Search Results

< Back Wheeling Hot Dogs ( as of April 5, all races 5/16 unless otherwise noted ) Stan Pawloski Apr 5, 2020 Rangel Kennel’s Pat C Paul has four straight victories (C, B, A, AA) for trainer Scott Robinette. Abrahamson Kennel’s Atascocita Birma has two wins and a second in her last three Grade AA starts for trainer Tom Engle. Kennel-mates Orange Meltdown has three 3/16 wins in a row (TD, C, TA) while Atascocita Berta has back-to-back victories (B, A). Lester Raines Kennel’s JS Sineadocollar has two straight wins (A, AA) for trainer Joel Roden. Brad Boeckenstedt Kennel’s BGR Bigfoot (TA, AA 3/8) and BGR The Outlaw (B, A) have back-to-back victories for trainer Frank Pellittere. Charter Kennel’s Eau Claire has two wins in a row (A, AA) for trainer James Campbell. Wayne Ward Kennel’s WW All Smiles has back-to-back victories (B, A) for trainer Ron Otto. Steve Sarras Kennel’s Beth Phoenix has won three out of her last four outings (D, C, B) for trainer Barb Long. Patriot/Taplin Kennel’s BV Memphis has captured three out of her last four trips (M, C, B) for trainer Joe Otto. Previous Next

< Back RS'S DARK NIGHT, CET DIRTY DAN UNBEATEN IN WVGOBA PANHANDLE SPRINT Stan Pawloski Oct 13, 2022 Two greyhounds – RS’s Dark Night and CET Dirty Dan – remain unbeaten after the second round of the $65,000 West Virginia Greyhound Owners and Breeders Association Panhandle Championship Wednesday afternoon at Wheeling Island. Heading into the Sunday, Oct. 16, semi-finals, RS’s Dark Night (Lester Raines Kennel) and CET Dirty Dan (Steve Sarras Kennel) have each accumulated 30 points to top the leaderboard. The stake final is scheduled for the Friday, Oct. 21, matinee card. Capsule looks at the second-round races follow: RS’s Dark Night rushed to an early lead and never looked back in romping to an 11 ½-length victory in 29.70. TS Pretty Boy and Mac’s Sidnyjames rounded out the trifecta ticket. CET Dirty Dan took charge early in recording a 2-length victory in 30.07. RS’s Super Freak was second followed by CET Marlin. CET Tiger Boy posted a box-to-wire 5 ½-length win from the rail post in 30.25. RS’s Railhauler closed for second while CET Dirty Mike settled for third. RS’s Dunkindylan drove to an early lead and was never challenged in winning by 2 ½ lengths in 30.13. CET Fernando got up for second as Arroyo Roxanne finished third. Points after the second-round follow: RS’s Dark Night (Lester Raines), 30 points CET Dirty Dan (Steve Sarras), 30 points CET Barracuda (Imark), 20 points CET Fernando (Imark), 20 points TS Pretty Boy (Steve Sarras), 20 points CET Tiger Boy (Steve Sarras), 20 points RS’s Dunkindylan (Lester Raines), 18 points RS’s Railhauler (Lester Raines), 17 points CET Piranha (Imark), 15 points CET Dirty Mike (Steve Sarras), 14 points RS’s Happyharper (Lester Raines), 13 points RS’s Super Freak (Lester Raines), 13 points CET Marlin (Imark), 12 points Mac’s Sidnyjames (A Ray), 12 points CET Sashaligotti (Steve Sarras), 12 points RS’s Power House (Lester Raines), 9 points Arroyo Roxanne (Code Red), 9 points GLS Blondie (Jacobs Racing), 8 points RS’s Blue Heaven (Lester Raines), 7 points Rico’s Hell Yeah (A Ray), 6 points CET Foxy (Steve Sarras), 5 points RS’s Big Jake (Lester Raines), 4 points CET Musketeer (Steve Sarras), 4 points (CET Dirty Stella was scratched before the second round and CET Moto Moto was ruled out after receiving a checked ticket in round two). Previous Next

