Remember When: The Pall Mall Stakes Historical Journey Through Eight Decade
Floyd Amphlett explores Pall Mall Stakes history through eight memorable moments from 1935-2010. Discover the legendary winners and historic venues.
The Pall Mall Stakes Legacy
The Pall Mall Stakes is a prestigious greyhound racing competition held at Oxford Stadium. The event is classified as a category one race. First staged in 1935, the Pall Mall Roll of Honour is almost as distinguished as the English Derby. Originally staged with the heats in December and final in January, the original 'Winter Derby' would later become a preparation race for the blue riband event.
For greyhound historians, the Pall Mall will always be associated with Harringay where it was staged until the track's closure in 1987. The competition was run at Harringay Stadium from 1935 until 1987 and was originally regarded as the Winter Derby. The event moved to Oxford Stadium in 1988. It transferred, along with the track's General Manager John Blake to Oxford, where it has been staged ever since, barring the track's closure in 2012.
Historic Pall Mall Stakes Moments
Here are eight Pall Mall memories spanning the competition's golden decades.
1935 – The Foundation Year
A racecard from the first Pall Mall Final won by Shove Halfpenny and worth £500 to the winner, roughly equivalent to £48,000 today. In fact, the final was actually staged on 4 January 1936. The qualifiers had been run on the 14th, 21st and 23rd of December.
1960 – Clonalvy Pride's Triple Crown
Jack Harvey's Clonalvy Pride was one of the top performers of his era and also won the Laurels and the St. Leger. He beat a high class field that included his litter brother Clonalvy Romance and Oaks winner Wheatfield Countess.
1983 – Yankee Express Dominance
British bred Yankee Express won 21 of his 28 races in the year including the Scurry and Super Trapper. He would duly be voted as Greyhound of the Year. Runner-up was Long Spell, famously purchased from breeder Pat Dalton for £50,000, roughly the equivalent of £238K today. He would later be exported to the USA but died early in his career from a snake bite.
1986 – Tico's Double Triumph
Despite a poor draw in three, wide running Tico easily justified favouritism in the Pall Mall Final before going on to win the same year's English Derby. He then reached the Irish Derby Final for which he started as an odds-on favourite but was beaten by Kyle Jack. His entire race career was only 23 races of which he won 17 with four second places.
1997 – Night Trooper's Oxford Success
British bred Night Trooper was handled by Barnet based George Adams and wife Nicki. His win in the Pall Mall over Oxford's 450m followed a runner-up spot in the previous year's English Derby Final. In his third season he would win the Reading Masters.
Image shows Karl Rugg, George Adams, Patrick Rugg and Nicki Adams holding Night Trooper - photo Steve Nash.
2007 – Ballymac Charley's Triumph
Monmore Puppy Derby winner Ballymac Charley started as the 3/1 second favourite when beating the jolly Blonde Joey in the Pall Mall Final. Sadly he died the following year after a suspected heart attack after competing in a race at Hull.
Image shows: Ballymac Charley's owners Nick Budimir and Harry Redknapp collect the Pall Mall trophy from Hills' PR Director David Hood. Trainer Charlie Lister is on right and kennelhand Steven Ramskill holds the winner. Pic Steve Nash.
2009 – Drink Up Zorro's Photo Finish
The Paul Sallis trained Drink Up Zorro had previously won the Henlow Winter Derby when winning the tightest of all the Pall Mall deciders. He held off Brickfield Class by a short head with Lenson Express a neck back in third.
Image shows the One for the Road Racing Club celebrate Drink Up Zorro's exciting victory in the William Hill Pall Mall. Hill's marketing director David Hood presents the trophy with Hall Green handler Paul Sallis (left). Pic John Gaisford
2010 – Ballymac Ace's Commanding Victory
The bookies couldn't separate Ballymac Ace, Glenroe Ginger and Anagram in the 2010 final and sent them out as 3/1 co-favourites. That wasn't reflected in the result though with Chris Allsopp's runner getting home with four and a half lengths to spare in 26.38 for the 450m. He also finished runner-up in the same year's Blue Riband and William Hill Classic. He returned to Oxford a year later and finished fourth to kennelmate Brittons Empire.
Image shows: Ballymac Ace's owner Ted Megaw (3rd left) receives the Pall Mall trophy from Charlie McCann, head of PR at Stan James. Trainer Chris Allsopp far right, assistant Paul Anderson holding the winner. Oxford 22 June 2010 Pic Steve Nash
The Pall Mall Stakes Modern Era
A bumper programme of Category One greyhound racing has been scheduled at Oxford Stadium, including the return of the prestigious Stadium Bookmakers Pall Mall in July. First ran in 1935, the Pall Mall celebrates its 73rd staging this year following an 11-year absence after Oxford's temporary closure.
The last Pall Mall was last staged at the Cowley track in 2012 shortly before its closure, but the event returned with a fanfare performance from Tom Heilbron's Newcastle raider who made no mistake when setting new figures for the one-lap there, marking a successful return to the calendar.
The competition's return represents continuity for one of British greyhound racing's most historic events, maintaining its status as a significant preparation race and standalone championship in its own right.
