1959 GREYHOUND DERBY

This race was run at the White City on Saturday 27th June 1959

Pos.

Greyhound

Sire

dam

Price

Distances

Time

1

Mile Bush Pride (4)

The Grand Champion

Witching Dancer

Evens fav

Neck

28.76

2

Snub Nose (6)

Racing Snob

Black Toes

5/1

Head

28.79

3

Crazy Parachute (1)

Hi There

Mad Prospect

100/30

7 yds

28.81 

4

Coolkill Racket (3)

Coolhill Nigger

Tennis Racket

100/7

2 1/2 yds

29.23 

5

Bryan's Hope (2)

Disabled Leader

Only Atomic

10/1

Distance

29.38 

6

Dancing Sheik (5)

Imperial Dancer

Delias Green

33/1

 

DNF 

The Winner was owned by Mr N W Purvis

Mile Bush Pride was trained by Jack Harvey at Wembley

Snub Nose was trained privately by Jimmy Purnell

Crazy Parachute was trained by Bob Burls at Wembley

Coolkill Rocket was trained privately by Reg Holland

Bryan's Hope was trained by Leslie Reynolds at Wembley

Dancing Sheik was trained by Ted Brennan at Sheffield

The Final

Once again it was the draw that spread doubt in Mile Bush's supporters as he was berthed in the dreaded 4 box inspite of being a railer. At Evens favourite the clear question was would he get a run? The answer came as soon as the boxes lifted with Snub Nose bursting clear on the outside by 4 lengths, followed around by Dancing Sheik and Crazy Parachute. Mile Bush had trapped badly, was last away and desperately looking for the rails slot.

Derek Peedell picks up the story with the following account.

In the final, Mile Bush Pride came from last to first, the first greyhound running from Trap 4 to do so in the Derby.

The race ended in a blanket finish, Mile Bush Pride winning by a short head, in 28.76, from Snub Nose, with Crazy Parachute third a further head behind.

The next year he was 5/4 on to win from Trap 1, but a cloud-burst dampened the track, levelling the playing field. He finished third behind Duleek Dandy ( 25/1 ) and Clonavy Romance ( 8/1). The owner of Clonavy Romance was Brian Hewson who was, at the time, the British 800 metres champion.

 

 

 

Tanist

 

 

Mad Tanist

 

 

 

 

Mad Darkie

 

The Grand Champion

 

 

 

 

 

Bella’s Prince

 

 

Could Be Worse

 

 

 

 

Bomb Fire

MILE BUSH PRIDE

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bah’s Choice

 

 

Imperial Dancer

 

 

 

 

Imperial Girl

 

Witching Dancer

 

 

 

 

 

Manhattan Midnight

 

 

Witching Night

 

 

 

 

Top Class

 

Derby final 1959.JPG (85224 bytes)

Semi - Finals

In the first semi-final Mile Bush Pride was expected to win comfortably and was made 4/11 favourite to do so. Led up again by Bryan's Hope and Dunmore Rocco, there was fortuitous bunching at the first enabling Mile Bush to take closer order. It was around the second bend that he hit the front and went on to score by an untroubled 7 1/4 lengths in 28.86, with Bryans Hope and Coolkill Racket winning minor honours. The unbeaten Crazy Parachute was made the 4/6 market leader in the second semi final with Snub Nose second best at 11/4. Crazy showed early pace and led around the first, but Snub Nose, from the 2 box rallied and ran on strongly to force a dead heat on the line in 28.90 with Dancing Sheik two lengths further back in third.

