Patrick Kelly profiles a man so closely associated with Brighton and Hove Stadium that he is listed among its fixtures and fittings. It could only be Derek Knight

 

DEREK KNIGHT has had a distinguished record in the sport’s big races during a training career that has spanned almost six decades and, following the retirement of Doreen Walsh at the end of last year, he is Hove’s longest-serving handler.

“I’ve had a long and highly successful training career at Hove – if I could do it all over again I gladly would,” said Knight. “The biggest change since I became a trainer in the mid-1970s is unquestionably the volume of racing.”

Knight, who originally learned his craft under the guidance of Gordon Hodson and Frank Melville at the GRA’s White City and Harringay in the early-1970s, accepted a training position at Shawfield (1974-1976) before taking over from the retiring Arthur Hancock at Hove on New Year’s Day, 1977.

His initial link to Hove occurred in the final of the 1976 National Inter-track Championship when his Pride Of Bearna represented Shawfield in a 725m contest that resulted in a 1-2 for the host-track with Pass The Buck edging Bonzo by a short-head in a classic duel between Hove’s outstanding two stayers.

The Edmonton-born handler, whose first winner at Hove was Next In Line in a 725-metre handicap in January, 1977, joined the Coral-owned track when there were only eight races per night throughout the year and three other contract trainers, namely George Curtis, Gunner Smith and Doreen Walsh.

The first top-flight performer to pass through his hands was Pass The Buck, a key member of Hove’s victorious 1976 National Inter-track Championship squad, the 725m track record holder and runner-up to Sindy’s Flame in the final of the ITV-televised Ladbroke Golden Jacket at Harringay.

Knight’s Hay Maker Mack, unluckily eliminated from a trap six draw when there was no seeding for the 1983 Greyhound Derby at White City, rewrote the history books when setting a new world record of 28.99sec for 500m when he gained some compensation in the Derby Consolation.

Hay Maker Mack – White City track record holder when the stadium closed

“I’d say Hay Maker Mack is the fastest greyhound I’ve trained,” said Knight. “He was very unlucky not to win the 1983 Greyhound Derby at White City – a bad draw in the semi-finals robbed us of a great opportunity.”

Between 1977 and 2019 Knight, a great fan of long-distance races, proved himself highly adept as a trainer of stayers and he achieved big-race triumphs courtesy of Elastic Band, Amazing Man, Yellow Emperor, Astrosyn Trace, Astrosyn Eulogy, Easy Mark, Ballarue Dawn, Integrity Boy, Island Doe, Wexford Minx, Coolmona Road, Senlac Rose, Silver Glow, Wandering One, Smoking Baby, Solid Money and Foulden Special and Shotgun Bullet.

The Greyhound Derby has proved elusive, although Knight fielded three finalists in the shape of Amazing Man (1983), Smoking Bullet (2000/2001) and, despite Mrs Cherry failing in two successive Oaks finals, he twice landed the bitches’ classic with Liberal Girl (1990) and Tidyplayroom bridged a 12-year gap when taking the honours in 2002.

VINNIE JONES celebrates Stewards Cup victory by SMOKING BABY STEVE NASH PIC Walthamstow 7.4.01

A plethora of Hove’s former top owners, including Victor Chandler, Nigel Wood, Roy Osborne, Eamon Furlong, Dick Smith, Jimmy Jupp, John Ward and Vinnie Jones, purchased a host of outstanding performers to be trained by Knight and he rewarded their outlay with a string of major open-race titles.

Knight was also associated with top-class hurdlers, notably Fly Jetsave (1982 National Hurdle), Scarcely Unknown (1984 Springbok), Rowfold Fergus (1986 National Hurdle), American Gypsy (1989 National Hurdle), Tintagel Man (1990 National Hurdle & 1991 Wingspares Supreme Hurdles), Top Show (1993 Grand National finalist), Ace Choice (1995 Grand National finalist) and Baran Bally Hi (2012 Grand National).

Alongside former trainer Brian Clemenson, Knight was instrumental in Hove beating Bristol and Romford to clinch back-to-back Supertrack titles at Wembley and his most recent big-race triumph came via Shotgun Bullet in the 2018 Ladbroke Golden Jacket at Crayford.

As far as the open-race scene is concerned, Knight’s most successful flag-bearer was the versatile Wexford Minx, who annexed big-race wins in the Ladbroke Golden Jacket (twice), Brighton Belle and Greenwich Cup and was runner-up to Decoy Cougar in the 1994 Regency final.

“Coral have made a huge recent investment at Hove, the facilities are superb and they will surely attract decent crowds to the track in the future,” said Knight. “The quality of the racing can boast a rich heritage – it was, of course, the home of world champion Ballyregan Bob.”

ASTROSYN EULOGY with trainer Derek Knight, who also provided the second and third home in the Sussex Cup final. Hove 30.7.98 – Pic Steve Nash