# Ballyregan Bob

Ballyregan Bob (12 May 1983 to 3 April 1994) was a racing greyhound who, along with Mick the Miller and Scurlogue Champ, is one of the most revered racing hounds in British greyhound racing.
Ballyregan Bob was a brindle dog and was whelped in May 1983. Trained by George Curtis he would become world famous for breaking the world record for consecutive race wins.

## Racing career

In 1985 Ballyregan Bob won three major events, the Olympic at home track Brighton, the Test at Walthamstow and the Essex Vase at Romford. Whilst winning these events he remained unbeaten and was on his way to setting the world record. He also qualified for the final of the classic race the St Leger at Wembley but was a non runner in the final.
Wins and track records continued to come his way in 1986 until on 9 December he lined up for the Racing Post Challenge at Brighton and duly broke the world record held by American greyhound Joe Dump by winning his 32nd consecutive race.

## Retirement and death

After retirement Bob was put to stud and sired many litters. In 1990 he returned from the United States where he had undertaken stud duties and was sent to Germany where he stood with breeder Franz Joseph Gillett, before eventually returning to Britain.
Ballyregan Bob has the unique distinction of being the only dog ever nominated as Guest of Honour at the commissioning of Royal Navy patrol boat HMS Pursuer - an accolade awarded because of the depiction of a greyhound in the ship's badge.
After his death of old age in 1994, the greyhound was exhibited in the Natural History Museum at Tring along with Mick the Miller.

## World record

| Date 1985 | Distance (metres) | Venue | Starting Price | Trap | Win distance (lengths) | Time | Race |
| May 9 | 515 | Hove | 4-11 | 6 | 3 ¾ | 29.63 | Olympic Heats |
| May 11 | 515 | Hove | 2-9 | 6 | 4 ¼ | 29.67 | Olympic Semi Finals |
| May 16 | 515 | Hove | 2-5 | 4 | 1 ½ | 30.04 | Olympic Final |
| May 28 | 640 | Walthamstow | 1-4 | 6 | 9 ½ | 39.40 TR | Test Heats |
| June 4 | 640 | Walthamstow | 1-3 | 4 | 13 | 39.92 | Test Semi Finals |
| June 11 | 640 | Walthamstow | 1-4 | 3 | 9 ¾ | 39.59 | Test Final |
| June 22 | 660 | Wimbledon | 1-4 | 6 | 12 | 40.43 | Derby Final Night Stayers |
| July 2 | 575 | Romford | 4-11 | 5 | Shd | 35.48 | Essex Vase Heats |
| July 6 | 575 | Romford | 4-7 | 4 | 11 ½ | 35.21 | Essex Vase Semi Finals |
| July 9 | 575 | Romford | 1-2 | 5 | 2 ¼ | 35.15 =TR | Essex Vase Final |
| Aug 19 | 655 | Wembley | 4-9 | 5 | 3 ¾ | 40.15 | St Leger First Round |
| Aug 23 | 655 | Wembley | 1-3 | 5 | 8 | 39.46 TR | St Leger Second Round |
| Aug 26 | 655 | Wembley | 4-9 | 5 | 1 | 40.56 | St Leger Semi Finals |
| Nov 2 | 695 | Hove | 1-8 | 5 | 14 ¾ | 41.13 TR | Open |
| Nov 9 | 680 | Nottingham | 1-4 | 5 | 6 ¼ | 41.87 TR | Open |
| Nov 16 | 683 | Hackney | 1-6 | 5 | 8 | 42.24 TR | Open |
| Nov 23 | 660 | Wimbledon | 1-6 | 6 | 7 ½ | 40.35 TR | Open |
| Nov 30 | 715 | Sheffield | 1-7 | 6 | 20 | 44.41 | Open |
| Dec 6 | 688 | Harringay | 2-7 | 6 | 14 | 41.94 TR | Open |
| Dec 12 | 710 | Wembley | 4-9 | 4 | 11 ¾ | 42.63 TR | John Power Showdown |
| Dec 21 | 740 | Hove | 3-10 | 5 | 9 | 44.65 | Invitation |
| Date 1986 | Distance (metres) | Venue | Starting Price | Trap | Win distance (lengths) | Time | Race |
| Mar 22 | 695 | Hove | None | 5 | 11 ¾ | 42.21 | Open |
| Apr 2 | 655 | Wembley | 1-8 | 5 | 9 ½ | 39.57 | Trainers Championship |
| Apr 10 | 680 | Nottingham | 1-7 | 5 | 3 | 41.99 | Open |
| Apr 19 | 660 | Wimbledon | 1-9 | 5 | 13 ¾ | 40.15 TR | Open |
| Apr 26 | 650 | Powderhall | 1-10 | 5 | 14 ¼ | 39.60 TR | Open |
| May 8 | 670 | Brough Park | 1-9 | 5 | 15 | 41.15 TR | Open |
| May 17 | 660 | Wimbledon | 1-5 | 5 | 5 ¾ | 40.23 | Racing Post International |
| Nov 13 | 695 | Hove | 1-5 | 6 | 9 | 42.36 | S1 Graded |
| Nov 21 | 688 | Harringay | 1-7 | 4 | 10 ½ | 42.00 | Open |
| Nov 28 | 688 | Harringay | 1-10 | 5 | 16 | 41.74 TR | Open |
| Dec 9 | 695 | Hove | 1-4 | 6 | 9 ¼ | 42.04 TR | Racing Post Challenge |