< Back TRAINERS THRILLED, PROUD OF ALL-AMERICA HONOREES Stan Pawloski Mar 31, 2021 Abrahamson Kennel’s CG’s Penny Shoe and Blanchard Kennel’s L’s Luv It, both all-Wheeling selections, are All-Americans. Recently, the National Greyhound Association announced the 2020 All-American teams with CG’s Penny Shoe earning first team honors while L’s Luv It was named to the second team. Both sprinters were recognized on the 2020 all-Wheeling team earlier this year. The naming of the All-America teams started in 1963 and pays tribute to the top greyhounds in the country. Historically voted on by members of the American Greyhound Track Operators Association, the award process was turned over to the National Greyhound Association in 2019. The 2020 All-American first team is dominated by competitors from Southland Greyhound Park – unquestionably the toughest racetrack in the country. Joining CG’s Penny Shoe on the first team are JS Flamin Ace (Southland), Chillaxification (Southland), World Ruler (Southland), Air Ace (Southland), LK’s Santorini (Derby Lane), Flying Zulu (Southland) and FGF Mathias (Southland). CG’s Penny Shoe, an October 2017 greyhound out of Jax Oxford-CG’s Marla, had a spectacular year of racing in 2020 in West Virginia. At Tristate Greyhound Park, the sprinter was the track win champion and at Wheeling Island he captured the track’s featured stakes event – the $100,000 Mountaineer Classic Sprint – as well as making the final of the West Virginia Greyhound Owners and Breeders Association Panhandle Sprint Stakes. Todd Johnson, CG Penny Shoe’s trainer at Tristate, was ecstatic when he heard the sprint star made first team All-American. “I am tickled to death, so excited, so cool. It’s an honor to train a greyhound like Penny Shoe – it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Johnson said. “I am so proud of him. He’s without a doubt the best greyhound I have ever trained.” In 34 Grade AA starts at Tristate, CG’s Penny Shoe had 24 wins, 3 seconds and 5 thirds. In one stretch of 22 races, he had 19 wins – 12 in a row – 1 second and 2 thirds. “Once Penny Shoe gets a clear look at the lure and out on top, the race is over,” Johnson added. CG’s Penny Shoe came up to Wheeling in late September to compete in the Mountaineer Classic and WVGOBA Sprint. In 12 Wheeling starts, he had 2 wins, 3 seconds and 3 thirds. His magical moment came in the Mountaineer Classic final where he closed deep in the stretch to catch frontrunner TNT Free Falling to capture Wheeling’s featured stakes event of the year by 1 ½ lengths. “Nobody expected a West Virginia bred to come up to Wheeling and upset all the great Wheeling greyhounds,” Johnson said. CG’s Penny Shoe was trained in Wheeling by Tom Engle, who thought the sprinter’s accomplishments deserved consideration for All-America honors. “I am so proud of Penny Shoe and so happy for his owners, Neil and JC (Abrahamson). Being named All-American is quite an honor,” Engle said. “A lot of the credit for Penny Shoe’s success goes to trainer Todd Johnson in Tristate.” Johnson was quick to spread the credit. “A lot of people had a hand in Penny Shoe’s success – from Jack Stolirchick who raised him the first year in West Virginia, Howard Mosier who finished his training in Florida and trainer Tom Engle in Wheeling,” Johnson said. CG’s Penny She is the second All-American the Abrahamsons have owned. The first was DD’s Nelson in 1987 – arguably the best greyhound to ever race at Wheeling. “We are so excited and so proud of what Penny Shoe achieved last year. It was an exciting year,” Neil Abrahamson said. “It’s a great honor to own a greyhound named an All-American – our first since DD’s Nelson.” Joining L’s Luv It on the 2020 All-American second team are Rasta (Iowa/Southland), LK’s Crush N It (Derby Lane), Killer Tolstoy (Naples/Iowa/Southland), JD Elegant (Iowa/Southland), Bug Brush (Palm Beach/Southland), FGF Avenger (Southland) and Abbi’s Frontman (Palm Beach). L’s Luv It, an August 2016 greyhound out of KC And All-L’s Morgan, has been a mainstay in the Blanchard Kennel the last three years. In 2020, the sprinter made the final of the $100,000 Mountaineer Classic Sprint Stakes and was tied for third at the track in victories. The second team All American recognition came as a surprise to trainer James Blanchard. “I didn’t expect Luv It to make an All-American team, it came as a surprise,” Blanchard said. “It’s definitely a great honor and I am super proud of her. She’s had a remarkable racing career at Wheeling.” Last year, L’s Luv It had 14 wins, 9 seconds, 5 thirds and 7 fourths in 44 starts – an 80 percent mark on the superfecta ticket and a 64 percent trifecta finish. She was the first greyhound ever to make the final of the Mountaineer Classic Sprint Stakes and be named all-Wheeling for three straight seasons. Blanchard had thoughts of retiring the sprint dandy a couple times in 2020, but “each time L’s Luv It got hot. She still had the desire to compete.” In the Mountaineer Classic, L’s Luv It won three out of her four qualifying round races before experiencing a tough trip in the final. L’s Luv It was retired after two races in 2021, going out a winner. “It was special when L’s Luv It retired with a Grade AA win in her last race. That doesn’t happen very often,” Blanchard said. “Besides her talent, she was fortunate to stay healthy most of her career.” Previous Next

