The coveted Rural Rube award is presented to North America’s most accomplished greyhound sprinter each year.  Winners are nominated and voted by the NGA Membership as well as the Greyhound Review readership. Rural Rube The coveted Rural Rube Award is presented to North America’s most accomplished sprinter each year. Winners are nominated and voted by the NGA Full and Associate Membership as well as the Greyhound Review readership. Note, due to a change in format and a reduction in greyhound racing tracks, the format changed in 2023 from Rural Rube to NGA's Best Sprinter Award. CG's Nail Biter Jax Yardley CG's Lady Bug Janice Abrahamson 2024 Best Sprinter Award Pedigree Artex Pumbaa Flying Hydrogen Arkans Cancer Joe Frey & Rachelle Henry 2023 - Best Sprinter Pedigree CET Dirty Dilly SH Avatar CET Dirty Nicki Carl Tomblin II 2022 Pedigree CET Dirty Dilly SH Avatar CET Dirty Nicki Carl Tomblin II 2021 Pedigree JS Flamin Ace Superior Panama CH Sweet Honey Lester Raines/Garth Bolton 2020 Pedigree Salud Raindrop Bella Infrared Mega Whitney Jeff Blair/Ursula O'Donnell 2019 Pedigree Jiminy Reno Alivefortomorrow Oceania James Morgan/Kathleen Hastings 2018 Pedigree Flying Wolfpack Flying Lone Wolf PJ Aces Up Vince Berland 2017 Pedigree Oaks Maddy Pat C Clement Oaks Gem Brandy Mick Hymes 2016 Pedigree Husker Magic Rhythmless Casino Zada Imark Kennels 2015 Pedigree Joey Ice Kiowa Sweet Trey Queen Rania Joey Lingel 2014 Pedigree Rob Gronkowski Switzer Jammin Chatty Cathy Steve Sarras 2013 Pedigree 1 2 3 4 5 1 ... 1 2 3 4 5 ... 5

< Back Wheeling Hot Dogs ( as of March 16, all races 5/16 unless otherwise noted ) Stan Pawloski Mar 16, 2020 Abrahamson Kennel’s Hashtag Attitude has three straight victories (A, AA) for trainer Tom Engle. Lester Raines Kennel’s Lee Enid has two wins and two seconds in her last four races (A, AA) for trainer Joel Roden. Brad Boeckenstedt Kennel’s BGR Shake It up (AA) and BGR Waxon Waxoff (TAA 3/16) have back-to-back victories for trainer Chris Brill. Xtrem Hess Racing Kennel’s XM Sky has two straight Grade AA wins for trainer Jill Spicer. Blanchard Kennel’s PBW Gannicus (A, AA) and Fuzzys Welington (B, A) have back-to-back victories for trainer Sarah Blanchard. Imark Kennel’s Imark Mash (A, AA) and Imark Otter (B, A) have two wins in a row for trainer Scott Purdy. Jacobs Racing Kennel’s Time Killer has back-to-back victories (B, A) for trainer Louise Strong. Previous Next

< Back GLS Marlyn stays unbeaten in WVGOBA Juvenile qualifiers Stan Pawloski Sep 17, 2026 Jacobs Racing Kennel’s GLS Marlyn is the lone unbeaten sprinter after two rounds of the $35,000 West Virginia Greyhound Owners and Breeders Association Juvenile Stake at Wheeling Island. GLS Marlyn posted her second consecutive victory Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 16, in the second round to top the leaderboard with 30 points heading into the semifinals on the Sunday matinee, Sept. 20, card. Cannon Fire (Steve Sarras Kennel) is next in line with 25 points on the strength of a win and a second. The championship final will be held on Saturday afternoon, Sept. 26. Capsule looks at the second-round races follow: Favorite GLS Marlyn rushed to the top early and never looked back in rolling to a 5 ½-length victory in 30.42. Cannon Fire closed for second while Woodford Reserve rounded out the trifecta ticket. Pursuit Spirits, the second choice of bettors, broke sharp to the front and romped to a 5 ½-length win in 30.39. GLS Hi Dolly was second followed by James Cook. Longshot TS Presley, sent to post at 12-1 odds, rushed to an early lead before holding off Arroyo Outlaw by 1 ½ lengths in 30.32. Mystic Samisue settled for third. Points after the second-round follow (greyhound, kennel, points): GLY Marlyn (Jacobs Racing), 30 points Cannon Fire (Steve Sarras), 25 points RS’sToomuchjuice (Lester Raines), 20 points Pursuit Spirits (Steve Sarras), 20 points TS Presley (Steve Sarras), 20 points Arroyo Outlaw (Code Red), 17 points Mystic Samisue (Steve Sarras), 17 points Cooper N Kings (Steve Sarras), 12 points CET Psycho Suzi (Imark), 11 points GLS Hi Dolly (Jacobs Racing), 11 points Oldheartofmine (Steve Sarras), 10 points Woodford Reserve (Steve Sarras), 9 points James Cook (Steve Sarras), 9 points Lunchroom Hottie (Steve Sarras), 8 points CET Dream Big (Imark), 8 points Lux Row (Steve Sarras), 8 points Drake Maye (Steve Sarras), 8 points CET Clyde (Imark), 4 points CET Don’t Panic (Imark), 3 points Chocolate Puddin (Steve Sarras), scratched TS Harper (Steve Sarras), scratched. Previous Next

