The Springbok was a greyhound racing hurdle competition last held at Brighton & Hove Greyhound Stadium in 2023.
History The event was inaugurated in 1937 at the White City Stadium in London. The origins of the race came from a contingent of greyhounds that included Hawtrey, Raven Arms and Bobby Sparks that travelled to South Africa in the winter of 1936/1937 as a series of race tests for the country. In return the South African Greyhound Racing Association gifted a trophy to the Greyhound Racing Association and a perpetual award for a new race was created.
The event was held at White City until its closure in 1985 when it switched to Wimbledon Stadium. The event is the leading competition for novice hurdlers.
In 2017 the race switched to Central Park Stadium in Sittingbourne following the closure of Wimbledon Stadium. The relocation of the competition to Central Park continued a family legacy for the Cearns family who had been connected with the race when it was first held in 1937. In 2023, the race was held at Brighton & Hove Greyhound Stadium while track renovation was taking place at Central Park but Central Park did not continue hurdle racing when the new track was completed.
Venues and distances 1937–1985 (White City (London), 550y hurdles) 1986–2010 (Wimbledon, 460m hurdles) 2011–2016 (Wimbledon, 480m hurdles) 2017–2022 (Central Park, 480m hurdles) 2023–2023 (Hove, 500m hurdles)
Sponsors
1994–1995 (John Henwood) 2000–2006 (William Hill) 2007–2007 (Betfair) 2008–2009 (Stan James Bookmakers) 2010–2016 (William Hill) 2017–2021 (Cearnsport) 2022–2022 (Arena Racing Company) 2023–2023 (Coral)
Past winners YearWinnerBreedingTrainerTime (sec)SPNotes/ref1937 Curious Jester Sidney Orton (Wimbledon) 30.98 7/4f1938 Bantown Banner Eric Hiscock (Harringay) 30.85 5/4f1939 Corporal of Waterhall Paddy Fortune (Wimbledon) 30.42 3/11946 Alvaston Commando Bill Cowell (Coventry) 32.33 7/4f1947 Kids Delight Albert Jonas (Stamford Bridge) 32.55 3/11948 Neff Miss J Griffiths (Walthamstow) 30.97 4/7f1949 Mighty Maharatta Jerry Hannafin (Wimbledon) 30.94 5/4f1950 Sunny Abbey Jerry Hannafin (Wimbledon) 30.26 9/41951 Devil O'Leer Bahs Choice – Baytown Nightingale Norman Merchant (Private) 31.03 3/11952 Wild Der Border Keeper – Gilmours Glory Paddy McEllistrim (Wimbledon) 30.3215/81953 Oriel Idol Shaggy Lad – Rushton Curly Dal Hawkesley (West Ham) 30.20 5/21954 Ventry Record Record Choice – Anvil Block Henry Parsons (Crayford) 33.60 8/11955 Riot O'Leer Despot O'Leer – Magic Blissful Jack Chadwick (Private) 32.66 7/21956 Harlington Harrier Dal Hawkesley (West Ham) 32.80 7/11957 Racing Max Ballybeg Surprise – Racing Fool Reg Bosley (Hackney) 32.92 6/11958 Highway Tim Magourna Reject – Hunston Bell Mrs Rosealie Beba (Private) 32.25 5/11959 Downside Barrowside – Celtic Beauty Jack Harvey (Wembley) 32.24 9/41960 Shannon Dasher Prince of Bermuda – Shannon Drive Jimmy Maw (Private) 32.15 7/21961 Ballydrislane Customer Quare Customer – Cold Lady George Waterman (Wimbledon)31.78 1962 Barrel Kissane Champion Prince - Yoblstrap Barney O'Connor (Walthamstow) 31.47 2/1 1963 Longstreet Barrowside – Sallyscross Lady Jack Harvey (Wembley) 31.88 1964 The Grange Destiny The Grand Fire - Delienne George Waterman (Wimbledon) 31.98 7/41965 Darn Hall Crazy Parachute - Penicola Bob Burls (Wembley)32.33 1966 Husky Breeze Pigalle Wonder – Jet Dancer John Bassett (Private) 32.20 1967 High St Boy Champion Tipp – Fire Siren Colin McNally (Perry Barr) 31.50 1968 Haydens Star Fairys Chum – Haydens Fire Nora Gleeson (Private) 31.60 6/11969 Happy Harry Crazy Society – Hiver Swanky Phil Rees Sr. (Wimbledon) 31.92 7/41970 Bawnies Rocket Come On Bawnie – Toor Lassie Phil Rees Sr. (Wimbledon) 31.86 2/11971 Ragtime Super Orange – Maggie From Cork John Coleman (Wembley) 32.10 5/4f1972 Jacks Ship Rocket Ship – Amelia’s Pet Bob Burls (Wembley)32.16 11/10f1973 Killone Flash Forward Flash – Dancing Barrier Randy Singleton (White City - London) 31.53 9/21974 Weston Pete Monalee Champion – New Kashmir Colin