Greyhound News: With Derby news, a Walthamstow update and much more

Greyhounds News / Editor / 19 October 2009 / Leave a Comment

"Saturday, June 5, 2010 is the likely date for the Derby final at Wimbledon next year. In World Cup year (June 11 to July 11), greyhound racing's biggest prize was always likely to keep its May start and the first-Saturday-in-June date for the final will see 'Double Derby' day with Wimbledon following the fare at Epsom."

Our newshound once again hunts down the sport's top stories

Ten Large Down is the main mover in the 2010 Greyhound Derby market after winning the Northern Puppy Derby at Sunderland on Thursday.
Trained by Diane Henry, the Feb 2008, the youngest runner in the line-up, led home Westmead Carl and was last matched at 50.0 for the Wimbledon showpiece.
Favourite for the £100,000 prize is Fear Zafonic, this year's Derby runner-up, who was last matched at 27.0 after his Yarmouth Derby triumph.


Saturday, June 5, 2010 is the likely date for the Derby final at Wimbledon next year.
In World Cup year (June 11 to July 11), greyhound racing's biggest prize was always likely to keep its May start and the first-Saturday-in-June date for the final will see 'Double Derby' day with Wimbledon following the fare at Epsom.
Interestingly, with the Champions League final switched to a Saturday from next year - third round night could go head-to-head and discussions will take place to decide whether a move to the Friday night would make more sense.
"You wouldn't want the final to go head-to-head with the football. The Derby final clashed with the FA Cup this year, but the Champions League final is a different kettle of fish, especially if two English teams make the final," said one insider.


Crown Rover has been matched at [4.0] as Jimmy Wright's closes in on St Leger glory - the semi-finals of the stayers' Classic take place at Wimbledon on Tuesday.
The big Sunderland winner produced a gutsy effort to win his second-round heat on Friday and is drawn in the second semi on Tuesday, where he takes on Droopys Zach and impressive second-round scorer Masterful.
The first three from the two semi-finals qualify for the final live on Sky on Tuesday, October 27.


Scolari Me Daddy, who made a splash in the run-up to the Irish Derby with a series of fast wins that catapulted the youngster into Classic reckoning, returned to the track with a brilliant success at Shelbourne Park on Saturday.
Denny Lennon's dog, who reached the quarter-finals of the Irish Derby before returning on final night with a supporting card victory, has been backed for the 2010 English Derby but his main target remains the Irish version.


Sittingbourne has been taken off the BAGS service.
The move, described as a "temporary" one, will see other tracks take the place of the Kent venue for the next six weeks while talks take place on the strength or otherwise of the betting ring at the Central Park Stadium.


Sevenheads Bay, trained by Ireland-based Englishman Graham Holland, upset favourite Oran Classic and Laurels double-seeking Boherna Best in Saturday's Irish Laurels at Cork.
Owned by local businessman John O'Regan, the dog took advantage of aplum draw to race clear down the far side.


The consortium looking to purchase the site occupied by Walthamstow Stadium are being frustrated in their attempts to access the area to seek the damage/decay of the venue since it last staged greyhound racing in August 2008.
"It's as if they're playing for time," said one insider. "But the Save Our Stow team has proved to L&Q that they have the funds and have stressed they need to see the land before agreeing on a price.
"It won't be easy to strike a deal, but the local council and MP support still holds sway when it comes to L&Q effectively being a charitable housing trust. The battle goes on, quietly, but it goes on."