1977 English Greyhound Derby

1977 English Greyhound Derby
LocationWhite City Stadium
Start date2 June
End date25 June
Total prize money£17,500 (winner)
← 1976
1978 →

The 1977 Spillers Greyhound Derby took place during June[1] with the final being held on 25 June 1977 at White City Stadium.[2] The winner was Balliniska Band and the winning owner Raphael Bacci received £17,500. The competition was sponsored by the Spillers.[3]

Final result

At White City (over 500 metres):[4]

Position Name of Greyhound Breeding Trap SP Time Trainer
1st Balliniska Band Lively Band - Certral 5 1-1f 29.16+ Eddie Moore (Belle Vue)
2nd El Cavalier Mel's Pupil - El Raco 1 5-1 29.36 Ted Griffin (Private)
3rd Pat Seamur Tullig Rambler - Dainty Black 4 5-1 29.72 Geoff De Mulder (Hall Green)
4th Ballybeg Grand The Grand Silver - Ballybeg Lady 3 16-1 29.76 Tom Chamberlain (Private)
5th Westmead Manor Mel's Pupil - Westmead Silver 6 8-1 29.86 Natalie Savva (Bletchley)
6th Saucy Buck Sole Aim - Limerick Lass 2 7-1 29.96 Barbara Tompkins (Perry Barr)

+ Equalled the track record set by Glen Rock

Distances

2½, 4½, ½, 1¼, 1¼ (lengths)
The distances between the greyhounds are in finishing order and shown in lengths. One length is equal to 0.08 of one second.[5]

Competition Report

The 1977 Derby entries included the defending champion Mutts Silver and Westmead Champ. The ante-post favourite was Glen Rock, who had set a new world record for 525 yards and held the White City track record of 29.16 sec in addition to winning the 1976 Irish Puppy Derby.[6]

The qualifying round ended with 96 greyhounds left in the betting. Glen Rock was eliminated in the very first round in a heat won by Pat Seamur. Balliniska Band lost to Westmead Special in round one and Mutts Silver was beaten by Gaily Noble but both progressed. In the second round Greenfield Fox and Westmead Champ both went out but Ger McKenna's leading entry Red Rasper won well as did Balliniska Band. Balliniska Band then won again in the quarter-finals recording 29.24 but Red Rasper was eliminated.[7]

The first semi-final saw Balliniska Band lead out of the traps pursued by El Cavalier, Pat Seamur did well to take third place especially as Balliniska Band equalled the time he had set in the previous round. The second semi ended the hopes of Mutts Silver after he stumbled during the race and finished last behind the victor Westmead Manor, the deposed champion was retired to stud a few days later.[7]

In the final Balliniska Band forced Saucy Buck to check up when going past him, and then he showed good early pace to draw clear. He beat El Cavalier by 2+1⁄2 lengths in a track-record-equalling 29.16 sec. He was owned by Raphael Bacci and trained by Eddie Moore.[7]

Quarter finals

[8]

Heat 1
Pos Name SP Time
1st Balliniska Band 1-3f 29.24
2nd Mercian Fireball 10-3 29.40
3rd El Cavalier 20-1 29.66
4th Stingray 25-1 29.92
5th Hunday Angina 33-1 29.98
6th Shakehands 40-1 30.14
Heat 2
Pos Name SP Time
1st Pat Seamur 6-4f 29.67
2nd Westmead Manor 13-2 29.79
3rd Ballybeg Grand 16-1 29.83
4th Westmead Special 13-8 29.97
5th Heather Rain 33-1 30.03
6th I'll Make It 4-1 30.06
Heat 3
Pos Name SP Time
1st Mutts Silver 2-1 29.73
2nd Reddans Walk 40-1 29.74
3rd Elteen Queen 12-1 29.82
4th Gaily Noble 6-1 29.98
5th Sugarloaf Jessie 11-8f 30.02
6th Remote Control 4-1 30.20
Heat 4
Pos Name SP Time
1st Silver Trixie 25-1 29.86
2nd Saucy Buck 7-2 29.87
2nd Ivors Alamo 40-1 29.87
4th Linacre 6-4 29.93
5th Glenesk Comet 14-1 29.97
6th Red Rasper 5-4f 30.00

Semi finals

First Semi-final (Jun 18)
Pos Name of Greyhound SP Time Trainer
1st Westmead Manor 5-1 29.66 Savva
2nd Ballybeg Grand 16-1 29.76 Chamberlain
3rd Saucy Buck 5-2 29.88 Tompkins
4th Mercian Fireball 5-2 29.90 Barnett
5th Ivors Alamo 20-1 29.98
6th Mutts Silver 2-1f 30.04 Rees
Second Semi-final (Jun 18)
Pos Name of Greyhound SP Time Trainer
1st Balliniska Band 4-7f 29.24 Moore
2nd El Cavalier 20-1 29.30 Griffin
3rd Pat Seamur 7-4 29.46 De Mulder
4th Silver Trixie 12-1 29.76 Reilly
5th Reddans Walk 12-1 30.02 Curtis
N/R Elteen Queen Rees

See also

References

  1. ^ "The Greyhound Magazine (July 1977), pages 6-7". J J Publications. 1977.
  2. ^ Hobbs, Jonathan (2007). Greyhound Annual 2008, page 91. Raceform. ISBN 978-1-905153-53-4.
  3. ^ Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing, page 110. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 07207-1106-1.
  4. ^ "1977". Greyhound Data.
  5. ^ Genders, Roy (1990). NGRC book of Greyhound Racing (Timekeeper) p310. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 0-7207-1804-X.
  6. ^ "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 1978) April edition". Greyhound Star. 2012.
  7. ^ a b c Dack, Barrie (1990). Greyhound Derby, the first 60 years, pages 157/158/159/160. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-36-8.
  8. ^ "The Greyhound Magazine (July 1977), page 67". J J Publications. 1977.