Tight win race?
A pair of familiar names at major Florida tracks--Hi Noon Renegade at Derby Lane and GS Uncle Henry at Jacksonville--are going to have 40 or more wins for the year before they're through. In fact, Renegade just won No. 40 last night.
A pair of familiar names at major Florida tracks--Hi Noon Renegade at Derby Lane and GS Uncle Henry at Jacksonville--are
going to have 40 or more wins for the year before they're through. In fact, Renegade just won No. 40 last night.
But the North American win title for 2011 is more apt to fall to a steady charger at a smaller track--very possibly to Rams Kizzy Kate, a 44-race winner to date (for this year) at Tucson Greyhound Park.
Rams Kizzy Kate (Lonesome Cry-Annie Oak), racing for the Gray Kennel, has a record of 44-13-2-2 in 66 Tucson starts, as of Dec. 21. During the year, she's had win streaks of 8 races, 7 races, 6 races and 5 races.
Rams Kizzy Kate is owned by Johnny and Cheryl Pharrams of Mesa, AZ.
Still, with the final days of the year winding down, it's still unofficial who'll officially be declared North American win champ for 2011. Reporting from other smaller tracks has been scanty, and records are being combed to see of there are others who might be in contention from the smaller venues. Any relevant data from tracks not reporting thus far, or from website readers, would be appreciated.
Hi Noon Renegade (Dodgem By Design-Bryan's Baby), racing for the Nova Kennel and owned by Charles Haliburton III, captured win No. 40 (and 10th in a row) Thursday night at Derby Lane. Certainly a three-month absence midway through the year, due to injury, likely ruined the multi-stake champ's chances at the win crown.
GS Uncle Henry (Kelsos Fusileer-Steffie's Mandy), owned and raced by Gary and Sharon Willis, has similar credentials: a stake race winner at his home track who has an impressive win-streak of his own right now (going for his 10th straight Friday night at Orange Park). Stake wins and a stellar record have earned both Renegade and Uncle Henry Review cover appearances in 2011.
Others from major circuits with a large number of wins in 2011 are Slatex Emerald from Bluffs Run and Turbo Razor from Palm Beach, each with 35 victories for the year as of Dec. 22.
Turbo Razor (Kiowa Sweet Trey-Turbo Wind Blown), owned by Ed Gardner and kennel operator Norm Rader, has also been especially hot lately, boasting a 10-race win streak at Palm Beach after another big win Monday. Slatex Emerald (Kiowa Sweet Trey-Slatex Station) is on course to be Bluffs' Greyhound of the Year and will easily win the track championship for owner and kennel operator Kirk Harlan. Emerald's half sister, Slatex Cadillac (Flying Hydrogen-Slatex Station), also owned by Harlan, is also one of the year's top winners, with 29 victories to date. She too is a stake winner this year (the Hecht Marathon), dominating distance races in South Florida much of the year.
Last year's North American win champion was Melvin Drayton Jr.'s Florida sprinter Where's Big Cash, an All-American who won 49 races in 2010.
Gary joined the NCA staff in 1971 as Coursing News editor and has served as NGA Secretary-Treasurer since 1982, also coordinator of the American Greyhound Council, Inc. for the past decade. The last of his and lovely wife Terri's children will be on his way to KU this fall, while 12 grandkids scattered nationwide keep them busy on the homefront in Abilene. Contact info: garyg@ngagreyhounds.com
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