1928 GREYHOUND DERBY

This race was run at the White City on Saturday 28th July 1928 .

1928 PRE-FINAL

By the time of the running of the second Greyhound Derby it had become an established event and was now sought after by all greyhound trainers. The nature of the competition and the prize money changed. The winner’s purse was raised to £1500 and the competition was no longer run as a regional competition in the early rounds. In the event there were 96 entries from around the country, including entries from Scotland . Boher Ash won his first round heat by 8 lengths in a time of 30.70 at a price of 8/11. He continued his winning ways in the second round when winning by 5 lengths in an improved time of 30.59 at evens favourite. However, Boher Ash was on offer at 3/1 for his semi final and missed the break, allowing the favourite, Fabulous Figure to win by 3 lengths in a time of 30.76. The winner of the second semi final was Musical Box in a time of 30.80.

WAITING IN THE WINGS IS MICK THE MILLER

I am extremely grateful to Joe Sloan for the following tale about the great Mick the Miller. His father, a greyhound racing enthusiast throughout his life, was at the opening of both the Celtic Park Stadium in Belfast and the Dunmore Park Stadium. Born in 1910, he would have been 18 when greyhound racing was launched in Ireland and would have travelled to the stadium by bus from Ballynahinch. He fondly recalls that he was at a meeting one day in 1928 when one of the handlers needed to relieve himself and asked his father to hold his dog until he returned. On returning he advised his father to keep a look out for the dog, telling him it was Mick the Miller. Joe was told by his father that Mick did not win that day! Within a year the words were to become true.
Mick the Miller ran many times at Shelbourne Park, but never did race at Dunmore. However, the great news is that very early on in his career he ran 3 times at Celtic Park in Belfast:-
On Wednesday 25th April 1928 Mick the Miller contested the 1st Round of the Abercorn Cup over 526.6 yards. He ran from Trap 3 and won at 1/5 favourite in 30.80.
On Monday 7th May 1928 Mick ran in the semi-final of the Abercorn Cup. He was in Trap 2 and won at 5/2 favourite in 30.60.
On Friday 11th May 1928 he was third in the Abercorn Cup from Trap 1 at 5/1 despite running a 30.40. The Evens favourite for the race was Dick’s Son, commonly known as the ‘Kilkenny Crack’, whilst his main rival was an Ulster dog called Moorland Rover at 11/8. In the event it was Moorland Rover who beat Dick’s Son by a short head with Mick the Miller just ½ a length back in third. This was almost certainly the race that Joe’s father was at, handling the great Mick the Miller whilst his handler took a leak!

WELSH GREYHOUND DERBY (Cardiff White City)

IRISH GREYHOUND DERBY (Harolds Cross)

In 1928, for the first time, Harolds Cross staged their own unofficial version of the Irish Greyhound Derby. It was won by Tipperary Hills and trained by Billy Quinn at Graigue. It was by Melksham Tom out of Melksham Na Boc E.

SCOTTISH GREYHOUND DERBY (Carntyne)

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