STATESIDE ………
Penny’s Win No; 42
Monday, January 5th
Last week we related how Penny Candy was destined to be the North American win champion and the Sharon Williams owned bitch sealed the title when winning her 42nd race of the year on New Year’s Eve at Orange Park.
The daughter of Stan’s Boy Flyer and Majestic Angle raced home five lengths clear of Hobo Dan in 37.78 was completing a remarkable year that saw her finish second in the Derby and fourth in the Patton Marathon at Orange Park.
Nearest to Penny Candy in the win list were Hallo Gold Acre and Kiowa Kay Krebs on 39 wins each, followed by Wish Frank and Red Dirt Road on 35 and then the Pat Dalton trained, Liam Dowling owned Ballymac Flight.
It’s Mancini Again
Monday, January 5th
Just two weeks after winning the 660 Challenge, Flying Mancini captured another prestigious prize when winning the St Petersburg Inaugural at Derby Lane and so provided the McAllister Kennel with back-to-back victories in the event.
Last year it was Flying Stanley that captured the Inaugural for McAllister and he went on to win the Rural Rube and was the Captain of the All-America team. Now the speculation is that Flying Mancini could do likewise.
On this occasion Flying Mancini ran second for virtually the full distance as TMC’s Trail Boss cut out the running but the bitch nailed him in the closing yards to snatch victory. Kelsos Hathaway finished fast and actually grabbed second place from TMC’s Trail Boss
Dubai’s Inaugural
Monday, January 5th
The favourite Silver Ace failed to live up to expectations in the Southland Inaugural on New Year’s Day when only finishing fourth behind Bretts Dubai.
Bretts Dubai dashed to the front early and was assisted by some trouble in behind. Jim Morrison overcame a first bend bump to finish a length second in 32.28 while Djays Octane took the third money.
Bretts Dubai is a son of Kiowa Sweet Trey and WK Rogers Brett and is owned jointly by William Lockhart and Stacy Kates.
Easy For Omni
Monday, January 5th
Braska Omni brought his year record to 22 wins from 60 starts when winning the $10,000 Holiday Sprint at Wheeling Island, January 31st.
Bill Elliott’s Braska Omni (E’s Able/ Ideal Ruckus) was slowly away but flew to the bend where he shot clear and raced home a six and a half length winner in 30.04.
The favourite Kiowa WW Brother took second with Makin Bakin some six lengths further back in third
STATESIDE ..............
Flight’s 34 Wins
Tuesday, December 30th
Former Irish racer Ballymac Flight has made a massive impact in the States and with just a few days to go in 2008, he is in the top six in the North American Win Leader table.
Formerly owned by Liam Dowling and sent out to Pat Dalton’s kennel in America in preparation for the ill-fated 2008 Derby Lane Million, Ballymac Flight has established himself as one of the leading trackers.
A son of Sonic Flight and Ballymac Minnie, Ballymac Flight first appeared in the Mike Cronin Readymix Juvenile Classic at Tralee where he was unluckily knocked out in the semi-final but won the Consolation.
He survived three rounds of the Produce Stakes but had to be withdrawn then due to injury. He next appeared in the Irish Derby where he got to the fourth round before making his exit in what proved to be his last race in this country.
During 2008 Ballymac Flight has had 34 wins to date to be sixth in the countrywide list which is headed by Penny Candy on the 41 winner mark. Then come Hallo Gold Acre and Kiowa Kay Krebs on 39 with Kiowa Wish Frank and Red Dirt Road on 35.
Penny Candy is a son of Stan’s Boy Flyer and Majestic Angle
Futurity For Yahoo
Tuesday, December 30th
The Rader Racing Kennel has established a total domination over the $20,000 Dick Andrews Futurity which has just been staged for the eleventh time at Palm Beach Kennel Club.
Having won the past three runnings with KNK Iowakaty, KB’s Riffraff and SK Brooklyn, Norm Rader’s kennel had three runners in the 2008 decider which was staged on St Stephen’s Day and they duly came in first, third and fourth. .
OJ Kellen and Yahoo Maddux set the pace with Yahoo Omar in third but the latter came through in the final stages to win by a length from OJ Kellen in a time of 29.82. Yahoo Maddux finished third with Nitro Perdy Lady in fourth.
The winner is a son of Lonesome Cry and Pin Oak Vicki while the runner-up OJ Kellen is a son of Irish sire Premier Fantasy out of San Tan Rewind.
The World’s Oldest Track
Tuesday, December 30th
On Friday next Derby Lane Stadium in St Petersburg will celebrate it’s 84th Anniversary and also the fact that it is the oldest racetrack in the world.
The splendidly appointed Derby Lane track first raced back on January 2nd, 1925 and it has been one of the forerunners in the world of greyhound racing ever since.
It was Derby Lane that staged the Derby Lane Million a few years back but unfortunately the second running, scheduled for February last, never materialised due to lack of support.
Mancini’s Challenge Win
Tuesday, December 30th
The McAllister Kennel celebrated a great 2008 campaign by gaining a second successive 660 Challenge at Derby Lane just days before Christmas.
Having won the event last year with Flyin Bridgport, the McAllister Kennel struck this time with Flying Mancini, a victory that put the winner in the running for the Flashy Sir Award which was claimed by Flyin Bridgport a year ago.
Vince Berland’s Flying Mancini had posted a season’s fastest time in the semi-final and she caught her kennel companion Flying Hombre on the final bends before pulling away for a five length victory in 37.67. Backwood Hombre finished second with TMC’s Remedy in third.
Berland also bred Flying Mancini which is a daughter of Kiowa Sweet Trey and Gable Acadia.
Down Under ..............
Topgun Positive Tests
Tuesday, December 30th
Word has just come through from Australia that the “B” sample taken from Topgun winner El Galo has tested positive.
Following the race, which was staged on October 25th, Greyhound Racing Victoria reported that the “A” sample had tested positive.
At this stage trainer Jason Thompson requested that an independent analyst be allowed to observe the testing of the “B” sample. This test confirmed the presence of NButythyoscine.
An inquiry will be held at a date yet to be confirmed.
STATESIDE ..............
MAJOR BLOW FOR SPORT IN US
GREYHOUND RACING BANNED IN MASSACHUSETTS
Friday, November 7th
The future of greyhound racing in America is looking bleak following the decision of voters in Massachusetts to ban greyhound racing in the state from January 1st, 2010.
This decision means that the two tracks in the state, Raynham-Taunton and Wonderland, will have to close before that date. It is still not certain whether the tracks will remain open for Casino or slot betting purposes.
Eight years ago the previous attempt to ban the sport had failed but the antis were better equipped this time and they won the vote on a 56-44 percent basis. Incredibly, the reason behind the vote was that they regard greyhound racing as “inhumane”. They say the dogs “are routinely injured during races, suffering broken legs and paralysis, and even dying from cardiac arrest”.
Incredible as it may appear, while we watch images of children carrying guns through the streets of American cities, one of their major issues is the morality of greyhound racing!