The Gymcrack is a category 1 greyhound competition held at Owlerton Stadium.[1]
| Category 1 race | |
 Night Trooper was the 1996 champion | |
| Location | Owlerton Stadium |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1994 |
| Sponsor | BresBet |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 500 metres |
| Surface | Sand |
| Qualification | Juveniles only (15-24 months old) |
| Purse | £17,500 (winner) |
History
editInitially run at Hackney Wick Stadium in 1994 the race was discontinued in the mid 1996, despite winners such as Moral Standards, Night Trooper and Staplers Jo.[2] It was re-introduced in 2000 at Hall Green Stadium but switched to Kinsley in 2011.[1]
The competition has grown in stature since 2000 and is competed for by puppies (greyhounds over 15 months old but under two years of age). In 2017, the race was won by an Irish entry for the first time [3] but the 2019 event was in danger of being cancelled following problems over securing a sponsor.[4]
In 2018, Brinkleys Poet broke the Kinsley track record winning the final.[5]
In 2024, the event switched Owlerton Stadium and regained category 1 status, with a first prize of £17,500.
Venues & Distances
edit- 1994–1994 (Hackney, 484m)
- 1995–1995 (Hackney, 442m)
- 1996–1996 (Hackney, 480m)
- 2000–2010 (Hall Green, 480m)
- 2011–2023 (Kinsley, 462m)
- 2024–2024 (Sheffield, 500m)
Sponsors
editPast winners
edit| Year | Winner | Breeding | Trainer | Time | SP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Moral Standards[6] | Flag Star - No Way Jose | Tony Meek (Hall Green) | 7-4f | ||
| 1995 | Staplers Jo | Dempsey Duke – Perfect Rhythm | Nick Savva (Walthamstow) | 26.59 | 1-8f | |
| 1996 | Night Trooper | Portrun Flier – Suir Orla | Nikki Adams (Rye House) | 29.48 | 5-1 | |
| 2000 | Droopys Woods | Top Honcho – Droopys Fergie | Paul Young (Romford) | 28.00 | 2-1jf | |
| 2001 | Reactabond Ace | El Premier – Droopys Kylie | Paul Young (Romford) | 28.22 | 1-1f | |
| 2002 | Louis Saha | Toms The Best – Any Chewing Gum | Barrie Draper (Sheffield) | 28.26 | 3-1 | |
| 2003 | Moynies Cash | Joannestown Cash – Glanamoon | Charlie Lister OBE (Private) | 28.45 | 13-2 | |
| 2004 | Roman Road | Droopys Vieri – Madam Alright | Andrew O'Flaherty (Stainforth) | 28.69 | 7-4 | |
| 2005 | Go Commando [7] | Soviet Ferrari – Lady Devika | Mark Wallis (Walthamstow) | 28.11 | 11-4 | |
| 2006 | Fear Haribo [8] | Larkhill Jo – Yamila Diaz | Carly Philpott (Private) | 28.56 | 5-4f | |
| 2007 | Farloe Hurricane [9] | Larkhill Jo – Farloe Oyster | Barrie Draper (Sheffield) | 28.41 | 5-6f | |
| 2008 | Mottos Star [10] | Bucks Honcho – Mottos Friend | Charlie Lister (Private) | 28.48 | 3-1 | |
| 2009 | Droopys Bogart [11] | Droopys Scolari – Droopys Gucci | Liz McNair (Private) | 28.09 | 2-1jf | |
| 2010 | Blue Artisan [12] | Droopys Maldini – Poolie Pride | Harry Williams (Sunderland) | 28.18 | 5/4f | |
| 2011 | Taranis Rex [13] | Droopys Vieri – Blackstone Kate | Nick Colton (Oxford)/(Swindon) | 27.21 | 1/1f | Track record |
| 2012 | Droopys Hope [14] | Ace Hi Rumble – Droopys Darjina | George Oswald (Private) | 27.21 | 5/1 | |
| 2013 | Young Golden [15] | Premier Fantasy – Final Golden | Paul Young (Romford) | 27.45 | 33/1 | |
| 2014 | Mill Jolson [16] | Slip The Lark – Sniper Betty | Kelly Macari (Sunderland) | 27.88 | 4/1 | |
| 2015 | Stay Loose [17] | Kinloch Brae – Cornamaddy Tiny | Elaine Parker (Sheffield) | 27.50 | 5/1 | |
| 2016 | Droopys Trapeze [18] | Tullymurry Act – Droopys Blossom | Jimmy Wright (Newcastle) | 27.23 | 2/1 | |
| 2017 | Cometwopass [19] | Ballymac Eske – Zero Two | Peter Cronin (Ireland) | 27.18 | 11/10f | |
| 2018 | Brinkleys Poet[5] | Scolari Me Daddy – Kilara Lizzie | Matt Dartnall (Towcester) | 26.95 | 4/7f | Track Record |
| Not held from 2019 to 2022 | ||||||
| 2023 | Stormy News[20] | Good News – Bonito Fox | Michael Hurst (Private) | 27.75 | 11/10f | |
| 2024 | Wicky Ned[21] | Droopys Sydney – Ballycowen Lucy | James Fenwick (Newcastle) | 28.51 | 4/9f | |
References
edit- ^ a b Hobbs, Jonathan (2007). Greyhound Annual 2008, page 135. Raceform. ISBN 978-1-905153-53-4.
- ^ Fry, Paul (1995). NGRC Greyhound Racing Yearbook, page 207. Ringpress. ISBN 1-86054-010-4.
- ^ "Gymcrack Pups heading for Kinsley". Greyhound Star. 11 April 2017.
- ^ "GYMCRACK UNDER THREAT". Greyhound Star. 7 January 2019.
- ^ a b "THE BETFRED GYMCRACK FINAL". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
- ^ "Winsor Abbey looks set to take marathon". Drogheda Argus and Leinster Journal. 6 May 1994. Retrieved 9 May 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "2005 Skybet final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
- ^ "2006 Skybet final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
- ^ "2007 Skybet final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
- ^ "2008 Skybet final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
- ^ "2009 Skybet final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
- ^ "2010 Newton Abbot Racecourse final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
- ^ "2011 Betfred final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
- ^ "2012 Betfred final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
- ^ "Betfred 2013 final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
- ^ "2014 final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "2015 final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
- ^ "Results". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
- ^ "2017 THE BETFRED GYMCRACK FINAL". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
- ^ "The BresBet Gymcrack Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
- ^ "BresBet Gymcrack Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 9 May 2024.