< Back Wheeling Hot Dogs ( as of July 12, all races 5/16 unless otherwise noted ) Stan Pawloski Jul 12, 2026 Blanchard Kennel’s Arkwild B Elliot has four wins and a second in his last five Grade AA starts for trainer Chris Maynard. Kennel-mate Arkwild B Enon has back-to-back victories (A, AA). Patriot/Taplin Kennel’s Forest’s Goal has four wins and a second in his last five Grade TAA 3/16 races for trainer Cheyney Kuriata. Kennel-mate USA Fiesta has two straight victories (B, A). Jacobs Racing Kennel’s Miss Popular has won three out of her last four Grade AA trips for trainer Natalie Looper. Code Red Kennel’s FF Deebo has a win and two seconds in his last three Grade AA starts for trainer Tom Engle. Previous Next

< Back Wheeling Hot Dogs ( as of September 20, all races 5/16 unless otherwise noted) Stan Pawloski Sep 20, 2026 Lester Raines Kennel’s Omaha Lori has five wins and a second in her last six Grade AA races for trainer Joel Roden. Kennel-mate Squeeze On By has three straight victories (M, D, C). Jacobs Racing Kennel’s It Figures has five wins and a second in her last six outings (C, B, A, AA) for trainer Natalie Looper. Kennel-mate Mylittlevalentine has back-to-back Grade AA victories. Previous Next

< Back Wheeling Hot Dogs ( as of February 10, all races 5/16 unless otherwise noted ) Stan Pawloski Feb 10, 2020 Jacobs Racing Kennel’s JSK Roulette has six wins, three seconds and a third in her last 10 Grade AA starts for trainer Louise Strong. Kennel-mate OD Rookie has won three out of his last four 3/8 starts (TD, TC, B). Lester Raines Kennel’s JS Drinkmepretty has won five out of her last six Grade AA races for trainer Joel Roden. Kennel-mate ZB Tremonti has two wins, four seconds and one third in his last seven Grade AA outings. Blanchard Kennel’s L’s Luv It has four wins and three seconds in her last seven Grade AA outings for trainer Sarah Blanchard. Patriot/Taplin Kennel’s TNT Free Falling has three straight Grade AA victories for trainer Joe Otto. Rangel Kennel’s PJ Bye Felicia has four wins and a second in her last six 3/8 trips (TC, B, TA, TAA) for trainer Alex Hall. Previous Next

< Back DERBY LANE ENDS 19-20 MEET Jun 29, 2020 ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – For nearly two years, a bull’s-eye has been attached to LK’s Crush N It. The Lashmet kennel standout greyhound has been an All-America first-team selection and national wins champion – both in 2019 – and a winner of five lifetime stakes titles. On Tuesday afternoon, LK’s Crush N It has a target of his own to shoot at during the final performance of the Derby Lane 2019-20 season. A victory in Race 10 would allow the 3-1/2-year-old son of LK’s Now R Never and LK’s All In to tie Floyd kennel’s Shoot The Breeze for top dog honors at the January-to-June meet. It would complete an unprecedented accomplishment at the 95-year-old track. No greyhound is believed to have captured three consecutive meet win titles. “I don’t think it’s ever been done – three consecutive (times) of being the win leader,’’ Derby Lane racing secretary Les Robison said. “It hasn’t been (done) since I’ve been here. . . . and I’ve been around the track since ’71 - either as a patron or employee. “That would be exciting if he could do that. It would just be one more laurel that he would have.’’ LK’s Crush N It, who would raise his career win total to 79 with a victory, enters the Grade A 550-yard event with 14 victories for the meet, one behind Shoot The Breeze – who hasn’t raced since June 13. LK’s Crush N It has won his past two races and drew box 5 in Race 10, slated for 2:47 p.m. The 75-pound dog is the 5-2 morning-line favorite. Trained by kennel manager Ken Deacon, LK’s Crush N It has been Derby Lane’s top dog in each of the past two meets – amassing 50 victories during that span to lead all greyhounds nationally in total wins for 2019. The 550-yard specialist is owned by breeders John and Jill Lashmet of Eaton, Colo. LK’s Crush N It is the third consecutive dog with back-to-back meet win championships, joining Jiminy Reno (2018) and RT’s Bo Jangles (2017) – both from Cal Holland kennel. Other Derby Lane dogs to equal that feat since at least 2004 include Abernathy kennel’s Husker Magic (2014-15), and Venus Espinosa (2012-13) of Patriot kennel. This will be the first meet win title for Shoot The Breeze, a 32-month-old male from a litter by Trent Lee and Danicas Go Daddy. Owned by Charles Haliburton, Shoot The Breeze sprints for kennel owners Randy and Pat Floyd – whose previous meet win leader was Hometown Boy in 2007. The top kennel in wins will be Lester Raines, which entered Monday with an insurmountable 195-172 lead over ABC Racing. It will be Lester Raines’ first championship since 2010. Jennifer Richardson, who started the meet as the kennel manager and trainer, has subsequently moved to Virginia for family reasons with the operation currently being handled by Anthony Diaz. The meet’s fastest times have been clocked by Shoot The Breeze (30.00 seconds at 550 yards) and Lester Raines’ O Ya Diesel (37.01 seconds at 660 yards). The Derby Lane meet was reduced to 131 performances after losing 49 programs because of the coronavirus pandemic. No racing was held from March 20-May 7. Robison said all 14 kennels remain on the roster for the upcoming July-to-December meet. Previous Next

