< Back CET DIRTY DILLY REPEATS IN RURAL RUBE, FGF DAVYCROCKETT SELECTED FOR FLASHY SIR IN 2022 AWARDS Jim Gartland Feb 21, 2023 A West Virginia speedster and a Southland distance star have been chosen as recipient's of the NGA’s annual Awards; CET Dirty Dilly returns as the repeat winner of the Rural Rube and Southland distance star, FGF Davycrocket t has captured the Flashy Sir. With no major stakes scheduled in 2022, the NGA awards took on a different look and voting method but, no doubt, the two winners were obvious selections. A 2018 daughter of SH Avatar-CET Dirty Nicki , CET Dirty Dilly continued right where she left off in 2021, tearing up the competition at Tri State on her way to a North American leading 40 wins on the year. Three different times during the season, she would go on seven race win streaks and would end the year on December 30th with an impressive ten length romp. She would finish out of the trifecta only once in all of her 48 starts finishing 7th in a race back in October where she encountered early trouble. She was also voted Captain of the All American team by the NGA. Owned and raced by Carl Tomblin II, Dilly was, obviously, the most consistent sprinter in the land over the past year. She won her first start in January and would win 39 more times including that last start in December. Dilly would finish the year with a 48-40-3-4-0 record, missing the pay sheet only once the entire year! A much deserved award for this fabulous sprinter. Congratulations to Carl Tomblin and all the connections of CET Dirty Dilly . FGF Davycrockett was a unanimous choice for the Flashy Sir award finishing the year as the win and money leader at Southland running strictly distance races. Crockett is a July 2019 son of Trent Lee-FGF Jamboree and was a Southland distance star for the Charter Kennel. Racing exclusively at 660 and 703 yards, Crockett was equally tough at either distance. His first win of the year came in January at 703 yards and his last at 660 yards in December. In between he would miss the pay sheet only five times over the course of the year. He finished with a 45-18-9-5-8 record and earned well over $300,000 for his efforts. Crockett , who was also named to the 2022 All American team, was raised and is owned by Kevin Fulton. Congratulations to FGF Davycrockett and all his connections! The 52nd Annual NGA Rural Rube and Flashy Sir awards will be presented at the awards ceremonies program at the Greyhound Hall of Fame on Thursday night, April 27, during the NGA's Spring Meet. Previous Next

< Back Wheeling Hot Dogs ( as of September 21, all races 5/16 unless otherwise noted ) Stan Pawloski Sep 21, 2020 Abrahamson Kennel’s Atascocita Berta has won three out of her last four starts (A, AA) for trainer Tom Engle. Patriot/Taplin Kennel’s TNT Free Falling (AA) and GF La Duena (TAA 3/16) have two wins and a second in their last three outings for trainer Joe Otto. Steve Sarras Kennel’s Me No Care has two victories and two seconds in his last four trips (A, AA) for trainer Barb Long. Jacobs Kennel’s VIP Yankee (AA) and Abbi’s Eagle (B, A) have back-to-back wins for trainer Alisha Nichols. Kennel-mate RR Naples has captured three out of his last four races (D, C, B). Blanchard Kennel’s Easi Lil Charlie has two victories and a second in her last three starts (B, A) for trainer Sarah Blanchard. Previous Next

