Securing the Gymcrack
Sheffield has declared that it has taken over the title of the Gymcrack and will host the event in lieu of their Steel City Puppy Derby.
Sheffield RM Andrew Mascarenhas said: “We have been informed by Kinsley that they would be unable to commit to the Gymcrack this year. Given the prestige and history of the event, we decided to rename our new puppy competition.
“It will proceed as planned in April with the prize money structure already promised. It simply means that Kinsley’s event for May has been cancelled.”
Star of Broadway
Broadway Murty entered the Northamptonshire Sprint as a promising young dog with potential.
He emerged as one of the country’s top two benders following this performance.
Murty’s winning time was the fourth fastest ever recorded over course and distance and just a length outside the track record.
His trainer, Sean White, a South London fish merchant by trade, is yet another example of how greyhound racing remains a sport where the hobby trainer can mingle with the sport’s elite.
Sean’s kennel is at the back of his home with a maximum kennel space for five hounds.
Sean said: “I only have three at the moment. Broadway Mural, who recently won in a decent time at Oxford, and a young pup called Broadway Brave. He is only a September pup with one race on his card and is still very green, but he has a 16.12 trial at Towcester on his card.
“I bought Murty through Micky Taggart who runs a few dogs at Drumbo and Dundalk and has always done the right thing by me.
“He has only been beaten twice. The first time was at Oxford when he drew trap six and went straight across the field at the start. His other defeat was also at Oxford where he led between the third and fourth bends before finishing down the field. I checked him over afterward, and I think he had been spiked by another dog.
“Apart from that, he has done everything right (with six wins). He virtually comes under the bars, and he is a great bend runner. Ideally, I would keep him to sprints, and although I haven’t checked the calendar, I suspect that there aren’t too many two-bend competitions coming up. If that is the case, then we might have to look at the Golden Sprint at Romford, which will be quite a test in itself.”
But ask Sean for his most vivid memory of the day. . .
He said: “How great everyone was. David Mullins sat behind us and after the race was the first to congratulate my wife and kids. He was so nice and so gracious. Sid (Huett) congratulated me after the race, and Mike Davis (MWD Partnership) texted me with his best wishes. There were so many more who just wanted to say ‘well done’. It was really fantastic.”
Newcastle has nine minor opens supporting Thursday’s ARC Northern Puppy Derby Final. The pick of the bunch is a clash between Silver Maiden winner Pape Di Oro, ARC Classic winner Jonny Whiskers, and Winter Derby semi-finalists Skywalker Pele and Burj Khalifa.
Nottingham only stages one open on Friday, though the most interest will surely be drawn to one of the best A1 fields seen at the track for a considerable time. It features the recent eight-timer Bitumen, the dog who stopped the sequence, Sambar Kian, now chasing his own five-timer, and the 29.23 Doncaster winner Leighas Dream.