Artex Pumbaa joins elite group with 11-race win streak

The chase is over.

            Artex Pumbaa’s run at Casual Casey’s Wheeling track record of 16 wins in a row ended recently when the Blanchard Kennel sprint star missed his break and finished out of the money after posting 11 straight Grade AA victories.

            Only nine greyhounds in the history of Wheeling Island racing history have longer consecutive winning streaks than Artex Pumbaa. His 11 victories in a row started on Dec. 1, 2023, and ended on Feb. 9, 2024.

            A May 2020 greyhound out of Flying Hydrogen-Arkans Cancer, Artex Pumbaa had closing efforts in seven of his 11 victories while in the other four wins the sprinter was on top around the first turn.

            Artex Pumbaa’s 11 straight victories were by a combined 34 lengths – a 3-length average margin of victory. He had wins by 6 ½, 6, 5 ½, 4 and 3 ½ (twice) lengths during his streak.

            Lengthy winning streaks are rare – there’s only been 22 Wheeling win streaks of at least 10 in a row.

Local greyhound fan and historian Robin Reed, who has tracked Wheeling racing since its inception in 1976, feels a streak of 10 or more is a sign of a truly elite greyhound.

            “Of all the greyhound stats, total wins, stakes wins, and so forth, I think achieving a win streak of 10 or more races is probably the most difficult due to the fact that so many obstacles need to be overcome. A lot of greyhounds are very dependent on a good post position, but a big win streak will surely contain some less than ideal holes,” Reed said. “Weather can also be an obstacle if sloppy or muddy track conditions prevail. For any greyhound to be at his or her best for a few months without missing a beat is astounding.”

            James Blanchard called his star, Artex Pumbaa, multidimensional with a ton of desire.

            “(Artex) Pumbaa can break on top, or he can come from behind. He’s so consistent and tries hard every race … a lot of heart,” Blanchard said. “I’m so proud of what he’s accomplished.”

            In 2023, Artex Pumbaa posted a special season by sharing the track win championship with JSP Rayzendacash and earned the captaincy of the all-Wheeling team. In 51 starts, he had 22 wins, 8 seconds, 6 thirds and 6 fourths.

            Artex Pumbaa is trained by Chris Maynard and owned by Rachelle Henry and Joe Frey.

            Following is a listing of the 22 Wheeling win streaks of at least 10 in a row, date achieved and how the streak ended.

   CASUAL CASEY: 16 straight 5/16ths wins from Sept. 10, 1994-Oct. 13, 1994 and Jan. 25, 1995-March 30, 1995 (had three-month layoff during streak); ran fourth to Karl Barx.

            STEPH’S GOOD: 15 straight 7/16ths victories from Jan. 3, 1987-March 17, 1987 (set 7/16th track record three straight races during streak); ran fourth to Olly’s My Name.

            WIN AGAIN: 14 straight 5/16ths wins from Dec. 13, 1999-Feb. 16, 2000; ran fifth to Prima Gold Tone.

            STAGE DOOR ACE: 13 straight 3/8ths wins from Apr. 7, 1990-June 1, 1990; ran second to Call Me Country.

            RS BIG D: 13 straight 3/8ths wins from Dec. 8, 2021-March 24, 2022; finished out of the money to FGF Georgejetson.

            WW TIME WARP: 12 straight 5/16ths wins from Feb. 17, 1999-Apr. 16, 1999; finished out of the money to Red Hot Charger.

            KIOWA SWEET TREY: 12 straight 5/16ths wins to open his career from July 6, 2001-Oct. 25, 2001; ran second by a neck to Soul Cipher.

            SOUL CIPHER: 12 straight 5/16ths wins from Feb. 24, 2002-May 11, 2002; ran third to Hey Smokin Joe.

            GABLE PIMIENTO: 12 straight 5/16ths wins from Apr. 27, 2007-June 30, 2007; ran second by a length to Roar Of The Cat.

            DD’S NELSON: 11 straight 5/16ths wins from June 6, 1986-July 26, 1986; ran second by 5 ½ lengths to Blazing Journey.

            B J JOACHIM: 11 straight 5/16ths wins from July 14, 1989-Sept. 2, 1989; ran third to Sand Kicker Lee.

            GREYS BEAVER: 11 straight 5/16ths wins from July 24, 1992-Sept. 5, 1992; ran second to Navjo Gracie.

            BEN G DESIRE: 11 straight 5/16ths wins from Sept. 4, 1993-Oct. 21, 1993; finished out of the money to Sayitforme.

            FORTIFIED RUSH: 11 straight 5/16ths wins from July 14, 2001-Sept. 12, 2001; ran third to WW Way Out.

            ARTEX PUMBAA: 11 straight 5/16ths wins from Dec. 1, 2023-Feb. 9, 2024; finished out of the money to O Ya Viper.

            FRIEND DELILAH: 10 straight 5/16ths wins from Oct. 28, 1981-Dec. 11, 1981; finished out of the money to Cousin’s Dingo.

            PECOS TRADITION: 10 straight 5/16ths wins from Sept. 29, 1982-Nov. 15, 1982; ran second by a length to K’s Maximum.

            ONIE REID: 10 straight 5/16ths wins from Dec. 14, 1985-Jan. 29, 1986; ran second by a nose to At Her Ese*.

            TROJAN CRUZE: 10 straight 5/16ths wins from Dec. 2, 1998-Jan. 20, 1999.

            RHYTHMLESS: 10 straight 5/16ths wins from Jan. 16, 2006-Mar. 5, 2006; ran second by 4 lengths to Gentleman Jack.

            KIOWA WW BROTHER: 10 straight 5/16ths wins from Jan. 3, 2009-Feb. 27, 2009; ran third to Hi Noon Hero.

            AMF SLEEKSTRANGR: 10 straight 5/16ths wins from May 2, 2015-Sept. 26, 2015; finished out of the money to Heck Yeah.