< Back Wheeling Hot Dogs ( as of October 5, all races 5/16 unless otherwise noted ) S Pawloski Oct 5, 2020 Jacobs Racing Kennel’s Shes Kinky has three wins and three seconds in her last six starts (AA, SAA) for trainer Alisha Nichols. Kennel-mate Time Killer has back-to-back victories (AA, SAA). Charter Kennel’s Eau Claire has three wins and two seconds in her last five races (AA, SAA) for trainer Jay Falcone. Patriot/Taplin Kennel’s TNT Free Falling has won three out of her last four trips (AA, SAA) for trainer Joe Otto. Blanchard Kennel’s HKF Friskyfranny has two victories and two seconds in her last four Grade TAA 3/8 starts for trainer Sarah Blanchard. Abrahamson Kennel’s Atascocita Berta has two wins and a second in her last three outings (AA, SAA) for trainer Tom Engle. Lester Raines Kennel’s RS Perfectionist has captured three out of her last four races (B, A, SAA) for trainer Joel Roden. Kennel-mates Lee Liam (B, A) and JS Line Of Fire (B, A) have back-to-back victories. Imark Kennel’s Imark Alburn has two wins and a second in her last three trips (B, A) for trainer Diann Derr. Previous Next

< Back Wheeling Hot Dogs as if Dec 14, 2025 Stan Pawloski Dec 14, 2025 Steve Sarras Kennel’s Walkintheshadows has five straight wins (D, C, B, A, AA) for trainer Chuck DiGiovanni. Kennel-mate Venus has won three out of her last four Grade AA trips. Lester Raines Kennel’s LNS Rumor Has It has captured four out of her last five races (M, D, C, B) for trainer Joel Roden. Kennel-mates Calmbefordastorm (A, AA) and Neon Light Speed (TA, TAA 3/16) have back-to-back victories. Patriot/Taplin Kennel’s SH Ikigai has three straight wins (D, C, B) for trainer Cheyney Kuriata. Charter Kennel’s Foxy In Front has won three out of her last four outings (M, D, C) for trainer James Campbell. Jacobs Racing Kennel’s Turbo Mason has back-to-back victories (B, A) for trainer Natalie Looper. Previous Next

