1935 GREYHOUND DERBY

This race was run at the White City on Saturday 6th July 1935 .

THE FINAL

In an open betting heat, Curley's Fancy II was favourite to gain a Derby success, closely followed by Stout Heart and the bitch Greta Ranee. As the traps opened Curleys and Stout broke together and continued to challenge each other throughout the first 3 bends. Greta Ranee gradually made progress and, as they came round the final bend, she challenged strongly and pipped Curleys by 3/4 length on the line, with Stout just a further 3/4 length back in third. So Greta Ranee became the first bitch to win the Greyhound Derby.

I am grateful to Peter and Chris Ward for the photo shown below. Chris Ward's great grandfather was William Skerratt of Blythe Bridge in Staffordshire. He was a breeder and trainer of greyhounds, in particular breeding the GR strain of dog, the most famous of which was the bitch Greta Ranee. William is shown below holding the winner of the 1935 Derby who, at the time of winning was trained by Albert Henry Jonas of the White City. William himself trained for Lord Dewar and Lord Roseberry. Mr R.H.Dent, who had owned Greta Ranee as a pup but then sold her to Mr Lockhart-Mummery, was invited to be present when the winner was crowned. I am very grateful to Tony Nash for recognising the other person in the photo. He identified the gentleman on the right to be Brigadier General Critchley
	I am grateful to Tony Nash for the photograph shown opposite. It shows Greta Ranee with Albert Jonas who worked for the trainer Fear in the early days at the White City, winning the Grand National with Scapegoat in 1933. His crowning glory year was 1935 when he won the Derby, the Wimbledon Gold Cup, the Edinburgh Cup and the Northern Flat. By 1936 Jonas transferred to another London venue at Stamford Bridge.

I am grateful to Grant Jonas, grandson of the trainer of Greta Ranee Albert Henry Jonas

	In the early days of the Derby the owners of the finalists were each presented with a commemorative medal. I am very grateful to Richard English for providing a scan of the medal given to the trainer of the 3rd placed greyhound.

IRISH GREYHOUND DERBY (Shelbourne Park)

SCOTTISH GREYHOUND DERBY (Carntyne)

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 johnwslusar@gmail.com