Hunt Cup

This article is about the British greyhound race. For the horse race, see Royal Hunt Cup.
Hunt Cup
Category 1 race
LocationOxford Stadium
Inaugurated1931
SponsorBet365
Race information
Distance650 metres
SurfaceSand
Purse£10,000

The Hunt Cup is a greyhound racing competition held at Oxford Stadium in England.[1][2]

History

The race had its inaugural running during 1931 and was held at Reading Stadium (Oxford Road) over 400 yards, initially advertised as a major sprint event.[3]

In 1933, an event at Blackpool Squires Gate Greyhound Stadium, also called the Hunt Cup was won by Beef Cutlet, who broke the world record for 500 yards straight in the semi-finals. However, the event was unrelated to this competition.[4][5] From 1951 until 1957 the event was not held, but it was brought back in 1958 over 460 yards.[6]

In 1974, the Oxford Road site was closed, and eventually the competition switched to the new Reading Stadium on Bennet Road by permission of the Greyhound Racing Association, who allowed Allied Presentations Ltd to re-introduce the event in 1978.[7][8] However, once again the race ended because of yet another closure, when the stadium was sold by the council to developers during 2008.

After a 13-year absence, the event was brought back by promoter Kevin Boothby at Towcester Greyhound Stadium and Oxford Stadium.[9][10]

Past winners

Year Winner Trainer Time SP Notes
1931 Unknown
1932 Unknown
1933 Unknown
1934 Unknown
1935 Unknown
1936 Light Lucifer[11] Arthur Doc Callanan (Wembley) 22.50 6/1
1937 cancelled due to insufficient entries
1938 Produski Paddy Quigley (West Ham) 22.11 9/4
1939 Brave Reward[12] J P Young (Private) 22.51 7/1
1940-1944 not held
1945 Look Out Post Jack Harvey (Wembley) 22.14 7/2
1946 Ferry Robin Paddy McEllistrim (Wimbledon) 22.33 3/1
1947 Rowley P. O'Shaughnessy (Wandsworth) 22.32 6/1
1948 Kerry Rally Paddy McEllistrim (Wimbledon) 22.48 5/2jf
1949 Burndennet Brook Leslie Reynolds (Wembley) 22.05 6/4f
1950 Derrycrussan Tom Smith (Clapton) 22.00 4/6f
1951-1957 not held[6]
1958 Knockarea Chancer Jack Harvey (Wembley) 25.74 4/7f
1963 Sir Walter Jimmy Jowett (Clapton) 28.05
1964 Captain Pike Phil Rees Sr. (Private) 28.16 7/4jf
1965 Silver Glory Paddy McEvoy (Wimbledon) 28.26
1966 Shamrock Clipper Phil Rees Sr. (Wimbledon) 28.40
1967 Lucky Me Len Drewery (Private) 28.33
1968 Dreaming Prince Reg Webb (Private) 27.87 5/1
1969 Beaverwood Wind Stan Martin (Wimbledon) 27.89 7/4jf
1970 Spotted Rory Paddy McEllistrim (Wimbledon) 28.48
1971 24 June
1972 Houghton Gyp[13] Barbara Tompkins (Private) 28.01 5/2
1973 21 June
1974-1977 not held
1978 Westmead Manor[14] Natalie Savva (Bletchley) 39.65
1980 Mogeely Honour[15] Terry Dartnall 42.64 4/1
1981 Curragh Bridge John Honeysett (Crayford) 42.31 5/1
1982 Wolf Cub Ray Iremonger (Slough) 41.24 3/1
1983 Astrosyn Doll Ray Peacock (Harringay) 41.42
1984 Hot Candy John Copplestone (Portsmouth) 42.08 8/1
1985 Spill the Beans Tony Meek (Swindon) 41.28
1986 Milltown Genius[14] Kenny Linzell (Walthamstow) 41.71 11/4
1987 Lowerton Susie[14] (Wimbledon) 41.14
1988 Waltham Abbey Adam Jackson (Wembley) 41.17
1989 Trans Mercedes[16] Maldwyn Thomas (Reading) 8/11f
1990 Coloured Panther Jo Burridge (Portsmouth) 41.55 7/2
1991 Snow Shoes John McGee Sr. (Canterbury) 41.16 2/1f
1992 Airmount Flash Jimmy Gibson (Belle Vue) 41.19 11/10f
1993 Johns Banana[17] John McGee Sr. 8/1
1994 Sonic Blue Arthur Hitch (Wimbledon) 5/2
1995 9 Dec
1996 Liosgarbh Glory[18] Terry Dartnall 5/2
1997 Lydpal Frankie Tony Meek (Hall Green) 41.49 9/2
1998 Palace Issue Linda Mullins (Walthamstow) 41.10 4/7f
1999 Palace Issue Linda Mullins (Walthamstow) 41.80 8/11f
2000 Palace Issue Linda Mullins (Walthamstow) 41.32 1/6f
2001 Southlodge Rage Nick Colton (Oxford) 41.34 5/2
2002 Princess Manor Jo Burridge (Poole) 41.15 16/1
2003 Double Take Andy Heyes (Belle Vue) 40.50 7/4f Track record
2004 Shelbourne Lyn Nick Colton (Oxford) 41.25 7/4f
2005 Call Girl Paul Foster (Swindon) 41.94 5/2jf
2006 Well Tutored Terry Dartnall (Reading) 41.31 4/1
2007 Spankee Moved Heather Dimmock (Peterborough) 41.18 9/4
2008-2020 not held
2021 Salacres Pippy[19] Peter Harnden (Towcester) 42.90 9/4 Track record
2022 Chelms Cub[20] Jason Heath (Hove) 43.17 11/1
2023 Havana Lover[21] Liz McNair (Central Park) 39.41 11/8f
2024 Havana Top Note[22] Liz McNair (Central Park) 39.83 1/1f

