With the nights getting longer and the weather getting colder, greyhound season is getting into full swing as the festive period approaches. With coronavirus restrictions changing, allowing for spectators to attend the tracks, the days of eerily quiet stands and races taking place behind closed doors are hopefully a thing of the past.
The greyhound calendar may have already seen some of its most prestigious events already, such as the English Greyhound Derby at Towcester, which was won by Patrick Janssens’ Thorn Falcon but there are still a plethora of big nights and the track still to be enjoyed.
Although it may not be as popular as it once was, greyhound racing still has a dedicated and passionate audience, willing to travel the breadth of the country to get the best bet on greyhound racing – with the owner’s role crucial to a dog’s success. With that in mind, we though we’d run through four of the best-known greyhound owners, with some being celebrities, and how they performed over their careers.
Ray White – Rapid Ranger
Usually a dog that loses his first two consecutive races is written off, and never deemed to be successful but Ray White’s perseverance with Rapid Ranger made him one of the most successful racers in history and a true greyhound legend. Having picked up the English Derby in 2000, he became just the third greyhound in history to go on and retain it in 2001. White did try and enter him the following year to swoop in for an unthinkable treble but after an underwhelming second round exit, he was retired before being invited to breeder’s shows and the parade of champions
Darran Keefe – Barnfield On Air
Not often does a greyhound get compared to the likes of Ballyregan Bob so when they do it is certainly considered a huge honour. One of the most well-known dogs in the sport’s prestigious history, it is testament to the work of Darran Keefe that these comparisons are being drawn for his accomplishments with Barnfield On Air. After reaching the Irish Puppy Derby final, he went on to set the 480m track record and win thousands in prize money. While his career was cut short due to injury, he certainly enjoyed a sensational run thanks to Keefe.
Dara O’Brien – Snip Nua
Mostly known for his appearances on BBC show ‘Mock the Week’, Irish comedian Dara O’Brien came under scrutiny when one of the greyhounds he part owns, Snip Nua, was injured in Dublin. Protesters held demonstrations outside various venues when he was performing part of his tour after his greyhound was fatally injured during a race at Harold’s Cross Stadium, leading to the dog being put down. Aside from controversy, O’Brien claims to be distraught over the greyhound’s death and hasn’t raced anyone else since.
Mario Lanfranchi – El Tenor
Not to be confused with Robert Malone’s greyhound which performed valiantly in the early 2010s, Lanfranchi’s El Tenor garnered much of his success just before the new millennium, picking up the Essex Vase at Romford before winning nine of his 13 jump races before becoming a stalwart on the flat. 69 victories set at Nottingham in December 1998 made him one of the most successful in recent times, almost poignant that the record was set in the Midlands which has adopted the sport as its spiritual home in recent years.
Tags: English Derby, Greyhound Racing, Greyhound Season, Racing
