The 2004 William Hill Greyhound Derby took place during May & June with the final being held on 5 June 2004 at Wimbledon Stadium. The winner Droopys Scholes received £100,000.
Quarter-finals
Heat 1 (May 25)PosName SP Time 1stDroopys Demaggio5-128.962ndBig Freeze5-4f29.003rdTims Crow 5-229.104thCount Gelignite 8-129.325thNiamhs Bill 16-129.336th Lenson Mark 8-1 29.43
Heat 2 (May 25)PosName SP Time 1stBallymac Kewell 5-128.752ndDroopys Scholes 2-1f28.893rdEscholido 3-128.954thFarloe Verdict7-229.035th Drop Goal Jonny7-129.536thMustang Hero 20-1 29.67
Heat 3 (May 25)PosName SP Time 1stPremier Fantasy1-2f 28.432ndRhincrew Seagal 5-228.493rdDroopys Oasis 10-128.694thBaby Hawk7-1 28.875thUrban Spaceman20-1 28.996thMoral Enigma 50-129.05
Heat 4 (May 25)PosName SP Time 1stFire Height Dan 4-6f28.712ndGreenside Wonder7-1 28.913rdSpecial Trick 7-128.974thCentour Para3-1 29.115thNoirs Seanie 25-129.196thBowmers King25-1 29.39
Semi-finals
First Semi-final (May 29)PosName of Greyhound SP Time Trainer1st Tims Crow 8-128.79 Rich2ndRhincrew Seagal13-8f28.93 Peacock3rdFire Height Dan 7-428.95Puzey4thEscholido8-129.07 Findlay5thSpecial Trick20-129.09 Jones6thGreenside Wonder6-1 29.13 Pruhs
Second Semi-final (May 29)PosName of Greyhound SP Time Trainer1stBallymac Kewell 6-128.47 Philpott2ndDroopys Scholes4-128.63Reilly3rdBig Freeze7-128.75Clemenson4thDroopys Oasis14-128.93Clemenson5thDroopys Demaggio16-100.00Lister6thPremier Fantasy 4-7f00.00Graham
Final result At Wimbledon (over 480 metres): PositionName of GreyhoundBreedingTrapSectionalSPTimeTrainer1stDroopys ScholesTop Honcho - Droopys Kristin34.927-228.62Ian Reilly (Ireland)2ndBig FreezeTop Honcho - First to Return54.9910-128.68 Brian Clemenson (Hove)3rdTims CrowLenson Lad - Churchtown Spice64.844-128.72Peter Rich (Romford)4thRhincrew SeagalDroopys Vieri - Rhincrew Armada45.082-1f28.75Ray Peacock (Wimbledon)5thBallymac KewellDroopys Woods - Blonde Returns25.057-228.96Carly Philpott (Private)6thFire Height DanCarlton Bale - September Mist34.936-129.02Mick Puzey (Walthamstow)
Distances ¾, ½, neck, 2½, ¾ (lengths) The distances between the greyhounds are in finishing order and shown in lengths. One length is equal to 0.08 of one second.
Competition report One of the ante-post favorites Droopys Shearer bypassed the event recuperating following a turbulent Scottish Greyhound Derby campaign. The very first heat on 6 May resulted in the fastest winner of the night when Tels Coogee Boy won in 28.85; the Pall Mall champion Tims Crow also started well with a customary fast starting win. The following night saw two of the big Irish favourites impress, Droopys Scholes recorded a very fast 28.60 and the Premier Fantasy won in 28.80, the latter had come to prominence in December 2003 when he won the Comerford Cakes National Puppy Stakes at Shelbourne Park, a competition that saw Droopys Scholes win the consolation final. The best of the third set of Derby heats was Drop Goal Jonny (28.81).
The second round resulted in many of the major contenders duly posting a second consecutive win including Droopys Scholes, Big Freeze, Droopys Demaggio, defending champion and the new Scottish Derby champion Farloe Verdict, Premier Fantasy and Drop Goal Jonny. Round three ended with undefeated campaigns for Droopys Scholes, Farloe Verdict and Premier Fantasy while Rhincrew Seagal went fastest in 28.52 and looked a major threat. Both Indian Ruler and Droopys Cahill suffered unlucky exits.
They started with Droopys Demaggio claiming the first heat from Big Freeze and Tims Crow. The awaited second heat was won by Ballymac Kewell with Droopys Scholes finishing second and Farloe Verdict and Drop Goal Jonny out of the competition. Premier Fantasy duly won. The fourth and final heat went to Fire Height Dan who was showing great stamina for an early paced runner.
The semi finals would be a third quick run for the 12 runners left and that surprisingly had no effect on Tims Crow and Fire Height Dan who both qualified for the final split by Rhincrew Seagal; the pair were performing superbly over a distance that was slightly longer than they were used to. The second semi was won by Ballymac Kewell beating Droopys Scholes and Big Freeze, the event favourite Premier Fantasy finished badly lame.
In a competitive final Tims Crow bolted from the traps which effectively ended the hopes of Fire Height Dan who needed to lead but soon had to settle for an early third-place position behind both Tims Crow and Droopys Scholes who also made a great start. The other three runners made poor starts, particularly favourite Rhincrew Seagal, although he did finish well. Tims Crow maintained his lead but ominously Droopys Scholes was within striking distance. As they approached the finish Droopys Scholes took a decisive lead overtaking Tims Crow who was pipped to second place by a strong finishing Big Freeze.
See also 2004 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
External links Greyhound Board of Great Britain Greyhound Data
References