaker William Hill became the sole sponsor; in 2006, bookmaker Blue Square took over. William Hill later renewed its involvement with greyhounds and the Wimbledon Stadium with a partnership that lasted until 2016.[3]

The 2016 Derby was the last to be held at Wimbledon following the stadium's closure on 25 March 2017 and the redevelopment of the site for housing by the owner Galliard Homes.[4] [5] This resulted in the Derby being located outside London for the first time as Wimbledon was the last greyhound stadium in the capital.[6]

Charlie Lister holds the record as the most successful trainer at the Derby, having won it on seven occasions. He is hailed as the greatest greyhound trainer of all time, and referred to as the 'Derby King'.[6] [7]

On 30 January 2017, it was announced that the event would relocate to the new greyhound stadium[8] at Towcester Racecourse, for a minimum period of five years but it was switched to Nottingham Greyhound Stadium in 2019 following the closure of Towcester Racecourse in 2018.[9] The 2020 event was rescheduled following a postponement due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[10] [11] [12]

Following the reopening of Towcester Greyhound Stadium, the English Greyhound Derby returned to Towcester for 2021.[13]

Statistics

StatComment
Most wins 2; Mick the Miller, Patricias Hope, Rapid Ranger, Westmead Hawk
Winning trainer Charlie Lister OBE (7), Leslie Reynolds (5)
Winning Bitches 5; 1935, 1949, 1971, 1979, 2003
British v Ireland British winners (75); Irish winners (18)
Starting Prices Shortest winner: 1927 (1/4f) Longest winner: 2017 (28/1)

