Greyhound News: All the headlines from both side of the Irish Sea
Greyhounds News
/
Editor /
29 June 2009 /
Leave a Comment
Our top news hound once again gathers all the big stories from the game...
Wise Thought is the major mover in the Irish Derby market after a brilliant win at Shelbourne Park on Saturday.
Martin White's dog, a Wimbledon Derby finalist, reached the semi-finals of the Irish classic last September as a young dog, and showed his maturity with a fine win at the weekend.
Leading at the first bend from trap six, last year's Eclipse winner made all in 29.52sec.
He is now down to [22.0] for the Irish Derby, second only to College Causeway.
* * *
Shelbourne Aston is a confirmed runner in the Dundalk International.
The valuable one-off takes place at the border track on Sunday, July 12, and Pat Curtin's Irish Derby winner is set to take on English Derby hero Kinda Ready over the 525 yards trip.
College Causeway is also a possible runner in the invitation race, as is Wise Thought.
* * *
More than £100,000 is up for grabs at Sunderland's festival, which kicks off with heats for the Classic (450m) and Grand Prix (640m) on Saturday (July 4).
High-quality entries for both events are expected, with Irish trainer Paul Hennessy among those expressing his intent to enter dogs from across the water.
Twelve months ago, Tony Collett and Len Ponder, with no small help from his part-owners Tommy Mills and Ralph Lawrence, dominated finals night.
They won both of the major competitions with the Lensons, Express and Joker, and the pair are back again having both trialled over the trip.
Finals night, live on Sky, is Thursday, July 16. Supporting competitions are also scheduled.
* * *
Meetings are to be held over the next fortnight with prospective buyers of the site which houses Walthamstow Stadium.
No bid for the land has been received by owners London & Quadrant, but a lease offer has been tabled and is believed to be under consideration.
Council pressure on L&Q has been urged by campaigners acting under the Save Our Stow banner. A rally to be held outside the stadium is being staged on July 4.
One former Stow-based trainer said: "There are too many great minds and good businessmen in the sport to let this opportunity slip through our hands.
"Next month it will a year since Walthamstow staged its last race. It's a great catchment area, has a superb history and, if we get it up and running, anything is possible.
"The sport is in transition. The GBGB has come in and people are waiting their first moves to improve, or at least ensure the sport's future. A flagship track is needed.
"Who knows? It might be staging the Derby in five years time."
* * *
Hull has become the latest track to close.
The Boulevard staged its last meeting on Saturday, this latest effort to re-start racing at the venue coming to an end after leaseholder Dave Marshall took over the track two years ago.
One industry insider said: "It's an area where they seem to struggle. Kinsley and Doncaster seem to be doing okay, and perhaps it's a part of the world which is already well catered for.
"Pick up the stadium and move to Leeds, Liverpool or Wales, even, and it'd be an overwhelming success."
Read More Greyhounds
The Lord's Greyhound News: Our sport's very own Premier League
The Betfair Laurels final, greyhound's version of the Premier League, a possible reurn to racing at Coventry and a controversial new rule are just some of the items on this weeks' agenda....
The Lord's Greyhounds News: Betfair Laurels could be a cracker
Leading runners prepare for Belle Vue on Thursday night. Meanwhile, Lollie calls it a day and Taylors Sky looks a certainty for annual honour......
The Lord's Greyhounds News: Lots more Lollie
The Lord fills us in on all the latest from down the dogs, including some good news for Jimmy Lollie fans......
The Lord's Greyhounds News: Time to crown year's best dog
The battle for Greyhound of the Year gets serious now with Mill Bling Bling leading the way, says The Lord in his weekly round-up of the hot stories...
Sport News 24/7