1963 GREYHOUND DERBY

This race was run at the White City.

Early Rounds

It was trainer John Bassett who had kennel strength in depth, especially with Dromin Glory who had done so well in the final the previous year. In round one he hit trouble and was eliminated leaving Bassett to hope for better from Misty King and Lucky Boy Boy. Indeed it was Lucky Boy Boy who was the more promising winning his heat by 6 3/4 lengths in a remarkable 28.88.  Misty King managed second place in his opening heat, although denied by 4 1/4 lengths in a slow 29.03. By round two Lucky Boy Boy emerged as a strong favourite with an impressive 9 length victory repeating his 28.88.  Another second round heat winner was the Jack Harvey trained Greenane Wonder, and Misty King kept more than one iron in the fire for Bassett by winning the sixth heat, albeit by a head and in only 29.23.

Semi-Finals

In the opening semi final a shock was in order when there was significant bunching at the first to enable the 20/1 outsider Bulgaden Glory to slip clear and hold on by 1 1/4 lengths in a slow 29.42. Another outsider at 20/1 Barronstown King claimed second a length in front of Misty King who had been badly baulked in the first bend melee. In the second semi final Lucky Boy Boy was made odds on to justify his place at the head of the market. Nevertheless, he still struggled to qualify by running wide to lead and then checking at the second. Hack it About took it up by the third bend and Greenane Wonder also started to make his move. In a fabulous tussle to the line there was a bunch finish with Greenane Wonder gaining the upperhand by a short head from Hack it About, winning in 29.27. It took a while for Lucky Boy Boy to claim the third qualifying spot a fast diminishing short head in front of Jamie Serra.

The Final

The surprising result in the first semi final meant that the final was seen as being contested by the dogs from the second semi. However, Misty King (8/1) and drawn in an outside 5 box, was not seen as a forlorn hope as a Bassett second string to the warm Evens favourite Lucky Boy Boy. As the traps opened it was the 2 dog Greenane Wonder who got out ahead of the inside boxed favourite. However, he made the mistake of moving off the rails and bumped both Misty King and Bulgaden Glory leaving a gaping gap for Lucky Boy Boy to race through. By the third bend he had raced into the lead and started to go clear from that point, striding to a 6 3/4 length victory in 29.00, especially as Bulgaden and Misty were involved in more trouble to enable Greenane Wonder to get back up to claim second spot by a length.

30 credits

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