A look at the Greyhound Derby in the last hundred years (1927-1939)-part 1
The greyhound derby held each year in United Kingdom is without doubt the largest greyhound racing contest in the entire world
In October 1927, Greyhound Derby was held for the first time in White City, where a greyhound by the name of Entry Badge emerged victorious in the race.
Entry Badge had been trained by J. Harmon back then. He won prize money worth a thousand pounds, defeating a greyhound named Ever Bright.
Ever Bright was no competition for this litte 66lbs' greyhound as he had finished the race six lengths short of the winner.
The following year Second Greyhound Derby was held at White City again. However this time the length of the track had been extended to 525m.
A greyhound named Boher Ash was the winner in this race, winning prize money worth fifteen hundred pounds, a huge sum back then.
Boher Ash finished the race swiftly in 30.48 seconds beating the runner up a half a neck.
He was owned by a woman named Molly Stokes who had bought him for a paltry sum of twenty five pounds. Little did she know at the time that this greyhound would prove to be such a good investment?
The year 1929 brought the third Greyhound Derby with it.
A greyhound named Mick the Miller was the winner of this race. He faced tough competition from the runner-up, Palatinus, but managed to win the race in 29.96 seconds, defeating the runner up by three lengths.
Mick the Miller was the Greyhound Derby Winner in 1930 as well. A b***h named Bradshaw Fold gave him tough competition but Mick the Miller fought hard and crossed the wire in 30.24 seconds.
Seldom Lad was the winner of the 1931 Greyhound Derby. He defeated Golden Hammer by difference of four lengths and won prize money worth a thousand and fifty pounds.
In 1937, the fourth Greyhound Derby was held after a gap of six years.
Wattle Bark won the final in 29.26 seconds defeating runner up Shove Halfpenny with very less difference.
The last Greyhound Derby of the 30s decade was won by a greyhound named Highland Rum.
Highland Rum finished the race in 29.35 seconds winning prize money of £1250 and defeated the runner-up, Carmel Ash, by two and a half lengths.
Until the Derby Final, Carmel Ash had been undefeated in his career and he gave Highland Rum a hard time at the track.
A look at how one of the most sought after racing competition makes one realize that it had been very established from the beginning and a good deal of hard work went into putting it together by the trainers and owners alike.
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