1968 GREYHOUND DERBY

This race was run at the White City.

EARLY ROUNDS

Early discussion of potential winners centred on the Duke of Edinburgh owned Camira Flash and the John Bassett trained Yellow Printer. Prince Philip had accepted the predominantly white dog, Camira Flash, on behalf of the 'Water Rats Club of Great Britain' in the knowledge that any winnings would be donated to his Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme. The dog was trained by Randy Singleton from the GRA Hook kennels at Northaw, near Potters Bar. The competition nearly got off to a sensational start when Yellow Printer was beaten in the first round and only just survived by taking the final qualifying place. No such worries for supporters of Camira Flash, who finished strongly to beat Not Flashing after his customary tardy start, or for another well fancied runner El Campo who also won his first round heat. By the time the second round was under way the previously lucky Yellow Printer found that his luck had run out and he was eliminated after failing to finish.

SEMI FINALS

Controversy was the order of the day after the semi final exit of Camira Flash. John Donald, a lifelong greyhound racing enthusiast who lived on the White City Estate at the time and felt as if the White City was his second home, rightly questions whether Camira Flash should have been allowed back into the Derby after his fourth place elimination, and whether it had anything to do with his association with Prince Philip. In the second semi final Camira Flash started slowly, along with Withche's Smoke and El Campo. However, the early leader Not Flashing caused crowding at the third bend and, in the opinion of the judges, had fought and caused sufficient mayhem to enable Withche's Smoke to power home on the outside by 2 lengths from El Campo,the 2/1 favourite and trap 6 runner, with Not Flashing in third. Immediately the buzz around the stands was that Not Flashing should be disqualified, but even when this decision had been made there was then a second decision as to whether it should become a 5 dog final or Camira Flash (9/4) be promoted into the final. In a less eventful first semi final the 11/10 unbeaten Shady Parachute was fast away to lead throughout and win by 5 lengths in an impressive 28.62.

THE FINAL

It was not surprising that the unbeaten Shady Parachute, from the 5 box, was made the 4/6 favourite. Winning Hope, previously trounced by Shady in the semi final, was second favourite at 7/2, while the ideally drawn inside runner Shady Begonia went off as third choice at 6/1. What was amazing was that the poorly drawn trap 4 runner, Camira Flash left behind his slow starts of previous rounds and led at the first bend from the well drawn El Campo on the outside. El Campo challenged throughout and was particularly threatening around the final two bends, but Camira was not to be denied and ran on strongly to win by just over a length in 28.89. It was left to Witche's Smoke to claim second spot just a neck in front of El Campo, while the disappointing Shady Parachute could do no better than fourth, a further 3 lengths away.

As a footnote to his victory, Camira Flash earned in excess of £8000 in prize money during his career, and made at least the same amount again in stud fees.

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