The Wembley Spring Cup was a greyhound racing competition held annually at Wembley Stadium. It was inaugurated in 1930, one of the earliest competitions.[1] The race changed its name to the Blue Riband in 1981.[2]

Spring Cup
LocationWembley Stadium
Inaugurated1930
Last run1980
Race information
Distance525 yards/490 metres

Following the end of the Wembley Greyhounds the Blue Riband was transferred to Greyhound Racing Association (GRA) sister track Hall Green in 1999.[3]

Past winners edit

Year Winner Breeding Trainer Time SP Notes
1930 Mick the Miller Glorious Event - Na Boc Lei Sidney Orton (Wimbledon) 30.56 1-1f
1931 Mick the Miller Glorious Event - Na Boc Lei Sidney Orton (Wimbledon) 30.04 1-3f Track record
1932 Future Cutlet Mutton Cutlet - Wary Guide Sidney Probert (Wembley) 29.81
1933 Goopy Gear Arthur Doc Callanan (Wembley) 30.46 4-6f
1934 Black Warrior Wily Warrior - Cook Paddy Fortune (Wimbledon) 30.75 7-1
1935 Suil King Eagles Beak – Cahirvough Lass Arthur Doc Callanan (Wembley) 30.47 5-4f
1936 Suil King Eagles Beak – Cahirvough Lass Arthur Doc Callanan (Wembley) 30.31 7-4
1937 Shandy Gaff Generous Nobleman – Share Call Sidney Orton (Wimbledon) 30.15
1938 Sheehan Joe Harmon (Wimbledon) 30.18 4-1 Dead-heat
1938 Golden Safeguard Red Robin – Ellen Beaton Jack Harvey (Wembley) 30.18 10-1 Dead-heat
1939 Gretas Rosary Mick the Miller - Greta Ranee Eddie Wright (Harringay) 30.39 5-2
1940 Junior Classic Beef Cutlet-Lady Eleanor Joe Harmon (Wimbledon) 29.60
1941 Rochester Clipper Miss Olive Motchman (Park Royal) 29.92 10-1
1942 Dearlaw Lovable Outlaw – Sly Coon Paddy Fortune (Wimbledon) 30.48 33-1
1943 Flying Dart II Shove Halfpenny – Osborne Peggy Sid Jennings (Wembley) 29.59 2-1f
1944 Disputed Rattler Dasher Lad – Cheer The Rattler Sidney Orton (Wimbledon) 29.58 1-2f
1945 Ballyhennessy Seal Lone Seal - Canadian Glory Stan Martin (Wimbledon) 29.45 5-4f
1946 MacRamble (West Ham) 29.72
1948 Whiterock Abbey Farloe Cutlet - Acetone Sidney Orton (Wimbledon) 29.68 10-1 Dead-heat
1948 Don Gipsey Kusta Bok – Smartly Sally Leslie Reynolds (Wembley) 29.68 1-1f Dead-heat
1949 West End Dasher Smartly Fergus – Second Fiddle Bob Burls (Wembley) 29.62 13-8f
1950 Greenwood Tanist Tanner Trial – Manly Marie Leslie Reynolds (Wembley) 29.44 11-10f
1950 Black Mire Darkies Gift - Kelton Flash Jack Toseland (Perry Barr) 29.34 2-1
1952 Jeffs Pal Ballyguiltenane Tom – Caherlevoy Beauty Leslie Reynolds (Wembley) 29.26 13-8jf
1953 Bargain Hunter Burhill Moon – Black Hussy Fred Lugg (Brighton) 29.01 8-1
1954 Pauls Fun Sandown Champion - All Fun Leslie Reynolds (Wembley) 29.23 4-6f
1956 Northern King Champion Prince – Big Bawn Jack Harvey (Wembley) 29.40 2-5f
1958 Kilcaskin Kern Magourna Reject - Pavona Tony Dennis (Private) 29.39 9-4
1959 Mile Bush Pride The Grand Champion – Witching Dancer Jack Harvey (Wembley) 29.07 11-8
1960 Mile Bush Pride[4] The Grand Champion – Witching Dancer Jack Harvey (Wembley) 29.14 1-2f
1961 Long Span Solar Prince – Monas Dancer Leslie Reynolds (Wembley) 29.41
1965 Cons Duke Crazy Parachute – Cons Diet Lionel Maxen (Private) 29.50
1966 Petes Regret Mad Era - Hapless Bob Burls (Wembley) 29.87
1967 Dusty Trail Printers Present - Dolores Daughter Paddy Milligan (Private) 29.26
1968 Butchers Tec Booked Out - Technician Ronnie Melville (Wembley) 29.27
1969 Ballyseedy Star Shanes Legacy – Ballyseedy Jay Peter Hawkesley (West Ham) 29.61 11-8f
1970 Hymus Silver Oregon Prince – Little Scamp Paddy Milligan (Private) 29.87 7-1
1971 Dolores Rocket Newdown Heather - Come On Dolores Herbert White (Private) 29.30
1972 Proud Gamble Silver Hope – Big Gamble Bob Burls (Wembley) 29.56 3-1
1973 Shara Dee Silver Hope – Silver Minnie Noreen Collin (White City, London) 29.25 9-2
1974 Mountleader Gold The Grand Silver – Perfect Anna (Wembley) 29.31
1975 Pineapple Grand [5] The Grand Silver – Pineapple Baby Frank Baldwin (Perry Barr) 29.78
1976 Knockrour Bank Clomoney Jet – Damsels Lass John Coleman (Wembley) 29.01 7-4
1977 Linacre Lively Band - Certral Ted Dickson (Slough) 29.20 10-3
1978 Law Lad Toms Pal -Alas Paddy Milligan (Private) 29.02
1980 Linkside Champ 29.62

Venues & Distances edit

  • 1930-1980 (Wembley 525y/490m)

References edit

  1. ^ Tarter, P Howard (1949). Greyhound Racing Encyclopedia. Fleet Publishing Company Ltd. p. 80.
  2. ^ Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. p. 82. ISBN 07207-1106-1.
  3. ^ Hobbs, Jonathan (2007). Greyhound Annual 2008. Raceform. p. 119. ISBN 978-1-905153-53-4.
  4. ^ "Greyhound Star (Remember When - April)". Greyhound Star.
  5. ^ "18975 Wembley Spring Cup". Greyhound Data.