Past winners

width=80Yearvenue=100Venuewidth=50Distwidth=200Winnerwidth=250Trainerwidth=80Oddswidth=150Time
1927White City500yEntry BadgeJoe Harmon (White City)1/4f29.01
1928White City525yBoher AshTommy Johnston Sr. (Edinburgh)5/130.48
1929White City525yMick the MillerPaddy Horan (Dublin)4/7f29.96
1930White City525yMick the MillerSidney Orton (Wimbledon)4/9f30.24
1931White City525ySeldom LedWally Green (West Ham)7/230.04
1932White City525yWild WoolleyJack Rimmer (White City)5/229.72
1933White City525yFuture CutletSidney Probert (Wembley)6/129.80
1934White City525yDaveslandJack Harvey (Harringay)3/129.81
1935White City525yGreta RaneeAlbert Jonas (White City)4/130.18
1936White City525yFine JubileeMrs Marjorie Yate (Private)10/11f29.48
1937White City525yWattle BarkJim Syder Sr. (Wembley)5/229.26
1938White City525yLone KeelSydney W Wright (Private)9/429.62
1939White City525yHighland RumPaddy Fortune (Wimbledon)2/1jf29.35
1940Harringay525yGR ArchdukeCharlie Ashley (Harringay)100/729.66
1941–1944, not run due to World War II
1945White City525yBallyhennessy SealStan Martin (Wimbledon)1/1f29.56
1946White City525yMondays NewsFred Farey (Private)5/129.24
1947White City525yTrev's PerfectionFred Trevillion (Private)4/128.95
1948White City525yPriceless BorderLeslie Reynolds (Wembley)1/2f28.78
1949White City525yNarrogar AnnLeslie Reynolds (Wembley)5/128.95
1950White City525yBallymac BallStan Martin (Wimbledon)7/228.72
1951White City525yBallylanigan TanistLeslie Reynolds (Wembley)11/428.62
1952White City525yEndless GossipLeslie Reynolds (Wembley)1/1f28.50
1953White City525yDaws DancerPaddy McEvoy (Private)10/129.20
1954White City525yPauls FunLeslie Reynolds (Wembley)8/15f28.84
1955White City525yRushton MacFrank Johnson (Private)5/228.97
1956White City525yDunmore KingPaddy McEvoy (Clapton)7/229.22
1957White City525yFord SpartanDennis Hannafin (Wimbledon)1/1F28.84
1958White City525yPigalle WonderJim Syder Jr. (Wembley)4/5f28.65
1959White City525yMile Bush PrideJack Harvey (Wembley)1/1f28.76
1960White City525yDuleek DandyBill Dash (Private)25/129.15
1961White City525yPalms PrinterPaddy McEvoy (Clapton)2/128.84
1962White City525yThe Grand CanalPaddy Dunphy (Ireland)2/1f29.09
1963White City525yLucky Boy BoyJohnny Bassett (Clapton)1/1f29.00
1964White City525yHack Up ChieftainPercy Stagg (Belle Vue)20/128.82
1965White City525yChittering ClaptonAdam Jackson (Clapton)5/228.82
1966White City525yFaithful HopePaddy Keane (Clapton)8/128.52
1967White City525yTric TracJim Hookway (Owlerton)9/229.00
1968White City525yCamira FlashRandolph Singleton (White City)100/828.78
1969White City525ySand StarHamilton Orr (Ireland)5/4f28.78
1970White City525yJohn SilverBarbara Tompkins (Private)11/429.01
1971White City525yDolores RocketHerbert White (Private)11/428.74
1972White City525yPatricias HopeAdam Jackson (Clapton)7/128.55
1973White City525yPatricias HopeJohnny O'Connor (Ireland)7/228.68
1974White City525yJimsunGeoff De Mulder (Hall Green)5/228.76
1975White City500mTartan KhanGwen Lynds (Bletchley)25/129.57
1976White City500mMutts SilverPhil Rees Sr. (Wimbledon)6/129.38
1977White City500mBallinska BandEddie Moore (Belle Vue)1/1f29.16
1978White City500mLacca ChampionPat Mullins (Private)6/4f29.42
1979White City500mSarahs BunnyGeoff De Mulder (Hall Green)3/129.53
1980White City500mIndian JoeJohn Hayes (Ireland)13/8jf29.68
1981White City500mParkdown JetGer McKenna (Ireland)4/5f29.57
1982White City500mLauries PantherTerry Duggan (Romford)6/4f29.60
1983White City500mI'm SlippyBarbara Tompkins (Coventry)6/129.40
1984White City500mWhisper WishesCharlie Coyle (Maidstone)7/4f29.43
1985Wimbledon480mPagan SwallowPhilip Rees Jr. (Wimbledon)9/129.04
1986Wimbledon480mTicoArthur Hitch (Slough)6/4jf28.69
1987Wimbledon480mSignal SparkGary Baggs (Walthamstow)14/128.83
1988Wimbledon480mHit The LidJohn McGee Sr. (Canterbury)3/128.53
1989Wimbledon480mLartique NoteGer McKenna (Ireland)1/1f28.79
1990Wimbledon480mSlippy BlueKenny Linzell (Walthamstow)8/128.70
1991Wimbledon480mBallinderry AshPatsy Byrne (Wimbledon)5/128.78
1992Wimbledon480mFarloe MelodyMatt O'Donnell (Ireland)6/4f28.88
1993Wimbledon480mRinga HustleTony Meek (Oxford)5/228.62
1994Wimbledon480mMoral StandardsTony Meek (Hall Green)9/4f28.59
