A Royal Race for The Dogs

3 May 2005

A Royal Race for The Dogs

The Duke of Edinburgh Silver Collar, one of the most prestigious events of the greyhound racing year, will be held next Thursday at the Manukau Stadium in Auckland.

The Silver Collar race was introduced in 1971 by Major John Blakeley, who trained Prince Philip’s greyhound, Royal Commission, to win the event in 1972. Greyhound Racing New Zealand (GRNZ) has continued to support the event over the last 34 years and stake money now tops $45,000 – making it one of the industry’s highest paying races.

The winner of the race also gets the opportunity to wear the actual Duke of Edinburgh Silver Collar – an engraved silver dog collar, funded by the Royal Family, and designed and crafted by the Royal Jeweller in 1971.

GRNZ’s chief executive, Lance Bickford said many of the trainers view the Duke of Edinburgh Silver Collar as the race to win. All trainers and owners look forward to this particular event and it’s always a well attended and fun evening.

“It’s a shame that we haven’t been able to coincide the race with any royal visits in the past but we are already looking at trying to get a royal representative here next year to present the Collar to the winning greyhound,” he said.

Trials are currently underway around the country to find the top eight staying greyhounds to compete in Auckland. The final field will be announced on 5 May 2005.

The Duke of Edinburgh Silver Collar will be held at the Auckland Greyhound Racing Club, Manukau Stadium, Te Irirangi Drive, Manukau on Thursday 12 May 2005, starting at 5.45pm.

ENDS

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