The fabulous Laughil Jess finished EIGHT victories clear of her closest rival as 2023’s most prolific open race winner.
Dave Lee’s white and black finished with 26 wins from 33 races for a strike rate of 78.8%. She has won on five different tracks over six different distances from 380-540m including the Cat 1 Ladbrokes Gold Collar.
Ricky Holloway’s veteran hurdler Lenson Doolin finished in second place on the table with 18 wins, taking his career record to 40 and he too included a Cat One victory in the haul, the Ladbrokes Champion Hurdle.
Joining them on the podium in joint third slot is dual distance star and double Cat One winner Droopys Clue. His didn’t make his debut until April. Tied on 17 wins is John Mullins’ remarkable Signet Goofy who also finished joint top scorer in 2022. The British bred brindle, bred by Kevin Hutton and reared by John, has been racing now for two and a half years and is still running in Cat 1 company after 78 races.
You have to go back 13 years to find a more prolific open race winner than Jess and that was Jimmy Lollie. Seamus Cahill’s fabulous sprinter had also finished top dog the previous year.
The only stayer to break the 20 win barrier since 2000 was Bubbly Totti, and he, like Jess, also included some four bend victories among the total.
Whisky Celebration at Monmore
The inaugural, Watch Premier Greyhound Racing on Sky Sports Racing race, took place yestererday at Monmore.
It went to the Craig Marston trained Whisky Georgia and PGR Chairman Lord David Lipsey was on hand to present the winning trophy to connections.
Premier Greyhound Racing chairman Lord Lipsey, accompanied by Monmore Racing Manager Tony Williamson (right) presents the trophy to Kiera Hampton (head kennelhand to trainer Craig Marston) and Demi Tomkinson, enjoying a winning first visit to the track as kennelhand) after Whisky Georgia’s victory. Monmore 1st January 2024 Photo: © Steve Nash
