WE continue the countdown to greyhound racing’s night of the year – the GBGB Greyhound of the Year Awards at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, London, on Sunday, January 27 – by looking at those stars of the track who have made the list of nominations for the various award categories.

We concentrate now on the Press Association Bitch of the Year 2018 nominations – Donation, Ravenswood Flo and Slippy Maggie – and talk to the trainers of each of the runners about how the year panned out for their charges, and their chances of taking the award.

Last year’s Bitch of the Year was Geelo Sapphire, trained by Carl Perry for Geelo Racing.

DONATION

bk b Droopys Cain – Delightful Flyer, July 2015

Trainer: Heather Dimmock, Henlow

Owners: The Jabber Crew

Claims to fame: Enjoyed a terrific year in competitions with victory in the MSCM Ltd. Lowther Stakes at Nottingham her highlight. However, also ran-up in both the Coral Brighton Belle at Hove and William Hill Angel of the North Oaks at Newcastle, was third in the Hills-backed Grand Prix at Sunderland when upped in trip and reached the final of a high-class Eclipse behind Dorotas Wildcat back at Colwick Park. Later reached the Oaks semi-finals at Swindon and was unlucky to be knocked out.

Trainer says: “Donation had a great year and, with more luck at Swindon in the Oaks, it could have been so much better. She was completely taken out then in the semi-finals, just as she was making her move down the back-straight – she was favourite to win at the time, remember. But that’s racing, of course, and we’ve got to be happy how she kept her form throughout the year. She’s certainly up there amongst the best competition runners last year and was the first bitch to get to an Eclipse final for a good few years I believe.”

RAVENSWOOD FLO

bkw b Laughil Blake – Ravenswood Flo, March 2016

Trainer: Kevin Hutton, Monmore

Owner: Stephen Harvey

Claims to fame: Progressed from making her debut in A6 company at Towcester to winning a Classic, the English Oaks at Swindon at the backend of the year. In between had progressed up the ranks at the now-closed Northamptonshire venue before reaching the Bedfordshire Oaks final at Henlow. Improving throughout the Oaks, Hutton’s bitch made all in the final to complete a Derby/Oaks double for the kennel.

Trainer says: “Flo came right at the perfect time at Swindon. She’d recovered from a sprained hock to run well at Henlow and then just improved with each run in the Oaks. Her performance in the final was brilliant – a great show of front-running with terrific early speed. It completed a special year for us on the track, and it was great to win at Swindon where we’d spent many years and it remains our nearest track. I was particularly delighted for Stephen (Harvey, owner) as a fantastic and loyal owner of ours.”

SLIPPY MAGGIE

bk b Godsend – Mays Bodyguard, April 2016

Trainer: Hazel Kemp, Henlow

Owners: Craig Chesson, Hazel Kemp & David Redmile

Claims to fame: Ended a cracking year by winning the Carlsberg Boxing Day Marathon (874m) at Crayford, having earlier won the Jay & Kay Coach Tours Kent St Leger (714m) and Henlow’s Gold Cup (550m). Later stepped up in trip to finish second in the Yorkshire St Leger at Doncaster, the Great North Run at Newcastle, the St Leger at Perry Barr and reach the final of the TV Trophy.

Trainer says: “We couldn’t have asked anymore of her – and to win the Boxing Day Marathon was the icing on the cake. Every competition we entered her in, she ran well in and things might have been so different with clearer runs – she was so close to winning a few of those finals! The Golden Jacket would have been a target even though it’s short of her best distance-wise, but she’s in-season now and having a well-earned rest.”

The winners will be presented with their awards at the GBGB Awards 2018 which will be held at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge on Sunday, January 27, 2019

http://www.gbgb.org.uk/news/2/2019/1/1086/Ticket-Information–GBGB-Greyhound-of-the-Year-Awards–Sunday-27th-January-2019