Remember When - The 2003 Derby

It was on 9 July 2003 when the greyhound world woke up to the news that the newly crowned English Derby winner Droopys Hewitt had become the most high profile drugs positive in the sport’s history. 

It would prove a complicated and controversial decision. To some, it proved that greyhound racing was as bent as they had always assumed. Others viewed it as vindication that it was a clean sport.  

A third group suggested it was an unholy mess that highlighted weaknesses in drug testing policy and the grey area that stretched between the use and abuse of pharmaceutical products in racing. 

The link between drugs and greyhounds stretches back into the days before racing existed but when hundreds of thousands would be bet on the outcome of a coursing meeting. 

However, it doesn’t take a huge leap of imagination to signpost the 2002 Ladbrokes Golden Jacket Final as a major landmark in the story. 

The £7,500 first prize was won by 14/1 shot Sundar Storm, trained by Romford’s Kim Marlow. It was then revealed that the winner had failed a drug test for banned substances ketoprofen and etamyphalline. At the subsequent enquiry, Ms Marlow was fined £1,250. 

Among those particularly miffed was Ladbrokes Head of Stadia Gordon Bissett who lobbied the Race Course Promoters Association, who in turn asked the stewards, to introduce a rule that would result in the automatic forfeiting of prize money for any race where any of the runners failed a drugs test – at any stage during the event – notwithstanding, the result of any stewards inquiry. 

Just five months later, trainer Nick Savva found himself in front of the stewards. His Cill Dubh Turbo had finished runner-up in the Gold Collar at Catford. However, a delayed drugs test from the semi-finals had shown traces of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory, Felbinac. 

Savva was fined £1,000 and was incandescent. He had produced evidence to show that the drug was contained in a muscle liniment that was in widespread use throughout the industry. 

He believed that he was specifically targeted as a personal vendetta for his views of the mismanagement of the industry by the NGRC. 

He was so incensed that he refused to pay the fine and gave up his training licence. 

So it was Savva’s former head lad Andy Ioannou who took over the licence at Westmead Kennels.  

His landlord, who wasn’t licenced of course, wasn’t allowed in the kennels, though he did retain control of the remote control access gate to the premises. (To prevent unwanted persons wandering into the kennel unannounced.) 

Among the dogs who transferred over to the new trainer, without leaving his kennel, was Droopys Hewitt. 

A reliable youngster, not without some ability, he had caused an upset (8/1) when landing the 2002 Monmore Puppy Derby and was beaten (7/4f) into third place by Liz McNair’s Full Cigar in the 2022 Laurels Final. 

Droopys Hewitt’s 2003 Derby journey over Wimbledon’s 480 metre course was unspectacular. He won his opening heat in 28.89, but was beaten next time out by Liz McNair’s Jackies Lady. 

There was another defeat in the third round but a 28.81 quarter-final win followed by a tight qualification in the semi finals. He had finished third behind Top Savings and Farloe Pocket, but a short head in front of Droopys Corleone – who was the beaten favourite in the Monmore final. 

The 2003 Derby Final though was all about Charlie Lister. He was trebly represented, most notably by the long term ante post favourite Top Savings. The Ian Greaves bred black and white was joined by Blue Riband winner Farloe Verdict and Northern Sprint Champion Larkhill Bullet. 

No one was more surprised than the trainer himself, given his long held suspicion of trap draws and the fact that the trio had all been drawn together in their third round heat! 

Local trainer Patsy Byrne had second favourite Man Of Cash in the decider while Barrie Draper had the second string string from the winning factory of Northern Irish breeder Dessie Loughrey, Farloe Pocket. 

The final itself was far from a spectacle. 

Droopys Hewitt trapped well and was soon clear. The favourite clashed with kennelmate Larkhill Bullet and neither would make a challenge. 

It was left to Farloe Verdict to follow home the winner though she was almost three lengths adrift when they crossed the winning line. 

In the July edition of the Greyhound Star newspaper, Andy Ioannou recalled the dream that became a nightmare. 

“I won't ever forget the site of him coming out of the traps. I knew he could win it from there at the second band. I had a quick look back to see who is behind and thankfully it was trapped one not Top Savings. Then I knew it was all over. 

