GREYHOUND OF THE YEAR:
ICE OF FIRE (Crash-Bigmans Grainne, Oct 17)
Ice On Fire went to traps at 1-4f when he won his last race of the year, the O’Tooles Gym Laurels at Newcastle. In doing so, the Jimmy Fenwick trained, Dave Spraggon owned black probably shorted beyond that mark to take the 2019 Greyhound Of The Year title.
The 37 kilo flying machine didn’t make his racing debut until April but in the following eight months, collected the Cat 1 Puppy Classic, the Eclipse and the All England Cup. He finished the year with 16 wins from 19 races, and as befitting a Greyhound of the Year, is ante post favourite for the 2020 English Derby.
Bitch of the Year
Bull Run Byte
BULL RUN BYTE
2 Droopys Live 3 Velvet Juliet
Owned by Gilbert Anderson, Bull Run Byte landed a second consecutive English Oaks for Kevin Hutton. Ironically, she went out in the first round in 2018. Earlier in the year Byte had reached the Golden Crest Final at Poole. She only raced on 21 occasions during the year and was particularly impressive at Swindon with a record of 8 races, 6 wins, 2 seconds.
Sprinter of the Year
TROY BELLA T6 Photo: © Steve Nash
TROY BELLA
2 Droopys Reel 3 Coolavanny Dylan
One of the fastest (and widest) sprinters of his generation, then Mick Gollogly owned, David Mullins trained 38 kilo monster surprising failed to be nominated for this award a year ago. Bella set a new Central Park 280m sprint record in the semi finals of the Silver Salver but was bitten and unable to take his chance in the final. It is perhaps ironically sad, that his greatest success would come in the National Sprint Final (he was third in 2018) where his chance was undoubtedly enhanced by the tragic death of fastest qualifier, Salacres Punch.
Standard Greyhound of the Year
ICE ON FIRE (T3) Photo: © Steve Nash
ICE ON FIRE
2 King Sheeran 3 Roxholme Nidge
No category has more GOY success than the ‘standard’ which inevitably is the most competitive. It is worth noting that in other years, King Sheeran’s portfolio (see below) might have seen him clean up both the standard and the main title. A special mention too for Roxholme Nidge. Due to ongoing injury issues the tiny brindle only went to traps twelve times but landed two Category One finals. If ever the phrase ‘what might have been’ was meant for a greyhound, Roxholme Nidge would own it.
Stayer of the Year
DROOPYS LIVE (t2) Photo: © Steve Nash
DROOPYS LIVE
2 Redzer Ardfert 3 Sheldan
The ‘plugging away for reward’ theme was no better highlighted than Droopys Live, owned by Paul & JD Maragh, John Hardman and trained by Angela Harrison. Although a top class Cat 1 winner throughout her career, 2019, her third full season of racing, was undoubtedly her best. The highlight was a stunning performance in the SIS Yorkshire Leger Final. However, she was also the most prolific open race winner in the entire country with 20 victories. Not bad for an old girl who attained veteran status last May.
Marathon Greyhound of the Year
MICKS LITTLE GEM Photo: © Steve Nash
MICKS LITTLE GEM
2 Bumblebee Bullet 3 Stardom
A year ago, trainer Hazel Kemp took home the marathon prize with Slippy Maggie, this year it was her half sister Micks Little Gem, trained by daughter Michelle Brown and owned by the Dickerson, Fairs, Kemp and Mackay Syndicate. Her year highlights were victories in the Boxing Day and Dorando Marathons, having started out in S3 at Henlow. It will come as a surprise to some not to see TV Trophy winner Bumblebee Bullet taking the award, but Mark Wallis is predicting 2020 as her big year.
Hurdler of the Year
RPGTV Champion Hurdle Final, first flight: TURNHOUSE JET (t3) leads Caislean Fifi (t6). Photo: © Steve Nash
1 TURNHOUSE JET
2 Caislean Fifi 3 Burgess Brandy
The top hurdler title is decided on three major events, the Springbok, Grand National and RPGTV Champion Hurdle. Burgess Brandy landed the Springbok, Caislean Fifi landed the National and Turnhouse Jet lifted the Champion Hurdle. But it was sheer volume of victories that edged it for Jet. With Fifi retired to the sofa, Rick Holloway’s runner racked up an unbeaten sequence of 12 victories which he brings into 2020.
British-Bred Greyhound of the Year
King Sheeran – pic Josh Sealey
1 KING SHEERAN
2 King Turbo 3 Witton Derecho
Liz McNair and the KSS Syndicate have dominated British breeding during the last three years and it is appropriate the the top award goes to the most successful performer from the outstading litter of the year – British or Irish. Not only did King Sheeran land the Produce Stakes, the British Bred Derby and the Olympic, and contest an English Derby semi final, he did it all following a broken hock sustained earlier in his career.
Newcomer of the Year
ICE ON FIRE – Grossick Racing Photography
ICE ON FIRE
2 Bockos Doomie 3 Droopys Reel
When the Greyhound of the Year also qualifies for the ‘newcomer’ award, it becomes a rubber stamping exercise. But there will surely be more success to come for Henlow Puppy Derby winner Doomie who won 13 of his 18 races, and the exciting young sprint star Reel, who has only been beaten twice in 16 races.
