What's in a name?

Imagine if a dog won the Derby Lane Distance Classic, the Wheeling WVGOBA Distance Stake, the Hecht Marathon, and the American Derby—all in the same year, while at the same time setting track records at three different tracks. If an American Greyhound did that, he or she would be the captain of the All America team, the Flashy Sir award winner, and would be a candidate for the Hall of Fame.

There is such a dog racing in England, but few American fans have heard of Spiridon Louis. In 2006 he won the Group 1 Peterborough Cesarwitch, and in 2007 he won the Group 1 Coral Regency at Hove & Brighton over 760 yards, the Group 1 TV Trophy over 922 yards at Yarmouth, the Group 2 Betfred Select Stakes over 798 yards at Nottingham, and the Group 1 William Hill St. Leger over 731 yards at Wimbledon. He also set track records over 954 yards at Wimbledon, 922 yards at Yarmouth, and 700 yards at Walthamstow.

By Droopys Vieri out of Early Flight, he is from an accomplished litter that includes a sister, Dilemmas Flight, winner of the 2006 British Produce Stakes at Hall Green, and the 2007 English Oaks at Wimbledon in the sizzling time of 28.29 for 525 yards. Their brother Westmead Alec won the 2006 Sussex Puppy Derby.

Louis’s racing style features one of the most breathtaking backstretch moves you’ll see from any Greyhound. An average breaker at best, he stalks the field until he finds the seam he wants. From that point on it appears that every dog on the track except him has been set into slow motion. It’s a shame American fans don’t get to see this superstar race. Check out his replays on Greyhound-data.com.

His name is an apt one—he is named after Greek marathon champion Spiridon Louis who won the gold medal in the Marathon in the first revival of the Olympic Games in Athens in 1896. Louis remains a Greek national hero to this day. For those who have seen him, the canine Spiridon Louis will be remembered by his fans for as long as they talk about racing.