1962 GREYHOUND DERBY

This race was run at the White City.

Early Rounds

One by one the ante post favourites dropped like flies with shock after shock in the first round. It was an ex Irish hotpot, trained by Paddy Dunphy, that was to emerge through the graveyard of beaten favourites. Each heat saw the favourite not only beaten but more often than not eliminated. Summerhill Fancy, Westpark and S S Leader had all departed before Jerry's Clipper contested the sixth heat and was expected to dispatch The Grand Canal with his usual efficiency. However, he missed his break behind Ballinasloe Blondie and never was at the races afterwards. By the second bend The Grand Canal was on terms with the early leader and ran on strongly to win by a clear 3 lengths in 28.91. It was a different story for early favourites in the second round, with The Grand Canal once again supreme in coming from behind to win in 29.34 from Master MacMurragh and Enallidine. However, he was the only favourite to triumph as Tall Ball Ollie, Strike Leader and Trip to Dublin were unfancied runners to win.

Semi-Finals

The Grand Canal had forced himself to the front of the ante post market and was made odds on to win his semi final. At the boxes it was Enallidine who led them up from The Grand Canal and Prairie Flash. Lurking behind was 25/1 Dromin Glory, but at the first the picture changed dramatically. Enallidine went lame and interfered with both Biggest Dreamer and Prairie Flash to leave The Grand Canal in the lead and his supporters counting their winnings. Again the picture changed when Prairie Flash renewed a challenge and both Powerstown Propsect and Dromin Glory began taking closer order. It was to be Dromin Glory who found the better turn of foot to overpower The Grand Canal by half a length, although the winning time was a disappointing 29.05. It was a much more open second semi, although Trip to Dublin had his followers at 7/2 and he led alongside Tall Boy Ollie before being forced wide. This left Nash Recorder in the lead closely followed by Master MacMurragh, who was to finish the better to win by 1 3/4 lengths in 29.00.

The Final

Despite defeat in the semis it was The Grand Canal who was made market leader at 2/1 with the Belle Vue trained Master MacMurragh second best at 3/1. As the boxes went up it was The Grand Canal who powered ahead on the outside from Dromin Glory and Trip to Dublin. At the second Trip to Dublin took up his favoured rails slot and moved into second behind The Grand Canal, but Dromin Glory was always close up and regained second spot before the third. He was almost on terms around the third bend until The Grand Canal cut him off and Master MacMurragh emerged as the next challenger. Yet again he was seen off and the runners up spot was claimed by the fast finishing Powerstown Prospect, a respectable length behind victor The Grand Canal with Dromin Glory getting back up by a head in third.

30 credits

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 at fsmail.net

HOME