2002 English Greyhound Derby

Sporting event
2002 English Greyhound Derby
Windgap Java
LocationWimbledon Stadium
End date1 June
Total prize money£75,000 (winner)
← 2001
2003 →

The 2002 William Hill Greyhound Derby took place during May and June with the final being held on 1 June 2002 at Wimbledon Stadium.[1] The winner received £75,000.

Competition report

[2] There were 173 entries for the 2002 Derby but one of the Britain's leading greyhounds Top Savings was lame and would miss the event, he had been quoted as a short 4-1 ante post favourite.[3] Despite the loss of Top Savings trainer Charlie Lister and owner Ray White had brought Rapid Ranger out of retirement for an unprecedented third title attempt. The ante-post favourite was El Ronan at 12-1 followed by the Scottish Greyhound Derby first and second, Priceless Rebel and Santovita. In addition to Priceless Rebel trainer Paul Hennessy also sent over Irish Puppy Derby champion Rutland Budgie. [4]

First round eliminations included Eclipse champion Bold Mossy and Rutland Budgie but Rapid Ranger won 22 and Santovita went fastest winning in 28.77 and entering the second round as the new favourite. The second round saw Rapid Ranger edge through after finishing third in his heat. Surprise eliminations included Santovita at odds of 1-4f, Vancouver Jet, Willie Go Fa, Occhi Gialli and Knockeevan King.

A third round heat contained Rapid Ranger, Priceless Rebel and Droopys Corleone and as the field rounded the second bend Priceless Rebel clipped the heels of the leader Rapid Ranger and fell impeding Rapid Ranger at the same time. Both were unfortunately knocked out and Rapid Ranger was retired to stud for a second time. In the quarter-finals Droopys Corleone was victorious in 28.84 with Star Ambition, Blue Gooner and Pilot Alert taking the other three heats. Seskin Robert found trouble and went out.

The first semi-final resulted in Crack Him Out beating Pilot Alert and Call Me Baby and in the second Pall Mall Stakes champion Windgap Java defeated Allen Gift and Blue Gooner. Droopys Corleone failed to make the final after finishing fourth.

Rank outsider Allen Gift led all the way in the final challenged by call Me Baby from the third bend. Blue Gooner showed early pace and Crack Him Out moved wide at the first bend ending the chances of Pilot Alert and Windgap Java.

Quarter finals

[5]

Heat 1 (May 21)
Pos Name SP Time
1st Star Ambition 7-4f 29.17
2nd Magna Mint 9-4 29.37
3rd Lockup Firedice 4-1 29.51
4th Brother Jo 8-1 29.52
5th Larkhill Lo 5-1 29.64
N/R Ballydaly Score
Heat 2 (May 21)
Pos Name SP Time
1st Droopys Corleone 1-1f 28.84
2nd Allen Gift 10-1 29.34
3rd Frisby Forte 5-2 29.36
4th Bright Smile 50-1 29.58
5th Leam Chabang 25-1 29.64
6th Blonde Countess 4-1 29.65
Heat 3 (May 21)
Pos Name SP Time
1st Blue Gooner 4-1 29.21
2nd Windgap Java 4-1 29.27
3rd Call Me Baby 12-1 29.29
4th Santa Donato 7-1 29.35
5th Seskin Robert 11-10f 29.39
6th Fionntra Seano 8-1 29.69
Heat 4 (May 21)
Pos Name SP Time
1st Pilot Alert 3-1cf 29.03
2nd Crack Him Out 3-1cf 29.19
3rd Brosna Mustang 5-1 29.21
4th Hollinwood Chief 6-1 29.31
5th Texan Fox 8-1 29.71
6th Fast Fit Spikita 3-1cf 30.23

Semi finals

[5]

First Semi-final (May 25)
Pos Name of Greyhound SP Time Trainer
1st Crack Him Out 6-1 28.86 Clemenson
2nd Pilot Alert 7-4jf 29.12 Gibson
3rd Call Me Baby 8-1 29.16 Cahill
4th Magna Mint 7-1 29.26 Draper
5th Lockup Firedice 14-1 29.30 Mullins J
6th Star Ambition 7-4jf 29.56 Hurley
Second Semi-final (May 25)
Pos Name of Greyhound SP Time Trainer
1st Windgap Java 12-1 29.30 Miller
2nd Allen Gift 16-1 29.32 Gardiner
3rd Blue Gooner 5-1 29.35 Clemenson
4th Droopys Corleone 1-1f 29.43 Riordan
5th Brosna Mustang 10-1 29.51
6th Frisby Forte 9-2 29.57 Soppitt

Final result

At Wimbledon (over 480 metres):[6]

Position Name of Greyhound Breeding Trap Sectional SP Time Trainer
1st Allen Gift In Question- Raceline Claire 5 5.18 16-1 29.04 Claude Gardiner (Hove)
2nd Call Me Baby Popov - Masonbrook Annie 6 5.24 8-1 29.10 Seamus Cahill (Wimbledon)
3rd Crack Him Out Crack Off - Gan On Misty 1 5.34 9-4 29.19 Brian Clemenson (Hove)
4th Blue Gooner Staplers Jo - Code Dancer 4 5.21 5-1 29.25 Brian Clemenson (Hove)
5th Pilot Alert Roanokee - Mystical Memory 3 5.31 2-1f 29.40 Jimmy Gibson (Belle Vue)
6th Windgap Java Lassa Java - Dysart Turnover 2 5.32 5-1 29.46 Cheryl Miller (Sittingbourne)

Distances

¾, 1, ¾, 2, ¾ (lengths)
The distances between the greyhounds are in finishing order and shown in lengths. One length is equal to 0.08 of one second.[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ Hobbs, Jonathan (2007). Greyhound Annual 2008, page 91. Raceform. ISBN 978-1-905153-53-4.
  2. ^ Hobbs, Jonathan (2003). Greyhound Annual 2003, pages 51-61. Raceform. ISBN 1-904317-07-3.
  3. ^ "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 2002) February edition". Greyhound Star.
  4. ^ "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 2002) March edition". Greyhound Star. 2012.
  5. ^ a b British Greyhound Racing Board Greyhound Annual 2003, pages 59-61. Raceform. 2002. ISBN 1-904317-07-3.
  6. ^ "2002". Greyhound Data.
  7. ^ Genders, Roy (1990). NGRC book of Greyhound Racing (Timekeeper) p310. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 0-7207-1804-X.