Recently retired duo Droopys Clue and Churchfield Syd set to appear at Hove one last time on Saturday before heading off for careers at stud

Recently retired duo Droopys Clue and Churchfield Syd set to appear at Hove one last time on Saturday before heading off for careers at stud

Hove have paid tribute to two of the most popular greyhounds in training in recent years who have recently retired, Droopys Clue and Churchfield Syd, by naming races in their honour on Saturday evening, with both set to lead the parade for their race

It would probably be fair to say that Droopys Clue and Churchfield Syd have been two of the most popular greyhounds in training in recent years and it is only fitting that both greyhounds have had races named in their honour at Hove on Saturday, giving not only the Hove regulars, but the viewers on Gone To The Dogs Live!, a chance to say farewell, especially as injury denied both greyhounds the chance of a farewell performance on the track.

A winner of 29 of his 47 races, Droopys Clue was the winner of five Category One titles and broke four track records over four and six bends. Victories in the Juvenile Classic, St Leger and George Curtis & Ballyreagan Bob Memorial as well as breaking track records and reaching other finals, saw Droopys Clue being named 2023 GBGB Greyhound Of The Year.

2024 was just as an impressive year for Droopys Clue despite recurring injury worries. Victory in the Summer Stayers Classic and retaining his St Leger title, as well breaking the track record over 500m at Towcester led to him being announced 2024 GBGB Stayer Of The Year

His retirement was announced a couple of weeks ago. Having been aimed at the PGR Regency, Droopys Clue was found to be sore after a preparation trial and connections made the decision to call it a day. Due to the owner having been away, details of availability for stud have yet to be confirmed, but having been checked and reported fine for stud duties, straws will be taken and will be available in England

Speaking after his retirement, trainer Seamus Cahill said “He was the first really good six-bend dog I’ve had. We knew he would stay but we didn’t think he would be anything like what he turned out to be when we bought him. He was a relatively cheap dog and he ranks with the best stayers about in my time. Up there with the best of them”

 “The fact he could do the clock at Towcester and Central Park over four bends as well, it speaks volumes of the dog to be able to do something like that. He broke track records from 491m at Central Park to 710m at Perry Barr.”

Churchfield Syd was a winner of 24 of his 46 races and he tasted Category One success on two occasions, winning the Kent Derby in 2023 and the Winter Derby in 2024 as well as several other finals, including the Derby final at Towcester in 2024 when finishing fourth behind De Lahdedah.

Having been eliminated at the semi-final stage of the Derby this year, there were plans to give him one more outing in the Seniors race on Derby final night, but due to an injury picked up in that semi-final defeat, those plans were scuppered, and connections had to withdraw him from that contest.

Speaking after announcing Churchfield Syd’s retirement, trainer Richard Rees said “I’m happy that he has retired and gone out at the top.

"Obviously, it would have been nice to reach another Final with him, but to go out at the Semi Final’s is still a massive achievement for him. He’s a once in a lifetime Greyhound, and I think everyone whether they are an owner or a trainer, would like a dog like him"

.“Everytime he set foot on the track, he gave 110% and people loved him because of that. I’ve had so many messages from people, and it just goes to show how popular he was.”

Syd will be staying at the Rees kennel, and there will be straws available

And for anyone who was at Towcester for his first round success in the last of the first round heats on the Saturday Night, you couldn’t fail to agree with a word that Rees said. Having been well backed during the day, the cheers that went up when he hit the front on the run to the first bend were probably the loudest of the first round. 

As someone who had backed Sunnyside Broxi, the collective gasp from the crowd as they crossed the line was again one of the moments of this years Derby. I turned to friends, who had all backed Syd and said that I thought he had held on, and when Paul Lawrence announced the result, the cheer that went up was like nothing else seen in this Derby, the whole track, except me, seemed to be on!

Hopefully both greyhounds can have as successful careers off the track as they had on it