The Ladbrokes Golden Jacket originated as a competition to be broadcast on ITV’s World of Sport afternoon sports programme and was first staged in 1975.
It was originally an 18 runner invitation event staged over 660 metres at Harringay and the first final, worth £1,000, was won by Nice One Cyril, handled by future Derby winning trainer Charlie Coyle (Whisper Wishes).
This is the 34th running of the final at Crayford, the first was staged over the 540 metre course.
In that time, two greyhounds have retained their title: Bobs Regan (1991/92) and Wexford Minx (1994/5). The latter was trained by Derek Knight who has four victories to his name, also Coolmona Road (1996) and Shotgun Bullet (2018).
The Jacket Final has endured a fair amount of controversy and attention since its inception.
In 1985, the only year the race was held at Hall Green, a 20 mile traffic jam on the M1 saw the withdrawal from the final of Westmead Grace and fastest semi final winner Scurlogue Champ. The four-runner final went to Tony Meek’s Keem Rocket.
In 1998, Bubbly Princess is first over the line but disqualified for deliberate interference by the stewards with the final awarded to El Onda.
Between the semi final and 2002 final, John McGee lost his license, with his runner Grayslands Gift switched to Yvonne Harrington. But the eventual winner Sundar Storm subsequently loses the race in the stewards room as the result of a positive drugs test.
In 2016, Patchys Kerry become the first ante post favourite to win the Jacket in 20 years.
In terms of the Crayford finals, a third have gone to the market leader. But spare a thought for Palace Issue who was beaten in all three finals between 1999-2001 and was beaten at 1-1f, 8-11f and 11-8f.
The two shortest priced winners of the final both returned at 2-5f: Heavenly Lady and Patchys Kerry. The biggest priced winner? Well that is a trick question since the record show it as 22-1 chance El Onda. However, she didn’t actually cross the line in front but was awarded the race. First over the line – for pay out purposes – was Bubbly Princess (9-2).
You could argue that it was Sundar Storm, who won the 2002 final as a 14-1 shot, and whose disqualification didn’t come until several months later. So was she actually the biggest priced winner?
Which means the answer might be Henry Chalkley’s Midway Tomsscout (12-1).
Of the 33 Crayford finals to date 19 have been won by bitches. There might be a suggestion that this is due to them generally being smaller and better able to take to the 334 metre circuit than the dogs.
It is more likely to be, as a gross generalisation, that bitches perform better over longer distances. As the only male in the line-up’ the 34 kilo likely favourite Antigua Fire can follow in the paw prints of the likes of Boylesports Star, Bush Paddy, Group Skater and Milldean Clarky, to name but four, who were all of roughly similar weight. A better example still was Coolmona Road, who went to traps at around 37 kilos.
Although stayers fare less well in the annual awards, the Golden Jacket title featured on the CVs of Greyhound of the Year winners Heavenly Lady and Bobs Regan.
The latter is particularly interesting. Bred in Kent by Brian Timcke, the double Jacket winner’s mother was originally given away. Bob himself was stolen as a five month old puppy and found alone and abandoned a week later at a farm in Swanley.
One final bit of trivia – look away Hayley Keightley.
There have only ever been two Golden Jacket winner from trap five over this course and distance. The first was Chicita Banana in 1990 and the last was Coolmona Road in 1996.
