DD's Nelson inducted into Greyhound Hall of Fame

DD's Nelson inducted into Greyhound Hall of Fame

            DD’s Nelson has received the sport of greyhound racing’s highest honor.

            This summer the racing star was voted into the Greyhound Hall of Fame – nearly 40 years after DD’s Nelson shined at his home track, Wheeling Downs/Island, as well as on the national stage at several other racetracks around the country.

            DD’s Nelson was enshrined in the Hall of Fame in Abilene, KS, during the 2026 National Greyhound Association Fall Meet in mid-October. He’s the only inductee in this year’s class of honorees.

            The Greyhound Hall of Fame was launched in 1963 and only 80 greyhounds have received the prestigious honor.

            Arguably the greatest greyhound to ever race at Wheeling Downs/Island, DD’s Nelson’s raced out of the Steubenville Kennel at Wheeling in 1985 and part of 1986 before Pauline and Barney O’Donnell sold the kennel to Neil Abrahamson for $100,000. The superstar raced out of Abrahamson’s Gulf & Bay Kennel in part of 1986, 1987 and 1988.

            Unfortunately, Abrahamson passed away in 2024 in Florida and was unable to witness DD’s Nelson’s greatest achievement. His wife, Janice “JC” Abrahamson, was thrilled and honored when learning DD’s Nelson was voted into the HOF.

            “I am so excited and honored DD’s Nelson is going into the Hall of Fame alongside all the other great greyhounds over the years. He was a special greyhound and overcame a lot of adversity during his career,” Janice Abrahamson said. “It’s a wonderful honor and I appreciate it so much. It’s just sad that Neil couldn’t be here to accept the glory.”

            DD’s Nelson’s story has been well-documented. It’s about defying the odds as well as talent.

In September 1986 in the first round of the $150,000 Flagler International Classic, DD’s Nelson fractured four of the seven major bones in a greyhound’s hock. His racing career was all but written off but through a medical miracle and the heart of a champion, DD’s Nelson returned to the track in early 1987 and won three major stake races that year in Wheeling, Colorado and New Hampshire.

DD’s Nelson’s operation was performed by Dr. Jon Dee, a veterinary surgeon.

“Very, very few procedures require a three-screw surgery (which DD’s Nelson did) and come back to run well, much less reach Nelson’s level,” Dr. Dee said. “He was up against it, especially when I looked at the pre-operative pictures. The post-op film, though, looked really good – if you disregarded all that metal in there.”

DD’s NELSON’S PRE-INJURY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

-1986 Honorable Mention AGTOA All-American

-1986 National Greyhound Update All World Team Member

-Third in the $250,000 Great Greyhound Race of Champions at Seabrook, N.H. in 1986

-1986 Wheeling Track Win Champ with 38 victories (9 months of racing)

-Won 11 consecutive races at Wheeling during the summer of 1986 (track record at the time)

DD’s NELSON’S POST-INJURY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

-1987 AGTOA All-American First Team

-1987 National Greyhound Update All World Team Member

-Won 1987 Wheeling Countdown Stakes

-Won 1987 $50,000 Stroh’s All-American Invitational Sprint at Mile High, Colo.

-Won 1987 $50,000 New Hampshire Sweepstakes Invitational Cup at Hinsdale, N.H.

-Second 1987 $60,000 Wheeling Challenge Invitational (won by Hall of Famer K’s Broadway)

-Second 1987 Great Greyhound Race Consolation at Seabrook, N.H.

-Finalist (ran seventh) 1988 $100,000 Mountaineer Classic at Tri-State Greyhound Park, W.Va.

-1988 $60,000 Stroh’s All-American Invitational Sprint Invitee at Mile High, Colo. (ran sixth)

-1988 Commissioner’s Challenge Invitee at Tri-State Greyhound Park, W.Va. (ran fifth, collided 1st turn)

-Retired in 1988 with 96 career victories as the 23rd all-time race winner nationally.

            The highlight of DD’s Nelson’s 1987 racing season was his victory in the $60,000 Stroh’s All-American Invitational Sprint at Mile High, Colo., in August – just 8 months after DD’s Nelson returned to the track from the hock injury he sustained in September 1986.

           The talented field of sprinters in the Stroh’s All-American Invitational included Frontier Outlaw (second), Say You (third), Homespun Rowdy, Ben G Speedboat, Pro’s Stormer, B’s Easy Amos and Amarillo Cajun.

            Sent to post at 10-1 odds, DD’s Nelson rocketed to the front and never looked back in romping to an 8-length victory in 31.50. His victory came 3 months shy of turning 4 years old.

