< Back Wheeling Hot Dogs ( as of March 20, all races 5/16 unless otherwise noted ) Stan Pawloski Mar 20, 2023 Rangel Kennel’s JS Sugar Rush has captured three out of her last four Grade TAA 3/8 races for trainer Alex Hall. Kennel-mate Ace Hottakiwaki has four wins and two thirds in his last six outings (D, C, B, A, AA). Lester Raines Kennel’s JS Switchingears (AA) and JS Xtra Fancy (TA, TAA 3/8) have two victories and a second in their last three trips for trainer Joel Roden. Charter Kennel’s FGF Bodacious has two wins and a second in his last three Grade AA starts for trainer James Campbell. Sarras Kennel’s Florentine has back-to-back Grade AA victories for trainer Mike Holguin. Xtrem Hess Racing Kennel’s XAT Saints has back-to-back wins (B, A) for trainer Jill Spicer. Previous Next

Bertillion mark up for greyhound identification and registration purposes for the National Greyhound Association. Individual Registration ) 6 to a page bertillion mark up for litter

< Back WHEELING KENNEL, WIN LEADER RACES TIGHT Stan Pawloski Aug 12, 2020 As the second half of the abbreviated 2020 racing season kicks in gear at Wheeling Island, there is a logjam atop the track’s kennel standings and win leaders. The racetrack reopened June 5 after a 12-week shutdown ordered by the state due to the coronavirus (COVID-19). It is believed to be the longest the racetrack has been shut down since the flood of 1996 when the operation was closed from mid-January until March 1. Through Sunday, Aug. 9 races, the top four kennels from 2019 once again occupy the top four spots in the standings this year although in a different order. Lester Raines holds the top spot with 205 victories on the year following closely by Jacobs Racing with 201 wins and defending champion Blanchard with 197 victories. Patriot/Taplin is fourth with 188 wins while rounding out the top five is Charter with 169. Sitting atop the track win leader board is sprinter JS Drinkmepretty (Lester Raines) with 10 victories in 20 starts – a 50 percent win percentage. Each of her victories have come against Grade AA competition. JS Drinkmepretty was third in wins last year with 19. Two greyhounds have posted nine wins each this year – CTW Tira Misu (Patriot/Taplin) and CTW Lotus Flower (Imark). With eight victories apiece are JSK Roulette (Jacobs Racing), WW Slick Simon (Wayne Ward), ZB Tremonti (Lester Raines), BGR Call Me Hank (Brad Boeckenstedt) and WW Spend A Lot (Wayne Ward). Previous Next

< Back LESTER RAINES ELECTED TO HALL OF FAME Stan Pawloski Sep 14, 2023 Longtime kennel owner and operator, Lester Raines was the lone nominee to receive enough votes for induction into the 2023 class of the Greyhound Hall of Fame. Lester Raines was born in Charleston, West Virginia in 1955. He holds a degree in Chemistry and is a licensed Dentist. He owns and operates three car dealerships in the Charleston area and has been an assistant basketball coach for over 25 years at West Virginia State University. His real passion, however, is greyhound racing and he has had an outstanding impact on the greyhound industry for more than 35 years. He has been a major contributor, as an owner, kennel operator and leader toward the betterment of the industry. His inaugural booking was at Tri State Greyhound Park, where he would eventually capture twenty straight kennel championships and thirty in all through 2022. Over the years he would acquire race bookings at numerous tracks including Gulf, Orlando, Jacksonville, Daytona, Wheeling, Tampa, Southland, Palm Beach and Derby Lane. All in all, his racing operations captured fifty eight kennel championships and twenty one runner-up finishes through the time of his induction. His kennels became synonymous with producing champions with the likes of All Americans Flying Titanium, Afleet Alex, Fortress Of Gold, Barts Outofmyway, JS Keephopealive and Craigie Delegate. He also owned and raced two-time All American and 2020 Rural Rube award winner, JS Flamin Ace. Two of those champions, Barts Outofmyway and JS Flamin Ace are now beginning promising stud careers. Other dominant stars included names like Casual Casey, Atascocita Sig, Ribard, Soul Cipher and many, many more. Lester has been a mainstay at the semi-annual NGA auctions beginning with his first purchase in 1995 and continuing through today. His winning bid of $110,000 for KB's Rocky Balboa in the spring of 2020 is the record for an NGA auction sale that will, most likely, never be equaled. Dedicated to the overall betterment of the sport, Lester served on the National Greyhound Association’s Board of Directors as well as the Board of the Greyhound Hall of Fame including a term as its President. He was a founding member and first President of the West Virginia Owners and Breeders Association as well as the West Virginia Kennel Association. He will be honored in ceremonies at the Hall of Fame during the 2023 fall meet. Previous Next