1995Wimbledon480mMoaning LadTheo Mentzis (Private)5/228.66
1996Wimbledon480mShanless SlippyDolores Ruth (Ireland)4/9f28.66
1997Wimbledon480mSome PictureCharlie Lister OBE (Nottingham)8/13f28.23
1998Wimbledon480mToms The BestNick Savva (Milton Keynes)4/5f28.75
1999Wimbledon480mChart KingKarl & Ralph Hewitt (Ireland)8/11f28.76
2000Wimbledon480mRapid RangerCharlie Lister OBE (Private)7/4f28.71
2001Wimbledon480mRapid RangerCharlie Lister OBE (Private)7/428.71
2002Wimbledon480mAllen GiftClaude Gardiner (Hove)16/129.06
2003Wimbledon480mFarloe VerdictCharlie Lister OBE (Private)12/128.82
2004Wimbledon480mDroopys ScholesIan Reilly (Ireland)7/228.62
2005Wimbledon480mWestmead HawkNick Savva (Private)5/4f28.56
2006Wimbledon480mWestmead HawkNick Savva (Private)4/7f28.44
2007Wimbledon480mWestmead LordNick Savva (Private)6/128.47
2008Wimbledon480mLoyal HonchoSeamus Graham (Ireland)5/2jf28.60
2009Wimbledon480mKinda ReadyMark Wallis (Harlow)25/128.65
2010Wimbledon480mBandicoot TipokiCharlie Lister OBE (Private)7/228.57
2011Wimbledon480mTaylors SkyCharlie Lister OBE (Private)7/4f28.17 (Track Record)
2012Wimbledon480mBlonde SnapperMark Wallis (Yarmouth)8/128.65
2013Wimbledon480mSidaz JackCharlie Lister OBE (Private)6/128.37
2014Wimbledon480mSalad DodgerBruno Berwick (Private)16/128.38
2015Wimbledon480mRio QuattroDanny Riordan (Harlow)5/128.24
2016Wimbledon480mJaytee JetPaul Hennessy (Ireland)15/8f28.22
2017Towcester500mAstute MissileSeamus Cahill (Hove)28/128.92
2018Towcester500mKevin Hutton (Towcester)2/128.85
2019Nottingham500mPriceless BlakePaul Hennessy (Ireland)6/129.32
2020Nottingham500mDeerjet SydneyPat Buckley (Ireland)11/429.38
2021Towcester500mThorn FalconPatrick Janssens (Towcester)7/229.06
2022Towcester500mRomeo Magico Graham Holland (Ireland) 5/228.95
2023Towcester500mGaytime Nemo Graham Holland (Ireland) 9/128.89
2024Towcester500mDe Lahdedah Liam Dowling (Ireland)5/128.58 (=Track record)[14]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Williams . Darrell . Remembering White City – 'the governor' of lost tracks. Betfair . 6 December 2007 . 9 September 2012.
  2. Book: Dack, Barrie . Greyhound Derby, the first 60 years . 79–80 . 1990 . Ringpress Books . 0-948955-36-8.
  3. Web site: Dalgleish . Stuart . William Hill announces new deal with Wimbledon. William Hill . 17 December 2009 . 9 September 2012.
  4. News: Oakes . Omar . Ambitious plans for brand new dog track in Plough Lane, Wimbedon . 9 September 2012 . Wimbledon Guardian . 18 May 2012.
  5. Web site: Two farewell Saturdays close Wimbledon curtain | Greyhound News | Racing Post . . 25 February 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160305030349/https://www.racingpost.com/news/greyhounds/two-farewell-saturdays-close-wimbledon-curtain/2037649/ . 5 March 2016 . dead .
  6. News: Moody . Graham . Racing legend Charlie Lister slams plans to build housing on Wimbledon dog track in Plough Lane . https://archive.today/20130421074252/http://www.surreycomet.co.uk/news/wimbledon/9718153.Racing_legend_slams_dog_track_housing_plan/ . dead . 21 April 2013 . 9 September 2012 . Surrey Comet . 22 May 2012.
  7. Web site: Roll of Honour and Track Facts . William Hill . 9 September 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120721044512/http://www.williamhillgreyhounds.com/greyhound-derby/roll-of-honour/ . 21 July 2012 .
  8. Web site: Crowds set to flock to Towcester for Greyhound derby as world's richest dog race comes to town . All Things Business . 27 January 2019.
  9. Web site: Nottingham to stage 2019 English Derby . 13 December 2018 . Greyhound Star.
  10. Web site: DERBY POSTPONED – ARC STATEMENT. Greyhound Star. 16 March 2020.
  11. Web site: Derby Goes Ahead. 12 June 2020. Greyhound Star.
  12. Web site: 2020 Derby Dates. Nottingham Stadium. 13 June 2020. 13 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200613101206/https://www.nottinghamdogs.com/greyhoundderbydates.aspx. dead.
  13. Web site: Greyhound racing news: Latest updates including 'new' Derby home. 2 January 2021. Sporting Life. 2 January 2021.
  14. Web site: The Star Sports & TRC English Greyhound Derby Final . Greyhound Board of Great Britain . 30 June 2024.