1965 English Greyhound Derby

1965 English Greyhound Derby
Location White City Stadium
Start date 12 June
End date 26 June
Total prize money £5,000 (winner)

The 1965 Greyhound Derby took place during June with the final being held on 26 June 1965 at White City Stadium.[1] The winner was Chittering Clapton and the winning owners, father and son, Victor Leah and Peter Leah received £5,000.[2]

Final result

At White City (over 525 yards):[3]

Position Name of Greyhound Breeding Trap SP Time Trainer
1st Chittering ClaptonNoted Crusader - Chittering Hope65-228.82Adam Jackson (Clapton)
2nd SunbowPrairie Flash - Dainty Sister12-1f29.26Nora Gleeson (Wimbledon)
3rd Shy PrairiePrairie Flash - Craggs Pet39-129.48Jack Toseland (Perry Barr)
4th Creggan BushMile Bush Pride - Creggandoveskey43-129.78Reg Webb (Private)
5th Flash SolarSolar Prince - Cinders5100-830.24Stan Mitchell (Perry Barr)
6th Greenane FlameKnock Hill Chieftain - Wild Princess211-200.00Jack Harvey (Wembley)

Distances

5¾, 3, 4, 6, Dis (lengths)
The distances between the greyhounds are in finishing order and shown in lengths. From 1950 one length was equal to 0.08 of one second.[4]

Competition Report

The 1965 Derby lacked a greyhound the calibre of Magourna Reject, Endless Gossip or Mile Bush Pride resulting in a wide open competition when the bookmakers compiled the ante-post prices. Leading the list were 'Booked Out' trained privately by Eric Adkins, the Northern raider Clonmannon Flash and Cesarewitch champion Clifden Orbit. Cranog Bet was missing with an injury and Hi Joe the ante-post favourite at the turn of the year had disappeared. In January the Juvenile champion trained by Noreen Collin and owned by bookmaker Victor Chandler Sr. was stolen from his Epping kennels. Initial hopes were that he could be recovered quickly to allow him to line up for the Greyhound Derby as planned. Sadly as the weeks passed Collin received countless phone calls that led nowhere.[5]

When the competition started five of the top seven ante-post market leaders failed to progress from the first round. Booked Out finished third after trouble in his heat and then was knocked out in the second round. Clifden Orbit made it through to the semi-finals but further trouble in the semi's produced the top four left in the betting all going home including Clifden Orbit.[5]

The final contained six greyhounds that no one could have predicted. Sunbow trained by first year trainer Nora Gleeson was the favourite. The night before the final there was an attempt by a gang to infiltrate the kennels of Creggan Bush which was foiled by a group of his owners. The race was an anti-climax with the Adam Jackson trained Chittering Clapton from Clapton Stadium being quick away and then drawing clear to win by five and three quarter lengths. Bunching at the first bend led to Greenane Flame being knocked over.[5]

Chittering Clapton had been purchased for just £25 and started the competition at 250-1, the fawn and white dog collected £5,000 the biggest ever prize on offer in the history of the sport up to this date.[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Hobbs, Jonathan (2007). Greyhound Annual 2008, page 90. Raceform. ISBN 978-1-905153-53-4.
  2. ↑ Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing, page 110. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 07207-1106-1.
  3. ↑ "1965". Greyhound Data.
  4. ↑ Genders, Roy (1990). NGRC book of Greyhound Racing (Timekeeper) p310. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 0-7207-1804-X.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Dick, Barrie (1990). Greyhound Derby, the first 60 years, pages 121/122/123. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-36-8.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.