< Back Wheeling Hot Dogs ( as of June 21, all races 5/16 unless otherwise noted ) Stan Pawloski Jun 21, 2021 Jacobs Racing Kennel’s Abbi’s Gusta Win (AA), Abbi’s Frontman (AA) and Slatex Sinner (TAA 3/16) have captured three out of their last four starts for trainer Alisha Nichols. Kennel-mate Fit The Battle has back-to-back wins (B, A). Lester Raines Kennel’s O Ya Trisha has won seven out of her last eight 3/16 races (TD, TC, B, TA, TAA) for trainer Joel Roden. Kennel-mates RS’s Dark Night has captured four out of his last five outings (M, D, C, B) while JS Kickinupmudd (B, A) and B Ashley Morgan (B, A) have back-to-back victories. Blanchard Kennel’s BO’s Robert has won four out of his last five trips (B, A, AA) for trainer Sarah Blanchard. Kennel-mate JS Rob Stone has captured five out of his last six races (D, C, B, A, AA). Steve Sarras Kennel’s LK’s Sheridan has won three out of his last four 3/8 starts (TA, TAA) for trainer Barb Long. Kennel-mates Kells Xterra (AA) and Tuscany Italian (B, A) have back-to-back wins while Cuddles N Bubbls has three straight 3/8 victories (C, B, A). Brad Boeckenstedt Kennel’s BGR Wise Cracker has back-to-back 3/8 wins (A, TAA) for trainer Frank Pellittere. Rangel Kennel’s RPG Get You Back has back-to-back victories (B, A) for trainer Scott Robinette. Previous Next

< Back CET DIRTY DAN WINS WVGOBA PANHANDLE CHAMPIONSHIP Stan Pawloski Oct 18, 2022 Association Panhandle Championship Friday afternoon, Oct. 21, at Wheeling Island. Racing out of the Steve Sarras Kennel and trained by Jay Falcone, CET Dirty Dan rushed to an early lead from the seven box in the final – opening up a 3-length lead on RS’s Dark Night (Lester Raines Kennel) down the backstretch. Coming home, RS’s Dark Night narrowed the gap, but CET Dirty Dan had enough in the tank to take the stakes crown by a neck in 29.81. CET Marlin (Imark Kennel) closed in the stretch to take third place as CET Barracuda (Imark Kennel) settled for fourth. Completing the order of finish were CET Tiger Boy (Steve Sarras Kennel), fifth; CET Fernando (Imark Kennel), sixth; RS’s Railhauler (Lester Raines Kennel), seventh; and RS’s Dunkindylan (Lester Raines Kennel), eighth. CET Dirty Dan, a December 2018 greyhound out of SH Avatar-CET Dirty Nicki, is owned by Carl Tomblin II. Previous Next

< Back Wheeling weekend handle tops $3.2 million Stan Pawloski Sep 3, 2024 Wheeling Island’s Labor Day weekend handle topped $3.2 million. The handle represents the amount of money bet on Wheeling greyhound races from on-track patrons and from simulcast outlets. The Wheeling handles for the weekend follow: Friday, Aug. 30, $1,084,383; Saturday, Aug. 31, $1,141,163; and Sunday, Sept. 1, $1,002,098. The total handle for the 3-day period was $3,227,644. Including Thursday, Aug. 29, the 4-day handle last week topped $4 million – $4,032,083. The Wednesday, Aug. 28, program was cancelled last week due to extreme heat conditions, and Wheeling didn’t race on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 2. Previous Next

