A look at the Greyhound Derby in the last hundred years (1950-1959)-part 3
The decade of 1950s was a new beginning for the Greyhound Derby. Greyhound Derby was held successively for ten years. It became more established and organised and developed a large fan base.
The first Greyhound derby of the decade was held in the year 1950.
A greyhound named Ballymac Ball was the winner in the final. Ballymac Ball was the winner right from the start of the race.
The runner-up, Ballycurreen Garrett, tried to hold him off at the first bend but Ballymac Ball dissuaded him with ease emerging victorious eighteen lengths ahead of the runner up.
The following year, greyhound Ballyanigan Tanist was the first to cross the wire in the final, beating the runner-up, Black Mire, by two and half length.
It was not an easy race for Ballyanigan Tanist. Black Mire had a fast pace and stamina but at the second bend he got held up by the other contenders and sheer luck made Ballyanigan Tanist the winner.
Greyhound Endless Gossip emerged victorious in the 1952 Greyhound Derby final. He crossed the wire in 28.50 seconds, beating the runner-up, Drumman Rambler, by a substantial margin of three and half length.
At the start of the race Drumman Rambler was leading the race but at the second bend got held by the other contenders. Endless Gossip seized this opportunity making a go for the finish line.
Daws Dancer qualified for the first position in the 1953 Greyhound Derby in 29.20 seconds.
It was a close call for him as the runner up Galtee Cleo lost the final by a half a length. Galtee Cleo was at the heels of Daws dancer throughout the race but unfortunately could not overtake him.
In 1954 Greyhound Derby a greyhound by the name of Pauls Fun won the Derby title. He finished the race in 28.84 seconds beating the runner up Leafy Ash by a huge margin of three and a quarter of a length. At the very outset of the race Pauls Fun was the
favourite and his performance matched up to everybody’s expectations.
Rushton Mac emerged victorious in the 1955 Greyhound Derby beating the runner up Barrowside by three quarters of a length. Rushton Mac had it easy throughout the race except for Barrowside who kept trying to overtake but failed miserably.
Greyhound Dunmore King crossed the wire in 29.22 seconds, winning the 1956 Greyhound Derby.
Most people viewed it as the two dog race between Dunmore King and Northern King but at the second bend runner up Duet Leader surprised everybody by taking the lead.
After that it was a neck to neck competition between the Dunmore King and Duet Leader. However Dunmore beat Duet length by half a length at the finish line.
The following year Ford Spartan won the Greyhound Derby in 28.84 seconds. It was not an easy feat for the winner as he won by just a neck.
The runner-up, Highway Tim, followed Ford Spartan closely at his heels but luck did not favour him in this race.
Pigalle Wonder won the final of Greyhound Derby in 1958. He finished the race in 28.65 seconds beating the runner up Northern Lad by a huge margin of two and three quarters of a length.
Interestingly both the winner and runner-up of this race had been sired by the same greyhound named Champion Prince.
The last Greyhound Derby of this decade was held in 1959. It was won by a greyhound named Mile Bush Pride.
He finished the race in 28.76 seconds beating the runner up by just a neck. As the figures reflect, it was a thrilling race with a tight fight between the winner and the runner-up.
All the Greyhound Derby races held in this decade were a competition between the best greyhounds in the racing industry a testimony to the rapid development and growing popularity of the this sport at the time.
The views expressed by the writer are his own and do not reflect the editorial policy of
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