< Back WV Panhandle Sprint Stake kicks off Stan Pawloski Nov 12, 2024 The Imark and Steve Sarras kennels each posted a pair of victories while Code Red had the other win Friday afternoon in the first round of the $65,000 West Virginia Greyhound Owners and Breeders Association Panhandle Sprint Stakes at Wheeling Island. Heading into the Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 13, second round, the five sprinters – CET Littles (Imark), CET Dirty Skinny (Imark), Best Of Times (Steve Sarras), Lord Of The Rings (Steve Sarras) and CG’s Sun Storm (Code Red) have accumulated 15 points to top the leader board. The semi-finals are set for Sunday, Nov. 17, and the Panhandle stake final is scheduled for Saturday matinee, Nov. 23. Points after the first-round follow: CET Littles (Imark), 15 points CET Dirty Skinny (Imark), 15 points Best Of Times (Steve Sarras), 15 points Lord Of The Rings (Steve Sarras), 15 points CG’s Sun Storm (Code Red), 15 points Arroyo Duchess (Code Red), 10 points SS Full Metal (Steve Sarras), 10 points Coach Donniemays (Patriot/Taplin), 10 points Buckeye Bandit (Steve Sarras), 10 points CG’s Honesty (Code Red), 10 points GF The Fast One (Imark), 7 points Basil Hayden (Steve Sarras), 7 points GF Straight One (Imark), 7 points Elijah Craig (Steve Sarras), 7 points CET Banks (Imark), 7 points Castle Walls (Steve Sarras), 5 points CET Zinc (Imark), 5 points Arroyo Deon (Code Red), 5 points Neighbaah (Steve Sarras), 5 points Only Rock N Roll (Steve Sarras), 5 points Wild Money Honey (Xtrem Hess Racing), 3 points Wild Chomp Dude (Xtrem Hess Racing), 3 points Wild Holly (Xtrem Hess Racing), 3 points CG’s Reactor (Code Red), 3 points CET Sneaky Reaky (Imark), 3 points GLS Dexter (Jacobs Racing), 2 points CET Flying Star (Charter), 2 points Paint It Black (Steve Sarras), 2 points Wild Ms Rose (Xtrem Hess Racing), 2 points Beast Of Burden (Steve Sarras), 2 points Under My Thumb (Steve Sarras), 1 point Wild Roddy (Xtrem Hess Racing), 1 point CET Bronze (Imark), 1 point RS’s Berserker (Lester Raines), 1 point Wild Farm Girl (Xtrem Hess Racing), 1 point CET Shortie (Steve Sarras), 0 points GF Doc Radcliffe (Imark), 0 points Previous Next

< Back Wheeling Hot Dogs ( as of May 10, all races 5/16 unless otherwise noted ) Stan Pawloski May 10, 2026 Lester Raines Kennel’s LNS Ritzi Go Go has five wins and a second in her last seven Grade AA trips for trainer Joel Roden. Code Red Kennel’s FF Diplomat has won three out of his last four Grade AA races for trainer Tom Engle. Kennel-mate WW Whirlwind has three wins, a second and a third in her last five Grade TAA 3/16 starts. Blanchard Kennel’s Arkwild B Fenwik has two victories and a second in his last three outings (A, AA) for trainer Chris Maynard. Jacobs Racing Kennel’s ML Side Pocket has back-to-back wins (B, A) for trainer Natalie Looper. Kennel-mate Johnny Storm has three straight victories (D, C, B). Xtrem Hess Racing Kennel’s Bail Denied has three wins in a row (D, C, B) for trainer Jill Spicer. Wayne Ward Kennel’s WV’s Cathedral has back-to-back victories (B, A) for trainer Ron Otto. Previous Next

< Back $18,000 1925 HISTORICAL INAUGURAL CHAMPIONSHIP Jan 6, 2020 ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Always the bridesmaid, never the bride. That saying used to be attached to LK’s Santorini . . . until Saturday night. The 33-month-old daughter of LK’s Vespar and LK’s Chardonnay, who often has taken a back seat to standout Lashmet kennelmate LK’s Crush N It, had the stage all to herself in the $18,000 1925 Historical Inaugural at Derby Lane. LK’s Santorini stormed out of the starting box on a breezy night in the track’s oldest stakes race, and scored a box-to-wire, two-length victory for her first career title. The Inaugural, the first of 12 stakes races scheduled in 2020 at Derby Lane, paid $7,700 to the winner. “I’m happy,’’ Lashmet kennel manager and trainer Ken Deacon said. “She can run, but she’s always played second fiddle to the big dog (LK’s Crush N It). “When she beat the 2 (LK’s Crush N It) down to the turn, that’s probably the first time in her life that she’s ever beaten him. . . . I’m sure they’ve schooled together before.’’ LK’s Santorini, bred by Derby Lane kennel owners John and Jill Lashmet of Eaton, Colo., drew box 3. Inside of her were LK’s Crush N It and Shoot The Breeze, the Floyd kennel greyhound who had won his past four races. When the starting box opened, LK’s Santorini sped ahead of LK’s Crush N It into the first turn. She opened up a four-length lead after the first race call, and wasn’t challenged as LK’s Crush N It gave way on the final turn to a surging FGF Pass You By of Watson Racing kennel. LK’s Santorini, the fourth wagering choice at 6-1, clocked the 550-yard course in 30.57 seconds. She paid $14.40 to win and raised her lifetime earnings to more than $32,000. FGF Pass You By, the longest shot at 43-1, overcame a last-place start to take second – three lengths in front of Shoot The Breeze. LK’s Crush N It, the defending Inaugural champion and 8-5 race favorite, faded to fourth. The remainder order of finish: Where U Want Me (Bartley Corporation), Rich N Famous (Farmer Racing), Flying Zigzag (Everett Racing) and BD Wells (Everett Racing). LK’s Crush N It earned $1,540 with his fourth-place showing, raising his career earnings above the $100,000 plateau. “That’s great,’’ Deacon said. “He’s the best dog I’ve ever had.’’ LK’s Santorini, who advanced to the 95-year-old Inaugural championship event with a second-place finish in qualifying, entered the finale on a nine-race losing streak – the longest of her 88-race career – despite finishing in the money eight times with a top-four finish. The Inaugural represented LK’s Santorini’s seventh stakes appearance, and fifth consecutive time of reaching the title race. Her previous best stakes finish was a fourth in the $50,000 Husker Magic Fall Sprint on Sept. 28. “She’s been in several other (stakes finals) and always broke bad,’’ Deacon said. “(Saturday), she flew out of the box. She beat the big dog (LK’s Crush N It) to the turn, and I said, ‘Oh, yeah!’ “I thought they were going to tie up together (on the turn) and get in trouble. But as it turned out, she ran a heck of a race.’’ It was the 35th lifetime victory for LK’s Santorini, who has led at every race call in 29 of her wins. Her clocking was the fastest among 207 greyhounds that competed in 26 races on the 550-course track throughout the day’s matinee-evening doubleheader. “I knew (the surface) was fast, because of the rain we had (earlier in the day),’’ Deacon said. “Usually in these races, the dog that goes to the lead wins 95 percent of the time. “I really liked the 1 dog (Shoot The Breeze). He’s going to be a monster pup, and he ran Crush N It down the last time out (in the qualifier). He had a little bit of trouble, and still ran a good race.’’ Randy Floyd, whose kennel handles Shoot The Breeze, said, “I guess it wasn’t meant to be.’’ Sparked by FGF Pass You By’s second-place finish at high odds, the $2 trifecta of 3-7-1 paid $1,300.40, and the $1 superfecta of 3-7-1-4 returned $2,665.50. Derby Lane’s next stakes race is the $64,000 Sprint Classic on Feb. 15-29. Previous Next

< Back FAVORITES POST WINS IN FIRST ROUND OF WVGOBA PANHANDLE SPRINT Stan Pawloski Oct 10, 2022 Four favorites posted opening round victories as the $65,000 West Virginia Greyhound Owners and Breeders Association Panhandle Championship kicked off Friday afternoon at Wheeling Island. Heading into the Wednesday, Oct. 12, second round, CET Barracuda, RS’s Dark Night, CET Moto Moto and CET Dirty Dan have each accumulated 15 points on the strength of their first-round victories to top the leaderboard. The semi-finals are set for Sunday afternoon, Oct. 16, and the stake final is scheduled for the Friday, Oct. 21, matinee card. Capsule looks at the first-round races follow: CET Barracuda jumped out to an early lead and never looked back