Welsh Greyhound Derby Explained

Class:Triple Crown
Horse Race:Welsh Greyhound Derby
Location:Cardiff Arms Park
Inaugurated:1928
Last Run:1977

The Welsh Greyhound Derby was a former classic greyhound competition held in Wales.[1]

History

The competition was held at the White City Stadium in Cardiff from 1928 to 1937. The competition was sometimes run as a handicap race.[2]

After the closure of White City, the race switched to the Cardiff Arms Park from 1945 until 1977. It gained classic status in 1971.[3]

When the Cardiff Arms Park closed to greyhound racing there was no remaining fully licensed National Greyhound Racing Club track in Wales resulting in the race discontinuing.[4] During the vast majority of its existence the race formed part of the triple crown of racing alongside the English Greyhound Derby and Scottish Greyhound Derby.[5]

The famous Mick the Miller, who was a household name during the 1930s won the event in 1930.[6] [7]

Venues

Past winners

width=50Yearwidth=200Winnerwidth=300Breedingwidth=250Trainerwidth=80Time (sec)width=70SPwidth=100Notes
1928Cheerful Choice Mutton Cutlet – Glorious Still30.73 sec 8-11f
1929Back Isle Spike Island – Giddy FiddlerCronin 29.67 sec 4-9f
1930Glorious Event – Na Boc LeiSidney Orton (Wimbledon) 29.55 sec 1-8fTrack Record
1931Altamatzin Wily Warrior – Looks LikelyArthur 'Doc' Callanan (Wembley) 29.88 sec 2-1[8]
1932Reel Tom Melksham Tom – RigadoonBilly Quinn (Ireland) 29.87 sec 5-1
1933Beef Cutlet Mutton Cutlet – BuretteJohn Hegarty (Welsh White City) 29.56 sec
1934Valiant Rufus Red Robin – Hotel AvroLeslie Carpenter (Gloucester) 30.08 sec1/1f
1936Bully Ring Mount Hillarys Boy – Brittas BelleRobert Linney (Gloucester) 30.28 sec 4-1
1937Genial Radiance Johnny Peters - ReymerstonJ.W.Day (Private) 30.15 sec 5-1
1945Shaggy Lass Castledown Lad – Shaggy ShoreG.H.Vickery (Private) 29.75 sec 4-5f
1946Negro's Lad Kilrea Lad – Negro's FireJack Toseland (Perry Barr) 29.54 sec 8-1Track record
1947Trevs Despatch - Friar TuckFred Trevillion (Private) 29.74 sec 1-3f
1948Local Interprize Ruby Border - Mythical DaisyStan Biss (Clapton) 29.32 sec 4-6f
1950Ballycurreen Garrett Ballycurreen Duke – Ballymakeera KeeperJack Harvey (Wembley) 29.22 sec 100-30Track record
1951Ballylanigan Tanist Mad Tanist - Fly DancerLeslie Reynolds (Wembley) 29.95 sec 1/1f
1952Priceless Border - Narrogar AnnLeslie Reynolds (Wembley) 29.41 sec 7/4
1953Glittering Look Glittering Smack – Knockrour FavouriteTom 'Paddy' Reilly (Walthamstow) 29.39 sec 5/2[9]
1955Rushton Mac[10] Rushton News – Rushton PandaFrank Johnson (Private) 29.40 sec 1/2f
1957Go Doggie Go Ballymac Ball – Marchioness MinnieJack Toseland (Perry Barr) 29.38 sec 5/4f
1958Our Defence Defence Leader – Our VioletDennis O'Brien (Private) 30.27 sec 6-1
1959The Grand Champion – Witching DancerJack Harvey (Wembley) 28.80 sec 8/11fTrack record
1960Fitz's Star Cheerful Chariot – Fitz's LassTom 'Paddy' Reilly (Walthamstow) 29.48 sec 4/1
1961Oregon Prince Knock Hill Chieftain - Burleigh's FancyPhil Rees Sr. (Private) 28.86 sec 2/5f
1962Summerhill Fancy Knockrour Again – Brandon PrincessGeorge Waterman (Wimbledon) 29.07 sec 3/1
1963Fairys Chum Knock Hill Chieftain – Fairy JuliaBob Burls (Wembley) 29.49 sec 4-1
1964Davo's Rink Hopeful Cutlet – Move Along KentuckyTom Baldwin (Perry Barr) 28.84 sec 9-4
1965Harmony Mile Bush Pride – Perfect QueenJim Irving (Private) 29.43 sec 3-1
1966I'm Quickest Skips Choice – Gratton StarRandy Singleton (White City) 29.59 sec 3-1
1968Swift Half Hack Up Chieftain – Imperial AstraJim Irving (Private) 29.58 sec 9-2
1969Pallas Joy Movealong Santa – Happy NowAdam Jackson (Clapton) 29.43 sec 7-2
1970Super Gamble Flash Solar – Big GamblePaddy Coughlan (Private) 29.46 sec 2-1
1971Spectres Dream Spectres II – Jockeys DreamHugo Spencer (Portsmouth) 29.22 sec 16-1
1972Silver Hope - PatsiciaAdam Jackson (Clapton) 29.75 sec 3-1
1973Silly Rocket Shanes Rocket – Silly PrideBertie Gaynor (Wolverhampton) 29.56 sec 11-8f
1974Dankie Monalee Champion – Weela HeatherColin West (White City) 29.72 sec 4-1
1975Baffling Bart The Grand Silver - MosaduvaPaddy Milligan (Private) 29.37 sec 3-1
1976Cameo Colonel Own Pride – New CurriculumJohn Gibbons (Private) 29.63 sec 10-1
1977Instant Gambler Itsachampion - SabrinaBarbara Tompkins (Private) 30.01 sec 1-1f

Discontinued

Notes and References

  1. Book: Genders, Roy. The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing, pages 129-130. 1981. Pelham Books Ltd. 07207-1106-1.
  2. News: Valiant Rufus wins Welsh Derby . Western Mail . 28 May 1934 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription . 17 May 2024.
  3. Book: Genders, Roy. NGRC book of Greyhound Racing, pages 104-105. 1990. Pelham Books Ltd. 0-7207-1804-X.
  4. Book: Barnes, Julia. Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. 1988. Ringpress Books. 0-948955-15-5.
  5. Book: Genders, Roy. The Greyhound and Racing Greyhound. 1975. Page Brothers (Norwich). 0-85020-0474.
  6. Book: Dack, Barrie. Greyhound Derby, the first 60 years, pages 59-61. 1990. Ringpress Books. 0-948955-36-8.
  7. Book: Tanner, Michael. The Legend of Mick the Miller: Sporting Icon of the Depression. 2004. Newbury: Highdown. 978-1-904317-67-8.
  8. News: The Dogs . Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail . 31 December 1931 . British Newspaper Archive . subscription . 30 November 2024 .
  9. News: Glittering Look wins Dog Derby . Western Mail . 6 July 1953 . British Newspaper Archive . subscription . 22 November 2024 .
  10. News: Rushton Mac wins easily. Western Mail . 28 June 1955 . 8 January 2022. British Newspaper Archive. subscription .