< Back Wheeling Hot Dogs ( as of May 29, all races 5/16 unless otherwise noted ) Stan Pawloski May 29, 2023 Charter Kennel’s JSP Zippen Good has three straight Grade AA wins for trainer James Campbell. Kennel-mate Barts Aviator has back-to-back Grade AA victories. Xtrem Hess Racing Kennel’s Xtrem Begonia (TAA 3/16) and KT’s Fruit Loops (B, A) have two wins in a row for trainer Jill Spicer. Blanchard Kennel’s Artex Tornado has won three out of her last four outings (B, A, AA) for trainer Chris Maynard. Kennel-mates BNC R Rooney (A, AA) and Artex Kusapin (A, AA) have back-to-back victories. Steve Sarras Kennel’s WW Noble Antonio has two wins and two seconds in his last four trips (B, A) for trainer Mike Holguin. Previous Next

< Back Wheeling Hot Dogs ( as of April 24, all races 5/16 unless otherwise noted ) Apr 24, 2023 Brad Boeckenstedt Kennel’s Smile N Mean It has five wins and a second in his last six 3/8 trips (TC, B, TA, TAA) for trainer Frank Pellittere. Lester Raines Kennel’s JS Switchingears has four wins and two seconds in his last six Grade AA races for trainer Joel Roden. Kennel-mate JS Xtra Fancy has three straight Grade TAA 3/8 victories. Blanchard Kennel’s Arkans TMC Athos has won three out of his last four Grade AA races for trainer Sarah Blanchard. Kennel-mate Arkans Lust has back-to-back wins (B, A). Xtrem Begonia has two victories and two seconds in her last four Grade TAA 3/16 starts for trainer Jill Spicer. Charter Kennel’s Cheater Slicks (AA), JSP Rayzendacash (A, AA) and JSP Game Changer (B, A) have back-to-back wins for trainer James Campbell. Rangel Kennel’s VJ Full Of Grace has two straight 3/8 victories (TB, A) for trainer Alex Hall. Imark Kennel’s Imark Flame has back-to-back wins (B, A) for trainer DiAnn Derr. Previous Next