< Back AFTER 95 YEARS, DERBY LANE'S FINAL DAY Dec 28, 2020 hey came. They saw. They wanted more. Except, there would be no more. Derby Lane, the picturesque greyhound track on Florida’s West Coast, provided many parting snapshots for its fans on Sunday – the final day of a racing era that spanned nearly a century. “It’s just really sad that this has come to an end after 95 years of racing, through thick and thin, and wars, and . . . .’’ said Louise Weaver, Derby Lane vice president whose great-grandfather, T.L. Weaver, kicked off the sport in Pinellas County on Jan. 3, 1925. “It’s tough to see the greyhound people lose their livelihoods. I see a subculture leaving.’’ Derby Lane and greyhound racing fans knew this day had been coming since 2018, when state voters approved a constitutional amendment to end the sport by 2021. Richard Winning, track president and chairman of the board, and his staff decided to turn the farewell into a memorable weekend. Two Saturday performances produced a total all-source wagering handle of $929,237 (compared to $645,186 the previous Saturday), and an overflow crowd on Sunday (attendance figures were not available) led to a handle of $685,107 for the 15-race card. The final winner at the historic facility came when LK’s Santorini of Lashmet kennel crossed the finish line at 4:59 p.m. to capture the $30,000 Grand Finale Derby. “It is something I’ll remember forever . . . ever,’’ Lashmet kennel manager and trainer Ken Deacon said. LK’s Santorini paid $5.80 as the second wagering choice. Ironically, it was the identical win price that Caymanacadillac of Tri-Star kennel paid in the final race held at Tampa Greyhound Track on Aug. 18, 2007 – ending that site’s 75-year run with live racing. No future plans have been announced for the Derby Lane property, but the track will continue to offer poker and simulcast wagering like Tampa Greyhound Track is doing. Greyhounds at Derby Lane have either been adopted out or are being transported to out-of-state tracks that continue to race. The final performance came on a pleasant and sunny afternoon. Ninety-minutes before the first race, hundreds of fans stood in line outside the track’s main entrance, each wanting to get one of the 1,000 Derby Lane 95th anniversary caps being given away, and to claim their preferred seats or places to stand. Few, if any, parking spots remained. Long lines formed at the concession stands and at the pari-mutuel windows. A band performed outside for several hours, and patrons took turns swapping their favorite racing stories while taking photographs of the track facilities from every conceivable angle. Prior to the final race, fans lined the track fence to take pictures of the greyhounds and their lead-outs – giving them a thunderous applause – before they headed to the starting box for a final time. Patrons also were treated to the trackside presence of Husker Magic, Derby Lane’s all-time win leader who closed her career with 105 victories (104 at St. Petersburg) during a 167-race career from 2013-16. Handled by Derby Lane kennel operators Jim and Kayruth Abernathy, Husker Magic was a three-time All-America first-team member (2014-16), and 2015 Rural Rube champion as the nation’s top sprinter. For 4-1/2 hours, patrons stayed and played – focused on seeing the final race at Derby Lane. John Lashmet was one who remained until the end. A Derby Lane kennel owner and greyhound breeder from Eaton, Colo., Lashmet flew to Florida with wife Jill to see the track’s farewell performance. Joining them was daughter, Deidra, who took a plane from Houston. They were rewarded with a 1-2 finish in the Grand Finale Derby with their LK’s Santorini defeating kennelmate LK’s Trubulee by three lengths in 30.48 seconds – the fastest time among 119 greyhounds that raced during the afternoon on the 550-yard track. After participating in a lengthy and packed post-race winner’s circle ceremony on the track infield, John Lashmet walked across the racing strip toward the paddock area. Overcome with emotion, Lashmet needed time to himself before speaking to anyone. “I don’t know what to say,’’ he said, finally. “There will be no more (racing).’’ The championship by LK’s Santorini, her second career stakes title, wasn’t the only memory that Lashmet and his family took home. Less than 19 hours earlier on the Saturday evening performance, their LK’s Crush N It recorded his 93rd lifetime victory in his 153rd and final start. The 2019 All-America first-team selection and five-time stakes winner was arguably Derby Lane’s top 550-yard athlete in recent years. LK’s Crush N It, a son of LK’s Now R Never and LK’s All In, was the 2019 national win leader and a two-time Derby Lane meet win champion. “Not many of them run until they’re 4 (years old, his fourth birthday was last week),’’ John Lashmet said. LK’s Santorini, who started the year by winning the $18,000 1925 Inaugural on Jan. 4, also put the finishing touch on her first meet win crown. With 21 victories from 33 starts, she wound up six wins ahead of LK’s Crush N It and Deco Colt Gun of Nova kennel. A 44-month-old female from a litter by LK’s Vespar and LK’s Chardonnay, LK’s Santorini raised her overall win total to 68 from 147 starts. “It’s just an unbelievable ending to two great dogs - between Santorini and Crush N It,’’ Deacon said. “You couldn’t ask for more than that. (LK’s Santorini) is the win champion. . . . She picked up where (LK’s Crush N It) left off. She really came into her own in this final run.’’ For Deacon and the Lashmet kennel, the Grand Finale Derby represented their third consecutive stakes title and fifth in the track’s final seven stakes since Sept. 28, 2019. Another operation that had reason to celebrate was Watson Racing kennel, which claimed its first meet win championship with 260 victories from 1,971 starts. The July-to-December campaign featured 176 performances. Watson Racing finished three wins in front of former champion Lester Raines. Three-time winner Everett Racing was third among 14 kennels at 256 victories followed by Capabal with 243 and Abernathy at 232. Deacon and others in the industry will now begin other chapters in their respective lives. Deacon plans to return to a previous career in the Tampa Bay area as a captain for charters and commercial fishing. A kennel owner said he may accept employment in a golfing pro shop in the Florida Panhandle, while one trainer said she expects to move to Iowa without any employment plans. As patrons began to depart the premises, track announcer Jim Peake, a 25-year Derby Lane employee, provided poignant words in his final time at the microphone. “Good luck, good day, and good bye from St. Petersburg.’’ Previous Next

< Back Wheeling Hot Dogs ( as of September 4, all races 5/16 unless otherwise noted ) Stan Pawloski Sep 5, 2023 Charter Kennel’s FGF Duke has won six straight Grade AA races for trainer James Campbell. Kennel-mate JSP Hush Money has back-to-back 3/8 wins (TA, TAA). Blanchard Kennel’s Tenacity has four victories and a second in her last five Grade AA trips for trainer Chris Maynard. Steve Sarras Kennel’s Florentine has three wins and two seconds in her last five Grade AA starts for trainer Mike Holguin. Kennel-mate Bigbootybetty has back-to-back victories (B, A). Lester Raines Kennel’s JS Xtra Fancy has two wins and two seconds in her last four Grade TAA 3/8 races for trainer Joel Roden. Code Red Kennel’s O Ya Paws has two victories and a second in his last three Grade AA outings for trainer Tom Engle. Wayne Ward Kennel’s WW Got Rhythm (AA) and WW Sweet Silver (B, A) have back-to-back wins for trainer Ron Otto. Xtrem Hess Racing Kennel’s Andrew Bogut has won three out of his last four 3/16 trips (TC, TB, TA) for trainer Jill Spicer. Jacobs Racing Kennel’s Psycho But Sweet has captured three out of her last four races (M, D, C) for trainer Natalie Looper. Previous Next

