Some Picture Explained

Greyhoundname:Some Picture
Sire:Slaneyside Hare
Dam:Spring Season
Sex:Dog
Whelped:2 June 1994
Death Date:15 April 1999
Color:Black
Breeder:Theresa Hamill
Owner:Stephen Spiteri
Trainer:Charlie Lister O.B.E
Otherawards:1997 Greyhound of the Year
1997 Irish Greyhound of the Year
Honours:1997 English Greyhound Derby champion
1997 Scottish Greyhound Derby champion

Some Picture was a leading racing greyhound during the 1990s. He won both the English Greyhound Derby and the Scottish Greyhound Derby. He was also voted the 1997 UK Greyhound of the Year and unusually for an English trained greyhound was voted 1997 Irish Greyhound of the Year, being Irish bred.[1] [2]

Whelping and rearing

He was whelped on 2 June 1995, from a mating between Slaneyside Hare and Spring Season. He was bred by Theresa Hamill.[3] [4]

Racing

1996

He won the Eclipse at Nottingham and the Select Stakes at Wembley. The performances were good enough for many to consider him a leading prospect for the English Greyhound Derby the following year.

1997

In April he was aimed at the first major Derby of the year, the 1997 Regal Scottish Greyhound Derby and won the event earning the first prize of £20,000 for owner Steve Spiteri.[5] The success propelled him into favouritism for the 1997 English Greyhound Derby and was looking to become the first Scottish Derby champion since Patricias Hope (1972) to successfully double up.

The black dog breezed through the competition remained going unbeaten into the final.[6] As the only wide runner in the final he took a decisive lead on the second bend to win a first Derby for his trainer Charlie Lister.[7] The time of 28.23 was the fastest time ever for a Wimbledon Stadium Derby final.[3] [8]

After a short break he travelled to Ireland and Shelbourne Park, in an attempt to become the first greyhound in history to achieve the modern triple crown (Irish Derby instead of Welsh Greyhound Derby). Some Picture was ante post favourite for the 1997 Irish Greyhound Derby and after five races (two heat wins and a further three heats where he was defeated but earned a qualifying place) he lined up for the final.[9] The dream ended (and a £100,000 bonus was lost) after he was slow away and tangled with Spiral Nikita; his great English rival Toms The Best won the final. It transpired that his trainer Charlie Lister had battled with his fitness throughout the competition after Some Picture had been off colour during the event.

His connections decided to send him for stud duties, and he retired at a young age.[3] [10] He also died at a young age from a suspected heart attack on 15 April 1999.

Legacy

He was a successful sire at stud, siring many top open racers but his premature death probably stopped him becoming one of the most successful sires of all time.

Notes and References

  1. Book: Hobbs, Jonathan. Greyhound Annual 2003. 2002. Raceform. 1-904317-07-3.
  2. Book: Montague, Trevor . A-Z of Sport, page 380 . 2004 . Little, Brown . 0-316-72645-1.
  3. Web site: Hall of Fame. Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
  4. Web site: Some Picture profile. Greyhound Data.
  5. News: Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When) July edition. 2018. Greyhound Star.
  6. Web site: 1997 Derby. Greyhound Derby.com.
  7. Book: National Greyhound Racing Club Calendar, July 1997 edition. National Greyhound Racing Club.
  8. Web site: 1997 Derby final. You Tube.
  9. Web site: Greyhound Racing: Some Picture gets his shot at immortality. The Independent. 23 October 2011.
  10. Web site: Remember When - September 2019. Greyhound Star. 29 September 2019.