1958 English Greyhound Derby

The 1958 Greyhound Derby took place during June with the final being held on 28 June 1958 at White City Stadium.[1] The winner was Pigalle Wonder and the winning owner Al Burnett received £1,500.[2]

1958 English Greyhound Derby
LocationWhite City Stadium
Start date14 June
End date28 June
Total prize money£1,500 (winner)

Final result

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

Position Name of Greyhound Breeding Trap SP Time Trainer
1st Pigalle WonderChampion Prince - Prairie Peg14-5f28.65Jim Syder Jr. (Wembley)
2nd Northern LadChampion Prince - Choice Beauty525-128.83Bob Burls (Wembley)
3rd Mile Bush PrideThe Grand Champion - Witching Dancer35-228.86Jack Harvey (Wembley)
4th Gentle TouchMagourna Reject - Abbey Jane4100-629.16Dennis Hannafin (Wimbledon)
5th Simmer Down PalOllys Pal - Ballygortagh Girl250-129.54Joe Booth (Private)
6th Outside LeftDemon King - Gilera66-129.62Bob Burls (Wembley)

Distances

2¾, Neck, 4, 4¾, 1 (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

Two brindle dogs called Pigalle Wonder and Mile Bush Pride were heavily involved in the 1958 Derby and would become famous names within the sport of greyhound racing. Pigalle Wonder started his career called Prairie Champion and won the 1957 McCalmont Cup at Kilkenny Greyhound Stadium. He was bought by Al Burnett (owner of the Pigalle Club in London) after clocking 29.10 sec in a 525 yards trial at Harold's Cross Stadium and was renamed Pigalle Wonder. However in the first round he suffered a shock defeat. This defeat led to the bookmakers making Kilcaskin Kern the new Derby favourite, this fawn dog had finished the previous year well and broke the track record in his heat recording 28.63.[5]

Mile Bush Pride had been bought for the Derby by Jack Harvey for Noel Purvis but suffered a minor setback when a corn had to be removed from his foot shortly before the first round which he safely negotiated. The second round brought mixed fortunes for the main contenders, Kilcaskin Kern won but finished lame after the race. Pigalle Wonder and Mile Bush Pride progressed comfortably.[5]

In the semi-finals Kilcaskin Kern was declared fit but failed to progress any further. Mile Bush Pride clipped three spots off the track record set by Kilcaskin Kern before Pigalle Wonder won by 13 lengths, in 28.44, breaking the record once again in the second semi-final.[5]

The Wembley trainers once again dominated proceedings with four finalists, Bob Burls handled two of them, the first time he had trained a Derby finalist. The draw was unkind to Mile Bush Pride and trap one further enhanced the chances of Pigalle Wonder who went off at 4-5 favourite. Northern Lad made the best start and led until the third bend but Pigalle Wonder always in close pursuit took over the lead at that point and drew clear to win by over two lengths. Mile Bush Pride ran on well for third place despite his bad trap draw.[5]

See also

1958 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year

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. "1958". Greyhound Data.
  4. Genders, Roy (1990). NGRC book of Greyhound Racing (Timekeeper) p310. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 0-7207-1804-X.
  5. Dack, Barrie (1990). Greyhound Derby, the first 60 years pages 104/105/106. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-36-8.
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