< Back Wheeling Hot Dogs ( as of July 27, all races 5/16 unless otherwise noted ) Stan Pawloski Jul 27, 2020 Lester Raines Kennel’s JS Drinkmepretty has won three out of her last four Grade AA races for trainer Joel Roden. Imark Kennel’s CTW Lotus Flower has captured three out of her last four Grade TAA 3/8 starts for trainer Scott Purdy. Steve Sarras Kennel’s CTW Til Then Tes has won three out of her last four trips (A, AA) for trainer Barb Long. Kennel-mates Braintree has three straight victories (B, A, AA) while Tiny Hug (A, AA) has back-to-back wins. Jacobs Racing Kennel’s Too Cute To Boot has two victories and a second in her last three outings (A, AA) for trainer Louise Strong. Charter Kennel’s Oshkosh Nadine has back-to-back wins (A, AA) for trainer Jay Falcone. Brad Boeckenstedt Kennel’s BGR Turbocharged has three straight 3/8 victories (TC, TB, TA) for trainer Chris Brill. A Ray Kennel’s AMF Utah Maggie has back-to-back wins (B, A) for trainer Joe Palmer. Previous Next

< Back Tri State Kennel Wins for Grade AA/A 550 & TAA 677 : Jan 30-Feb 3 P. Saul Feb 6, 2024 Abrahamson Kennel (trainer Todd Johnson) captured four Grade AA wins with littermates Cg’s Nail Biter & CG’s Sun Storm and Ja’s Dupont & Ja’s Henry Ford. JS Kennels (trainer Garret Gruden) had one Grade AA from Jsp Burninmoney. Three racers, who had Grade A wins, were Mac’s Sugar Pie, What Else Ya Got and Jsp Moneyexpress. Lester Raines Kennel (trainer Jim Cochran) grabbed one Grade AA win from Rs’s Penny Lane. Racer Dd Gift of Gab took the Grade A win. Double G Racing Kennel (trainer Greg Geter) took one Grade AA win with Ab Yes Man. Cet Kennels (trainer Scott Robinette) seized two Grade A wins from Cet Blazin Blitz and Cet Dirty Toodls. Kennels that had one Grade A win were Heather Lomax Kennel (Kc’s Quinn) and Superior Kennel (O Ya Joe Kerr). Rs Racing Kennel captured two TAA wins from Turbo Saki and Ww Steely Dan. Daily handles: $0, $ 549,797.83, $ 559,285.52, $ 669,575.20, and $ 676,185.39. *Racing was cancelled Tuesday, January 30th. Previous Next

< Back The NGA Spring Meet 2023 Sunflower State Sprint Stake Jim Gartland Nov 21, 2022 Open to all pups who are age eligible for the Spring meet 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, 2023 to reserve a spot (limit four 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 the Flite I and 3rd place finishers will run in the Flite II of round 2. Total Purse will be determined by the amount of entries. Estimated to be $20,000 minimum - $40,000 maximum. 2022 Winner - Island Paros Previous Next

< Back WVGOBA KEYSTONE CHAMPIONSHIP KICKS OFF Stan Pawloski Greyhounds from three different kennels posted victories Friday afternoon in the first round of the $65,000 West Virginia Greyhound Owners and Breeders Association Keystone (3/8th) Championship at Wheeling Island. Xtrem Hess Racing Kennel’s Wild Blue Bee, Patriot/Taplin Kennel’s JAS Strait Aces and Steve Sarras Kennel’s CET Dirty Skinny registered first-round wins. Each accumulated 15 points and the top spot on the leaderboard. The second round will be held Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 11. The semi-finals are set for Sunday, Oct. 15, and the Keystone Championship is scheduled for Saturday matinee, Oct. 21. Capsule looks at the first-round races follow: Wild Blue Bee took command early and never looked back in romping to a 5 ½-length victory in 38.61. CG’s Delete and CET Miguel closed in the stretch to round out the trifecta ticket. JAS Strait Aces rallied from last after a slow break, getting up by a length at the wire in 39.10. CET Dirty Toodle finished strong for second while Wild Chomp Dude took third. CET Dirty Skinny flew by the leaders on the backstretch and never let up in rolling to a 10 ½-length victory in 37.99. CET Zinc powered home for second followed TS Woody. Points after the first-round follow: CET Dirty Skinny (Steve Sarras), 15 points JAS Strait Aces (Patriot/Taplin), 15 points Wild Blue Bee (Xtrem Hess Racing), 15 points CET Dirty Toodls (Steve Sarras), 10 points CG’s Delete (Code Red), 10 points CET Zinc (Imark), 10 points CET Miguel (Steve Sarras), 7 points TS Woody (Steve Sarras), 7 points Wild Chomp Dude (Xtrem Hess Racing), 7 points CET Beta (Steve Sarras), 5 points CET Marlin (Imark), 5 points Apollo Justice (Steve Sarras), 3 points Raise The Wind (Steve Sarras), 3 points TS Porky (Steve Sarras), 3 points CET Perch (Steve Sarras), 2 points Trade Up (Steve Sarras), 2 points Aaralynn Jean (Patriot/Taplin), 1 point Arroyo Kingston (Code Red), 1 point CET Murray (Wayne Ward), 1 point Baccarat (Steve Sarras), 0 points TS Overbite Ovie (Steve Sarras), 0 points (Rico’s Hell Yeah was scratched before the first round, CET Mist was withdrawn after the first round and CET Helga received a checked ticket from the judges and eliminated from the stakes). Previous Next