< Back $100,000 MOUNTAINEER CLASSIC FINAL PREVIEW, RACE ANALYSIS Oct 22, 2021 Blanchard Kennel’s Penrose Boss heads up a solid field for the Saturday afternoon final of the $100,000 Mountaineer Classic at Wheeling Island. The 3-year-old sprinter had two victories and two seconds in the four qualifying round races to accumulate a leading 50 points. Penrose Boss finished fourth in the 2020 Mountaineer Classic championship final. Three kennels – Blanchard, Lester Raines and Jacobs Racing – each have two greyhounds in the final while the Imark and Steve Sarras kennels have one finalist. Completing this year’s championship final field are Teaser’s Tickle (Lester Raines Kennel), 46 points; Frappe (Blanchard Kennel), 45 points; Abbi’s Eagle (Jacobs Racing Kennel), Ding Dong Ditch (Imark Kennel) and CTW Black Forest (Steve Sarras Kennel), 37 points each; Abbi’s Frontman (Jacobs Racing Kennel) and RS’s Dark Night (Lester Raines Kennel), 34 points each. Abbi’s Eagle and Abbi’s Frontman are littermates. Post positions for the final, from the rail out, follow: 1—Teaser’s Tickle, 2—CTW Black Forest, 3—Abbi’s Eagle, 4—RS’s Dark Night, 5—Penrose Boss, 6—Ding Dong Ditch, 7—Frappe, 8—Abbi’s Frontman. The winning greyhound in the championship final will earn $42,000. The complete purse breakdown is second, $18,000; third, $13,000; fourth, $10,000; fifth and sixth, $5,500 each; and seventh and eighth, $3,000 each. The stakes final will be Race 12 on the Saturday matinee race card. Following are capsule looks at the finalists: 1—TEASER’S TICKLE (Lester Raines Kennel, trainer Joel Roden) – had three straight impressive victories by a combined 23 lengths in the qualifiers after a seventh in the first round; one of the youngest greyhounds in the final, the pup broke his Maiden in August and has won eight out of his 13 career races. 2—CTW BLACK FOREST (Steve Sarras Kennel, trainer Barb Long) – had two wins, a third and an eighth in the early rounds; the frontrunner went to the lead in three out of his four qualifying races, all from inside posts; made the final after returning to racing in September after being off for three months with an injury. 3—ABBI’S EAGLE (Jacobs Racing Kennel, trainer Louise Strong) – had two wins, a fourth and a sixth in the qualifying round races; while more of a closer from just off the pace, has gone to the front on occasion; also off for three months in the summer rehabbing an injury before coming back in September. 4—RS’S DARK NIGHT (Lester Raines Kennel, trainer Joel Roden) – had a win, a second, a third and a sixth in the qualifying races; captured the West Virginia-bred Juvenile championship last month; not a ton of box speed, but possesses a power rush to the first turn and finishing speed; prefers to race on the outside. 5—PENROSE BOSS (Blanchard Kennel, trainer Sarah Blanchard) – had two victories and two seconds in the qualifiers to top all the finalists with 50 points; needs to find room early in the race, does have some closing speed; has been a mark of consistency, hitting the pay sheet (top four) in 14 out of his last 15 trips. 6—DING DONG DITCH (Imark Kennel, trainer DiAnn Derr) – had a win, two seconds and a sixth in the preliminary round races; probably the biggest surprise to earn a spot in the stakes final; raced from all inside posts in the qualifiers, so the midtrack hole will be a challenge; will need to pop the box to have a shot. 7—FRAPPE (Blanchard Kennel, trainer Sarah Blanchard) – had two wins, a second and a fourth in the early rounds; multi-dimensional – has the ability to go to the front or come from behind; prefers an inside post, but had two nice efforts from the five hole in the early rounds; needs to outbreak the rail crashing eight. 8—ABBI’S FRONTMAN (Jacobs Racing Kennel, trainer Louise Strong) – had two wins and two sixths in the preliminary round races; earned his spot in the final with a win from a favorable one box in the semifinals; two sixth place finishes in the qualifiers were from the outside, so post position not too kind. RACE ANALYSIS: One thing is certain about this year’s Mountaineer Classic final – it’s wide open as many of the greyhounds have drawn less than favorable posts for their running styles. One greyhound, however – CTW Black Forest – has drawn a preferred inside post position and should break sharp from the box, move to the rail and rush to the early lead. Greyhounds on each side of CTW Black Forest – Teaser’s Tickle and Abbi’s Eagle – are in line to get trips behind the frontrunner. One of those two could claim the championship as CTW Black Forest has shown a tendency to be a tad short in the homestretch but still looms as a ticket play. Don’t count out Frappe, although she would prefer an inside hole. In four out of her last five races, Frappe has been first or second at the first turn with three of those races from the difficult five box. If she hits it from the seven post, things will get interesting. All of these greyhounds are talented or they wouldn’t be in the final, but each will need a little luck on their side as well. Congrats to all the finalists and connections and good luck in the championship. Previous Next

< Back FINALISTS SET FOR $100,000 MARDI GRAS CHALLENGE Stan Pawloski Dec 29, 2021 Previous Next

< Back Wheeling Hot Dogs ( as April 18, all races 5/16 unless otherwise noted ) Stan Pawloski Apr 21, 2022 Blanchard Kennel’s JS Rob Stone has won six out of his last seven Grade AA races for trainer Sarah Blanchard. Charter Kennel’s Seven Summers has four straight 3/8 wins (TC, B, TA, TAA) for trainer James Campbell. Kennel-mates FGF Rose (C, B, A) and FGF Beth Dutton (C, B, A) have three victories in a row, Dirt Track Diva has captured three out of her last four outings (D, C, B) while Barts Pepperjack has back-to-back wins (B, A). Xtrem Hess Racing Kennel’s Xtrem Chicken has two straight Grade TAA 3/16 victories for trainer Jill Spicer. Lester Raines Kennel’s O Ya Red Thunder has back-to-back wins (B, A) for trainer Joel Roden. Rangel Kennel’s MPJ Freeze Up has won three out of her last four trips (D, C, B) for trainer Sheri Comer. Previous Next