Greyhound News: There's more than just the Derby to focus on as these headlines prove

Greyhounds News / Editor / 28 May 2009 / Leave a Comment

Our hewshound has sniffed out the top stories from the greyhound world again...

Greyhound racing's biggest night of the year takes place at Wimbledon on Saturday with the Greyhound Derby final.
Worth £100,000 to the winner, the race features two dogs trained by four-time Derby-winning trainer Charlie Lister (Fear Zafonic, Farloe Reason), two dogs from young Matt Dartnall's kennels (Glenard Sunrise, Ballymac Ruso) and one apiece from champion trainer Mark Wallis and owner-trainer Martin White (Wise Thought).
Fear Zafonic gets the dreaded red jacket of trap one. No trap one has ever won a Wimbledon Derby, the last trap one on the famous roll of honour being Lauries Panther at the old White City stadium in 1982.
Ballymac Ruso ([3.65]) and Wise Thought ([3.75]) are vying for favouritism for the race at 10.12, live on Sky Sports.

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Blonde Fern will represent British owner Mark Currell in the heats of the Irish Oaks this weekend.
Winner of the Blue Riband at Hall Green in a near-track record time for trainer Tony Dean, the bitch went out of the Derby at the third round stage in a tough heat.

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The micro-chipping of greyhounds is set to revolutionise the sport.
A trial has been in place at Crayford, with the kennel strength there micro-chipped and a similar trial will be taking place at the Kent venue's sister track Monmore soon.
Eventually it is believed that all GBGB-registered greyhounds will be 'chipped', allowing easy identification, and thus the end of ID books, and the tracing of dogs in retirement.
One industry insider said: "It will speed up racing office admin, but down the line there could be benefit to punters, too. The software has yet to be developed, but there has to be potential for using the chips to clock dogs throughout a race.
"Sectionals times are one thing, but times from to halfway or from halfway must be something for the future."

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Boherbradda Mac, the sprinter of the year who has been retired, is set to stand at stud with his trainer Harry Williams.
The Scurry Gold Cup champion, a son of Hondo Black who has been one of the most successful stud dogs of recent times, will serve a number of bitches after his injury before a likely move to Ireland in the future.

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Teddy Sheringham and Ray Winstone are guests of honour at Harlow this Sunday (May 31) at its charity meeting in aid of the Great Ormond Street Childrens' Hospital. Auction items to be bid for after racing include a signed Zinedine Zidane shirt.

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Organisers of the recent Sheffield sale report a large attendance and plenty of dogs sold on the bench.
"If that morning was a snapshot of how the sport is doing, then we're fine. There was plenty of people, plenty of interest and while some of the prices were lower than in previous years, the enthusiasm was there in spades," said a track spokesman.

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The 2009 Tanya Stevenson Golf Classic in aid of the Retired Greyhound Trust is due to be held on Friday, August 28. The event takes place at Northdowns Golf Club, Surrey.