The following article was published in December 2003 when we attempted to list the ten most influential greyhounds in Britain of the previous 77 years. Sixteen and a bit years later, how many hounds would force their way into the perfect ten. Westmead Hawk, without any doubt, but to what position. Any others?
YOU can barely switch on a TV or pick up a tabloid paper these days without being subject to somebody’s ‘Best Ever’ list. Never being slow to leap aboard a bandwagon, we’ve gone for it.
So do you base your selection on ability to break track records? Should it be on major events won?
Dunno! It’s a personal thing
We simply ask that it isn’t taken too seriously, because by tomorrow – if not sooner – most folk will have rearranged their own list in and replaced half the dogs on it
10) FUTURE CUTLET
(Mutton Cutlet-Wary Guide) April 1929 Trainer Sidney Probert Owner W A Evershed
Arguably the next big superstar following Mick The Miller. In his first year in Britain he won the 1931 Laurels and Cesarewitch.
In early 1932 he won the Spring Cup and then contested the English Derby where he added the White City 525 track record to his Wembley equivalent. (He also held the 600 clock at West Ham.) He reached the Derby Final but was beaten a neck.
In 1933 Cutlet won his second Cesarewitch and then contested the Derby which he won by a neck.
He was retired later in the year. His future was ensured when his deceased owner left money in a trust so that Cutlet should see out his days in luxury.
9) DOLORES ROCKET
(Newdown Heather-Come On Dolores) March 1969 Owner & Trainer Bert White
Which bitch to choose, Cranog Bet, Westmead Chick? In the end we opted for Surrey born Dolores Rocket.
After winning the Puppy Oaks and Sporting Life Juvenile she was entered in the 1971 English Derby where she just beat Supreme Fun (reckoned by some to have dodged).
The Rocket then went on to win the St Leger, Essex Vase Spring Cups (Wembley and Wimbledon), Cearns Memorial and loads more. She set track records at Crayford, Romford and Wimbledon. One of the all time greats
8) LOCAL INTERPRIZE
(Ruby Border-Mythical Daisy) 1946 Trainer Stan Biss Owner E W Goddard
For two year in the late 1940s, Local Interprize was a dog who could not be ruled out of any competition.
In 1948 alone he won the Scurry, the Gold Collar, the Welsh Derby and the Cesarewitch. He was second in the English Derby and fifth in the Laurels.
In 1949 he again won the Gold Collar, was beaten a short head in the Scurry and again reached the English Derby Final. Four classic wins (the Welsh Derby was not designated a classic until later) and another four finals – some record.
7) SCURLOGUE CHAMP
(Sand Man-Old Rip) January 1981 Owner & Trainer Ken Peckham
The greatest marathoner ever – no contest. From a strictly purist point of view – Scurlogue Champ left a bit to be desired. To put it in a nutshell – he was, on occasion, prone to ‘jacking it’. On at least one occasion he stopped in a solo trial
But for those who preferred their hound with a touch of Hurricane Higgins compared to the Steve Davis image of Ballyregan Bob – Scurlogue was the biz.
His record only partly tells the story. 63 races – 51 wins – 20 track records between 663 to 888m.
Due to TV’s Sportsnight he became a great favourite with the none racing public – and ‘doing a Scurlogue’ became a running style often attempted but never seriously challenged.
6) RAPID RANGER
(Come On Ranger-Rapid Vienna) January 1998 Trainer Charlie Lister Owner Ray White
The most recent double Derby winner who won both his finals in the same time 28.71 – a far better time than it would later appear, given changes in the Wimbledon circuit and timing.
Ranger also reached the Scottish and Irish Derby Finals where he finished third and second respectively. He was also a narrow runner-up in the Eclipse and second in the Racing Post Juvenile.
A born racer who never put in a bad performance
5) PATRICIAS HOPE
(Silver Hope-Patsicia) July 1970 Trainer John O’Connor & Adam Jackson Owners Stanley,Marks,O’Connor
One of three Double English Derby winners, Patricia’s also landed the Triple Crown by capturing the Scottish and Welsh deciders – on two of the occasions beating the perennial bridesmaid Super Rory.
In the second Derby he also landed a massive gamble – he was 33-1 ante post. Not heavily raced he also finished runner-up in the Anglo Irish and also contested a Pall Mall Final.
4) MILE BUSH PRIDE
(The Grand Champion-Witching Dancer) Aug 1956 Trainer Jack Harvey Owner Noel Purvis
Pride might have only won one English Derby but his record puts him alongside the double winners.
He actually ran third, first (undefeated) and second in his three finals, two of which were outstanding decider that included first Pigalle Wonder and secondly Crazy Parachute.
Pride also achieved the Grand Slam by winning the Scottish and Welsh Derbys. He also won the Cesarewitch. Just class, pure class
3) PIGALLE WONDER
(Champion Prince-Prairie Peg) March 1956 Trainer Jim Syder Owner Al Burnett
Pigalle Wonder (the brindle in the pic) is perhaps a controversial choice at no.3 being placed ahead of two double Derby winners but 45 years on, for many serious greyhound students he is the fastest dog of all time – the complete greyhound.
Wonder did of course win the 1958 Derby, again reckoned to be one of the best ever, having broken the White City 525 track record in the heats – the record remained his for 10 years.
He also broke the 525 records at Wembley, Harringay, Carntyre, and Powderhall as well as the 550 clock at White City. He won the Pall Mall, dead heated in the Cesarewitch and a string of other big events. At four and a half he returned to Ireland and was runner-up in the Irish Derby.
2) BALLYREGAN BOB
(Ballyheigue Moon-Evening Daisy) May 1983 Trainer George Curtis Owner Cliff Kevern
The most famous greyhound of the post war era and the best stayer that British racegoers have ever witnessed.
Bob will of course be remembered for passing Westpark Mustard’s win record of straight victories and then stretching it to a world record 32 in December 1986.
But there was so much more to Bob. An NGRC career with only six defeats in 50 races. There were the 16 track records set or equalled.
There were wins in the William Hill Lead, Olympic, Test, and Essex Vase. There was the match against Scurlogue Champ that made the national TV news. There were the appearances on children’s TV and BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
He remains preserved as a museum exhibit – a fate reserved for the few
1) MICK THE MILLER
(Glorious Event-Na Boc Lei) June 1926 Trainer Sidney Orton Owner Arundel Kempton
It could only be Mick – arguably the most famous greyound the world has ever seen.
In terms of his track achievements,they are all there. 20 Irish Races, 15 Wins. 61 British races, 46 wins. He won two English Derbys and made another final. He won a St Leger at five years old. He won 19 races in a row. He won two Spring Cups and an International. He broke the track record on his way to the 1930 Cesarewitch and Welsh Derby wins.
But Mick was so much more than that. At a time when greyhound racing was the most exciting new sport on the scene, Mick arrived right on cue. He was constantly in the newspapers, on the news reels – in retirement he even made a film.
He was as well known to Britain in the 1930s as Red Rum would be half a century later. The most important greyhound ever to race in Britain – no argument.