in winning by 7 ½ lengths in 30.20. TS Pretty Boy and RS’s Power House rounded out the trifecta ticket. RS’s Dark Night rushed to the top early and was never challenged in posting a 4-length victory in 30.20. CET Fernando and RS’s Railhauler completed the trifecta. CET Moto Moto closed in the homestretch, getting up by a length at the wire in 30.78. RS’s Happyharper finished second as frontrunner CET Dirty Mike held on for third. CET Dirty Dan powered to the front early and won easily by 4 lengths in 29.82. CET Piranha was second followed by CET Sashaligotti. Points after the first-round follow: CET Barracuda (Imark), 15 points CET Dirty Dan (Steve Sarras), 15 points CET Moto Moto (Steve Sarras), 15 points RS’s Dark Night (Lester Raines), 15 points CET Piranha (Imark), 10 points RS’s Happy Harper (Lester Raines), 10 points CET Fernando (Imark), 10 points TS Pretty Boy (Steve Sarras), 10 points RS’s Power House (Lester Raines), 7 points RS’s Railhauler (Lester Raines), 7 points CET Dirty Mike (Steve Sarras), 7 points CET Sashaligotti (Steve Sarras), 7 points RS’s Blue Heaven (Lester Raines), 5 points CET Marlin (Imark), 5 points Mac’s Sidnyjames (A Ray), 5 points CET Tiger Boy (Steve Sarras), 5 points RS’s Dunkindylan (Lester Raines), 3 points RS’s Super Freak (Lester Raines), 3 points Rico’s Hell Yeah (A Ray), 3 points GLS Blondie (Jacobs Racing), 3 points RS’s Big Jake (Lester Raines), 2 points Arroyo Roxanne (Code Red), 2 points CET Foxy (Steve Sarras), 2 points CET Musketeer (Steve Sarras), 2 points CET Dirty Stella (Steve Sarras), 1 point Previous Next

< Back Wheeling Hot Dogs ( as of December 7, all races 5/16 unless otherwise noted ) Stan Pawloski Dec 7, 2025 Xtrem Hess Racing Kennel’s XT’s Virmig has four victories in a row (C, B, A, AA) for trainer Jill Spicer. Jacobs Racing Kennel’s Believethehype has two wins and two seconds in her last four Grade AA trips for trainer Natalie Looper. Code Red Kennel’s FF Whirlpool has three wins and a second in her last four Grade TAA 3/16 outings for trainer Tom Engle. Steve Sarras Kennel’s Walkintheshadows has four straight victories (D, C, B, A) for trainer Chuck DiGiovanni. Charter Kennel’s LBF Marvin has three wins in a row (D, C, B) for trainer James Campbell. Kennel-mate Chili Kachina has three victories and two seconds in her first five career starts (M, D, C). Blanchard Kennel’s Loyal Ark Wahoo has back-to-back wins (B, A) for trainer Chris Maynard. Previous Next

< Back FRIEND DELILAH'S GREATNESS RECALLED ON TRACK ANNIVERSARY Stan Pawloski Aug 22, 2022 When considering the best greyhound to ever grace the Wheeling Island oval, two names always come to the surface – Friend Delilah and DD’s Nelson. Both were superstars in the 1980s, Friend Delilah from 1980-82 and DD’s Nelson shortly thereafter from 1985-88. The pair combined for 186 victories during their Wheeling careers. While Friend Delilah opened her career in Florida, she spent most of her racing years at Wheeling Downs (later changed to Wheeling Island). She never captured a stake race final but still holds records for most career Wheeling victories (106) and most wins in a single year (47). DD’s Nelson not only shined at Wheeling but on the national stage – receiving All-American honors in 1987 when he won the Stroh’s Invitational Sprint in Colorado, the New Hampshire Invitational Cup, and the Wheeling Countdown Stakes. He had 80 Wheeling victories during his career. With the month of August marking 46 years of Wheeling greyhound racing, let’s take a little trip down memory lane to recognize the accomplishments of the only greyhound in Wheeling racing history to surpass 100 career victories – Friend Delilah. The sprinter arrived in West Virginia from Jacksonville, Fla., in the spring of 1980 – winning 