< Back $100,000 MOUNTAINEER CLASSIC KICKS OFF AT WHEELING Oct 4, 2021 Two kennels had multiple winners in the first round as the $100,000 Mountaineer Classic kicked off Sunday afternoon at Wheeling Island with a field of 70 sprinters. Three Blanchard Kennel greyhounds – Frappe, JS Rob Stone and Penrose Boss – and a pair of Steve Sarras racers – CTW Black Forest and LK’s Trubulee – captured first round victories. Other winners in the initial qualifying round were O Ya Bobbie Sue (Lester Raines Kennel), Ding Dong Ditch (Imark Kennel), Dark Guinness (Xtrem Hess Racing Kennel) and Abbi’s Eagle (Jacobs Racing Kennel). Each winner accumulated 15 points. The second round is set for Friday afternoon, Oct. 8. The tentative plan is to cut the field to 48 greyhounds after the second qualifying round. The third preliminary round is scheduled for Wednesday matinee, Oct. 13. The field will tentatively be cut to 24 sprinters, but could be higher, for the semifinal round on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 17. The championship final will be held during the matinee card on Saturday, Oct. 23. Points accumulated after the first round follow: 15 POINTS: O Ya Bobbie Sue (Lester Raines), Ding Dong Ditch (Imark), CTW Black Forest (Steve Sarras), LK’s Trubulee (Steve Sarras), Frappe (Blanchard), JS Rob Stone (Blanchard), Penrose Boss (Blanchard), Dark Guinness (Xtrem Hess Racing), Abbi’s Eagle (Jacobs Racing). 10 POINTS: JS Slush Fund (Lester Raines), JS Saltythursday (Lester Raines), RS’s Dark Night (Lester Raines), Turbo Walt (Code Red), Clap Back (Imark), Easi Vesurio (Blanchard), BO’s Tracy (Blanchard), Frogman (Blanchard), WW Grandiose (Wayne Ward). 7 POINTS: Tickle Ur Fancy (Imark), Imark Mash (Imark), Easi Volsina (Blanchard), Barts Worthwhile (Charter), Memphis Minnie (Wayne Ward), BGR Bigfoot (Brad Boeckenstedt), Hi Noon Ricochet (Jacobs Racing), Gettin My Buz On (Jacobs Racing), RHT Marylynn (Xtrem Hess Racing. 5 POINTS: Day Drinking (Imark), Easi Kadeem (Blanchard), KB’s Copy Kat (Charter), Oshkosh Dally (Charter), Jack Parkman (Charter), Eau Claire (Charter), Oshkosh Edward (Charter), WW Go Chiefs Go (Wayne Ward). 4 POINTS: Vegas (Patriot/Taplin), UBX Unclesweater (Xtrem Hess Racing). 3 POINTS: CTW Cant Stop It (Lester Raines), Craigie Daughtry (Lester Raines), Super C Amega (Lester Raines), Atascocita Amity (Code Red), Slatex Jackson (Jacobs Racing), CTW Smores To Go (Xtrem Hess Racing), Axtrem Flicker (Xtrem Hess Racing), T’s Iron Man (Xtrem Hess Racing). 2 POINTS: JS Shock Therapy (Lester Raines), Ponda Waco Hound (Code Red), Atascocita Birma (Code Red), Saber Fire (Imark), LK’s Santorini (Steve Sarras), BGR Out Of Mind (Brad Boeckenstedt), Abbi’s Frontman (Jacobs Racing), Denali Darlin (Jacobs Racing), Pat C Inferno (Rangel). 1 POINT: Teaser’s Tickle (Lester Raines), Sumkindawondrful (Imark), CTW Bahati (Steve Sarras), Lily Lazer (Blanchard), WW Holdin Fast (Wayne Ward), BGR Onewaystreet (Brad Boeckenstedt), BGR Big Daddy (Brad Boeckenstedt), Hi Noon Revolver (Jacobs Racing), Keeper Cry (Xtrem Hess Racing). 0 POINTS: Imark Solo (Imark), Saber Port (Imark), Mega Felipe (A Ray), ASK China (Steve Sarras), WW Blonde Roast (Wayne Ward), Kris Was Righh (Brad Boeckenstedt), Pat C Zenith (Rangel). Previous Next

