Greyhound Racing

The fourth and final round of qualifying for Palm Beach Kennel Club’s $20,000 Dick Andrews Futurity takes place Wednesday afternoon, December 18.

The most anticipated match-up will take place in the afternoon’s fourteenth race, as the top two point scorers through three rounds, TF Chucky Slick and JS Speedypebbles meet muzzle-to-muzzle for the third time in their young careers. Pebbles holds the advantage, defeating Chucky in both encounters.

Wayne Ward Kennel’s WW’s Udell has four straight Grade AA 3/8 victories for trainer Ron Otto. Kennel-mate WWK Spain Yellow has back-to-back wins (A, AA).

Makin A Scene did just that in November at Bluffs Run as the only greyhound to win four times in the month.

The two-year-old 80 pounder out of Bluffs Run Hall of Famer KC And All and Share The Glory was a perfect four wins in four starts. He kept the four theme going by winning by an average of four lengths.

His efforts led the Plum Creek Kennel to a terrific month. Plum Creek’s greyhounds won 51 times, 15 more than any other kennel. That helped Plum Creek collect $120,048.79 in earnings in November, easily the biggest payout among the kennels.

The Pat Collins Kennel had a stellar night in round two of the stakes as the posted up four victories in the seven qualifying races. Red Oak also continue to build on their three win performance in round one, with a pair of wins in the second round of action. Both kennels have a greyhound still in the undefeated ranks, Pat C Gatsby and Ww’s Pour It On, and look to keep them that way in their next effort. Willis was the other winner in round two with a strong effort from Gs Daisy May.

Pat C Gatsby is the biggest name that most people will recognize as he was the winner of the recent Mayflower Melee, and a finalist in the 2013 Jacksonville Sprint Classic, and he lived up to that billing in the 10th race on the card. Breaking quickly, he stalked the pace from the box, and put on huge rush to steal away the lead at the first turn. From there he never looked back and coasted all the way to the wire for back to back wins. Tomco Padfoot did make up some ground on the leader late but never really challenged for the win, and Kiowa Kay Folk ran an even race in third.

Valor Racing Kennel’s Groupie Doll (AA 3/8) and Surfer Dude (TAA 3/16) have three straight victories for trainer James Roche. Kennel-mate Love Shack has captured three out of her last four races (A, AA).

The 29th season of live racing came to an end at Dubuque Greyhound Park Sunday, October 28th.  It was a fifteen race card event with four exciting stakes races and a plaque presentation of the 2013 Greyhound and Trainer of the Year.

Palm Beach Kennel Club will hold its uplifting finale to Breast Cancer Awareness Month Saturday afternoon, October 26.

Throughout the month of October, the Kennel Club has been selling “On Track To Beat Cancer” T-Shirts and Bracelets for donations of $20 and $2, respectively.    

In addition, the track has held four special charity races, with all profits going to local cancer charities, which include the American Cancer Society, National Canine Cancer Foundation (South Florida Chapter), The Kelly Rooney Foundation, Northwood University’s Dig Pink, Connie Vanderwey Memorial Scholarship and Bethesda Health Center.

Taking the racetrack by storm, Magic Verzion has left everyone in her dust as she has climbed and dominated at the top level of competition at bestbet Orange Park.

Last night, Wednesday October 23rd, was just another walk in the park as this super closer broke slowly, but found some room early on the rail to rush to the turn in. There she was already stocking the leader in second, and that spelled bad news for the rest of this field. By the toteboard, she had already stuck her nose in front and from that point on it was just going to get UGLY! Drawing away with every stride she took, she crossed the finish line in 30.52 seconds, which just happened to be the best time of the entire day, and left the field 6 lengths behind at the wire.

With the quarterfinals of the $500,000 Iowa Breeders Classic at Bluffs Run completed, Boc’s C U Again stands alone at the top of the points board.

The 71-pounder from the Boeckenstedt Kennel, born Oct. 11, 2011 out of Djays Octane-Ucme By A Mile, is perfect after three rounds with a maximum of 45 points earned. That will put him in the championship race of the IBC, the richest greyhound stakes in the nation.

