Ten Years Ago This Month

Leo's Midas graced the cover of the April 1998 Greyhound Review commemorating his 100th win on the Jacksonville Circuit at four years, nine months of age. He had already racked up a tremendous career to that point, winning the 1995 Jacksonville Guys & Gals, the 1997 Night of Stars I and the All Star Preview. He ran second in the 1996 Jacksonville Mayor's Cup and Clay County Classic, third in the 1995 Orange Park Inaugural and 1996 All-Star Preview, and fourth in the 1995 Orange Park Clay County Classic. He was the 1995 St. Johns meet co-champ with 11 wins and closed out his career with 103 victories.

Alan Lennox reported from overseas that the great Some Picture had been voted Britain's 1997 Greyhound of the Year following his victories in the English and Scottish Derbies. His pedigree had a strong American influence through a 3x4 cross of Sand Man*, brother of Rooster Cogburn and Highway Robber.

The vote was in for the Flashy Sir and Rural Rube awards. For the routers, Winsome Doe took home the hardware. She won the 1997 Dairyland Sprint, ran second in the Dairyland Derby, third in the Dairyland 7th Anniversary Stake (5/16ths), and was the Dairyland track champ with 44 wins. She clocked the two fastest times of the year in both 5/16ths and 3/8ths at Dairyland in 1997. Kiowa Bet Dutch and Cee Bar Snow were the runner-up and second runner-up in the balloting.

The incredible Scott Free was the runaway winner of the Rural Rube voting. He captured six stakes in 1997 including the Derby Lane Sprint Classic, won 33 races at Derby Lane, and was the wagering favorite in every one of his starts. In addition to the Sprint Classic, he won the King & Queen Stake, Matinee Idol, Fan's All-Star Race, T.L. Weaver Memorial, and the Tampa Inaugural. He went off at less than even money in all but six of his races en route to compiling a record of 37-2-2 in 42 starts. His only finish out of the trifecta in 1997 was the one in which he suffered a career-ending injury. No other Greyhound in the country received a significant number of votes.

Greys Betsy Ross won the $100,00 1998 Derby Lane Distance Classic. The Mick D'Arcy trained star crossed the line ahead of Elaine Rae and JD's Rocket. Race favorite Oshkosh Slammer fell after a poor start. Greys Betsy Ross added the Fan's All Star Race blanket to her wardrobe later that season and went on to a fine brood career producing Fuzzys Cannon.

Wigwam Hoss won the 1998 Hollywood World Classic. The Phoenix star finished three lengths ahead of favorite Kelso's Kingpin. SA Gossip was third followed by My Boots Bingham, Conched Out, TB Feature, Kydo River Farah and Brady Brad.

At Palm Beach, LA Rolls Royce captured the James W. Paul Derby ahead of Moving Star and Hey Father John. They were followed across the line by Conchy Girl, Hiker's Fantasy, Hey Buzz, Sunpoint Warrior, and Cee Bar Rowdy.

The 1997 All America team was announced. Not surprisingly, Scott Free captained a squad that included Cee Bar Snow, Fast Money, Kydo River Farah, ML Dusty Trail, Starlight Irene, Wigwam Hoss, and Winsome Doe.

Among the Whelpings Reported was a January 9th litter by Oswald Cobblepot out of Bart's Saltine that produced 1999 All America Bart's E Mail.

The April edition was also a Stud Issue that went on for 77 pages featuring well over 300 studs. By 1998, Molotov was already $1200 for frozen implant and $1500 for a natural breeding based on his first litters at the track. Others included Blendway at $1500, Oshkosh Racey $1500, Wigwam Wag $1500, P's Raising Cain $1,000, Greys Statesman $1000, and Oswald Cobblepot at a very reasonable $750.

Where has our history gone? Part III

I came across the chart for the 1953 Taunton Gold Collar won by Holy Brother. I posted it on Greyhound-data.com. Just go to his pedigree page to access it.

If you have the April 1998 issue of Greyhound Review there is an excellent article on Holy Brother and the 1953 Taunton Blue Ribbon Stake by Henry Maxim, Jr. His last sentence reads, "Wouldn't he be an excellent choice for the Greyhound Hall of Fame?" I have to agree. There are dogs in the Hall of Fame now whose careers are no better than that of Holy Brother.