< Back Wheeling Hot Dogs ( as of August 5, all races 5/16 unless otherwise noted ) Stan Pawloski Aug 19, 2024 Jacobs Racing Kennel’s CBT Sleeknnasty has six wins and a second in her last seven Grade TAA 3/8 starts for trainer Natalie Looper. Kennel-mates Pickupthepace has three victories and two seconds in her last five Grade AA races while O Ya Viper has back-to-back 3/8 wins (TA, TAA). Blanchard Kennel’s Booker Dano has two victories and a second in his last three Grade AA trips for trainer Chris Maynard. Code Red Kennel’s FF Evolution has back-to-back Grade AA wins for trainer Tom Engle. Lester Raines Kennel’s GB’s Briar has two straight Grade TAA 3/16 victories for trainer Joel Roden. Patriot/Taplin Kennel’s LT King Tut has back-to-back wins (A, AA) for trainer Cheyney Kuriata. Previous Next

< Back Wheeling Hot Dogs ( as of July 20, all races 5/16 unless otherwise noted ) Stan Pawloski Jul 20, 2020 Wayne Ward Kennel’s WW Slick Simon has three wins and a second in his last four Grade AA starts for trainer Ron Otto. Kennel-mate WW Mad Man has won four out of his last five outings (M, D, C, B). Patriot/Taplin Kennel’s CTW Tira Misu has two victories and two seconds in her last four Grade AA trips for trainer Joe Otto. Kennel-mate Fly Home Machete has captured three out of his last four races (D, C, B). Blanchard Kennel’s TMC’s Lottie Dah has three straight wins (A, AA) for trainer Sarah Blanchard. Kennel-mate BWC Kristin has back-to-back victories (A, AA). Xtrem Hess Racing Kennel’s BRC Justin has won three out of his last four starts (A, AA) for trainer Jill Spicer. A Ray Kennel’s AMF Whisterical has four wins in a row (D, C, B, A) for trainer Joe Palmer. Charter Kennel’s Barts Worthwhile has captured four out of his last five outings (M, C, B, A) for trainer Jay Falcone. Kennel-mate FGF Ruby has won three out her last four starts (M, C, B). Jacobs Kennel’s Firey Red Hot has back-to-back victories (A, AA) for trainer Louise Strong. Brad Boeckenstedt Kennel’s Qualm has two straight 3/8 wins (TB, TA) for trainer Chris Brill. Steve Sarras Kennel’s Braintree has back-to-back victories (B, A) for trainer Barb Long. Previous Next

