Ballyregan Bob (12 May 1983 to 3 April 1994) was a racing greyhound who, along with Mick the Miller and Scurlogue Champ, is one of the most revered racing hounds in British greyhound racing.

Ballyregan Bob was a brindle dog and was whelped in May 1983. Trained by George Curtis he would become world famous for breaking the world record for consecutive race wins.

Racing career In 1985 Ballyregan Bob won three major events, the Olympic at home track Brighton, the Test at Walthamstow and the Essex Vase at Romford. Whilst winning these events he remained unbeaten and was on his way to setting the world record. He also qualified for the final of the classic race the St Leger at Wembley but was a non runner in the final.

Wins and track records continued to come his way in 1986 until on 9 December he lined up for the Racing Post Challenge at Brighton and duly broke the world record held by American greyhound Joe Dump by winning his 32nd consecutive race.

Retirement and death After retirement Bob was put to stud and sired many litters. In 1990 he returned from the United States where he had undertaken stud duties and was sent to Germany where he stood with breeder Franz Joseph Gillett, before eventually returning to Britain.

Ballyregan Bob has the unique distinction of being the only dog ever nominated as Guest of Honour at the commissioning of Royal Navy patrol boat HMS Pursuer - an accolade awarded because of the depiction of a greyhound in the ship's badge.

After his death of old age in 1994, the greyhound was exhibited in the Natural History Museum at Tring along with Mick the Miller.

World record +Date1985Distance(metres)VenueStarting PriceTrapWin distance (lengths)TimeRaceMay 9 515 Hove 4-11 6 3 ¾ 29.63Olympic HeatsMay 11 515 Hove 2-9 6 4 ¼ 29.67Olympic Semi FinalsMay 16 515 Hove 2-5 4 1 ½ 30.04Olympic FinalMay 28 640 Walthamstow 1-4 6 9 ½ 39.40 TR Test HeatsJune 4 640 Walthamstow 1-3 4 13 39.92Test Semi FinalsJune 11 640 Walthamstow 1-4 3 9 ¾ 39.59Test FinalJune 22 660 Wimbledon 1-4 6 12 40.43Derby Final Night StayersJuly 2 575 Romford 4-11 5 Shd 35.48Essex Vase HeatsJuly 6 575Romford 4-7 4 11 ½ 35.21Essex Vase Semi FinalsJuly 9 575 Romford 1-2 5 2 ¼ 35.15 =TR Essex Vase FinalAug 19 655 Wembley 4-9 5 3 ¾ 40.15St Leger First RoundAug 23 655 Wembley 1-3 5 8 39.46 TRSt Leger Second RoundAug 26 655 Wembley 4-9 5 1 40.56St Leger Semi FinalsNov 2 695 Hove 1-8 5 14 ¾ 41.13 TROpenNov 9 680 Nottingham 1-4 5 6 ¼ 41.87 TROpenNov 16 683 Hackney 1-6 5 8 42.24 TROpenNov 23 660 Wimbledon 1-6 6 7 ½ 40.35 TROpenNov 30 715 Sheffield 1-7 6 20 44.41OpenDec 6 688 Harringay 2-7 6 14 41.94 TROpenDec 12 710 Wembley 4-9 4 11 ¾ 42.63 TRJohn Power ShowdownDec 21 740 Hove 3-10 5 9 44.65Invitation +Date1986Distance(metres)VenueStarting PriceTrapWin distance (lengths)TimeRaceMar 22 695 Hove None 5 11 ¾ 42.21OpenApr 2 655 Wembley 1-8 5 9 ½ 39.57Trainers ChampionshipApr 10 680 Nottingham 1-7 5 3 41.99OpenApr 19 660 Wimbledon 1-9 5 13 ¾ 40.15 TROpenApr 26 650 Powderhall 1-10 5 14 ¼ 39.60 TROpenMay 8 670 Brough Park 1-9 5 15 41.15 TROpenMay 17 660 Wimbledon 1-5 5 5 ¾ 40.23Racing Post InternationalNov 13 695 Hove 1-5 6 9 42.36S1 Graded Nov 21 688 Harringay 1-7 4 10 ½ 42.00OpenNov 28 688 Harringay 1-10 5 16 41.74 TROpenDec 9 695 Hove 1-4 6 9 ¼ 42.04 TRRacing Post Challenge

Pedigree

See also List of individual dogs

References