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

It was held at the White City Stadium in Cardiff from 1928 to 1937. After the closure of this stadium the race switched to the Cardiff Arms Park from 1945 until 1977. It gained classic status in 1971.[2]

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.[3] 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.[4]

The famous Mick the Miller, who was a household name during the 1930s won the event in 1930.[5][6]

Past winners

Year Winner Breeding Trainer Time SP Notes
1928 Cheerful ChoiceMutton Cutlet – Glorious StillPaddy Fortune (Welsh White City)30.73 sec8-11f
1929 Back IsleSpike Island – Giddy FiddlerCronin29.67 sec4-9f
1930 Mick The MillerGlorious Event – Na Boc LeiSidney Orton (Wimbledon)29.55 sec1-8fTrack Record
1931 AltamatzinWily Warrior – Looks LikelyArthur 'Doc' Callanan (Wembley)29.88 sec2-1
1932 Reel TomMelksham Tom – RigadoonBilly Quinn (Ireland)29.87 sec5-1
1933 Beef CutletMutton Cutlet – BuretteJohn Hegarty (Welsh White City)29.56 sec
1934 Valiant RufusRed Robin – Hotel AvroLeslie Carpenter (Gloucester)30.08 sec
1936 Bully RingMount Hillarys Boy – Brittas BelleRobert Linney (Gloucester)30.28 sec4-1
1937 Genial RadianceJohnny Peters - ReymerstonJ.W.Day (Private)30.15 sec5-1
1945 Shaggy LassCastledown Lad – Shaggy ShoreG.H.Vickery (Private)29.75 sec4-5f
1946 Negro's LadKilrea Lad – Negro's FireJack Toseland (Perry Barr)29.54 sec8-1Track record
1947 Trev's PerfectionTrevs Despatch - Friar TuckFred Trevillion (Private)29.74 sec1-3f
1948 Local InterprizeRuby Border - Mythical DaisyStan Biss (Clapton)29.32 sec4-6f
1950 Ballycurreen GarrettBallycurreen Duke – Ballymakeera KeeperJack Harvey (Wembley)29.22 sec100-30Track record
1951 Ballylanigan TanistMad Tanist - Fly DancerLeslie Reynolds (Wembley)29.95 sec1-1f
1952 Endless GossipPriceless Border - Narrogar AnnLeslie Reynolds (Wembley)29.41 sec7-4
1953 Glittering LookGlittering Smack – Knockrour FavouriteTom 'Paddy' Reilly (Walthamstow)29.39 sec5-2
1955 Rushton Mac[7]Rushton News – Rushton PandaFrank Johnson (Private)29.40 sec1-2f
1957 Go Doggie GoBallymac Ball – Marchioness MinnieJack Toseland (Perry Barr)29.38 sec5-4f
1958 Our DefenceDefence Leader – Our VioletDennis O'Brien (Private)30.27 sec6-1
1959 Mile Bush PrideThe Grand Champion – Witching DancerJack Harvey (Wembley)28.80 sec8-11fTrack record
1960 Fitz's StarCheerful Chariot – Fitz's LassTom 'Paddy' Reilly (Walthamstow)29.48 sec4-1
1961 Oregon PrinceKnock Hill Chieftain - Burleigh's FancyPhil Rees Sr. (Private)28.86 sec2-5f
1962 Summerhill FancyKnockrour Again – Brandon PrincessGeorge Waterman (Wimbledon)29.07 sec3-1
1963 Fairys ChumKnock Hill Chieftain – Fairy JuliaBob Burls (Wembley)29.49 sec4-1
1964 Davo's RinkHopeful Cutlet – Move Along KentuckyTom Baldwin (Perry Barr)28.84 sec9-4
1965 HarmonyMile Bush Pride – Perfect QueenJim Irving (Private)29.43 sec3-1
1966 I'm QuickestSkips Choice – Gratton StarRandy Singleton (White City)29.59 sec3-1
1968 Swift HalfHack Up Chieftain – Imperial AstraJim Irving (Private)29.58 sec9-2
1969 Pallas JoyMovealong Santa – Happy NowAdam Jackson (Clapton)29.43 sec7-2
1970 Super GambleFlash Solar – Big GamblePaddy Coughlan (Private)29.46 sec2-1
1971 Spectres DreamSpectres II – Jockeys DreamHugo Spencer (Portsmouth)29.22 sec16-1
1972 Patricias HopeSilver Hope - PatsiciaAdam Jackson (Clapton)29.75 sec3-1
1973 Silly RocketShanes Rocket – Silly PrideBertie Gaynor (Wolverhampton)29.56 sec11-8f
1974 DankieMonalee Champion – Weela HeatherColin West (White City)29.72 sec4-1
1975 Baffling BartThe Grand Silver - MosaduvaPaddy Milligan (Private)29.37 sec3-1
1976 Cameo ColonelOwn Pride – New CurriculumJohn Gibbons (Private)29.63 sec10-1
1977 Instant GamblerItsachampion - SabrinaBarbara Tompkins (Private)30.01 sec1-1f

Discontinued

Venues

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

References

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