NGA Endorsed Adoption Groups - NV Back to Adoption Groups Southern Arizona Greyhound Adoption Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Texas Webpage Prev Next

< Back WVGOBA KEYSTONE CHAMPIONSHIP APPEARS WIDE OPEN None of the greyhounds with first-round victories in the $65,000 West Virginia Greyhound Owners and Breeders Association Keystone (3/8th) Championship repeated their winning efforts in the second round Wednesday afternoon at Wheeling Island. Posting second-round wins were Steve Sarras Kennel’s TS Woody and TS Overbite Ovie along with Imark Kennel’s CET Marlin. First round winners were Xtrem Hess Racing Kennel’s Wild Blue Bee, Patriot/Taplin Kennel’s JAS Strait Aces and Steve Sarras Kennel’s CET Dirty Skinny. The semi-finals are set for Sunday, Oct. 15, and the Keystone Championship is scheduled for Saturday matinee, Oct. 21. After two rounds, CET Dirty Skinny (Steve Sarras) tops the leaderboard with 25 points followed by TS Woody (Steve Sarras) with 22 points. Three greyhounds – JAS Strait Aces (Patriot/Taplin), CET Dirty Toodls (Steve Sarras) and CET Marlin (Imark) – have 20 points each. Points after the second-round follow: CET Dirty Skinny (Steve Sarras), 25 points TS Woody (Steve Sarras), 22 points JAS Strait Aces (Patriot/Taplin), 20 points CET Dirty Toodls (Steve Sarras), 20 points CET Marlin (Imark), 20 points Wild Blue Bee (Xtrem Hess Racing), 17 points Wild Chomp Dude (Xtrem Hess Racing), 17 points CET Zinc (Imark), 17 points TS Overbite Ovie (Steve Sarras), 15 points CG’s Delete (Code Red), 13 points CET Miguel (Steve Sarras), 12 points Apollo Justice (Steve Sarras), 10 points CET Murray (Wayne Ward), 8 points TS Porky (Steve Sarras), 6 points Aaralynn Jean (Patriot/Taplin), 6 points Raise The Wind (Steve Sarras), 5 points CET Perch (Steve Sarras), 3 points Trade Up (Steve Sarras), 3 points Baccarat (Steve Sarras), 3 points Arroyo Kingston (Code Red), 3 points (CET Beta was scratched before the second round). Previous Next

