Welsh Greyhound Derby

The Welsh Greyhound Derby was a former classic greyhound competition held in Wales.[1]

Welsh Greyhound Derby
Triple Crown race (discontinued)
1929 Welsh Greyhound Derby winner Back Isle
LocationCardiff Arms Park
Inaugurated1928
Last run1977

History edit

The competition was held at the White City Stadium in Cardiff from 1928 to 1937. The competition was sometimes run as a handicap race.[2]

After the closure of White City, the race switched to the Cardiff Arms Park from 1945 until 1977. It gained classic status in 1971.[3]

When the Cardiff Arms Park closed to greyhound racing there was no remaining fully licensed National Greyhound Racing Club track in Wales resulting in the race discontinuing.[4] During the vast majority of its existence the race formed part of the triple crown of racing alongside the English Greyhound Derby and Scottish Greyhound Derby.[5]

The famous Mick the Miller, who was a household name during the 1930s won the event in 1930.[6][7]

Venues edit

  • 1928–1937 (Welsh White City, Cardiff 525 yards)
  • 1945–1974 (Arms Park, Cardiff 525 yards)
  • 1975–1977 (Arms Park, Cardiff 500 metres)

Past winners edit

YearWinnerBreedingTrainerTimeSPNotes
1928Cheerful ChoiceMutton Cutlet – Glorious StillPaddy Fortune (Welsh White City)30.73 sec8-11f
1929Back IsleSpike Island – Giddy FiddlerCronin29.67 sec4-9f
1930Mick The MillerGlorious Event – Na Boc LeiSidney Orton (Wimbledon)29.55 sec1-8fTrack Record
1931AltamatzinWily Warrior – Looks LikelyArthur 'Doc' Callanan (Wembley)29.88 sec2-1
1932Reel TomMelksham Tom – RigadoonBilly Quinn (Ireland)29.87 sec5-1
1933Beef CutletMutton Cutlet – BuretteJohn Hegarty (Welsh White City)29.56 sec
1934Valiant RufusRed Robin – Hotel AvroLeslie Carpenter (Gloucester)30.08 sec1/1f
1936Bully RingMount Hillarys Boy – Brittas BelleRobert Linney (Gloucester)30.28 sec4-1
1937Genial RadianceJohnny Peters - ReymerstonJ.W.Day (Private)30.15 sec5-1
1945Shaggy LassCastledown Lad – Shaggy ShoreG.H.Vickery (Private)29.75 sec4-5f
1946Negro's LadKilrea Lad – Negro's FireJack Toseland (Perry Barr)29.54 sec8-1Track record
1947Trev's PerfectionTrevs Despatch - Friar TuckFred Trevillion (Private)29.74 sec1-3f
1948Local InterprizeRuby Border - Mythical DaisyStan Biss (Clapton)29.32 sec4-6f
1950Ballycurreen GarrettBallycurreen Duke – Ballymakeera KeeperJack Harvey (Wembley)29.22 sec100-30Track record
1951Ballylanigan TanistMad Tanist - Fly DancerLeslie Reynolds (Wembley)29.95 sec1-1f
1952Endless GossipPriceless Border - Narrogar AnnLeslie Reynolds (Wembley)29.41 sec7-4
1953Glittering LookGlittering Smack – Knockrour FavouriteTom 'Paddy' Reilly (Walthamstow)29.39 sec5-2
1955Rushton Mac[8]Rushton News – Rushton PandaFrank Johnson (Private)29.40 sec1-2f
1957Go Doggie GoBallymac Ball – Marchioness MinnieJack Toseland (Perry Barr)29.38 sec5-4f
1958Our DefenceDefence Leader – Our VioletDennis O'Brien (Private)30.27 sec6-1
1959Mile Bush PrideThe Grand Champion – Witching DancerJack Harvey (Wembley)28.80 sec8-11fTrack record
1960Fitz's StarCheerful Chariot – Fitz's LassTom 'Paddy' Reilly (Walthamstow)29.48 sec4-1
1961Oregon PrinceKnock Hill Chieftain - Burleigh's FancyPhil Rees Sr. (Private)28.86 sec2-5f
1962Summerhill FancyKnockrour Again – Brandon PrincessGeorge Waterman (Wimbledon)29.07 sec3-1
1963Fairys ChumKnock Hill Chieftain – Fairy JuliaBob Burls (Wembley)29.49 sec4-1
1964Davo's RinkHopeful Cutlet – Move Along KentuckyTom Baldwin (Perry Barr)28.84 sec9-4
1965HarmonyMile Bush Pride – Perfect QueenJim Irving (Private)29.43 sec3-1
1966I'm QuickestSkips Choice – Gratton StarRandy Singleton (White City)29.59 sec3-1
1968Swift HalfHack Up Chieftain – Imperial AstraJim Irving (Private)29.58 sec9-2
1969Pallas JoyMovealong Santa – Happy NowAdam Jackson (Clapton)29.43 sec7-2
1970Super GambleFlash Solar – Big GamblePaddy Coughlan (Private)29.46 sec2-1
1971Spectres DreamSpectres II – Jockeys DreamHugo Spencer (Portsmouth)29.22 sec16-1
1972Patricias HopeSilver Hope - PatsiciaAdam Jackson (Clapton)29.75 sec3-1
1973Silly RocketShanes Rocket – Silly PrideBertie Gaynor (Wolverhampton)29.56 sec11-8f
1974DankieMonalee Champion – Weela HeatherColin West (White City)29.72 sec4-1
1975Baffling BartThe Grand Silver - MosaduvaPaddy Milligan (Private)29.37 sec3-1
1976Cameo ColonelOwn Pride – New CurriculumJohn Gibbons (Private)29.63 sec10-1
1977Instant GamblerItsachampion - SabrinaBarbara Tompkins (Private)30.01 sec1-1f

Discontinued

References edit

  1. ^ Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing, pages 129-130. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 07207-1106-1.
  2. ^ "Valiant Rufus wins Welsh Derby". Western Mail. 28 May 1934. Retrieved 17 May 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  3. ^ Genders, Roy (1990). NGRC book of Greyhound Racing, pages 104-105. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 0-7207-1804-X.
  4. ^ Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-15-5.
  5. ^ Genders, Roy (1975). The Greyhound and Racing Greyhound. Page Brothers (Norwich). ISBN 0-85020-0474.
  6. ^ Dack, Barrie (1990). Greyhound Derby, the first 60 years, pages 59-61. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-36-8.
  7. ^ Tanner, Michael (2004). The Legend of Mick the Miller: Sporting Icon of the Depression. Newbury: Highdown. ISBN 978-1-904317-67-8.
  8. ^ "Rushton Mac wins easily". Western Mail. 28 June 1955. Retrieved 8 January 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.