1959 GREYHOUND DERBY

This race was run at the White City.

Early Rounds

After his exploits the previous year, Mile Bush Pride was a strong 5/2 favourite to make amends. However, he failed to win his first round heat and the previous years finalist Gentle Touch, and Crazy Parachute were seen as viable alternatives. It was in round two that Mile Bush Pride began to show his mettle when, as a railer, he was given the coffin box 4 and was drawn against Gentle Touch. Made odds on 10/11 he still had tremendous support and soon caught the early leader Bryans Hope to win by 4 3/4 lengths in 28.57. Crazy Parachute had gone through the early rounds unbeaten winning in 28.84 and 29.11 and was strongly fancied to upset the hot pot.

Semi - Finals

In the first semi-final Mile Bush Pride was expected to win comfortably and was made 4/11 favourite to do so. Led up again by Bryans Hope and Dunmore Rocco, there was fortuitous bunching at the first enabling Mile Bush to take closer order. It was around the second bend that he hit the front and went on to score by an untroubled 7 1/4 lengths in 28.86, with Bryans Hope and Coolkill Rocket winning minor honours. The unbeaten Crazy Parachute was made the 4/6 market leader in the second semi final with Snub Nose second best at 11/4. Crazy showed early pace and led around the first, but Snub Nose, from the 2 box rallied and ran on strongly to force a dead heat on the line in 28.90 with Dancing Sheik two lengths further back in third.

The Final

Once again it was the draw that spread doubt in Mile Bush's supporters as he was berthed in the dreaed 4 box in spite of being a railer. At Evens favourite the clear question was would he get a run? The answer came as soon as the boxes lifted with Snub Nose bursting clear on the outside by 4 lengths, followed around by Dancing Sheik and Crazy Parachute. Mile Bush had trapped badly, was last away and desperatley looking for the rails slot.

Derek Peedell picks up the story with the following account.

In the final, Mile Bush Pride came from last to first, the first greyhound running from Trap 4 to do so in the Derby.

The race ended in a blanket finish, Mile Bush Pride winning by a short head, in 28.76, from Snub Nose, with Crazy Parachute third a further head behind.

The next year he was 5/4 on to win from Trap 1, but a cloud-burst dampened the track, levelling the playing field. He finished third behind Duleek Dandy ( 25/1 ) and Clonavy Romance ( 8/1). The owner of Clonavy Romance was Brian Hewson who was, at the time, the British 800 metres champion.

50 credits

WELSH GREYHOUND DERBY (Cardiff White City)

IRISH GREYHOUND DERBY (Harolds Cross)

Be the first person to provide an account of this final, or to have a picture of the winner, published on this page.

Email me at johnslusar@fsmail.net

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