Hunt Cup
| Category 1 race | |
| Location | Oxford Stadium |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1931 |
| Sponsor | Bet365 |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 650 metres |
| Surface | Sand |
| Purse | £10,000 |
The Hunt Cup is a greyhound racing competition held at Oxford Stadium in England.[1][2]
History
[edit]The race had its inaugural running during 1931 and was held at Reading Stadium (Oxford Road) over 400 yards, initially advertised as a major sprint event.[3]
In 1933, an event at Blackpool Squires Gate Greyhound Stadium, also called the Hunt Cup was won by Beef Cutlet, who broke the world record for 500 yards straight in the semi-finals. However, the event was unrelated to this competition.[4][5] From 1951 until 1957 the event was not held, but it was brought back in 1958 over 460 yards.[6]
In 1974, the Oxford Road site was closed, and eventually the competition switched to the new Reading Stadium on Bennet Road by permission of the Greyhound Racing Association, who allowed Allied Presentations Ltd to re-introduce the event in 1978.[7][8] However, once again the race ended because of yet another closure, when the stadium was sold by the council to developers during 2008.
After a 13-year absence, the event was brought back by promoter Kevin Boothby at Towcester Greyhound Stadium and Oxford Stadium.[9][10]
Past winners
[edit]| Year | Winner | Trainer | Time | SP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1931 | Unknown | ||||
| 1932 | Unknown | ||||
| 1933 | Unknown | ||||
| 1934 | Unknown | ||||
| 1935 | Unknown | ||||
| 1936 | Light Lucifer[11] | Arthur Doc Callanan (Wembley) | 22.50 | 6/1 | |
| 1937 cancelled due to insufficient entries | |||||
| 1938 | Produski | Paddy Quigley (West Ham) | 22.11 | 9/4 | |
| 1939 | Brave Reward[12] | J P Young (Private) | 22.51 | 7/1 | |
| 1940-1944 not held | |||||
| 1945 | Look Out Post | Jack Harvey (Wembley) | 22.14 | 7/2 | |
| 1946 | Ferry Robin | Paddy McEllistrim (Wimbledon) | 22.33 | 3/1 | |
| 1947 | Rowley | P. O'Shaughnessy (Wandsworth) | 22.32 | 6/1 | |
| 1948 | Kerry Rally | Paddy McEllistrim (Wimbledon) | 22.48 | 5/2jf | |
| 1949 | Burndennet Brook | Leslie Reynolds (Wembley) | 22.05 | 6/4f | |
| 1950 | Derrycrussan | Tom Smith (Clapton) | 22.00 | 4/6f | |
| 1951-1957 not held[6] | |||||
| 1958 | Knockarea Chancer | Jack Harvey (Wembley) | 25.74 | 4/7f | |
| 1963 | Sir Walter | Jimmy Jowett (Clapton) | 28.05 | ||
| 1964 | Captain Pike | Phil Rees Sr. (Private) | 28.16 | 7/4jf | |
| 1965 | Silver Glory | Paddy McEvoy (Wimbledon) | 28.26 | ||
| 1966 | Shamrock Clipper | Phil Rees Sr. (Wimbledon) | 28.40 | ||
| 1967 | Lucky Me | Len Drewery (Private) | 28.33 | ||
| 1968 | Dreaming Prince | Reg Webb (Private) | 27.87 | 5/1 | |
| 1969 | Beaverwood Wind | Stan Martin (Wimbledon) | 27.89 | 7/4jf | |
| 1970 | Spotted Rory | Paddy McEllistrim (Wimbledon) | 28.48 | ||
| 1971 | 24 June | ||||
| 1972 | Houghton Gyp[13] | Barbara Tompkins (Private) | 28.01 | 5/2 | |
| 1973 | 21 June | ||||
| 1974-1977 not held | |||||
| 1978 | Westmead Manor[14] | Natalie Savva (Bletchley) | 39.65 | ||
| 1980 | Mogeely Honour[15] | Terry Dartnall | 42.64 | 4/1 | |
| 1981 | Curragh Bridge | John Honeysett (Crayford) | 42.31 | 5/1 | |
| 1982 | Wolf Cub | Ray Iremonger (Slough) | 41.24 | 3/1 | |
| 1983 | Astrosyn Doll | Ray Peacock (Harringay) | 41.42 | ||
| 1984 | Hot Candy | John Copplestone (Portsmouth) | 42.08 | 8/1 | |
| 1985 | Spill the Beans | Tony Meek (Swindon) | 41.28 | ||
| 1986 | Milltown Genius[14] | Kenny Linzell (Walthamstow) | 41.71 | 11/4 | |
| 1987 | Lowerton Susie[14] | (Wimbledon) | 41.14 | ||
| 1988 | Waltham Abbey | Adam Jackson (Wembley) | 41.17 | ||
| 1989 | Trans Mercedes[16] | Maldwyn Thomas (Reading) | 8/11f | ||
| 1990 | Coloured Panther | Jo Burridge (Portsmouth) | 41.55 | 7/2 | |
| 1991 | Snow Shoes | John McGee Sr. (Canterbury) | 41.16 | 2/1f | |
| 1992 | Airmount Flash | Jimmy Gibson (Belle Vue) | 41.19 | 11/10f | |
| 1993 | Johns Banana[17] | John McGee Sr. | 8/1 | ||
| 1994 | Sonic Blue | Arthur Hitch (Wimbledon) | 5/2 | ||
| 1995 | 9 Dec | ||||
| 1996 | Liosgarbh Glory[18] | Terry Dartnall | 5/2 | ||
