Greyhound Racing Retirements, pups and a change for British Bred

Retirement of two greyhound racing stalwarts

Richard Devenish and Dilys Steels have retired from greyhound racing – writes Floyd Amphlett. 

The Glatton (Cambrideshire) based breeders and trainers first hit the headlines back in the mid 1980s when Peterborough permit trainer Dilys asked Ken Linzell to take on a pup she thought was a bit useful. 

His name was Glatton Grange and how right she was. In 1983, the son of Mulcair Rocket and Pencil Slim won 15 of his 21 races including the Produce Stakes, the Friends of British Breeding Stakes, the Breeders Forum Stakes and the Anglo-Irish International, home leg. He finished second in the Irish leg at Shelbourne Park. 

The following year, Grange finished runner-up in the St.Leger at Wembley and third in the Scottish Derby. 

His career earnings were in excess of £26,000, equivalent today of a little over £124,000. 

Dilys and Richard had a shared love of the field as well as the track and won a Waterloo Plate with Grange’s half brother Glatton General. 

They were regular visitors to Ireland, particularly to Clounanna and won both events supporting the Irish Cup, the Plate and Purse.  

Over the years they have achieved considerable success with the likes of Positive Option (British Sprint Cup), Romany Rouge (Festival 684), Tea For Tess (British Bred Puppy Oaks, and Perchancetodream (’03 Produce Stakes). 

The highlights though were delivered by two dogs from a Toms The Best/Glencoe Star litter that they bred themselves. 

Glencoe Tom won the Stayers Classic at Monmore, Alibulk Lad won the Peterborough Marathon and the 2002 St.Leger at the old Wembley. 

Richard said: “We said a long time ago that this last litter would be the end of it and we still have four of them.  

“Although they are still racing, we decided that the time was right to retire them while they are young enough to be attractive as pets and we are looking to rehome them. 

“We still have another four older ones who will stay with us for the rest of their days. Then there are the stud dogs, Hiya Butt and Roxholme Nidge, and we are assuming that (Coolavanny) Shado will eventually return to Patrick.” 

The property is going on the market though Richard doubts that it will be used for greyhounds. 

He said: “We’ve got the house on 10.7 acres with GBGB approved kennels for 42 racers plus whelping kennels and the rest. There is also a building plot on the side. 

“It could be quite easily turned into a boarding kennel or more likely, will probably be of interest to some of the horsey people. 

“We will keep an interest in racing and might go to the occasional big meeting but not graded racing. The atmosphere just isn’t there these days.” 

 l-r Sue Derham (Breeders Forum), Olive Turner (Keeper of Stud Book), Dilys Steels, Richard Devenish and trainer Ken Linzell

Coonough Crow becomes a mum

Coonough Crow, winner of the MWD Partnership’s first Category One final, the 2023 Grand Prix, has whelped her first litter, five dogs and two bitches by Grangeview Ten. 

It is a proven cross with the kennels multi Cat One winner New Destiny being by that sire out of Crow’s dam Coonough Dolly. 

Crow’s former trainer Mark Wallis said: “Crow has gone back to her breeder Richard Cully and the plan is that New Destiny will ultimately join her. 

“We have a bitch from a repeat mating to Destiny. Her name is Coonough May and she came into season soon after arriving. I’m very hopeful that she is useful. 

“We stood her next to New Destiny, and it wasn’t a case of ‘are they related?’. They looked more like they had been cloned.”

A change for greyhounds bred in Britain 

An article in the most recent GBGB Calendar – which may not have been seen by all breeders will nevertheless be well received. 

The subject of late registrations for British bred has become increasingly frustrating for many breeders. 

Now it appears that GBGB has stepped in to take over the registration of litters of pups. 

The Calendar article reads: "Following a series of recent meetings with the Greyhound Stud Book and the National Coursing Club, the Greyhound Board of Britain (GBGB) is today announcing that it is developing its own registration system for British-bred greyhounds. 

Commenting on this decision, GBGB Chief Executive, Mark Bird, said: “We met with the Stud Book yesterday and outlined the continued problems people were experiencing with receiving registration documentation and the general lack of communication from the Stud Book. 

“Liz Mort (Keeper of the Stud Book) has assured us that she is now able to clear the backlog of work that she has in terms of registrations, transfers, and earmarking, which will be good news to those who are awaiting a response. 

“However, whilst we welcome this commitment, due to the ongoing complaints and frustrations that have been made to us, and the associated welfare issues and costs to those involved with British breeding, the GBGB Board has decided that we will set up our own registration system to allow people the choice to continue to go through the Stud Book, or to come directly to the GBGB. 

“By bringing registrations in-house, we aim to streamline the process and ensure that we can get puppies ready to race in a timely manner. It will also allow us greater oversight on the early months of our racing greyhounds’ lives, which will have a positive impact not only on welfare but on our ability to promote British breeding. 

“We will still need some time to set up the right paperwork to enable us to record all the necessary details and I would ask owners, breeders, and trainers to bear with us. We will update people as soon as we can. In the meantime, we ask people to continue to contact the Stud Book.” 

GBGB Owners Practitioner, Tony Brealey, who was also present at the meeting, said: “I’ve received more communication on the subject of pup registration than any other subject from owners, so I’m pleased that Liz committed to being up to date quickly. Owners have been struggling for months; it’s been a difficult time, and we need to support owners in being able to process registration quickly. 

“The revised system of being able to register pups with the GBGB is the way forward and will also help with the digitization drive, allowing at some point in the future to do this all online. Hopefully, this will help us to promote British breeding by taking away a barrier.” 

While the development is undoubtedly overdue, there will no doubt be a note of sadness that an institution such as the Greyhound Stud Book, first published in 1882, will be lost to history. 

Greyhound litters coming to the track soon

Union Secret, who threw Oxford sprint record holder Union Rebel in her first litter is among the dams with pups eligible to run official trials from September 1. 

Others dams of note include Champion Stakes finalist Droopys Garden. In fact five of the 12 dams with June ’24 litters are open race winners. 

They will be followed in October by the July ’24 litters which include litters for brother and sister King Sheeran and Queen Beyonce.