Field nearly set for 87th Inaugural
Derby Lane began the celebrations of their 87th year of greyhound operations on January 2.
Derby Lane began the celebrations of their 87th year of greyhound operations on January 2. The track showcased the first greyhound race in 1925. Wednesday night sixteen greyhounds were presented and the first four from each heat would fill the eight available slots for the January 7 stakes. The powerful sixth race featured Derby Lane’s super star Hi Noon Renegade that collected an outstanding record in 2011. Renegade made stakes history last year by becoming the first greyhound to win the Sprint Classic and the Gold Trophy Juvenile. He was also one of the youngest to win the Sprint Classic stakes usually captured by the track veterans. Although Renegade was sidelined for three months last year he managed to collect 40 wins and boasts staggering stats winning 40 of his 61 starts. His record for 2011 is 61/40-10-5-2. The Nova star made the cut despite much early trouble and will vie for his third career stakes victory on Saturday.
McAllister kennel has won three of the past four Inaugural stakes with superstars Flying Stanley, Flying Mancini and last year’s Triple Crown award winner Flying Coal City. The kennel has thrown another stellar athlete in the mix making the stakes deadline with last year’s World Classic winner Tiger Boy. The male won impressively in his Derby Lane debut despite his last start at Naples. Tiger Boy roared in a five and a half-length victory. JW Ricochet (Capabal) paid $17.40 and $18.40 earning a slot in the final followed by D’Arcy kennel’s Sovereign Beauty-a longshot that paid $48.20 for third.
The second heat of the night presented a glitch when a first time dead-heat for fourth place interrupted the normal elimination process. Hambleton kennel’s HWJ Isabelle came off the pace to pay $42.80 for her victory over the favorite TMC’s Pistol (O’Donnell) that finished second. Kentucky Grace set the pace and took third for Cal Holland earning her slot in the final. The two-way tie for fourth between Floyd & Porter’s Danicas Go Daddy and Alabama Racing’s Gabby’s Jentowin forced a draw by lot to be determined in the Racing office Thursday night. Afterwards post positions will be drawn for the 87th annual St. Petersburg Inaugural featured in race 10 on January 7.
Since 1978 I have been tutored by the most respected leaders in the industry at tracks in WV, WI and FL. As Media Relations Director and Company Spokeswoman I have a unique opportunity to share my passion for the sport. I have written hundreds of feature stories and taken just as many greyhound photos. My articles have been published nationally and internationally. I have been a color analyst on Sky Network at the Irish Derby multiple times and on America’s Night of Stars. I am also a former Greyhound trainer.
I am proud to call Derby Lane home, which is the most established Greyhound racetrack in the nation since 1925. I have met iconic kennel operators and watched the greatest greyhounds of the past decade including Dominator, Talentedmrripley and Flying Coal City-all historic award winners. I have written and produced videos used to honor industry people and Greyhound athletes at the Greyhound Hall of Fame and coordinated track shots for the Born to Run and Ensuring the Welfare of the Racing Greyhound videos. I have coordinated major film projects at Derby Lane including Animal Planet’s "Breed All About It", Oceans 11 and baseball’s Carl Crawford’s commercial. I coordinated all of the media for the world’s biggest Greyhound stakes in 2005-2006 when Derby Lane hosted the Million Dollar races. I am also a GPA volunteer. I have two grown daughters, a granddaughter and a racing greyhound. I am blessed with endless energy and share a home in FL with two retired Greyhounds. You can follow me as topgreyhound on twitter and read Vera’s News at www.derbylane.com.
Contact me vera@derbylane.com
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