< Back SPRING MEET STAKE UPDATE jim Gartland Mar 3, 2022 Thirty spots have been reserved for the NGA's Sunflower State Sprint to be held during the spring meet in April. If all thirty entries pay up and enter at the time of the meet the format and purses will be as follows: Total Purse: $35,000 First Round - 6 - Five dog races Winners in the first round advance to the six dog Championship Final 2nd place finishers in the first round advance to the Flite I 3rd place finishers in the first round advance to the Flite II Purse Payout: Final Flite I Flite II 1st - $10,500 $5,250 $1,750 2nd - $5,250 $2,625 $875 3rd - $3,150 $1,575 $525 4th - $2,100 $1,050 $350 Previous Next

< Back A THANK YOU FROM DON JENSEN Dec 28, 2020 Hello, It is hard to believe that greyhound racing has ended at Derby Lane after 95 years. I was fortunate to be asked to write a pari-mutuel column for the former St. Petersburg Times, beginning in 2004. Although my background was in thoroughbred racing – including a one-year stint as the publicity director at Charles Town Races in West Virginia – I welcomed the opportunity to learn and write about dog racing. My first column for the newspaper involving Derby Lane dogs came on Oct. 30, 2004, featuring a Floyd & Porter greyhound named MN’s Island Anne, who has just missed starting her career by going up the graded ladder undefeated until suffering a Grade A defeat. Trained by the late Cal Holland Jr., those first four wins turned out to be only half of the eight total victories that MN’s Island Anne would register during her lifetime from 49 races. Perhaps, it was fitting that I would begin writing on the Derby Lane (and Tampa Greyhound Track) dogs in that manner. My goal primarily was to spread the wealth of publicity wherever possible. In the past 17 years, I covered All-Americans, Rural Rube champions, Flashy Sir winners, stakes titlists and meet win champions. But when the opportunities arose, I got as much enjoyment to write about dogs and kennels that were not in the spotlight as much as others. I was fortunate to see the final race today at Derby Lane, more than 13 years after seeing the final race at Tampa Greyhound Track on Aug. 18, 2007. I want to thank EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU – kennel operators, trainers, handlers, greyhound owners and track personnel – for treating me respectfully in a way that I’ll never forget. Dealing with the media can be challenging, but I was brought up in the newspaper business with an old-school beliefs, and I always tried to maintain that throughout my coverage while showing respect to the person whom I was speaking with. I quickly became aware of how much care and effort you put into the greyhounds, which required your attention seven days a week on a yearly basis. My best moments, without a doubt, were covering you on stakes championship performances. Many dressed nicely, and the smiles and congratulations were contagious. But as I look back, the little things probably stand out to me just as much. I remember driving to Virginia from Florida one Christmas week when a kennel operator called to wish me Merry Christmas. Then one Saturday evening while dining at a Tampa restaurant, I received a call from another kennel operator who had won a rare kennel championship and wanted to thank me for writing about it. Of course, there were other calls to my residence from kennel personnel thanking me for writing on their athletes, emails that reflected the same thing, and of course, all of the camaraderie at the track. Except for reflecting on my first article, I prefer not to singularly mention any particular kennel-related personnel for fearing of overlooking anyone. But for all the articles I wrote, none would have been possible without your cooperation and trust that I would reflect your thoughts, and bring fair and unbiased coverage to your sport. There are different stages in life that we go through, and for nearly two decades, you became part of my life. Some of the individuals who I met 17 years ago are no longer with us, and I have not forgotten their contributions as well. As we all go into the next chapter of our respective lives, I want to thank you again for your cooperation and friendship that we developed through the years. I feel blessed to have added this chapter in my life, and it is one that I’ll always appreciate and never forget. My prayers are with all of you, and wishing that you find as much happiness as I have in this now-concluded chapter of my life. Again, thank you for letting me be part of your respective lives. Sincerely, Don Jensen Tampa Bay Times Previous Next