WHEELING TRACK ANNIVERSARY: TOP STAKES FINAL FIELDS, NO. 7 AND NO. 8

Down through the years, Wheeling has had a rich tradition in greyhound stakes competition.

Fans have been blessed with the chance to see some of the all-time greats in some of the track’s most memorable moments.

The month of August marks 47 years of Wheeling greyhound racing and with assistance from local greyhound historian Robin Reed, a list of the top eight all-time Wheeling stakes final fields has been put together.

Selected as the best of the best stakes championship fields follow:

No. 1 – the 1987 $60,000 Wheeling Challenge Invitational

No. 2 – the 1984 $145,000 West Virginia Classic

No. 3 – the 1984 $80,000 West Virginia Commissioner’s Cup

No. 4 – the 1977 $11,000 Thomas F. Shehan Sprint Classic

No. 5 – the 2001 $35,000 Spring Classic

No. 6 – the 1982 $55,000 City of Wheeling Sprint

No. 7 – the 2008 $100,000 Wheeling Island Invitational

No. 8 – the 2004 $50,000 Couch Potato Stakes.

"Wheeling stakes racing has created some of the most indelible memories in the track's great 47-year history," Reed said. "I love having the opportunity to bring those moments to life again for both veteran fans such as myself who have shared in the experience and new fans to Wheeling racing who may not be aware of the track's remarkable past."

Today’s article looks at No. 8 – the 2004 $50,000 Couch Potato Stakes and No. 7 – the 2008 $100,000 Wheeling Island Invitational.

2004 Couch Potato Stakes (ranked No. 8) Saturday evening, Nov. 6, 2004

All eight greyhounds in the championship competed in stake finals during their racing days, including 2004 All-American Greys Royalcrown and 2005 All-American Boone’s Fishnkid.

From the rail out, the finalists and their achievements follow:

1-FLYING TAG HEUER (Flying Eagles/Miner Kennel) -2004 Wheeling record (42-9-5-11)

2-BOONE’S FISHNKID (Lester Raines Kennel) - 2005 All-American - Winner of the 2005 Hollywood Joe Ryan Memorial - Second in the 2005 Hollywood World Classic - Finalist in the 2004 Wheeling Independence Day Classic - 2004 Wheeling record (25-13-6-3)

3-GREY’S ROYALCROWN (A Ray Kennel) - 2004 All-American - Winner of the 2004 Wheeling Independence Day Classic - Winner of the 2004 Wheeling Survivor Stakes - 2004 Wheeling record (46-23-8-5)

4-LONESOME CRY (Charter Kennel) - Winner of the 2003 Derby Lane Puppy Preview - Second in the 2003 Derby Lane T.L. Weaver Memorial Stakes - Finalist in the 2003 Derby Lane Matinee Idol - Finalist in the 2004 Southland Derby - 2003 Derby Lane win champ (35-21-6-3)

5-BOONE’S LINKY (Lester Raines Kennel) - Finalist 2004 Wheeling Independence Day Classic - 2004 Wheeling record (25-8-4-3)

6-FLYING TREY BOY (Flying Eagles/Miner Kennel) - Second in the 2004 Gulf Night of Stars - Third in the 2005 Derby Lane Sprint Classic - 2004 Wheeling record (24-12-3-1)

7-LEWIS AND WAX (Arivada/Plum Creek Kennel) - Second in the Wheeling Independence Day Classic - Finalist in the 2005 Bluffs Run Open - Set Wheeling 5/16th track record (29.37) - 2004 Wheeling record (50-15-13-10)

8-KAY V WILLARD (Steubenville Kennel) - Finalist in the 2005 Hollywood World Classic - Finalist in the 2004 Wheeling Independence Day Classic - 2004 Wheeling record (37-13-6-4)

In the championship final, Lonesome Cry – sent to post at 11-1 odds – posted a box-to-wire 2-length victory in 30.30. Lewis And Wax finished second and Greys Royalcrown got up for third.

Completing the finish were Boone’s Fishnkid, fourth; Flying Tag Heuer, fifth; Kay V Willard, sixth; Boone’s Linky, seventh; and Flying Trey Boy, the favorite, eighth.

Lonesome Cry had a pair of wins and a seventh in the preliminary rounds.

2008 Wheeling Island Invitational (ranked No. 7) Saturday afternoon, Oct. 18, 2008

Six of the eight greyhounds in the championship qualified for multiple stakes finals during their careers, including 2008 All-American Flying Mancini.

From the rail out, the finalists and their accomplishments follow:

1-PAL WW WENDY (Wayne Ward Kennel) - 2008 Wheeling record (61-13-11-4)

2-GABLE TWINKIE (Gable Kennel) - 2008 Wheeling record (64-13-12-6)

3-KIOWA WW BROTHER (Wayne Ward Kennel) - Winner of the 2009 Superstar Challenge - Second in the 2008 Holiday Sprint - Finalist in the 2008 Panhandle Sprint - 10-race win streak in 2009 - Tied for second in wins at Wheeling in 2008 (48-22-6-13)

4-MAKIN BAKIN (Charter Kennel) - 2007 Wheeling win co-champ, 55-30-8-3 - Third in the 2008 Holiday Sprint - Third in the 2008 Wheeling Night of Stars - Finalist in the 2006 Woodlands Fall Futurity - Finalist in the 2008 Wheeling Superstar Challenge - 2008 Wheeling mark (50-19-11-8); career wins 58

5-FLYING MANCINI (Flying Eagles/Miner Kennel) - 2008 All-American - Winner of the 2008 Woodlands Kansas Bred Sprint - Winner of the 2008 Woodlands William Grace Countdown Stakes - Winner of the 2008 Derby Lane 660 Challenge - Winner of the 2009 Derby Lane Inaugural - Second in the 2008 Woodlands Great American Greyhound Futurity - Second in the 2008 Woodlands Shamrock 660 Stakes - Second in the 2009 Derby Lane Matinee Idol Stakes - Third in the 2009 Derby Lane Sprint Classic - Finalist in the 2008 American Derby (Lincoln) - Finalist in the 2009 Derby Lane Distance Classic - Finalist in the 2009 Wheeling Holiday Sprint - Set Woodlands 7/16th track record (43.22)

6-FLYING WESTOVER (Flying Eagles/Miner Kennel) - Finalist in the 2008 Woodlands Great American Greyhound Futurity - Finalist in the 2009 Wheeling Winner’s Challenge - Finalist in the 2009 George Kellas Memorial Cup - 2008 Wheeling record (38-15-4-5)

7-SELDOMSCENETEARS (Wayne Ward Kennel) - Finalist in the 2008 Wheeling Holiday Sprint - Finalist in the 2009 Wheeling Superstar Challenge - Finalist in the 2009 George Kellas Memorial Cup - 2008 Wheeling record (30-8-1-7)

8-KANSAS BUZZER (Wayne Strong Kennel) - Second in the 2008 Woodlands William Grace Countdown Stakes - Third in the Wheeling Firecracker Sprint - 11-race win streak at Woodlands - 2008 Wheeling record (41-11-12-6)

In the championship final, Kiowa WW Brother – sent to post at 4-1 odds as the second favorite to Flying Mancini – rocketed to the early lead from the three box and never looked back in winning by 7 lengths in 29.65. Kansas Buzzer took runner up honors while Seldomscenetears closed in the stretch to round out the trifecta ticket.

Completing the finish were Makin Bakin, fourth; Flying Mancini, fifth; Gable Twinkie, sixth; Flying Westover, seventh; and Pal WW Wendy, eighth.

Kiowa WW Brother had two wins and a second in the qualifying rounds.