| 1997 | Lydpal Frankie | Tony Meek (Hall Green) | 41.49 | 9/2 | |
| 1998 | Palace Issue | Linda Mullins (Walthamstow) | 41.10 | 4/7f | |
| 1999 | Palace Issue | Linda Mullins (Walthamstow) | 41.80 | 8/11f | |
| 2000 | Palace Issue | Linda Mullins (Walthamstow) | 41.32 | 1/6f | |
| 2001 | Southlodge Rage | Nick Colton (Oxford) | 41.34 | 5/2 | |
| 2002 | Princess Manor | Jo Burridge (Poole) | 41.15 | 16/1 | |
| 2003 | Double Take | Andy Heyes (Belle Vue) | 40.50 | 7/4f | Track record |
| 2004 | Shelbourne Lyn | Nick Colton (Oxford) | 41.25 | 7/4f | |
| 2005 | Call Girl | Paul Foster (Swindon) | 41.94 | 5/2jf | |
| 2006 | Well Tutored | Terry Dartnall (Reading) | 41.31 | 4/1 | |
| 2007 | Spankee Moved | Heather Dimmock (Peterborough) | 41.18 | 9/4 | |
| 2008-2020 not held | |||||
| 2021 | Salacres Pippy[19] | Peter Harnden (Towcester) | 42.90 | 9/4 | Track record |
| 2022 | Chelms Cub[20] | Jason Heath (Hove) | 43.17 | 11/1 | |
| 2023 | Havana Lover[21] | Liz McNair (Central Park) | 39.41 | 11/8f | |
| 2024 | Havana Top Note[22] | Liz McNair (Central Park) | 39.83 | 1/1f | |
Venues & Distances
[edit]- 1931–1950 (Reading Oxford Road, 400y)
- 1958–1971 (Reading Oxford Road, 460y)
- 1972–1973 (Reading Oxford Road, 500y)
- 1978–1978 (Reading Bennett Road, 635m)
- 1980–2007 (Reading Bennett Road, 660m)
- 2021–2022 (Towcester, 712m)
- 2023–present (Oxford, 650m)
Sponsors
[edit]- 1971, 1980 (Stadium Bookmakers)
- 1984–1989 (Hall's Oxford Brewery)
- 1990–1992 (Castlemaine XXXX)
- 1993–1996 (Carlsberg Tetley)
- 2021–2022 (Stadium Bookmakers)
- 2023–2023 (Bet365)
References
[edit]- ^ "Hunt Cup back with a BANG!". Towcester Stadium. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
- ^ "Hunt Cup Attracts 24 Runners". Greyhound Star. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
- ^ Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. p. 127. ISBN 0-948955-15-5.
- ^ "The Hunt Cup". Birmingham Daily Gazette. 8 May 1933. Retrieved 24 October 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Beef Cutlet covers 500 yards in 26.87 seconds". Lancashire Evening Post. 13 May 1933. Retrieved 24 October 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ a b "Reading revive Hunt Cup competition". Reading Standard. 13 June 1958. Retrieved 24 October 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. p. 67. ISBN 07207-1106-1.
- ^ "Jackpot is back". Reading Evening Post. 26 January 1978. Retrieved 24 October 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Stadium Bookmakers Hunt Cup – Towcester 712m – £12,500". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
- ^ "Hunt Cup Card Preivewed by RM Simon Pearson". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
- ^ "Light Lucifer for Catford trophy". Daily News (London). 23 July 1936. Retrieved 24 October 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Success in Trophy event". Reading Mercury. 17 June 1939. Retrieved 24 October 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "And Gym is Champ". Reading Evening Post. 7 July 1972. Retrieved 24 October 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ a b c Genders, Roy (1990). NGRC book of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. p. 54. ISBN 0-7207-1804-X.
- ^ "Mogeely takes Hunt Cup honours". Reading Evening Post. 29 September 1980. Retrieved 24 October 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "What A Beauty". Reading Evening Post. 30 October 1989. Retrieved 25 October 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Banana Skins Hunt Cup rivals". Reading Evening Post. 29 November 1993. Retrieved 25 October 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Smallmead dogs for tonight". Reading Evening Post. 17 December 1996. Retrieved 20 April 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "2021 Stadium Bookmakers Hunt Cup final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
- ^ "Stadium Bookmakers Hunt Cup final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
- ^ "bet365 HUNT CUP FINAL". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
- ^ "bet365 Hunt Cup". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 20 April 2024.