The 1970 Greyhound Derby took place during June with the final being held on 27 June 1970 at White City Stadium. The winner was John Silver and the winning owner received £9,861. John Silver was owned, bred and reared by Reg Young, who later went on to take out a trainer's licence in his own right. 1981
Competition Report The 1970 derby attracted 187 entries and the market leaders were Cals Pick the 1969 Greyhound of the Year, Trafalgar Cup winner Sherwood Glen, Moordyke Spot, Valiant Ray the Select Stakes champion and Hack It Lee. In addition trainer Geoff DeMulder had a greyhound called Little County that was subject to significant ante-post wagers.
The qualifying races were a series of races with no betting to determine which greyhounds would line up as the final 48. On the Monday before the competition got underway 125 hounds took part and Cals Pick, Valiant Ray and Sherwood Glen all failed to progress through. John Silver was the fastest qualifier in 28.94 sec and subsequently became one of the favourites alongside Moordyke Spot.
During the first round Moordyke Spot went quickest in 28.74 with John Silver and Little County also winning. The second round pitted Moordyke Spot with John Silver and the latter came out on top in 28.56; Little County remained unbeaten which attracted a £5,000 bet by B.J. Patel to win the event.
The semi-finals arrived and DeMulder's Little County won again going into the final unbeaten whilst Moordyke Sport gained quick revenge over John Silver in the second heat. On the run up to final night Little County was backed once again in London bookmakers shops and the bookies now had £25,000 liabilities against the greyhound.
The bookmakers made Little County 7-4 favourite for the final but he missed the break as the lids went up. Recovering well he showed good early pace to get into contention by the second bend and then led by the third bend but John Silver, who was involved in early bunching was always in contention before passing Little County to claim a one length victory. The success enabled Barbara Tompkins to claim responsibility for a Derby winner one year after her involvement with Sand Star. John Silver, a British-bred son of 1966 winner Faithful Hope was bred and owned by Reg Young, who later became a promoter at the Milton Keynes track.
Final result At White City (over 525 yards): PositionName of GreyhoundBreedingTrapSPTimeTrainer1stJohn Silver Faithful Hope - Trojan Silver 211-429.01Barbara Tompkins (Private)2ndLittle County The Grand Silver - No Toast 47-4f29.08 Geoff De Mulder (Hall Green)3rdCorral Romeo Printer's Present - Corral Del 350-129.48Nora Gleeson (Wimbledon) 4thHymus Silver Oregon Prince - Little Scamp 6100-729.58Paddy Milligan (Private)5thSirius Shane's Legacy - Jersey Queen 511-229.72 George Curtis (Hove)6thMoordyke Spot Newdown Heather - Nelsons Farewell 19-429.92 Stan Martin (Wimbledon)
Distances 1, 5, 1¼, 1¾, 2½ (lengths) The distances between the greyhounds are in finishing order and shown in lengths. One length is equal to 0.08 of one second.
Quarter finals
Heat 1 (June 18)PosName SP Time 1st Sirius 10-11f 29.262nd Faithful Dick 11-2 29.273rd Hymus Silver 9-1 29.374th Killinarden Jet 16-129.675th Westpark Toots 10-330.27N/R Shady Shuffle
Heat 2 (June 18)PosName SP Time 1st Kinloch Jewel 7-2 28.992nd Clorinka Castle 20-1 29.393rd Sole Aim 9-229.514th Cash For Dan 11-10f 29.735th Legane Glory 8-129.936th Brillane Clipper 6-1 30.17
Heat 3 (June 18)PosName SP Time 1st John Silver 6-4 28.562nd Moordyke Spot 4-5f 28.783rd Gun Black 12-1 29.244th Star Cheatha 33-1 29.485th Idle Thought 33-1 29.506th Curraroe 40-1 29.90
Heat 4 (June 18)PosName SP Time 1st Little County 2-5f 28.842nd Heather Lad 16-1 29.483rd Corral Romeo 16-129.524th Healthy 7-1 29.645th Mayfield Dan 7-1 29.706th Chicks Chic Chic 10-1 29.76
Semi finals
First Semi Final (Jun 20) PosName of Greyhound SP Time Trainer1st Moordyke Spot 5-4 29.26 Martin2nd John Silver 11-10f 29.36 Tompkins3rd Corral Romeo 66-1 29.50 Gleeson4th Clorinka Castle 33-1 29.64 Geggus5th Gun Black 16-1 29.65 Hodson6th Faithful Dick 20-1 29.85
Second Semi Final (Jun 20) PosName of Greyhound SP Time Trainer1st Little County 1-1f 28.74 De Mulder2nd Sirius 7-2 28.84 Curtis3rd Hymus Silver 16-1 29.18 Milligan4th Kinloch Jewel 4-1 29.34 Hookway5th Sole Aim 10-1 29.42 Geggus6th Heather Lad 25-1 29.64 Kovac
See also 1970 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
References