SEMI-FINALS Saturday 20th June 1959
Trap Dog Time Dist. SP   Trap Dog Time Dist. SP
3 CRAZY PARACHUTE 28.90 D-Heat 4/6 f   2 MILE BUSH PRIDE 28.86 7 1/4 yds 4/11 f
2 SNUB NOSE 28.90 2 yds 11/4   3 BRYAN'S HOPE 29.30 1 yd 7/1
6 DANCING SHEIK 29.02 4 yds 100/7   4 COOLKILL RACKET 29.36 Neck 33/1
4 DRUMSKEA CHIEFTAIN 29.26 1/2 yd 66/1   1 FIRGROVE SNOWMAN 29.38 1 yd 33/1
1 PATCHWORK 29.29 1 yd 40/1   6 DUNMORE ROCCO 29.43 1 yd 11/2
5 PRINCE OF SPEED 29.34   11/2   5 TOAST THE CHAMP 29.49   66/1

 

semi1
semi2

Early Rounds

After his exploits the previous year, Mile Bush Pride was a strong 5/2 favourite to make amends. However, he failed to win his first round heat and the previous years finalist Gentle Touch, and Crazy Parachute were seen as viable alternatives. It was in round two that Mile Bush Pride began to show his mettle when, as a railer, he was given the coffin box 4 and was drawn against Gentle Touch. Made odds on 10/11 he still had tremendous support and soon caught the early leader Bryans Hope to win by 4 3/4 lengths in 28.57. Crazy Parachute had gone through the early rounds unbeaten winning in 28.84 and 29.11 and was strongly fancied to upset the hot pot.

Second Round Thursday 18th June 1959
Trap Dog Time Dist. SP   Trap Dog Time Dist. SP
Heat 1   Heat 2
3 CRAZY PARACHUTE 29.17 1/2 yd 4/6 f   1 PRINCE OF SPEED 28.89 4 yds 11/10 f
6 DANCING SHEIK 29.20 2 yds 25/1   6 TOAST THE CHAMP 29.13 4 yds 5/2
4 FIRGROVE SNOWMAN 29.31   100/6   4 PATCHWORK 29.37   100/8
  VARRA BLACK NOSE                  
Heat 3   Heat 4
4 MILE BUSH PRIDE 28.57 4 3/4 yds 10/11 f   1 DUNMORE ROCCO 28.66 1 3/4 yds 4/5 f
6 BRYAN'S HOPE 28.85 4 1/2 yds 4/1   6 SNUB NOSE 28.76 9 yds 100/8
5 DRUMSKEA CHIEFTAIN 29.11   50/1   5 COOLKILL RACKET 29.30 1 yd 4/1
  GENTLE TOUCH         4 SIR FREDERICK 29.36   4/1

 

First Round Saturday 13th June 1959
Trap Dog Time Dist. SP   Trap Dog Time Dist. SP
Heat 1   Heat 2
6 GENTLE TOUCH 28.84 5 3/4 yds       PIGALLE WONDER      
2 PRINCE OF SPEED 29.18   3/1     DON'T DIVULGE      
Heat 3   Heat 4
2 SIR FREDERICK 29.08 3/4 yd 11/2   1 FIRGROVE SNOWMAN 29.18 2 3/4 yds 8/1
6 MILE BUSH PRIDE 29.12   4/6 f   4 COOLKILL RACKET 29.34   Evens f
  LEIGHLIN CHAMPION           WAR DANCE      
Heat 5   Heat 6
5 WINCOT CLIFFORD 29.04 1 yd     1 TOWN KING 29.24 2 3/4 yds  
1 DANCING SHEIK 29.10 3 3/4 yds 4/5 f   6 SNUB NOSE 29.40 4 3/4 yds 2/1 jf
2 TOAST THE CHAMP 29.32   100/8   3 DRUMSKEA CHIEFTAIN 29.69 3 yds 100/8
  FEARLESS MAC         4 HI PORTIA 29.87   100/6
              DE LUXE      
Heat 7   Heat 8
4 CRAZY PARACHUTE 28.84 4 3/4 yds 11/10 f   1 DUNMORE ROCCO 28.95 3 yds 9/4
5 VARRA BLACK NOSE 29.12       5 BRYAN'S HOPE 29.13 3 1/2 yds 8/11 f
            2 PATCHWORK 29.33   100/7

WELSH GREYHOUND DERBY (Cardiff White City)

Winner Sire Dam Time
Mile Bush Pride The Grand Champion Witching Dancer 28.80

IRISH GREYHOUND DERBY (Harolds Cross)

Dog Sire Dam Time
Sir Frederick Champion Prince Charming Biddy 29.30
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