23 races her first year at the Wheeling Island oval and making the final of the $45,000 City of Wheeling Stakes. The next season Delilah blossomed into one of the track’s all-time greats. Not only was Friend Delilah the Wheeling win champion in 1981 with 47 victories, but she shared the national win crown with J.R.’s Speck (Tucson, AZ). Friend Delilah captured 10 straight races in her stellar season (a track record at the time) and she established two 5/16 track marks – 30.43 on April 9 and 30.34 on April 14 (both since broken). She was a finalist for the second straight year in the $45,000 City of Wheeling Stakes. In addition to her 47 victories, Friend Delilah, who raced out of the Julian Dial Kennel, had 12 seconds and 4 thirds in 76 starts in 1981 – a 61 percent win mark, a 77 percent quiniela finish and an 82 percent in the money record. Friend Delilah was a darling – a greyhound fans adored. “She epitomized the term fan favorite. In fact, she became a legend during the 1981-82 racing seasons. Back in those days, fans would make sure they were on hand for the race cards when she drew in. She was the mutual favorite in 66 of her 76 races in 1981,” Robin Reed, local greyhound racing historian, related. “I recall West Virginia Gov. Jay Rockefeller took a photo op with Delilah and her trainer Ken Purdy during one of his visits to Wheeling. One fan even made up a song in honor of Delilah. Near the end of her great career, fans gave her a standing ovation when she won her much anticipated victory No. 100 in the summer of 1982. That was truly a golden age for Wheeling racing and I’m glad many patrons still have memories of what a great greyhound she was.” In late 1981, Purdy knew he was handling one of the greats in Friend Delilah – owned by Vernon and Julian Dial. “She’s always had the desire and it never wore off. She’s all desire,” Purdy said. “She’s special and she knows it.” Friend Delilah’s game was getting out of the box and to the first turn on top. Friend Delilah, a December 1977 greyhound out of Opposed-My Friend Dee, was the Wheeling win champ again in 1982 with 36 victories to go along with 17 seconds and 6 thirds in 70 starts. In 214 career races at Wheeling, Delilah had 106 wins, 45 seconds and 22 thirds. At Jacksonville in 1979, Friend Delilah had 6 wins, 5 seconds and 6 thirds in 51 races – a track where she was baffled by the outside lure. She was Grade C when she came to Wheeling, but quickly made the climb up the ladder to Grade AA. In 265 career races, Friend Delilah had 112 victories, 50 seconds and 28 thirds. She was the tenth greyhound in the Sport of Queen’s history to reach 100 career wins and her 112 victories overall place her seventeenth on the all-time win list. Purdy said “she can’t win every time, nobody does,” but she made a habit of crossing the wire first. Reed said Friend Delilah’s performance during the 1981 racing year was one for the ages. “Delilah’s 1981 season was historic. Few Wheeling greyhounds have ever come close to dominating the island oval as she did that year. She set track records for most wins in a calendar year, most consecutive wins and two speed records,” Reed said. “Plus, she made the finals of the track’s premier sprint stake race. It’s amazing to me that her 47 wins record is still intact after 41 years.” The closest was 42 wins in 1990 by DC Jay Bird, who shared the national win championship that year with JL Rat. Greyhounds ahead of Friend Deliliah on the all-time win list are JR’s Ripper, 143; Indy Ann and Happy Voyage, 137 each; JJ Littlerichard, 132; L.L.’s Doug, 128; JJ Doc Richard and WW Headliner, 123 each; LD’s Bahama, 121; Sarah Cap and JL Rat, 120 each; Okie Bootsy and Darius Stone, 118 each; Miss Whirl and and Algoe Boss, 115 each; Marathon Hound