Laughil Jess Retires as Crayford's Queen

The remarkable Laughil Jess, a dominant force in greyhound racing, has officially been retired, this time for good, as reported by Floyd Amphlett. Known as the "Queen of Crayford," Jess leaves behind an extraordinary racing career with an impressive record of 32 victories out of 45 races, boasting a 72% win rate. Her crowning achievement was her triumph in the 2023 Gold Collar.

Trainer Dave Lee is hopeful that Jess will pass on her determination and grit to her offspring. Reflecting on her final race, Lee expressed his amazement at how Jess fought her way to the front, noting that her relentless drive was characteristic both on the track and at home.

Initially, the plan was to breed Jess with Droopys Sydney, a sire Lee holds in high regard for producing honest and dependable pups. However, the final decision was to pair her with Dorotas Wildcat, another greyhound that Lee admires. He mentioned that due to Dorotas Wildcat’s popularity, additional straws were required to meet demand. Lee also highlighted the success of March On Free’s litter, which includes three exceptionally fast dogs, as further proof of Dorotas Wildcat's breeding potential.

Jess hails from a powerful lineage, being sired by the underrated Out Of Range ASB and out of Laughil Irene, a descendant of the Magic Sprite-Laughil Liz line. This bloodline is considered one of the most influential in Irish greyhound breeding.