West (White City - London) 32.04 2/11975 Ashgrove Road Spectre II – Ashgrove Star Paddy McEvoy (Wimbledon) 31.51 9/21976 Stuart Captain Ramdeen Stuart – Here For You John Coleman (Wembley) 30.70 2/1f1977 Autumn Groves Itsachampion – Green Line Frank Melville (Harringay) 31.31 9/41978 Super Hunter Gaultier Fox – Fire Hunter Phil Rees Jr. (Wimbledon) 30.47 8/15f1979 Westmead Manor Mels Pupil – Westmead Silver Natalie Savva (Private) 31.28 6/41980 Bobcol Westpark Mint – Black Katty Norah McEllistrim (Wimbledon) 31.17 2/11981 Clashing Ash Clashing – Ballycline Sara Phil Rees Jr. (Wimbledon) 30.57 6-/11983 Space Top Crazy Top – My Little Cugeen Paddy Hancox (Perry Barr) 31.94 5/11984 Scarcely Unknown Hunday Dook – Speech Mistress Derek Knight (Hove) 30.69 6/4f1985 Knight of Raft Paradise Spectre – Lady Raft Norah McEllistrim (Wimbledon)28.65 8/11f1986 Raffles Nitespot Yankee Express – Raffles Bridge Linda Mullins (Harringay)28.59 5/11987 Lemon Yachtsman Lindas Champion – Lemon Pearl Philip Rees Jr. (Wimbledon) 28.36 7/21988 Skyline Prince Sheskin Rocket – Apache Laura David Kinchett (Wimbledon) 28.59 5/11989 Lemon Chip Sinbad – Lemon Lisa Philip Rees Jr. (Wimbledon) 28.87 6/11990 Ranger Supreme Citizen Supreme – White Ranger Norah McEllistrim (Wimbledon) 28.80 5/4f1991 Fennessys Gold Soda Fountain – Fast Mission Ray Peacock (Catford) 28.41 5/11992 Double Rock Printers Present – Dolores Daughter Philip Rees Jr. (Wimbledon) 28.62 25/11993 Arfur Daley Pond Mirage – Blue Mint II Bert Meadows (Oxford) 27.80 3/1Track record1994 Avoid The Rush Manorville Star – Smokey Snowdrop Bernie Doyle (Private) 29.44 7/21995 Arrogant Prince Ballinderry Flash - Proverbia Tom Foster (Wimbledon) 28.35 7/4jf1996 Colorado Joker Green Gorse – Denver Minnie Philip Rees Jr. (Wimbledon)28.32 4/11997 Simon Simon Murlens Abbey – Lovely Lovely Gary Baggs (Walthamstow)28.21 5/11998 Frisco Sir Flashy Sir – Forever Roving Ray Peacock (Wimbledon)28.05 3/11999 Ballinabola Gale Batties Whisper – Ballinaboola Lil Jason Foster (Catford) 28.11 1/1f2000 Lenson Eddie Perfect Whisper – Culbidagh Rose Ray Peacock (Wimbledon) 28.70 8/13f2001 Rossa Ranger Come On Ranger – Emmerdale Pine John Counsell (Private) 28.92 1/1f2002 Opus Joe Roanokee - Glin Abbey SharpPat Thompson (Crayford)28.51 7/4 2003 Deep Sensation Spiral Nikita – SensationalJim Reynolds (Walthamstow)28.51 3/1jf2004 Farloe Chinook Thorgil Tex – Seanos PeerMaxine Locke (Wimbledon)29.23 20/12005 Druids Mickey Jo Top Honcho – Druids Villa Seamus Cahill (Wimbledon)28.14 8/13f 2006 Kaysers Hill Roanokee – Aghadown PhantomTom Foster (Private)28.61 6/4f2007 Blackmagic Jamie Daves Mentor – Glown MistErnest Gaskin Jr. (Walthamstow)28.62 8/12008 Hotdog Jack Droopys Vieri – Hare Star Seamus Cahill (Wimbledon)28.38 1/2f2009 Bomber Bailey Confident Choice-Garry Special Mark Wallis (Harlow) 27.96 6/12010 Royal Honcho Honcho Classic-Prina Donna Seamus Cahill (Hove) 28.59 5/4f2011 Clonkeen TheoTop Honcho-Good Luck Jason Foster (Wimbledon)29.47 8/12012 Westmead Melanie Droopys Maldini – Mega Delight Nick Savva (Private) 29.59 10/11f2013 Westmead Meteor Droopys Vieri – Westmead Olivia Ricky Holloway (Wimbledon)29.38 9/4f2014 Cornamaddy Jumbo Ardkill Jamie – Cornamaddy Maid Mark Wallis (Yarmouth) 29.45 11/8f2015 Reculver Ozzie Farley Turbo – Lemon Bolt Barry O'Sullivan (Crayford) 30.05 8/11f2016 Ballymac Manix Ballymac Vic – Moyar Kite Seamus Cahill (Hove) 29.11 2/12017 Yassoo Martin Blackstone Gene – Droopys Quinta George Andreas (Central Park)29.888/12018 Lenson Wilson Scolari Me Daddy – Killduff Kerry Ricky Holloway (Central Park) 29.634/9f2019 Burgess BrandyVans Escalade – Borna Helena Ricky Holloway (Central Park) 29.679/42020 Burgess DocDroopys Jet – Badminton Maid Lee Field (Monmore) 30.066/4f2021 Droopys RexDuke Special – Droopys Start David Mullins (Romford) 29.94 7/2 2022 Lenson DoolinAzza Azza Azza – The Other TessaRicky Holloway (Private) 29.391/4f2023 Droopys ChaserLaughil Blake – Droopys Zero Paul Young (Romford) 29.672/1f
References