1957 GREYHOUND DERBY

This race was run at the White City.

Ford Spartan beat Highway Tim in a time of 28.84 to claim the £20,000 prize.

EARLY ROUNDS

Northern King was strongly fancied to make amends for his failure last year and was a well supported ante post favourite. He was followed in the betting by both Silent Worship and the Wimbledon trained Ford Spartan. Ford Spartan was trained by Jerry Hannafin and was the result of a coincidental, romantic pairing which even Shakespear would have had difficulty inventing. His mother was the unraced bitch Harrow Glamour, who was due to be mated with Margourna Reject until it served another bitch, so the 1953 Laurels winner Polonius did the honours instead. The F C Hill and S C Frost's youngster hit the headlines when winning the 1956 Puppy Derby and subsequently went on to win the 1957 Laurels in a blistering 27.89. He later won the White City Stakes and the Select Stakes of that year. It came as a big disappointment to ante post followers of Silent Worship to hear that he had to be withdrawn lame before the first round commenced, and further shocks were to follow when Northern King was beaten. However, a new favourite emerged when Ford Spartan made all to win in 28.74. It was good to see Northern King regain his former sparkle in round 2, although Ford Spartan was the more impressive when making all in his heat.

SEMI-FINALS

In the first semi-final Ford Spartan went off at the prohibitive odds of 2/7 and although he rewarded his supporters to make all to win in 29.02 there was some concern when he tired in the home straight and only prevailed by a fast diminishing 1/2 length. In the second semi it was Northern King who was made the 11/10 favourite, but his followers were to be disappointed yet again when he failed to trap in his usual slick fashion and was badly baulked at the first. It was left to Quare Fool to win with a traps to line success in 28.95, winning by 2 lengths from Highway Sovereign with Land of Song holding on for third place.

THE FINAL

Few wanted to oppose the ultra-consistent Ford Spartan in the final and he was made the even money favourite. Quare Fool proved second best at 3/1 and Highwood Sovereign was not unbacked at 9/2. There were a few missed beats when Ford Spartan did not break in his customary slick fashion, allowing Land of Song to lead him up. He was on terms by the first, in the lead shortly after rounding the first, and would normally have extended away. However, Highway Tim made rapid ground and threatened to overhaul the favourite in the final straight. A photo finish revealed Ford Spartan had held on by a fast receding neck, with Land of Song a length further back in third. The winners time was 28.84.

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