Funeral services for veteran Tucson racing official Bill Drozd will be Thursday, Dec. 9 at Abbey Funeral Chapel, 33435 North 1st Ave., in Tucson, AZ. Visitation will be from 2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m., with services immediately following.

One of the sport's well known racing officials, William Lawrence Drozd, passed away Dec 13. 

Born in Grand Rapids, MI, Mr. Drozd had been associated with Tucson Greyhound Park for about 47 years, dating back to 1958. He retired in February 2005 at the age of 67.

"When we "dreamed" this litter and brought over a tank of Surf Lorian from Australia we had hopes and wishes for the pups here in the States.  To have that dream come true and see a son of Surf Lorian and Greys Touch Gold win the Holiday Distance Challenge (undefeated) means more than I can put in words.  We are so very proud of our boy!" -Catherine D'Arcy

It was truly a night to remember and one celebrated on track and shared via the world wide web from derbylane.com when a global audience watched Catherine D'Arcy's dream come true when Golden Squire posted a seventh consecutive win over the 660-yard course and swept the $75,000 Holiday Distance Challenge at Derby Lane. 

Changes are coming to Wheeling Island for the 2014 racing season.

D’Arcy scores pair of win points in round one of Holiday Challenge-Round two is Wednesday night December 4.

The first in a series of four qualifying rounds in the $75,000 Holiday Challenge is in the books. It was a thrilling start leading up to the end of the 2013 stakes races. D’Arcy kennel kicked off the night with the biggest upset. Sovereign Lake (Gable Dodge x Greys Calibrator) scored the top points in a box to wire upset over early speedster Kiowa Zabia. Lake was never headed and paid $29.20 for the win that he clocked in 38.54

The fields might have gotten smaller, but the action is getting bigger here in the third round of the 2013 Jacksonville Juvenile.

Two greyhounds remain undefeated, Pat C Gatsby and Ww’s Pour It On, with several others winning at least one of the two rounds of action. The race for the semi-finals is on and just a win separates 21 of the final 32 competitors.

The best of the best puppies at the racetrack will be strapping on their muzzles and heading out into the mix in the 2013 edition of the Jacksonville Juvenile.

Seven full races of greyhounds will be headed to post in round one on Friday Evening November 22, and there should be some great spot plays.

Love those grade A's running against the grade D's, as it makes for some easy pickin.

Let's take a look at the races and hopefully guide you to some winners and some extra cash this weekend at bestbet Orange Park.

Three A Ray Kennel greyhounds posted victories in the first round of the $65,000 West Virginia Greyhound Owners and Breeders Association Middle Distance Stake (3/8) at Wheeling Island Wednesday afternoon.

Wheeling-based DB’s Sweet Leaf and two Tristate Greyhound Park invaders, Mac’s Allure and Mac’s Gibbs, gave A Ray trainer Joe Palmer three wins in the first preliminary round. Each accumulated 15 points.

The second round is set for Tuesday matinee, Oct. 29, and the semifinals on Sunday afternoon, Nov. 3. The championship final will be run during the Saturday matinee card, Nov. 9.

Red Oak Racing’s Flying Sebastian continued his winning spree with three in a row and a 14th win from 24 starts this meet. He also collected a pair of wins in the $20,000 Fall Juvenile series and is the only undefeated semifinalist. The February 2012 male by BD’s Grayson x Flying Witness was challenged by round one winner LK’s Winamuca (Lashmet) that led to the stretch before being overtaken by Sebastian. The bet favorite paid $2.60, $2.10, and $2.10 and stopped the clock at 30.78-the fastest second round time. The race was a six-dog field due to the scratch of Floyd & Porter’s Scott Wheeler and the elimination of Hi Noon Warrior (Nova) after round one. Third through sixth were Stylistic, T’s Red Dawn, Kelsos Cash Flow and Kelsos Verbosity.

The first visible sign that the NGA Fall Meet is nigh upon us--gradual arrival of some of the first trucks and trailers parked adjacent to the kennel structures--has been taking place throughout this week.

The second signal that it's almost "Meet Time" will commence in a more animated way this Sunday.

Pre-meet schooling kicks off next week's activities at 8:30 a.m., Oct. 6, as a prelude to the NGA's Fall Meet (Oct. 14-19) in Abilene, Ks.