Venues & Distances

  • 1931–1950 (Reading Oxford Road, 400y)
  • 1958–1971 (Reading Oxford Road, 460y)
  • 1972–1973 (Reading Oxford Road, 500y)
  • 1978–1978 (Reading Bennett Road, 635m)
  • 1980–2007 (Reading Bennett Road, 660m)
  • 2021–2022 (Towcester, 712m)
  • 2023–present (Oxford, 650m)

Sponsors

  • 1971, 1980 (Stadium Bookmakers)
  • 1984–1989 (Hall's Oxford Brewery)
  • 1990–1992 (Castlemaine XXXX)
  • 1993–1996 (Carlsberg Tetley)
  • 2021–2022 (Stadium Bookmakers)
  • 2023–2023 (Bet365)

References

  1. ^ "Hunt Cup back with a BANG!". Towcester Stadium. 4 November 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  2. ^ "Hunt Cup Attracts 24 Runners". Greyhound Star. 5 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  3. ^ Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. p. 127. ISBN 0-948955-15-5.
  4. ^ "The Hunt Cup". Birmingham Daily Gazette. 8 May 1933. Retrieved 24 October 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. ^ "Beef Cutlet covers 500 yards in 26.87 seconds". Lancashire Evening Post. 13 May 1933. Retrieved 24 October 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. ^ a b "Reading revive Hunt Cup competition". Reading Standard. 13 June 1958. Retrieved 24 October 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. ^ Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. p. 67. ISBN 07207-1106-1.
  8. ^ "Jackpot is back". Reading Evening Post. 26 January 1978. Retrieved 24 October 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  9. ^ "Stadium Bookmakers Hunt Cup – Towcester 712m – £12,500". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. 8 November 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  10. ^ "Hunt Cup Card Preivewed by RM Simon Pearson". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. 22 April 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  11. ^ "Light Lucifer for Catford trophy". Daily News (London). 23 July 1936. Retrieved 24 October 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  12. ^ "Success in Trophy event". Reading Mercury. 17 June 1939. Retrieved 24 October 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  13. ^ "And Gym is Champ". Reading Evening Post. 7 July 1972. Retrieved 24 October 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  14. ^ a b c Genders, Roy (1990). NGRC book of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. p. 54. ISBN 0-7207-1804-X.
  15. ^ "Mogeely takes Hunt Cup honours". Reading Evening Post. 29 September 1980. Retrieved 24 October 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  16. ^ "What A Beauty". Reading Evening Post. 30 October 1989. Retrieved 25 October 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  17. ^ "Banana Skins Hunt Cup rivals". Reading Evening Post. 29 November 1993. Retrieved 25 October 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  18. ^ "Smallmead dogs for tonight". Reading Evening Post. 17 December 1996. Retrieved 20 April 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  19. ^ "2021 Stadium Bookmakers Hunt Cup final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  20. ^ "Stadium Bookmakers Hunt Cup final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  21. ^ "bet365 HUNT CUP FINAL". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  22. ^ "bet365 Hunt Cup". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 20 April 2024.