1975 GREYHOUND DERBY

This race was run at the White City.

I am very grateful to Keith Landles for the following and I have now corrected my mistake.

Firstly I feel it is important to point out to you that your "published" finishing field/finishing order to this Final is in fact incorrect.  Lively Band, who you have placed last, did not take part, having been disqualified, controversially, in the Semi-Final, for fighting.   The dog he "fought" into fourth place, Shamrock Point, an ante-post favourite for the competition went on to win the Consolation Final in a time some 56 spots faster than the Final

So, the Final was a five dog race.

Myrtown, who had been an unplaced finalist the year before, was all the rage ( media fuelled hype ) for the final, even though he'd drawn the "coffin box" of three, until, a day or two before the race when some sustained support came for Sallys Cobbler in Trap 1.  A dead railer inside a slow starter it was argued that he was the best drawn dog in the Final.   Pineapple Grand, a useful wide seed would need to improve again to win as would Foreign Exchange who had proved to be the "improver" of the competition.   Tartan Khan was overlooked by all.  He was a stayer who had actually qualified for the final with straight third place runs, all around the 29.60 mark, a time which had been bettered by all four of the others, by some way.

As often happens the expected happened then didn't quite pan out.

Tartan Khan in 2 made light of the "Derby roar", trapped far better than any had thought possible and moved out to hinder Myrtown, who had slept a yard and met trouble going to the bend, in the shape of Foreign Exchange. The rail opened up and Sally's snatched the lead going into the bend and bombed up  the back straight.   Then, unbelievably this dead-railer moved off and Tartan Khan came up his inside to lead going into the last turn.  Stunned race-fans could not believe it as the sure stayer, Tartan Khan, who was recognised as more of a St Leger hope, took the lead and ran on to the line to win by 1 and a quarter lengths.  33/1 had been freely available all week and 25/1 on the night - so sure were the betting public that the dog was a no-hoper.

Tartan Khan went on to win the St Leger that same year then did absolutely nothing of note at stud.

This was a memorable Derby for me.  It was the first Final I had seen and, being a Scot I had to have a consolation bet on "Tartan".  Lucky White Heather!

Keith Landles

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Email me at johnslusar at fsmail.net

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