            DD’s Nelson’s career statistics competing at eight different racetracks are mind-boggling – a 79 percent trifecta finish and nearly a 50 percent win percentage in 192 combined starts. At Wheeling alone, DD’s Nelson hit the trifecta in 85 percent of his races and won 59 percent of his trips.

CAREER RECORD – (192-95-30-25)

Wheeling – (136-79-20-16)

Hollywood – (24-8-4-3)

Seabrook – (12-3-5-1)

Hinsdale – (3-2-1-0)

Tri-State – (5-1-0-2)

Mile High – (2-1-0-0)

Biscayne – (9-1-0-2)

Flagler – (1-0-0-0)

            Local greyhound historian Robin Reed watched DD’s Nelson race at Wheeling.

            “DD’s Nelson was a once in a lifetime talent – the greatest greyhound I’ve ever seen race at Wheeling Island. His racing record prior to his major injury was impeccable and his accomplishments after he came back to racing in 1987 were made even more remarkable considering the groundbreaking surgery he underwent at the time,” Reed said. “His impact was not only felt by Wheeling fans but those of greyhound racing throughout the nation in the 1980s.”

            Former track announcer Bart Przelenski: “Nelson was the total package, the whole deal. He had speed, power, desire and was a very smart greyhound,” Przelenski said. “People would come to the track to see DD’s Nelson race.”

            Current Wayne Ward Kennel trainer Ron Otto: “I would go to the track just to watch DD’s Nelson race. He was one of the best I ever saw,” Otto recalled. “I remember the track was packed the night they showed the Mile High stake and he crushed them. At the Race of Champions, Nelson was 10 times the best dog but didn’t have any luck.”

            Current Code Red Kennel trainer Tom Engle: “Nelson was a tank,” Engle said. “He could run against any greyhound in the country.”

            DD’s Nelson’s trainer Jim Bowen accompanied his star to his stake-winning efforts in Colorado and New Hampshire.

“We had a special bond between us that could not be described. Nelson and I seemed to draw upon each other’s competitiveness,” Bowen said. “He was all heart and he had that extra desire, extra sense all the great ones have. He also was very intelligent. He not only loved to run, but he loved to win.”

DD’s Nelson joins the following greyhounds in The Hall of Fame. Before each greyhound is the year enshrined in the HOF.

2026 DD’s Nelson; 2025 Bella Infrared; 2022 Husker Magic; 2021 SH Avatar; 2020 Djays Octane; 2019 Lonesome Cry; 2018 Pecos Cannon; 2017 Dodgem By Design, Izz A Champ, Wayside Carol; 2016 Flying Stanley, Pat C Rendezvous; 2015 Cayman Went, Granny, K’s Broadway, Mo Kick, P.L. Greer; 2014 EA’s Itzaboy; 2013 Flying Penske; 2011 Kiowa Sweet Trey; 2010 Gable Dodge; 2009 Talentedmrripley; 2007 Molotov, Rooster Cogburn; 2006 Elsie Jones; 2004 Representation; 2003 Lucky Bannon; 2001 Oshkosh Racey; 2000 Hi There;

1999 EJ’s Douglas, HB’s Commander; 1998 Buzz Off; 1994 P’s Rambling; 1993 Miss Gorgeous; 1992 J. R.’s Ripper; 1991 Kunta Kinte, Marathon Hound; 1990 Dutch Bahama, Perceive; 1989 J. W. Rocket One; 1988 Julius Ceasar*, Unruly; 1987 K’s Flak, Onie Jones; 1986 L.L.’s Doug; 1985 Tumble Bug*; 1984 Downing; 1983 Westy Whizzer; 1982 Miss Whirl; 1981 Big Gossip, Mick The Miller; 1980 Oklahoman, Rocking Ship*;

1979 Kinto Nebo, More Taxes, Racing Ramp*; 1978 Johnny Leonard, On The Line, Tell You Why*; 1975 Just Andrew*;  1974 Chief Havoc, Feldcrest, Mutton Cutlet; 1971 Rocker Mac*; 1970 Mixed Harmony; 1968 Never Roll; 1967 Sunny Concern; 1966 Beach Comber, Kitty Dunn, Upsidedown*; 1965 Fern Neture, Golden Sahara, Lucky Roll, My Laddie; 1964 My Gangster*, Indy Ann, Lucky Pilot, Traffic Officer; 1963 Flashy Sir, Real Huntsman, Rural Rube.

            DD’s Nelson was nominated for the Greyhound Hall of Fame by racing writer Stan Pawloski and local greyhound historian Robin Reed. The nomination first had to be approved by the board in May and then by a majority of the selection committee members voting.

(Contributing to this column was Robin Reed, local greyhound historian).