50th Anniversary: All-decade Wheeling greyhounds teams

August 18, 2026, marked 50 years of live greyhound racing at Wheeling Downs/Island.

                Throughout the years, many exceptional greyhounds have displayed their talents racing around the island oval. A few have been highlighted in this space to celebrate the 50th anniversary – DD’s Nelson, Friend Delilah, Steph’s Good and Onie Reid.

                To recognize the greyhound stars fans have enjoyed watching over the last 50 years, following are the all-decade teams for the five 10-year periods – 1976 through 1985, 1986 through 1995, 1996 through 2005, 2006 through 2015 and 2016 through 2025.

                Captains of the five all-decade teams are Friend Delilah, DD’s Nelson, Itsjustplaingood, Hi Noon Hero and L’s Griz.

                The all-decade teams were determined from input from greyhound trainers over the years; track handicappers; long-time fans; local greyhound historian Robin Reed; and writer Stan Pawloski. All of the respective respondents have been around Wheeling racing in some fashion or another since the early days.

THE DECADE: 1976-1985

                FRIEND DELILAH (Captain) – posted 112 career wins, 106 at Wheeling (track record); 1981 Wheeling win champion and national co-champ (47 – track record); 1982 Wheeling win leader (36); had a 10-race win streak in 1981; set 5/16 track records, 30.43 and 30.34, in back-to-back starts in 1981; finalist 1980 City of Wheeling Stakes; finalist 1981 City of Wheeling Stakes.

                ODD EXPRESS – posted 76 career victories, all at Wheeling; 1979 Wheeling Downs “Dog of the Year”; second in wins at Wheeling in 1981 (32); set 5/16 track record, 30.24, in 1982; third in the 1981 City of Wheeling Stakes; nicknamed “The Train.”

                COOL HIGHWAY – posted 61 career wins, all at Wheeling; second in wins at Wheeling in 1977 (25); won 1978 West Virginia Classic (3/8); second 1977 Spring Derby (3/8); second 1978 Wheeling Downs Sprint Championship; finalist 1977 Thomas F. Shehan Sprint Championship; finalist 1978 City of Wheeling Stakes.

                DIAMOND’S ROSE – posted 61 career victories, 53 at Wheeling; 1978 Wheeling win co-champ (27); 1979 Wheeling win champ (26); won 1978 Wheeling Downs Sprint Championship; third 1979 Thomas F. Shehan Sprint Classic; set 5/16 track record, 30.56, in 1979.

                SLICK GENIUS – posted 51 victories at Wheeling; 1977 win champ (30); won 1977 City of Wheeling Stakes (3/8); third 1977 Thomas F. Shehan Sprint Classic; third 1979 Wheeling Downs Sprint Championship; finalist 1978 Wheeling Downs Sprint Championship.

                ALFAR LORD – 57 career wins, all but one at Wheeling; won 1983 Kennel Medley Championship (3/8); second 1983 West Virginia Classic (3/8); finalist 1984 Greyhound Grand Prix (St. Pete 3/8); captured September 1983 Hot Box.

                DIXIE MILER – Wheeling’s first win champion (14) in less than half a year in 1976; second 1977 Top Dog Stakes; finalist 1977 Thomas F. Shehan Sprint Classic; second in wins at Raynham in 1977; raced at Raynham in 1978-79, eclipsing the 50 career win mark.

                J’S SUSIE – posted 51 wins at Wheeling; 1980 Wheeling win champ (33) and “Dog of the Year”; won 1980 City of Wheeling Stakes; finalist 1982 City of Wheeling Stakes; 1980 All-American Honorable Mention.

THE DECADE: 1986-1995

                DD’s NELSON (Captain) – posted 96 career wins, 80 at Wheeling; 1987 All American; 1986 and 1987 All-World Team; 1986 Wheeling win champ (38); captured 1987 Wheeling Countdown Stakes; second 1987 Wheeling Challenge Invitational; 11-race win streak (1986); at other tracks, won the 1987 Stroh’s Invitational Sprint (MH) and the 1987 New Hampshire Invitational Cup (HI); second Great Greyhound Race Consolation (SE); third 1986 Great Greyhound Race of Champions (SE); finalist 1988 Mountaineer Classic (TS).

                GREYS BEAVER – posted 86 career wins, 77 at Wheeling; 1991 Wheeling win champion (33); 1992 Wheeling win champ (34); 11-race win streak (1992); captured the 1992 Wheeling Sprint Championship, 1992 Commissioner’s Challenge and 1991 Spring Juvenile; second 1991 Wheeling Sprint Championship; captured December 1990 Hot Box.

                CASUAL CASEY – posted 98 career wins, all at Wheeling (second all-time); 1993 Wheeling win champion (39); 1994 Wheeling win champ (31); 16-race win streak 1994-95 (track record).

