Ten Years Ago This Month

The cover of the August 1998 issue of The Greyhound Review featured a gorgeous shot of Jimbo’s Chelsie from the infield of Derby Lane where she had won the 1998 St. Pete Derby. The sister of stakes stars Jimbo Okie and Jimbo Scotty, she was a star in her own right. In addition to her win in the Derby, she also was runner-up to Bomb Threat as the track’s win leader.

At Dairyland, Reko Swahili won the Eighth Anniversary Stake ahead of CM Speedster and Kiowa Bel Geter. Dot’s Elwood won the Dairyland All-Star Challenge over Big Run Gizmo and RL Annett.

Twenty-three month-old System Blackdog captured the 21st running of the $60,000 Murray Kemp Classic at Multnomah. The youngster went box-to-wire ahead of AB Fab and his littermate Black Baby. System Blackdog went on to represent Multnomah in the Greyhound Race of Champions at Wichita where he won a qualifying round against the likes of Wigwam Hoss, Seegold Big Red, Kola Kora and Beam’s Full Moon and made the final.

Mega Goosebumps won the Duval Silver Cup at Jacksonville as the odds-on favorite. Unfortunately, she was injured shortly afterwards at Raynham in a schooling race in preparation for the Joseph Carney Memorial Triathalon. Her second career as a brood was even more successful than her first at the track. Her son Hallo West Acre won the 2005 Hollywood World Classic, ran second in 2004, and made the final at 4-½ years of age in 2006.

Overseas, Toms The Best won the 1998 English Derby at Wimbledon in dominating fashion. He won four of the five preliminary rounds and went off as the 4-5 favorite. A late-speed dog, he was second to the first bend and everyone in the stadium knew that the result was a forgone conclusion. He caught the lead dog by the end of the backstretch and romped home to a 4-½ length victory that returned the equivalent of $80,000 to his owner Eddie Shotton. He was bred by top English breeder Ian Greeves. Toms The best also won the 1998 Irish Derby and ran second by a length in the Scottish Derby, the closest any dog has ever come to winning all three derbies. He went on to a very respectable career at stud and was a leading producer of stayers in Ireland and the U.K.

RD’s Randie won the Sapling Stake at Phoenix. In all, he tallied 29 top-grade wins at Phoenix in 1998 despite taking time out to represent his track at the IROC at Wichita.

TM’s Phone Call overcame his post in the five-hole in the 3/8ths mile final of the $50,000 Joseph Carney Memorial Triathalon at Raynham to score a three length victory over Red Rock and favorite JG Ivory. Palm Beach crowned its own all-distance champ, Conchy Girl, who won the Budweiser Iron Dog Triathalon.

Eventual Flashy Sir award and All America Team captain Granny captured her second Timberline Stake at Mile High. She won by five lengths over Arjo Pentree who held off Quicksand Slip in a photo for place.

In sprint news, WW Time Warp won the $10,000 Kansas Cup at the Woodlands over littermate WW Time Traveler. RD’s Hootie ran third. Bobby’s Cussler won the $5,000 added Sprint Classic at Corpus Christi while Greys Flamebeau won the Tampa Inaugural. At Flagler, Magic Silva Buck won the Firecracker 550 ahead of a strong field that included place and show finishers Kiowa Chippewa and DLB’s Codybegood. At Dubuque, Bart’s Cola won the King & Queen Stake to cap an eight-race win streak. San Tan Chance cruised to a 4-½ length win in the Southland Summer Juvenile.

In distance events, WV’s Jethro won the $50,000 WVGOBA Distance Classic at Wheeling. EF Bear Dog was second and EF Gale Blendway was third. Okie Trudy won the Seminole Distance Classic in a photo over Husker Jogger.