Location White City Stadium | ||
The 1965 Greyhound Derby took place during June with the final being held on 26 June 1965 at White City Stadium. The winner Chittering Clapton received £5,000.
Contents
Final result
At White City (over 525 yards):
Distances
5¾, 3, 4, 6, Dis (lengths)
Competition Report
The 1965 Derby lacked a greyhound the calibre of Magourna Reject, Endless Gossip or Mile Bush Pride resulting in a wide open competition when the bookamkers compiled the ante-post prices. Leading the list were 'Booked Out' trained privately by Eric Adkins, the Northern raider Clonmannon Flash and Cesarewitch champion Clifden Orbit. Cranog Bet was missing with an injury and Hi Joe the ante-post favourite at the turn of the year had disappeared. In January the Juvenile champion trained by Noreen Collin and owned by bookmaker Victor Chandler Sr. was stolen from his Epping kennels. Initial hopes were that he could be recovered quickly to allow him to line up for the Greyhound Derby as planned. Sadly as the weeks passed Collin received countless phone calls that led nowhere.
When the competition started five of the top seven ante-post market leaders failed to progress from the first round. Booked Out finished third after trouble in his heat and then was knocked out in the second round. Clifden Orbit made it through to the semi-finals but further trouble in the semi's produced the top four left in the betting all going home including Clifden Orbit.
The final contained six greyhounds that no one could have predicted. Sunbow trained by first year trainer Nora Gleeson was the favourite. The night before the final there was an attempt by a gang to infiltrate the kennels of Creggan Bush which was foiled by a group of his owners. The race was an anti-climax with the Adam Jackson trained Chittering Clapton from Clapton Stadium being quick away and then drawing clear to win by five and three quarter lengths. Bunching at the first bend led to Greenane Flame being knocked over.
Chittering Clapton had been purchased for just £25 and started the competition at 250-1, the fawn and white dog collected £5,000 the biggest ever prize on offer in the history of the sport up to this date.