The Hunt Cup is a greyhound racing competition held at Oxford Stadium in England.
History The race had its inaugural running during 1931 and was held at Reading Stadium (Oxford Road) over 400 yards, initially advertised as a major sprint event.
In 1933, an event at Blackpool Squires Gate Greyhound Stadium, also called the Hunt Cup was won by Beef Cutlet, who broke the world record for 500 yards straight in the semi-finals. However, the event was unrelated to this competition. From 1951 until 1957 the event was not held, but it was brought back in 1958 over 460 yards.
In 1974, the Oxford Road site was closed, and eventually the competition switched to the new Reading Stadium on Bennet Road by permission of the Greyhound Racing Association, who allowed Allied Presentations Ltd to re-introduce the event in 1978. However, once again the race ended because of yet another closure, when the stadium was sold by the council to developers during 2008.
After a 13-year absence, the event was brought back by promoter Kevin Boothby at Towcester Greyhound Stadium and Oxford Stadium.
Past winners YearWinnerTrainerTime (sec)SPNotes/Ref1931Unknown 1932Unknown 1933Unknown 1934Unknown 1935Unknown 1936 Light LuciferArthur Doc Callanan (Wembley) 22.50 6/11937 cancelled due to insufficient entries1938Produski Paddy Quigley (West Ham) 22.11 9/41939 Brave Reward J P Young (Private) 22.51 7/11940-1944 not held1945 Look Out Post Jack Harvey (Wembley)22.147/21946 Ferry Robin Paddy McEllistrim (Wimbledon) 22.33 3/11947 Rowley P. O'Shaughnessy (Wandsworth) 22.326/11948 Kerry Rally Paddy McEllistrim (Wimbledon) 22.485/2jf1949 Burndennet Brook Leslie Reynolds (Wembley) 22.056/4f1950 Derrycrussan Tom Smith (Clapton) 22.004/6f1951-1957 not held1958 Knockarea ChancerJack Harvey (Wembley)25.744/7f1963 Sir Walter Jimmy Jowett (Clapton)28.05 1964 Captain Pike Phil Rees Sr. (Private) 28.16 7/4jf1965Silver Glory Paddy McEvoy (Wimbledon) 28.26 1966 Shamrock Clipper Phil Rees Sr. (Wimbledon) 28.40 1967 Lucky Me Len Drewery (Private) 28.33 1968 Dreaming Prince Reg Webb (Private) 27.87 5/11969 Beaverwood Wind Stan Martin (Wimbledon) 27.89 7/4jf1970 Spotted Rory Paddy McEllistrim (Wimbledon) 28.48 1971 Houghton Arkle Barbara Tompkins (Private) 8/1 1972 Houghton GypBarbara Tompkins (Private) 28.01 5/21973 21 June 1974-1977 not held1978 Westmead ManorNatalie Savva (Bletchley) 39.65 1980Mogeely Honour Terry Dartnall42.64 4/1 1981 Curragh Bridge John Honeysett (Crayford) 42.31 5/11982 Wolf Cub Ray Iremonger (Slough) 41.24 3/11983Astrosyn Doll Ray Peacock (Harringay) 41.42 1984 Hot Candy John Copplestone (Portsmouth) 42.08 8/1 1985 Spill the Beans Tony Meek (Swindon)41.28 1986Milltown GeniusKenny Linzell (Walthamstow) 41.71 11/41987 Lowerton Susie(Wimbledon)41.14 1988 Waltham Abbey Adam Jackson (Wembley) 41.17 1989Trans Mercedes Maldwyn Thomas (Reading) 8/11f1990Coloured PantherJo Burridge (Portsmouth) 41.55 7/21991 Snow Shoes John McGee Sr. (Canterbury) 41.16 2/1f1992 Airmount FlashJimmy Gibson (Belle Vue) 41.19 11/10f1993 Johns Banana John McGee Sr. 8/11994 Sonic BlueArthur Hitch (Wimbledon) 5/2 1995 9 Dec 1996 Liosgarbh Glory Terry Dartnall 5/2 1997 Lydpal Frankie Tony Meek (Hall Green) 41.49 9/21998Palace Issue Linda Mullins (Walthamstow) 41.10 4/7f1999 Palace Issue Linda Mullins (Walthamstow) 41.80 8/11f2000 Palace Issue Linda Mullins (Walthamstow) 41.32 1/6f2001 Southlodge Rage Nick Colton (Oxford) 41.34 5/22002 Princess Manor Jo Burridge (Poole) 41.15 16/12003 Double Take Andy Heyes (Belle Vue) 40.50 7/4f Track record2004 Shelbourne Lyn Nick Colton (Oxford) 41.25 7/4f2005 Call Girl Paul Foster (Swindon) 41.94 5/2jf2006 Well Tutored Terry Dartnall (Reading)41.314/12007 Spankee Moved Heather Dimmock (Peterborough) 41.18 9/42008-2020 not held2021Salacres PippyPeter Harnden (Towcester)42.909/4Track record2022 Chelms CubJason Heath (Hove)43.1711/12023 Havana LoverLiz McNair (Central Park)39.4111/8f2024 Havana Top NoteLiz McNair (Central Park)39.831/1f2025Hogans HawkSeamus Cahill (Hove) 39.44 15/8
Venues & Distances 1931–1950 (Reading Oxford Road, 400y) 1958–1971 (Reading Oxford Road, 460y) 1972–1973 (Reading Oxford Road, 500y) 1978–1978 (Reading Bennett Road, 635m) 1980–2007 (Reading Bennett Road, 660m) 2021–2022 (Towcester, 712m) 2023–present (Oxford, 650m)
Sponsors 1971, 1980 (Stadium Bookmakers) 1984–1989 (Hall's Oxford Brewery) 1990–1992 (Castlemaine XXXX) 1993–1996 (Carlsberg Tetley) 2021–2022 (Stadium Bookmakers) 2023–present (Bet365)
References