< Back THE $65,000 WEST VIRGINIA GREYHOUND OWNERS AND BREEDERS ASSOCIATION OPEN SPRINT GETS UNDERWAY TUESDAY EVENING, MAY 9, AT TRI STATE Patricia Saul May 9, 2023 Topping the entries is the 2021-2022 captain of the All-American Team, CET Dirty Dilly. In addition, she won the $100,000 Mardi Gras Challenge and the 2021 WVGOBA Open Sprint along with receiving the Rural Rube Award. Another contender is GF Straight One, who captured the title of the 2023 $35,000 WVGOBA Juvenile Sprint. The following kennels have greyhounds entered in the Open Sprint: Abrahamson: CG’s Roadrunner, CG’s Red Ryder, JA’s Dupont, CG’s Bo Peep, JA’s Henry Ford, CG’s Boy Blue, CG’s Miss Muffet CET Kennels: CET Bill, CET Comin In Hot, CET Daryl, CET Dirty Dilly, CET Fernando, CET Gravely, CET Miguel, CET Negan, CET Nonstop, CET Salina, CET Sanchez, CET Scooby, TS Buckwheat, TS Dustin Lynch, TS Fit Bit Double G Racing: Coach Corralejo, Coach Deathstar, Coach Gelato, Coach Gorillaglu, Coach Hartleben, Coach Hatfield, Coach Molina, Coach Oh Boy, Coach Tanteo, Coach Van Winkle, Coach Wonder, Coach Wonka Heather Lomax: GF Steel Horse, Arroyo Roxanne, GF Straight One, GF Lucky Penny JS Kennels: GLS Blondie, GLS Daisy Dot Lester Raines: RS’s Abraham, RS’s Big Jake, RS’s Happyharper, RS’s Penny Lane, Mc Millon / Ward: Mac’s Augie, Mac’s Gobstopper, Mac’s New York, Mac’s Sugar Pie The greyhounds return for the second round on Saturday, May 13. The quarter-finals will be Thursday, May 18, followed by the semi-finals on Tuesday, May 23. The Open Sprint Stakes championship is scheduled for Saturday, May 27. Previous Next

NGA Endorsed Adoption Groups - AZ Back to Adoption Groups Arizona Heartfelt Hounds Arizona Website Southern Arizona Greyhound Adoption Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Texas Website Prev Next

< Back NATIONAL HANDLE MARK SET AT WHEELING ISLAND Stan Pawloski May 24, 2022 The national single day handle record for greyhound racing at one racetrack was broken Saturday afternoon (May 7) at Wheeling Island. The total wagered on-track and off-track last Saturday on Wheeling Island greyhounds was $1,487,335, surpassing the $1,457,609 bet on greyhounds at The Woodlands in Kansas on March 11, 1992. For the week from Wednesday, May 4, through Sunday, May 8, Wheeling handled nearly $5 million – $4,910,233. In the first quarter of 2022 (January through March), the amount wagered on greyhound racing in West Virginia continued to climb. Wheeling Island handled nearly $56 million in the first quarter of 2022 compared to almost $53 million last year – an 8 percent increase. At Tri-State, $33 million was bet on racing this year in the first quarter compared to $27 million in 2021 – a 24 percent hike. The following numbers validate the popularity of greyhound racing at Wheeling Island: - The Wheeling handle increased this year despite less racing days in the first quarter – 63 days in 2021 and only 60 days in 2022 – and less races this year – 17-race cards in 2022 compared to 20-race programs in 2021. - In the first quarter of 2021, Wheeling had five $1 million plus handle days while in the first three months of 2022 Wheeling had 18 days handling more than $1 million. - This year, Wheeling has had 18 consecutive Saturday handles topping $1 million. One Saturday card was canceled due to flooding. Previous Next