and Gilded Sherry, 113 each. While August marks 46 years of live greyhound racing at Wheeling, the rich history of the island facility dates back 100 plus years – first serving as a fairground before becoming a track for thoroughbreds and harness racing. When horse racing fizzled in the early 1970s, Wheeling Downs (later changed to Wheeling Island) opened as a greyhound track on Aug. 18, 1976 – a year after dog racing was approved by the State of West Virginia. Greyhound racing re-energized the facility as more than 4,000 fans attended opening day. In the history of the racetrack, five greyhounds in the U.S. Greyhound Hall of Fame set paws on the Wheeling Island oval. Kiowa Sweet Trey is the only one who considered Wheeling his home track while the others – K’s Broadway, EA’s Itzaboy, Rooster Cogburn and Dutch Bahama – competed in stake races at the island raceway. All have most of their accomplishments from competing nationally, but each won at least one race in Wheeling as part of their Hall of Fame resume. Following are capsule looks at the five Hall of Famers: KIOWA SWEET TREY – Inducted 2011; owned by Vince Berland and Smith Greyhounds; 12-race win streak from Maiden debut through Grade AA in 2001 (track record); captured 16 out of 18 starts and two Hot Box races the same year. K’S BROADWAY – Inducted 2015; owned by Jack Hahn; won 1987 Wheeling Challenge Invitational. EA’s ITZABOY – Inducted 2014; owned by Frederick Fulchino; captured the 2002 Commissioner’s Cup and fourth in the 2003 Commissioner’s Cup. ROOSTER COGBURN – Inducted 2007; owned by Wayne Strong; won the 1977 Thomas F. Shehan Sprint Classic. DUTCH BAHAMA – Inducted 1990; owned by Herb “Dutch” Koerner; won first round of the 1985 West Virginia Classic, checked in the second round and was disqualified. FRIEND DELILAH TIMELINE February 1, 1980 – Friend Delilah made her debut at Wheeling with a Grade B victory in a time of 32.03 and paid $6.60 to win. She previously raced on the Jacksonville circuit in Florida compiling a record of 6 wins, 5 seconds and 6 thirds in 51 starts. October 10, 1980 – Finished eighth in the finals of the $45,000 City of Wheeling Stakes, a sprint event won by 1980 track win champ J’s Susie. Delilah had 3 wins, 1 third and 1 fourth in five qualifying round races. March 24, 1981 – Completed an eight-race winning streak with a 2-length Grade AA win in a time of 31.28. The streak tied the track record previously held alone by Roman Princess (1976). April 9, 1981 – Broke the 5/16th track record with a 30.43 effort in an 8-length box-to-wire victory. The previous mark was held by Mr. Tomo, who stopped the clock in 30.44 in November 1980. April 14, 1981 – Broke her own 5/16th track record in back-to-back efforts with a 30.34 in another box-to-wire 6 ½-length victory. July 24, 1981 – Finished seventh in the finals of the $45,000 City of Wheeling Stakes, a sprint event won by Florida invader Dr. Futch. Delilah had 2 wins, 1 second and 1 third in five preliminary round starts. September 24, 1981 – Posted her record-breaking 34th win of 1981, besting the single season mark of 33 victories held by J’s Susie. December 11, 1981 – Completed a record-breaking 10-race winning streak with a 1-length box-to-wire effort, her 45th victory of the year. December 26, 1981 – Won her 47th race of the year, establishing a calendar year win record for Wheeling which still stands. April 16, 1982 – Posted a 2-length box-to-wire victory to complete what would be a 20-race in-the-money streak, the longest of her career. She had 16 wins, 2 seconds and 2 thirds in the streak. June 14, 1982 – Ran second by a head in the Governor’s Cup Trophy Race, caught in the stretch by 17-1 longshot River Roy. July 19, 1982 – Won her 100th career race with a 3-length