< Back $50,000 HE'S MY MAN CLASSIC Jun 1, 2020 PAT C DEWDROP GLIDES TO VICTORY IN PALM BEACH KENNEL CLUB’S FINAL $50,000 HE’S MY MAN CLASSIC! West Palm Beach, Fl. – In both of its incarnations, the only stake race the Koppe, Staats & Collins Kennel had never laid claim to was the $50,000 He’s My Man Classic. And they had only one more chance and one entry to completely fill out their championship racing history. And they did it! Pat C Dewdrop rushed the first turn, earning early leader status entering the backstretch. Behind her were early-speed finalists Oshkosh Noisy and Arkans Vega. As for the rest of the field, heading into the first turn, big-time finisher, Arkansbdchikhiks, was in a great position. But as often happens in the Sport of Queens, was clipped from behind, causing him to get off kilter and go wide, denying Heremecoming and Sarahdipedy from championship gold. The only Greyhound to escape this fate was Lonesome Jones, who stuck to the rail and snuck underneath the traffic jam. As the contenders barreled down the backstretch towards the final turn, it was clear as to how the outcome was going to be. Pat C Dewdrop cruised in to an easy two-length victory in a 545-Yard Royal Palm Course clocking of 29.42 seconds, returning a healthy $12.20- win ticket to her happy supporters. At the first turn, with as much early speed as there was in the finale, the inevitable happened. The dreaded first turn traffic jam which resulted in half the field being taken out of the equation. Pat C Dewdrop collected a cool $25,000 for her record setting victory! Oshkosh Noisy, Arkans Vega and Lonesome Jonesfinished second, third and fourth, respectively. The complete 2020 $50,000 He’s My Man Classic Championship order of finish: 1st – #6 .Pat C Dewdrop (Kiowa Myth – Pat C Whereby, Koppe, Staats & Collins) 2nd – #8 . Oshkosh Noisy (Oshkosh Lamont – Oshkosh Vani, James Douglas) 3rd –#5.Arkans Vega (Atascocita Gray – Asteria Drive, Royal Racing Team) 4th –#4.Lonesome Jones (CTW Base Camp – Blazin Booty, Rader Racing) 5th –#1. Heremecoming (KC And All – Tango Tessa, Janie Carroll) 6th –#3.Arkansbdchikhiks (Golden Squire – Arkans BD Cheeks, Royal Racing Team) 7th – #7 .Sarahdipedy (Superior Panama – Joy Giovanni, Rader Racing) Scratched – #2 .Flying Road King (Kiowa Myth – SE’s Hiway Doll, Rader Racing) The Classic is named in honor of Palm Beach Kennel Club racing legend and the track’s first multimedia sensation He’s My Man and dedicated to the man who raised and trained “Roscoe”, Bill Pappas. Previous Next

< Back $64,000 SPRINT CLASSIC SECOND-ROUND RESULTS Feb 20, 2020 ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – A change of scenery has done wonders for Ryeit. Competing in his first career stakes series, the ABC Racing kennel greyhound joined 15 other dogs to advance Wednesday in the $64,000 Sprint Classic at Derby Lane. Half of the 32-dog field was eliminated, with the remaining sprinters moving on to Saturday’s third qualifying round in Races 6 (8:39 p.m.) and 10 (9:47). The Feb. 29 championship field will be determined after next Wednesday’s final qualifier. Dogs earn points in each race based on order of finish on a 16-10-8-6-3-2-1-0 scale. First place in the 550-yard event pays $25,000. Ryeit remained in contention with his second consecutive second-place finish to raise his point total to 20. Favored in wagering at 8-5, Ryeit overcame a tardy start to finish second by a length behind Bartley Corporation kennel’s Where U Want Me, who paid a series high $24.60 to win in 30.47 seconds and elevated his point total to 18. “Ryeit ran well,’’ ABC Racing kennel owner Don Burk said. “He missed his break, went down to the first (turn) on the outside trying to go around (other dogs), and he closed.’’ Ryeit is one of two ABC Racing sprinters to move on. He is joined by Son Shine, who has 18 points following a second-place finish behind Lester Raines kennel’s Super C Casino, who paid $7.20 to win in 30.57 seconds. Son Shine lost by two lengths after setting the pace by four lengths early. Super C Casino has 19 points. LK’s Crush N It of Lashmet kennel and Floyd kennel’s Shoot The Breeze both remained undefeated in the series and share the points lead at 32. LK’s Crush N It paid $3.20 to win after clocking 30.13 seconds for his 71st lifetime victory. Shoot The Breeze won his career-best fifth race in a row and returned $3.80 to win with a career- and meet-best time of 30.00 seconds. Both dogs won by six lengths. Ryeit, a 29-month-old male from a litter by Heyl and Elvara, has shown dramatic improvement since arriving at Derby Lane in December. “I got him from Southland (in West Memphis, Ark.) not too long ago and he’s been a nice dog,’’ Burk said. “He’s a money maker. . . . He hits the (tote) board all the time.’’ Owned by William O’Donnell and his North Shore Kennel of Lynn (Mass.), Ryeit struggled at Southland. He made only four official starts and was schooled 10 other times from March to September in 2019. Ryeit never finished better than fourth in the maiden ranks, and was subsequently sent to the Florida West Coast track. Ryeit has turned things around quickly at Derby Lane. After a pair of schooling races – where he finished first and second – the 72-pound dog has been a model of consistency. In 15 starts, he has only missed two paychecks (lower than a fourth-place finish) – including three wins and seven second-place showings. His best clocking has been 30.46 seconds on Jan. 25 under trainer Joy Burk, Don’s wife. “Everything’s got to go your way to beat those real good dogs like (LK’s) Crush N It, (LK’s) Santorini (Lashmet) and O Ya Hot Rod (Lester Raines) . . . and Shoot The Breeze is a monster,’’ Don Burk said. “(Ryeit) has got to get an 8 hole, and those other dogs have got to miss their break. You’ve got to run a perfect race, and hope they don’t.“ (Ryeit) has got 20 points, and in the next rounds, you know those other dogs will eat the points up. He’ll probably need 30 (points to advance to the finale). So a third and a fourth (in the upcoming rounds) should be all right for him.’’ Previous Next

