1998 English Greyhound Derby

1998 English Greyhound Derby
LocationWimbledon Stadium
Start date26 May
End date27 June
Total prize money£50,000 (winner)
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The 1998 William Hill Greyhound Derby took place during May and June with the final being held on 27 June 1998 at Wimbledon Stadium.[1] The winner Toms The Best received £50,000. The competition was sponsored by William Hill following the demise of the famous Sporting Life newspaper. Ante-post favourite Larkhill Jo was eliminated in the third round.[2] The heats were held on 26, 29 & 30 May, the second round on 2, 5 & 6 June, third round on 13 June, quarter finals on 16 June and semi finals on 20 June.

Final result

At Wimbledon (over 480 metres):[3]

Position Name of Greyhound Breeding Trap SP Time Trainer
1st Toms The Best Frightful Flash - Ladys Guest 4 4-5f 28.75 Nick Savva (Milton Keynes)
2nd Tuesdays Davy Phantom Flash - Likely Wish 6 6-1 29.09 Patsy Byrne (Wimbledon)
3rd Tullerboy Cash Cry Dalcash - Tullerboy Kate 1 8-1 29.47 Brian Clemenson (Hove)
4th Jaspers Boy Castlelyons Gem - Polnoon Lane 5 9-4 29.48 David Pruhs (Peterborough)
5th Honour and Glory Murlens Slippy - Satharn Lady 2 7-1 29.56 John Coleman (Walthamstow)
N/R Greenwood Flyer I'm His - Pendle Witch Patsy Byrne (Wimbledon)

Distances

4¼, 4¾, short head, 1 (lengths)
The distances between the greyhounds are in finishing order and shown in lengths. One length is equal to 0.08 of one second.[4]

Race Report

Toms The Best added the English Derby crown to his 1997 Irish Greyhound Derby success becoming one of a very select group to have won both the English and Irish Derby. The race was won with relative ease by the hot favourite in a crowded race which featured only five greyhounds (the first time since 1970) after Greenwood Flyer was disqualified by the stewards in the semi-finals for fighting*.

Semi finals

* Deliberate interference with other greyhounds in running.

See also

References

  1. ^ Hobbs, Jonathan (2007). Greyhound Annual 2008, page 91. Raceform. ISBN 978-1-905153-53-4.
  2. ^ "LARK HILL JO DERBY SHOCK". Sunday World (Dublin). 14 June 1998. p. 88. Retrieved 27 May 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  3. ^ "1998". Greyhound Data.
  4. ^ Genders, Roy (1990). NGRC book of Greyhound Racing (Timekeeper) p310. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 0-7207-1804-X.