BRITISH PERFORMANCE OF 2021

Racing returned to Towcester in June 2020 and by the end of 2021, it had reached the status last achieved by White City. From 1927 until 1984, the Wood Lane venue was indisputably the industry flagship writes Floyd Amphlett.

Even after Wimbledon inherited the Derby, many would claim Walthamstow was the pride of British racing. The Stow closed but Wimbledon withered. Towcester Mk1, had the facilities and the Derby but lacked the full portfolio. Towcester in 2021 was the complete package. Even beyond a remarkable Covid Derby, there was the Blue Riband, Empress Stakes, Juvenile Classic, Towcester Marathon, Maiden Derby, First Container Marathon, Hunt Cup, English Puppy Derby plus a string of £5K deciders.

All of which justifies a double selection (realistically there should be at least four nominations) headed by Derby winner Thorn Falcon who proved that brilliantly fast wide runners can win a Derby (and on Saturday showed that top class hounds can come from behind too).

The other nomination goes to Space Jet for winning one of the best greyhound races seen anywhere in years. The First Containers Marathon blanket finish (½, sh, sh, sh, 2½,) was simply awesome.

If there was a third Towcester selection it would have gone to Salacres Pippy for an emotional Hunt Cup win for Peter Harnden. Instead, she’ll make the chart courtesy of the Cesarewitch win at Crayford.

But if you were looking for a contender for the most exciting finish, look no further than Aayamza Royale’s short head Regency win (better than Aayamza Breeze’s win in the 2019 Regency???).

Time for some strategic selecting now. Brookside Richie could realistically have been the Romford and Central Park choices. Even though he was beaten in the Kent Derby, we can justify a FOY for the 480 trip at Central Park. (He also had the third fastest time, sandwiching kennelmate Tenpin’s 28.89 run).

All of which allows for another Cat One winner Bockos Jon Jo to be acknowledged for his FOY for Romford’s 400m course.

There were a string of new tracks records – all of Towcester’s were broken – but they provide opportunity to induct another couple of names. From Newcastle (where Freedom Whiskey broke the sprint clock), we’ll acknowledge the 640 best from Cold As Ice. While Blue Tick George removed Autumn Tiger’s name some 26 years after he established a best for Sunderland’s similar trip.

Connections of Space Jet (710) and Aayamza Royale (915) may feel aggrieved for not having their Perry Barr track records suitably acknowledged, but instead we have to honour the three fastest runs 480m in six years by Skywalker Cilla (27.96, 27.98, 28.04) The track record is 27.93.

The same could be said for three Swindon track record breakers (Headford Harry, Kingsbrook Glynn and Emotional) but that would mean no acknowledgement for Produce Stakes winner and all-round win machine Pocket Lola.

With no ‘head and shoulders’ candidate at Sheffield, we can easily justify another home grown in the BGBF British Bred Derby winner Fabulous Azurra.

It was a tremendous year for the fairer sex and its first trailblazer was Jaguar Macie who clocked the fastest time of the year when landing the Ladbrokes Puppy Derby at Monmore. Signet Ace was four spots slower winning the Winter Derby on the same night, but remained totally dominant at Nottingham.. Choose one, the Select, Eclipse, a fabulous Trainers Championship ‘A’ race or 500m FOY.

While Antigua Storm might be the obvious Yarmouth selection for his last-to-first East Anglian Derby win, it is also worth remembering that he had the quickest time over course and distance during the last twelve months.

Jimmy Gaskin’s local runner Santro Duke was the fastest hound over the Doncaster 483m trip in a couple of years with a 29.36 run. Sticking with the local hero theme, Marinas Artist was Pelaw’s standout performer with nine wins and three seconds in his last 13 races at the track including the FOY over four bends.

Of course, it isn’t just about times and big race wins. So at Kinsley we’ve gone for Miss Eleanor, who was the most prolific winner of the year with 15 wins. Henlow’s Layton Shrek was one of four graded runners tied on 13 wins but Steve Fletcher’s brindle, the oldest runner listed, also had two open race wins.

Last but not least, Harlow, which belonged to Hove raider March On Henry – seven opens, seven wins!