< Back ALL AMERICAN TEAM ANNOUNCED Jim Gartland Mar 3, 2020 Stake winner and Southland win leader, Salud Raindrop , has been named Captain of the 2019 All-America team, as announced today by the National Greyhound Association (NGA). The annual naming of the All-America team dates back to 1963. The program pays tribute to the top eight greyhounds nationally. Historically voted on by the member tracks of AGTOA, the award process was turned over to the NGA in 2019. Others named to this year’s squad are: LK's Crush N It (Derby Lane), JS Flamin Ace (Southland), MRL Full Boat (Southland), LR Iowa Choice (Southland), Revin Devon (Iowa Greyhound Park), Sarkazum (Southland) and Flying Givenchy (Derby Lane). This year’s second team is comprised of: Pat C News (bestbet Jax), Konomi (Southland), L's Griz (Wheeling), Dyenuhmite (Southland), Mac's Trudeaux (Tri-State), Chillaxification (Southland), JD Revelation (IGP-Naples) and Super C Azelle (Tri-State). First Team All Americans The only female to make this year's first team of All Americans is Salud Raindrop . She not only made the team she has also been named Captain of the 2019 squad. At one time or another during 2019, many people were referring to Salud Raindrop as "the best greyhound in the country". She ended the year as the win leader at Southland despite missing the last two months of racing due to injury she incurred in the finals of the Female Sprint Championship. She did, however, dominate the final of the Southland Derby on her way to 11 wins in a row. At various times during the meet she snapped off win streaks of nine, five, eleven, three and five on her way to capturing the Southland win title with a total of 36 victories in all. Her box break and early burst to the turn were her signature and she rarely got caught once in front. She won an unbelievable 76% of the races she started, finishing the year with a 47-36-3-3-2 record. 44 times on the pay sheet out of 47 starts; 93% in the money! The sleek black female is by Bella Infrared-Mega Whitney and is co-owned by Jeff Blair and Mike Montoya. She races for the Gloria Dorsey Kennel at Southland and is trained by Natalie Looper. A Derby Lane star is our next All American. LK's Crush N It had a phenomenal year to say the least. He made five stake finals, winning four of those including the $64,000 Sprint Classic. He finished 2nd in his other stake final. He put together numerous win streaks throughout the year on his way to winning 50 races, the most of any greyhound in North America. He was almost unstoppable at Derby finishing in the trifecta 61 times in 67 starts. Bred, raised and owned by John and Jill Lashmet of Colorado, Crush N It is a 2016 son of LK's Now R Never-LK's All In. JS Flamin Ace had to be considered as one of the premiere greyhounds in the country in 2019. Racing against the best Southland has to offer, Ace would qualify for 5 stake finals including the GAGF, Southland Derby, Male Sprint Championship, King & Queens and 2 for the Money. He would win the Male Sprint Championship on Festival of Stakes day and follow it up with a King & Queens victory. A July 2017 son of Superior Panama-CH Sweet Honey, Flamin Ace captured 28 wins in 2019, second most for the meet at Southland. His overall record was 58-28-9-5-7. He was raised in Abilene by Shannon Henry and was a $52,000 auction sale at the Fall meet in 2018. He is owned by Garth Bolton and Lester Raines and races for the Raines kennel. Congratulations to everyone associated with this great greyhound! The second oldest greyhound to make this year's team, MRL Full Boat broke in at Orange Park in 2018 and showed early on that he could be a force to be reckoned with. After struggling a bit in his early career, he was switched over to the 3/8ths course after just ten lifetime starts, winning 5 of