# 2002 English Greyhound Derby

The 2002 William Hill Greyhound Derby took place during May and June with the final being held on 1 June 2002 at Wimbledon Stadium. The winner received £75,000.

## Competition report

There were 173 entries for the 2002 Derby but one of the Britain's leading greyhounds Top Savings was lame and would miss the event, he had been quoted as a short 4-1 ante post favourite. Despite the loss of Top Savings trainer Charlie Lister and owner Ray White had brought Rapid Ranger out of retirement for an unprecedented third title attempt. The ante-post favourite was El Ronan at 12-1 followed by the Scottish Greyhound Derby first and second, Priceless Rebel and Santovita. In addition to Priceless Rebel trainer Paul Hennessy also sent over Irish Puppy Derby champion Rutland Budgie.
First round eliminations included Eclipse champion Bold Mossy and Rutland Budgie but Rapid Ranger won 22 and Santovita went fastest winning in 28.77 and entering the second round as the new favourite. The second round saw Rapid Ranger edge through after finishing third in his heat. Surprise eliminations included Santovita at odds of 1-4f, Vancouver Jet, Willie Go Fa, Occhi Gialli and Knockeevan King.
A third round heat contained Rapid Ranger, Priceless Rebel and Droopys Corleone and as the field rounded the second bend Priceless Rebel clipped the heels of the leader Rapid Ranger and fell impeding Rapid Ranger at the same time. Both were unfortunately knocked out and Rapid Ranger was retired to stud for a second time. In the quarter-finals Droopys Corleone was victorious in 28.84 with Star Ambition, Blue Gooner and Pilot Alert taking the other three heats. Seskin Robert found trouble and went out.
The first semi-final resulted in Crack Him Out beating Pilot Alert and Call Me Baby and in the second Pall Mall Stakes champion Windgap Java defeated Allen Gift and Blue Gooner. Droopys Corleone failed to make the final after finishing fourth.
Rank outsider Allen Gift led all the way in the final challenged by call Me Baby from the third bend. Blue Gooner showed early pace and Crack Him Out moved wide at the first bend ending the chances of Pilot Alert and Windgap Java.

## Quarter finals

Heat 1 (May 21) :
| Pos | Name | SP | Time |
| 1st | Star Ambition | 7-4f | 29.17 |
| 2nd | Magna Mint | 9-4 | 29.37 |
| 3rd | Lockup Firedice | 4-1 | 29.51 |
| 4th | Brother Jo | 8-1 | 29.52 |
| 5th | Larkhill Lo | 5-1 | 29.64 |
| N/R | Ballydaly Score | | |
Heat 2 (May 21) :
| Pos | Name | SP | Time |
| 1st | Droopys Corleone | 1-1f | 28.84 |
| 2nd | Allen Gift | 10-1 | 29.34 |
| 3rd | Frisby Forte | 5-2 | 29.36 |
| 4th | Bright Smile | 50-1 | 29.58 |
| 5th | Leam Chabang | 25-1 | 29.64 |
| 6th | Blonde Countess | 4-1 | 29.65 |
Heat 3 (May 21) :
| Pos | Name | SP | Time |
| 1st | Blue Gooner | 4-1 | 29.21 |
| 2nd | Windgap Java | 4-1 | 29.27 |
| 3rd | Call Me Baby | 12-1 | 29.29 |
| 4th | Santa Donato | 7-1 | 29.35 |
| 5th | Seskin Robert | 11-10f | 29.39 |
| 6th | Fionntra Seano | 8-1 | 29.69 |
Heat 4 (May 21) :
| Pos | Name | SP | Time |
| 1st | Pilot Alert | 3-1cf | 29.03 |
| 2nd | Crack Him Out | 3-1cf | 29.19 |
| 3rd | Brosna Mustang | 5-1 | 29.21 |
| 4th | Hollinwood Chief | 6-1 | 29.31 |
| 5th | Texan Fox | 8-1 | 29.71 |
| 6th | Fast Fit Spikita | 3-1cf | 30.23 |

## Semi finals

First Semi-final (May 25) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | SP | Time | Trainer |
| 1st | Crack Him Out | 6-1 | 28.86 | Clemenson |
| 2nd | Pilot Alert | 7-4jf | 29.12 | Gibson |
| 3rd | Call Me Baby | 8-1 | 29.16 | Cahill |
| 4th | Magna Mint | 7-1 | 29.26 | Draper |
| 5th | Lockup Firedice | 14-1 | 29.30 | Mullins J |
| 6th | Star Ambition | 7-4jf | 29.56 | Hurley |
Second Semi-final (May 25) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | SP | Time | Trainer |
| 1st | Windgap Java | 12-1 | 29.30 | Miller |
| 2nd | Allen Gift | 16-1 | 29.32 | Gardiner |
| 3rd | Blue Gooner | 5-1 | 29.35 | Clemenson |
| 4th | Droopys Corleone | 1-1f | 29.43 | Riordan |
| 5th | Brosna Mustang | 10-1 | 29.51 | |
| 6th | Frisby Forte | 9-2 | 29.57 | Soppitt |

## Final result

At Wimbledon (over 480 metres):
| Position | Name of Greyhound | Breeding | Trap | Sectional | SP | Time | Trainer |
| 1st | Allen Gift | In Question- Raceline Claire | 5 | 5.18 | 16-1 | 29.04 | Claude Gardiner (Hove) |
| 2nd | Call Me Baby | Popov - Masonbrook Annie | 6 | 5.24 | 8-1 | 29.10 | Seamus Cahill (Wimbledon) |
| 3rd | Crack Him Out | Crack Off - Gan On Misty | 1 | 5.34 | 9-4 | 29.19 | Brian Clemenson (Hove) |
| 4th | Blue Gooner | Staplers Jo - Code Dancer | 4 | 5.21 | 5-1 | 29.25 | Brian Clemenson (Hove) |
| 5th | Pilot Alert | Roanokee - Mystical Memory | 3 | 5.31 | 2-1f | 29.40 | Jimmy Gibson (Belle Vue) |
| 6th | Windgap Java | Lassa Java - Dysart Turnover | 2 | 5.32 | 5-1 | 29.46 | Cheryl Miller (Sittingbourne) |

### Distances

¾, 1, ¾, 2, ¾ (lengths) The distances between the greyhounds are in finishing order and shown in lengths. One length is equal to 0.08 of one second.