The Duke of Edinburgh and his passion for greyhound racing

In previous centuries, the ownership of greyhounds was largely confined to the nobility and aristocracy, but over time, the sport evolved to become more accessible and popular among the general populace. Individuals with average incomes could easily visit the racetrack to place their bets, while those with greater wealth had the means to own racing dogs and enter them into competitions.

However, the sense of exclusivity and aristocratic allure remained firmly associated with equestrian sports. In 20th century Great Britain, the Jockey Club played a pivotal role in maintaining the elite status of horse racing.

The bond between Elizabeth and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, was marked by shared interests, exemplifying their strong and loving partnership. The Queen's enthusiasm for racing is well-documented, and Prince Philip shared this passion. His adventurous spirit drew him to dog racing, an activity that, although not as prestigious as horse racing, was equally thrilling and infused with a sense of raw simplicity and folklore that appealed to those seeking excitement and risk. Despite his interest, the prince kept his fondness for dog racing somewhat low-key.

In 1962, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip attended races at Hove Racecourse, where, between 1978 and 1979, the famous trainer Gordon Hodson prepared the prince's dogs. Additionally, the prince was a supporter of the National Playing Fields Association and oversaw the charitable initiative Playfield Royal, which made significant contributions to the industry.

The 1968 Greyhound Derby

The Greyhound Derby always stands out as the premier and most thrilling event in the greyhound racing season, but the 1968 edition was particularly remarkable due to the participation of Camira Flash, the canine companion of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Not only did she take part, but she also triumphed in the Derby final, securing her owner a prize of £7,252. Camira Flash was trained by Randolph Singleton, who had recently moved to White City from Belle Vue.

The atmosphere at White City Stadium was electric from the Derby's opening days through to the dramatic conclusion, which unfolded between June 8th and 22nd. The clear favourite was Yellow Printer, a red and fawn dog belonging to Pauline Wallis, who was not only the winner of the 1968 Irish Greyhound Derby but also the record holder for the 525-yard race at White City and recognized as Dog of the Year. Alongside Yellow Printer, Shady Parachute, the previous year’s champion, and Camira Flash were also top contenders. All three greyhounds qualified easily for the quarter-finals, but Yellow Printer stunned the audience when he fell on one of the turns, resulting in an injury that forced him to withdraw from the race.

Shady Parachute claimed victory in the first semi-final, while the second semi-final was won by El Campo, followed closely by Witches Smoke. Not Flashing, the strongest contender from Ireland, finished third under trainer Frank Cavlan, who had bid 1,700 guineas for him just days before the Derby at the Anglo-Irish auction. Camira Flash finished fourth in her semi-final and was initially eliminated from contention. However, destiny had other plans: during the finish, Not Flashing was involved in a brawl and was subsequently disqualified, allowing Camira Flash to advance to the final.

In the final race, Camira Flash and El Campo battled closely for the lead, but as they approached the last turn, the royal dog surged ahead by half a length, finishing first with Witches Smoke in third and Shady Parachute in fourth. Frank Cavlan, the owner of the disqualified Not Flashing, was the first to extend his congratulations, yet the crowd reacted negatively, booing the official results. The scene was uncomfortable for Prince Philip, as many felt it was unjust for Not Flashing to be disqualified while Camira Flash, having finished fourth in the semi-finals, was allowed to race.

This controversy led to a change in racing regulations, prohibiting athletes eliminated in the semi-finals or quarter-finals from continuing to compete. This rule change was met with contention; eight years later, a similar scenario ignited riots when the crowd demanded the reinstatement of Lively Band, who had been disqualified for fighting.

Camira Flash’s connection to Prince Philip was somewhat serendipitous; she was bestowed upon him at a charity event in Harrington just a month prior to the Derby, with the hope that her success would make him the owner of a champion, which indeed transpired. Another stipulation of this gift was that any funds earned by the dog would contribute to the Duke of Edinburgh Awards, an initiative for fostering talented young individuals established by the Prince in 1956.

Royal visit to New Zealand 1970

Royal family visits to New Zealand began in 1869 and have become a tradition. Queen Elizabeth has visited the country 10 times.

From 12 to 30 March 1970, Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, and their children Charles and Anne also visited New Zealand.

The Auckland Greyhound Racing Club, knowing about the Duke's passion, presented him with one of their best greyhounds. The Duke accepted the gift with gratitude. In honour of this event, it was decided to hold an annual race named after the guest.

This was a great honour for the prince, he did not remain indebted and upon returning home sent the race organisers a silver collar made by royal jewellers in London.

In 1971, the first Silver Collar tournament was held in Kumeu, dedicated to the Duke of Edinburgh. Now it is held annually. Remarkably, this event shook up the world of greyhound racing in the country and gave it the impetus it needed. In 1971, betting on horse racing was allowed, and the declining industry began to develop again.

Prince Philip and his initiatives

Prince Philip has lived his entire life in the shadow of his wife, Queen Elizabeth. It is not surprising that he spent some time searching for himself. In 1956, he went on an international sea tour, where the idea for the Duke of Edinburgh Award was born. By 2006, thanks to Elizabeth's support, the program had acquired royal status.

In total, 992 charities enjoyed the patronage of the prince, where he was president, patron or honorary member. His interests included helping young people and education, scientific and technical research, nature conservation and support for sports.

The prince was the first president of the World Wildlife Fund since its foundation in 1961.

Under the patronage of the dukes were the Royal Agricultural Society, Plan International - a global children's charity that supports children in developing countries, the British Heart Foundation, which funds research into heart disease and the cardiovascular system, and many others.

Prince Philip in sports

The prince's main hobby was sports.

He met the young Queen Elizabeth before Philip's military service began, he was 18, she was 13, they were playing croquet.

He also started playing cricket as a child and maintained this passion throughout his life. Rumours say that during royal receptions he kept a radio in his top hat so as not to miss the broadcast of the match.

Equestrian polo was the prince's favourite sport. He began playing in Malta, where the ship he served on was based in 1949-1951. Later, Elizabeth supported her husband's hobby, and he achieved good success in this sport, earning a handicap of five goals.

At the age of 50, the prince ended his sports career and moved to the carriage, engaged in driving as an equestrian discipline. The Prince trained seriously and was included in the British National Team, where he won a gold medal at the 1980 World Championships.

At the age of 65, Prince Philip traded horses for ponies. At 97, having already given up his driving licence, he still drove a team of four ponies.

Perhaps the secret of his longevity lies in his love for sports; Prince Philip did not live to see his 100th birthday for just 2 months.