< Back Wheeling Hot Dogs ( as of February 14, all races 5/16 unless otherwise noted ) Stan Pawloski Feb 15, 2022 Lester Raines Kennel’s RS Big D has won 13 out of his last 14 Grade TAA 3/8 races, including eight in a row, for trainer Joel Roden. Kennel-mate O Ya Simon Sez has two wins and a second in his last three starts (A, AA). Brad Boeckenstedt Kennel’s BGR Jaded has captured six out of her last seven Grade AA starts for trainer Frank Pellittere. Kennel-mate BGR Shoeless Joe has back-to-back 3/8 victories (TB, TA). Charter Kennel’s Oshkosh Heart has three straight Grade AA wins for trainer James Campbell. Patriot/Taplin Kennel’s GF St Kitts has two victories and a second in her last three Grade TAA 3/16 outings for trainer Joe Otto. A Ray Kennel’s Yolo Excelente has won three out of her last four trips (C, B, A) for trainer Joe Palmer. Imark Kennel’s Saber Enzo has three wins in a row (M, D, C) for trainer DiAnn Derr. Previous Next

< Back DIRTY DILLY REPEATS Jim Gartland Jan 9, 2023 CET Dirty Dilly Carl Tomblin's CET Dirty Dilly has repeated as National Win Champion winning 40 of her 48 starts in 2022. Dilly had an incredible year in 2021; winning the Rural Rube, named All American team Captain and captured the National win title. It looks like 2022 could certainly be a repeat of most, if not all, of those accolades. Dilly easily outdistanced second place finisher, BGR Jungle Juice, a Caliente racer, who finished second with 32 wins. CET Dirty Dilly is a December 2018 female out of SH Avatar-CET Dirty Nicki. She was raised and is owned by Carl Tomblin II and races for his CET Kennel at Tri State. Her accomplishments for the year included multiple win streaks of five and seven races. She finished the year with a record of 48-40-3-4, missing the trifecta only one time in those forty-eight starts. She won 83% of her races and made the paysheet nearly 98% of the time. She is an exceptional greyhound with exceptional talent. Congratulations to Carl and all his team on the accomplishments of this great greyhound! Steve Sarras presents last year's Rural Rube award to Carl & Summer Tomblin Previous Next

< Back CET DIRTY GURLY, MAC'S ZHIVAGO TOP WVGOBA KEYSTONE STAKES QUALIFIERS Stan Pawloski Nov 18, 2021 Previous Next

NGA Endorsed Adoption Groups - CA Back to Adoption Groups GREYSAVE California Website Fast Friends Greyhound Adoption of California California Website Prev Next

< Back Wheeling Hot Dogs ( as of August 14, all races 5/16 unless otherwise noted ) Stan Pawloski Aug 14, 2023 Charter Kennel’s Barts Aviator (AA) and FGF Duke (A, AA) have captured four out of their last five trips for trainer James Campbell. Kennel-mates Jack Parkman (A, AA) and JSP Money Talks (B, A) have back-to-back wins while Oshkosh Nancy has three straight victories (C, B, A). Steve Sarras Kennel’s Jolene Parker has three Grade AA wins in a row for trainer Mike Holguin. Kennel-mate WW Beastly Wrath has won three out of his last four 3/8 races (TA, TAA). Lester Raines Kennel’s JS Atomic Dawn has three straight Grade AA victories for trainer Joel Roden. Xtrem Hess Racing Kennel’s Xtrem Chicken has three wins, a second and a third in her last five Grade TAA 3/16 starts for trainer Jill Spicer. Code Red Kennel’s O Ya Paws has two victories and a second in his last three Grade AA outings for trainer Tom Engle. Kennel-mate FF Brooklyn has back-to-back wins (B, A). Blanchard Kennel’s Artex Suave has two straight Grade AA victories for trainer Chris Maynard. Kennel-mates TR Hill has won four out of his last five trips (M, D, C, B), Keep Em Guessing (C, B, A) and Ark RB Heyward (M, D, C) have captured three out of their last four starts while Ark RB Fitzpatrk has three straight wins (M, D, C). Patriot/Taplin Kennel’s SE Tilt A Whirl has back-to-back 3/8 victories (TB, TA) for trainer Cheyney Kuriata. Wayne Ward Kennel’s Resolute has three wins in a row (M, D, C) for trainer Ron Otto. Previous Next