                DC JAY BIRD – posted 66 career wins, all at Wheeling; 1990 Wheeling win champion and national co-champ (42); second 1990 Commissioner’s Challenge (Wheeling leg); fourth 1990 Commissioner’s Challenge (Tri-State leg); fourth 1990 Wheeling Invitational; four 1990 Hot Box wins (March, April, May, August).

                STAGE DOOR ACE – posted 99 career wins, 91 at Wheeling (third all-time); 1989 Wheeling win champion (29); 1990 Wheeling win runner up (38); 13-race win streak (1990), track record for consecutive 3/8 victories; fourth 1990 Dairyland Invitational (3/8).

                STEPH’S GOOD – won 31 out of his 45 career Wheeling starts; 1987 All-World; 15-race win streak (1987); broke 7/16 track record in three consecutive starts (1987), 42.57, 42.55 and 42.27; at other tracks, second 1987 Biscayne U.S. Marathon and 1987 Flagler Fall Hecht Marathon; third 1987 Flagler Spring Hecht Marathon; finalist 1987 Flagler International Classic (3/8).

                MY REEBOKER – posted 60 career wins, all at Wheeling; third in wins 1990 (27); won 1991 Commissioner’s Challenge; second 1990 Wheeling Sprint Championship; third 1989 Wheeling Juvenile, 1990 Commissioner’s Challenge and 1991 Wheeling Sprint Championship; September 1990 Hot Box winner.

                ONIE REID – won 17 out of his 23 career Wheeling starts; 10-race win streak to start career, Maiden debut through Grade AA (1985-86).

THE DECADE: 1996-2005

                ITSJUSTPLAINGOOD (Captain) – posted 77 career victories, all but one at Wheeling; third in wins in 1999 (34) and 2000 (34); broke the 3/8 track record twice in 1999 (37.81 and 37.75); third 1999 Labor Day Classic and 2000 Firecracker Classic; finalist 1999 Firecracker Classic.

                KIOWA DAY JAZZ – posted 98 career victories, 88 at Wheeling; 1996 Wheeling win champ (41); third in wins in 1995 (23); second 1997 Spring Classic; fourth 1995 Seabrook Great Greyhound Race; finalist 1995 New Hampshire Lottery Stake.

                KIOWA SWEET TREY – captured 17 out of his 22 career Wheeling starts, including 12 straight from Maiden debut through Grade AA (track record); 2001 All-American; two 2001 Hot Box Wins (October, December); 2002 Rural Rube Award winner (best sprinter in the country); won 2002 Derby Lane Inaugural and 2002 Derby Lane All-Star Kennel Preview; second 2002 Hollywood World Classic and 2002 Wichita Memorial Day Top Dog Feature; third 2002 Derby Lane Sprint Classic and 2002 Wichita Spring Night of Stars; 13-race win streak (3 in Wheeling, 10 at Derby Lane 2001-2002).

                GREYS ROYALCROWN – posted 39 career victories, all but four in Wheeling; 2004 All-American; 2004 Wheeling win champion (23); won 2004 Independence Day Classic and 2004 Survivor Series; third 2004 Couch Potato Stake.

                SLATEX STRIKER – posted 61 career victories, all at Wheeling; 2003 Wheeling win champion (34); second 2003 Wheeling Night of Stars.

                IRUSKA ALL STAR – posted 60 wins at Wheeling; 2001 Wheeling win champ (30); second 2001 Spring Classic; third 2002 Commissioner’s Cup.

                PRIMA GOLD TONE – posted 75 wins at Wheeling; 1999 Wheeling win champion (40); fifth in victories in 2000 (30).

                LUCKYDEALS HONOR – surpassed 70 career wins, 45 at Wheeling; third in victories in 2001 (25); second 2001 Firecracker Classic (3/8), 2002 Spring Classic and 2002 Wheeling Night of Stars; third 2001 Spring Classic; won 2003 Wichita Holiday Sprint.

THE DECADE: 2006-2015

                HI NOON HERO (Captain) – posted 41 career victories and hit the trifecta ticket in 104 out of his 121 starts, all at Wheeling; 2009 All-American; second in wins in 2009 (28); won the 2009 George Kellas Memorial Cup and 2009 Holiday Sprint; second 2009 Superstar Challenge and 2009 Firecracker Sprint; third 2010 Wheeling Night of Stars; finalist 2009 Winners Challenge and 2010 Panhandle Classic; set 5/16 track record in 2009 (29.31).

                TK QUICK STRIKE – posted 59 career victories, all but four at Wheeling; 2008 Flashy Sir Award winner (best distance greyhound in the country); 2008 Wheeling win champion (31); won the 2008 Mountaineer Class (3/8), 2008 Wheeling Night of Stars (3/8) and 2009 Mountaineer Classic (3/8); second 2009 Wheeling Night of Stars (3/8); finalist 2007 Great American Greyhound Futurity (Woodlands); broke 3/8 track record three times (2008), 37.32, 37.27 and 37.20.

