This afternoon Crayford stage one of the great showpiece events of the year the Premier Greyhound Racing Golden Jacket Final.
The betting on the big race is unaltered in the last few days though both Minnie Bullet and Ritzy Empress have shortened in the betting for the Bussey Memorial.
Here are the thought of trainers Mark Wallis and Ricky Holloway, and assistant trainer Rab McNair.
Rab
Mark
Paul Donovan
Ricky
Last week’s semis:
Coonough Crow • Havana Top Note • Ballymac Taylor
Norah receives Lifetime Achievement Award
The Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) and the Greyhound Writers’ Association (GWA) are delighted to announce Norah McEllistrim as winner of the GWA Lifetime Achievement Award 2023.
Hugely popular and successful during her many years as a trainer, Norah has trained a host of champions and landed big-race trophies aplenty, including Grand Nationals, Gold Collars and an Oaks – not forgetting Derby finalists along the way!
However, it is her lifelong commitment to the greyhounds themselves which earns her this ultimate recognition from the sport. Norah loves greyhounds – and they adore her.
The name McEllistrim is one of the most famous names in greyhound racing given Norah’s dad, Paddy, was one of the first Wimbledon trainers when the track opened in 1928. He remained at Plough Lane until the early 1970s, winning the 1971 St Leger with Spotted Rory, by which time Norah was a well-established kennelhand with her father.
Becoming a trainer in her own right in 1974, McEllistrim is a former chair of the Greyhound Trainers’ Association as well as legendary home-finder; her love and care of ex-racers matching her skills on the track as a handler with greyhounds such as Purley Queen, Lenson Billy, Face The Mutt, Bobcol, Knight Raft and Cloheena Cash.
GWA Chairman Jonathan Hobbs said:“Everyone loves Norah and, given her association with Coral Brighton & Hove Stadium, there can be no more appropriate and worthy winner of a Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s ceremony in Brighton.
“Most of us will have first met Norah at the old Wimbledon Stadium. Paddy McEllistrim’s long association with the track is well known – and he was a huge character. Norah, on the other hand, was a reluctant front-of-house operator, always preferring the company of greyhounds to humans – and still does. However, she knew how to train them then – and still does!
“Congratulations Norah on your award – it is fully deserved.”
Long-standing owner Bob Boswell added:
“Norah has held a Professional Greyhound Trainers License for 50 years. That is a remarkable achievement and in itself is worthy of the Lifetime Achievement Award.
“But this accolade only tells half the story. She has been supported by a select and loyal band of excellent staff through the generations who may have left briefly to pursue other careers, or start families, but have always come back. Team McEllistrim is a true team.
“I would not own a dog with anyone else other than Norah. Her honesty and integrity are rare commodities in today’s world and I am proud to call her a friend.”
TV in three weeks
Apart from the Derby, there can’t be too many trophies more recognisable than this one, supplied by Burridge Trophies.
A big thanks to Mark for sending this teaser through – with a reminder that the £15,000 to winner event gets underway in three weeks time (March 16) at Oxford.
Opens
(Will be updated as we receive them throughout the day)
Saturday: Central Park • Doncaster • Monmore
Monday: Nottingham