box-to-wire effort in a time of 30.63, becoming only the 10th greyhound in the history of the sport to reach 100 career wins at the time. November 29, 1982 – Posted the 112th win of her career with a 1-length victory over Urban Cowboy in a time of 30.93. It would be the final win of her illustrious career. December 13, 1982 – Finished out of the money in what ended up being the final race of her career after injuring an ankle and placed on the inactive list. (Compiled by Robin Reed, local greyhound historian) Friend Delilah, a star at Wheeling Downs in the early 1980s, won 112 career races which places her seventeenth on the all-time win list. Previous Next

< Back Wheeling Hot Dogs ( as of July 24, all races 5/16 unless otherwise noted ) Stan Pawloski Jul 24, 2023 Charter Kennel’s JSP Rayzendacash has won five out of his last six Grade AA starts for trainer James Campbell. Kennel-mate RHT Kan Do Karla has three straight wins (C, B, A). Blanchard Kennel’s Arkans TMC Athos has captured four out of his last five Grade AA trips for trainer Chris Maynard. Kennel-mates BNC R Rooney has won three out of his last four outings (A, AA) while About To Rock has three victories and a second in his last four races (B, A, AA). Steve Sarras Kennel’s WW Griggsy has back-to-back wins (A, AA) for trainer Mike Holguin. Rangel Kennel’s VJ Full Of Grace has two 3/8 victories in a row (TA, TAA) for trainer Alex Hall. Previous Next

< Back TWO AT THE TOP AT DERBY LANE Sep 14, 2020 The late Patsy Cline put Winchester, Va., on the map eight decades ago with her exceptional country music singing. TS Patsy Cline, a greyhound who was named after the legendary artist, hit all the right notes this past Saturday at Derby Lane. Her maiden-breaking, 10-length victory ignited a four-win evening performance for Abernathy kennel, launching the operation into a first-place tie with Everett Racing in the highly-competitive kennel standings at Derby Lane. Abernathy, which is owned by Jim and Kayruth Abernathy, tied Everett – each with 108 victories in the July-to-December meet. Abernathy was one of only two of the 14 kennels to record at least 10 wins during the previous week’s seven performances (Watson Racing led with 13 victories). Everett Racing, which held first place by itself the past week under kennel owner Kelly Everett and trainer Kelsie Gubbels, is gunning for its first kennel championship since winning three six-month meet crowns in a row in 2018-19. Abernathy has finished second in a kennel race three times since 2004, including a runner-up showing to Everett Racing in 2019. TS Patsy Cline’s win as the prohibitive 1-2 favorite was followed by victories from Craigie Zumba ($10.40 to win), Finlandia ($22.80) and JPRG Lone Star ($10). The four Abernathy 550-yard sprinters won by a combined 23-1/2 lengths. Patsy Cline, the artist, began singing in 1954 and died in a 1963 plane crash in Camden, Tenn., at age 30. A 1973 inductee into the Country Music Hall of Fame, Ms. Cline had hits like Crazy, I Fall to Pieces, She’s Got You, and Sweet Dreams. TS Patsy Cline, the greyhound, also has been a favorite among her fans. The 59-pound athlete began racing in July at Wheeling Island in West Virginia, where she made five schooling races before being shipped to Derby Lane. TS Patsy Cline’s only schooling race at Derby Lane came on Aug. 28, when she won in box-to-wire fashion by 12 lengths for owners Carl Tomblin and Steve Sarras. The 21-month-old daughter of Superior Panama and Ty Law has been the wagering favorite in all four official starts since. After finishing third in her career debut, TS Patsy Cline posted a pair of seconds before breaking her maiden on Saturday – clocking the 550-yard course in 31.53 seconds. Capabal kennel ranks third in the kennel standings with 106 victories. Defending champion Lester Raines and Nova are tied for fourth at 104. Derby Lane features seven 15-race performances weekly with Monday-through-Saturday matinees, and a Saturday evening card. Previous Next