his first 12 at the longer distance. He would then ship to Southland in late 2018. After a couple of sprint starts he moved back over to longer distances and picked up a couple wins before heading back over to sprints. This pattern would hold true for a while as the Boat proved his talents at all distances. He would eventually compete in three different distances making finals of stakes at both 5/16 and 3/8. All in all he would make 5 stake finals at Southland in 2019 while finishing in the money in 45 out of his 50 starts. Full Boat is an October 2016 son of CTW Pipe Down-MRL Goin Bye Bye and is owned by Lee Harrington's MRL Metals. LR Iowa Choice . This big male out of Top Of The Pile-Springisintheair broke in with a flair in March of 2019 winning seven of his first nine starts, the ninth being a first round win in qualifying for the Great American Greyhound Futurity. He would go on to make the consolation final of the futurity and then jump right into qualifying for the Southland Derby where he would make the finals after winning two of the four qualifying rounds. He would continue his winning ways leading up to qualifying for the Male Sprint Championship in the Festival of stakes. He would find trouble in the final but bounce back and continue picking up victories finishing the season with the third most wins for the Southland meet. Three stake finals and a record of 52-26-6-4-3 against the best are the credentials for the youngest of this year's All Americans, LR Iowa Choice. Congratulations to co-owners Mary Robinette and Karen Legg and their outstanding greyhound! Revin Devon . This young Iowa-bred is owned by David Ungs and Billy Galbreath. He burst on the Iowa Greyhound Park scene and quickly moved up into the grade A ranks. The April 2017 brindle son of U Too Pure Silk-Fire And Heat wound up capturing the IGP track win title with a 19 victories in 35 outings. He would go on to win the $200,000 Iowa Breeders Cup as well as the $30,000 Future Stars Stake. He also ran a nice second in the 3/8ths mile Dubuque Course Classic to Superior Tora. Devon would close out the season at Dubuque with another stake win in the Secretary's Choice Stake finishing off a great meet. He moved on to Gulf Greyhound Park at the end of the year and continued his winning ways there. The oldest member of this year's team is William O'Donnell's Sarkazum . This star was simply a machine, running at any and all distances offered at the Southland oval. In May he captured the Razorback Championship over the 660 yard course. He then ran a hard trying 2nd in the Super Marathon Championship as well as winning races over the 703 yard course. Sarkazum is a 2016 son of Shonn-Jennah and races for the Northshore Kennel at Southland. His record for the year was 51-14-15-5-9, an impressive 84% in the money clip. Here's to Sarkazum and the O'Donnell crew for this All American honor! Flying Givenchy . Givenchy broke in at Naples going from Maiden to A in straight starts. He would end up with fourteen starts at the South Florida track, winning twelve of those. From there it was on to Southland for the Great American Greyhound Futurity where he would run well enough to make the finals, but finish a disappointing seventh. He was then shipped to Derby Lane where he would win the T.L. Weaver Memorial, run third in the Husker Magic, finish 2nd in the Howl-O-Ween stake and garner 21 wins in 36 starts. Givenchy, a 2017 son of Barcelona Boss-Flying Blush compiled a record of 63-34-17-3-3 for the year at three different tracks, making 4 stake finals and finishing 7th in the nation in total wins. He is owned by Vince Berland. These eight will be honored with All-America plaques in ceremonies at the Greyhound Hall Of Fame Thursday night, Apr. 16, during the NGA Spring Meet in Abilene, Ks. Previous Next