Champions come and champions go in greyhound racing, but there are some dogs who will never be forgotten due to their achievements in the sport. We’re talking about the legends of the racetracks, who still live long in the memory of all racegoers for the power and speed of their performances.
Every trainer currently operating in greyhound racing is seeking to produce that next star, whether it’s a dog who wows everyone with their speed and finesse, or simply a bullish champion who turns on the style in the biggest races for the biggest prizes, and is a safe option for a Betdaq greyhound bet.
Here, we’ve put together a list of five greyhounds who enjoy legendary status within the industry, and whose achievements will forever echo through the ages.
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Ballyregan Bob
When talking about great greyhounds of times gone by, you can’t look much further than Ballyregan Bob. With George Curtis as his trainer, Ballyregan Bob broke the record for consecutive race wins by emerging victorious for a 32nd successive race in 1986.
Ballyregan Bob was a speed demon, breaking plenty of speed records in his time along with his penchant for winning streaks. Since his death in 1994, he has been on display at the Natural History Museum at Tring in Hertfordshire.
Mick the Miller
We’re delving deep into the history books for our next legendary greyhound. Mick the Miller is widely regarded as the first racing greyhound to compete in England, having been born and bred in Ireland, and when you consider the way the sport evolved in the decades to follow, that makes him a significant figure in the history of greyhound racing.
Although Mick the Miller didn’t quite hit the heights of Ballyregan Bob in terms of consecutive wins, he did win 19 races in a row, which included the coveted feat of winning the English Greyhound Derby on two successive occasions. An icon of greyhound racing — of that there can be no doubt.
Scurlogue Champ
Like Ballyregan Bob, Scurlogue Champ rose to prominence in the 1980s, enjoying huge success across a variety of races throughout his career. Trained by Ken Peckham, he was lauded for his ability to produce fast finishes when it really mattered, often coming from behind to win races at the death.
Whilst the two names previously mentioned on our list may have been better runners technically, Scurlogue Champ had an element of drama around him that made his races unmissable.
Westmead Hawk
Turning to a more modern example of a famous greyhound, Westmead Hawk is revered for his exploits in the mid-2000s. He had some fine wins throughout his career, but done were as special as his consecutive English Greyhound Derby victories in 2005 and 2006.
Winning the sport’s biggest race in successive years is enough to make any greyhound a legend, and Westmead Hawk will be remembered for many years.
Rapid Ranger
Last on our list is Rapid Ranger, another greyhound who earned the sensational achievement of winning the English Greyhound Derby two years running. It was at the turn of the millennium that saw Rapid Ranger enjoy his greatest success, as he claimed victory in greyhound racing’s showpiece in both 2000 and 2001.
Having initially been retired before the 2002 English Greyhound Derby, Rapid Ranger’s trainer Charlie Lister decided to bring the dog back for a crack at a third successive title, but it wasn’t meant to be. Nonetheless, Rapid Ranger goes down as a legend of the sport.