< Back The History of the West Virginia Classic Stan Pawloski Jul 6, 2026 During Wheeling Island's initial years of greyhound racing, numerous stakes races took place, with the West Virginia Classic serving as the premier event each season it occurred. Back in 1978, the inaugural year of the event, then General Manager Mike Romaine said the following, “This is our premiere race. It is to honor the state. It’s our biggest race and it will continue to be our highlight.” This race was created as the greyhound racing counterpart to the West Virginia Derby, an event traditionally held at Waterford Park (currently called Mountaineer) near Chester, West Virginia. The event was held on the 3/8-mile (678 yards) Keystone Course and attracted leading greyhounds from across the nation, along with Wheeling’s top local competitors. Below is a synopsis of each edition of the great race. 1978 $20,000 West Virginia Classic Winner’s Purse: $10,000 Entrants: 24 Qualifying Rounds: 3 Winner: Cool Highway 60-21-18-10 Record at Wheeling in 1978 Time: 40.23 Red. M. March ’75. Cactus Lonesome-J.F.’s Miss Star. Steubenville Kennel. 1979 $25,000 West Virginia Classic Winner’s Purse: N/A Entrants: 48 Qualifying Rounds: 3 Winner: Liberated Lady Bayard/Orange Park (Fla.) Star Time: 39.60 Red. F. October ’76. Opposed-My Friend Dee. Julian Dial Kennel. 1980 $80,000 West Virginia Classic Winner’s Purse: $30,000 Entrants: 48 Qualifying Rounds: 5 Winner: Printer Olly 1980 AGTOA All-American Time: 39.59 Red Brindle. F. March ’77. Yellow Printer, Imp.-Flounced. Steubenville Kennel. 1981 $80,000 West Virginia Classic Winner’s Purse: $30,000 Entrants: 48 Qualifying Rounds: 5 Winner: Tuf Threads 40-20-6-5 Record at Wheeling in 1981 Time: 38.73 Blue Brindle. M. September ’79. Tuf Miler-Rainin Ice. Kansas Kennel, Inc. 1982 $100,000 West Virginia Classic Winner’s Purse: $40,000 Entrants: 48 Qualifying Rounds: 5 Winner: Mr. Wizard 1982 AGTOA All-American Time: 37.98 (TR) Brindle. M. December ’79. Tuf Miler-JM’s Mod C. John Seastrom Kennel. 1983 $100,000 West Virginia Classic Winner’s Purse: $40,000 Entrants: 48 Qualifying Rounds: 5 Winner: My Problem 1983 AGTOA All-American Time: 38.58 Red Brindle. M. February ’80. Onie Jones-Quick Spoof. Julian Dial Kennel. 1984 $145,000 West Virginia Classic Winner’s Purse: $76,000 Entrants: 32 Qualifying Rounds: 5 Winner: Olly’s Ace 1984 AGTOA All-American Time: 38.20 Red. M. March ’82. Placid Ace-Printer Olly. Steubenville Kennel. 1985 $145,000 West Virginia Classic Winner’s Purse: $76,000 Entrants: 48 Qualifying Rounds: 5 Winner: GH’s Dr Pepper 58-13-17-10 Record at Wheeling in 1985 Time: 38.37 Black. M. May ’83. Pecos Pepper-GH’s Lass. Texas Kennel. (Information compiled by local racing historian Robin Reed). Previous Next

< Back THE NGA SPRING MEET 2022 STAKE Jim Gartland Nov 4, 2021 Open to all Spring meet eligible pups with no official starts prior to the meet A minimum of 16 and a maximum of 36 entries will be allowed Entry fee is $1,000 with $500 of that fee due and payable by January 15, 2022 to reserve a spot (limit two spots per consignor) . Remaining entry fee plus standard meet entry fee is due at time of nomination (Thursday prior to the meet). Based on the number of entries, races will be drawn into four, five or six dog fields. Winners in round 1 will face off in round 2; 2nd place finishers will face off in round 2 and so on through fourth place. Total Purse will be determined by the amount of entries. Estimated to be $20,000 minimum - $40,000 maximum. Previous Next