                KIOWA WW BROTHER – posted 42 career wins, all at Wheeling; tied for second in wins in 2008 (22); won the 2008 Wheeling Invitational and 2009 Superstar Challenge; second 2008 Holiday Sprint; finalist 2008 Panhandle Sprint; 10-race win streak (2009).

                AMF SLEEKSTRANGR – has posted 46 career wins, 41 at Wheeling; 2015 Wheeling win champion (26); second 2015 Sweetheart Stakes; 10-race win streak (2015); set 5/16 track record in 2015 (28.79).

                GABLE SOUR CREAM – posted 38 career wins, 27 at Wheeling; 2009 All-American; third in wins 2009 (27); won 2009 Wheeling Island Invitational; finalist 2009 Holiday Sprint (scratched, did not race); broke 5/16 track record twice (2009), 29.22 and 29.15; finalist 2009 TGA Texas Roundup (Gulf); Gulf 5/16 track record (2009), 29.43.

                KIOWA POWER PAK – posted 56 career wins, 49 at Wheeling; 2009 Wheeling win champ (31); second 2008 Wheeling Night of Stars (3/8) and 2009 Mountaineer Classic (3/8); finalist 2009 Sweetheart Derby (3/8) and 2010 George Kellas Memorial (3/8); third 2010 Joe Ryan Memorial (Mardi Gras); finalist 2010 Mardi Gras World Classic.

                AMF EX PRESIDENT – posted 51 career wins, 46 at Wheeling; 2011 All-American; 2011 Wheeling win champion (28).

                WW’S DOG GONE – posted 43 career wins, 36 at Wheeling; 2011 All-American; tied for second in wins 2011 (22); won 2010 Buckeye Cup (7/16); third 2010 Armed Forces Appreciation Stakes (3/8); finalist 2010 George Kellas Memorial (3/8); broke 7/16 track record (2010), 41.85.

THE DECADE: 2016-2025

                L’S GRIZ (Captain) – posted 51 career Wheeling victories; 2018 Wheeling win champion (23); second in victories in 2019 (25); won the $100,000 Mountaineer Classic Stakes in 2018 with a dramatic stretch rush; finalist in the Mountaineer Classic in 2019; all-Wheeling in 2018 (captain) and 2019; had multiple 5-, 4- and 3-race win streaks; hit the superfecta ticket in 81 percent of his races and had a 72 percent trifecta finish.

                BARTS OUTOFMYWAY – posted 52 career Wheeling victories; tied for second in wins in 2017 (21); first team All-American in 2017; all-Wheeling in 2017 (captain) and 2016; had a 4-race win streak and multiple 3-race win streaks; hit the superfecta in 74 percent of his races and had a 61 percent trifecta finish.

                L’S LUV IT – posted 47 career Wheeling wins; tied for third in wins in 2019 and 2020; third in the $100,000 Mountaineer Classic Stakes in 2018; fourth in the Mountaineer Classic in 2019; finalist in the Mountaineer Classic in 2020; all-Wheeling in 2018, 2019 and 2020; hit the superfecta ticket in 77 percent of her races and had a 67 perfect trifecta finish.

                ARTEX PUMBAA –posted 40 career Wheeling wins; 2023 track co-win champion (22), all but one in Grade AA; all 12 wins in 2024 in top grade in 7 months of racing (retired); all-Wheeling in 2023 (captain) and 2024; had an 11-race, a 6-race and a 4-race win streak; hit the superfecta ticket in 75 percent of his races and had a 62 percent trifecta finish.

                FF VESPA – posted 51 career Wheeling wins; 2025 track win champion (28), all but one in Grade AA; third in wins with 19 in 2024; all-Wheeling in 2025 (captain) and 2024; had a 6-race and pair of 4-race win streaks; hit the superfecta ticket in 78 percent of his races and had a 72 percent trifecta finish.

                FLORENTINE – posted 46 career Wheeling wins; 2022 track win champion (22); tied for second in wins with 21 in 2023, all in Grade AA; all-Wheeling in 2022 (captain) and 2023); had 5-, 4- and 3-race wins streaks; hit the superfecta ticket in 73 percent of her races and had a 64 percent trifecta finish.

                RS BIG D – posted 26 career Wheeling wins; all-Wheeling in 2021 and 2022; 13 straight victories in 2022 tied Stage Door Ace for the longest winning streak by a 3/8 greyhound in Wheeling history; had 5- and 3-race win streaks; hit the superfecta in 85 percent of his races, had an 80 percent trifecta finish and a 65 percent win mark.

                GF LA DUENA – posted 54 career Wheeling wins; 2019 track win champion (32), all in Grade AA or TAA 3/16; all-Wheeling (captain) in 2019; had a pair of 6-race, a 5-race, a 4-race and three 3-race win streaks; hit the superfecta in 90 percent of her races, had an 84 percent trifecta finish and a 58 percent win mark.