“It was 2 o'clock on this Tuesday afternoon the phone went and it was Simon Harris from Wimbledon. He told me that Hewitt tested positive in the third round he said the match would be referred to the stewards and I would be hearing from them in due course. 

“For a brief second I thought it was a wind up then I realise that he wasn't joking. I put the phone down and just sat there. I couldn't believe it. He said the dog had tested for Felbinac the same stuff that we've had all the trouble with over Cill Dubh Turbo. I just couldn't take it in.” 

At the stewards inquiry, Andy Ioannou was fined £750 and the race was awarded to runner-up Farloe Verdict. 

The Westmead team and owner Ali Moazzam were devastated. They pointed out that the dog had tested positive in the third round but negative in the subsequent rounds including the final. How was that possible? 

His form was consistent throughout with a winning time of 28.82 in the final was one spot slower than his quarter-final win. 

Ioannou stated that ‘Hughie’ was sound, had never been injured, and had not been treated for any muscle soreness. Savva’s request to have samples of the soil and kennels tested was rejected by the stewards. 

In fact, it would have been a pointless exercise as, under the rule, the disqualification is an ‘absolute’ offence, irrespective of any defence or mitigating circumstances. 

Savva remained convinced that the contamination was accidental and had not necessarily occurred at Westmead Kennels. 

He was tipped off that there were at least two other unpublicised positive tests for Felbinac, which had both been dismissed by the stewards with warnings to the respective trainers about ‘accidental contamination’. 

As for Droopys Hewitt, in the remainder of his career, he won nothing else of note. He went to stud and was lightly used though probably more due to his being a ’28.80 Wimbledon’ dog than anything to do with the positive test. 

Farloe Verdict went on to frank the Derby form for Charlie Lister by winning the 2004 Scottish Derby. She reached a string of other Category One finals, including winning the Coventry Oaks and was retired with 39 wins from 67 races and £120,505 in prize money. 

She didn’t return to Dessie Loughrey for breeding, but produced three ‘middling’ litters before dying of a heart attack aged six and a half when in whelp with her fourth.  

Top Savings’ didn’t achieve a great deal more on the track. He eventually went to stud and threw a few decent hounds notably, Eden Star, Ardkill Jamie and Micks Savings. 

Larkhill Bullet added his name to the long Lister Listing of East Anglian Derby winners before dying early. 

Farloe Pocket won the Winter Derby at Henlow while Man Of Cash did little else of note. 

Nick Savva’s fine was subsequently settled by owner Bob Morton and he went on to the most successful part of his training career with Westmead Hawk (twice) and Westmead Lord adding to his previous Derby success with Toms The Best. 

Nick and winning trainer Charlie Lister have both subsequently retired but are still following racing from their armchairs. 

In 2005 Kim Marlow was sacked by Romford following a third positive test for one of her runners. None was considered ‘sinister’ but the Coral owned venue were reportedly uncomfortable with the association.  

In 2011 she received a year’s ban following a further positive sample from Harlow and left the industry. 

Andy Ioannou continues to train at Towcester. 

2003 would prove a bad year for positives with St.Leger winner Shelbourne Star also disqualified following a positive test. In her case, it was for the anti-inflammatory, Meloxicam. 

In subsequent years, there have been a string of disqualifications of major race winners on the grounds of positive drugs tests. 

On numerous occasions, drug policy has subsequently been found to be lacking. Judgements based on expert evidence stating certain substances could not be transmitted through the food chain have been challenged and found to be flawed. 

Policy in relation to season suppression has ‘done a 180’. 

Detection guidelines have proven to be inaccurate with certain substances being detectable though not clinically active, for far longer than was first claimed by the scientists. No retrospective apologies were ever received or fines refunded. 

Overall, GBGB drug testing policy and procedure has undoubtedly progressed in the two decades since Hewitt’s demotion. 

However, given the increased sensitivity of testing methods, the growth of recreational drugs in society, and the failure of the racing authorities to reveal the levels of drugs detected, it seems only a matter of time before the rule which led to the disqualification of Droopys Hewitt, is tested in a court of law.