Westmead Hawk

Westmead Hawk
Species Dog
Breed Greyhound
Sex Male
Born (2003-05-00)May 2003
Died (2014-05-26)26 May 2014
Occupation Racing greyhound
Title 2x Winner of the English Greyhound Derby
Term 2005–2007
Predecessor Droopys Scholes
Successor Westmead Lord
Owner Bob Morton
Parents Sonic Flight (sire)
Offspring Taylors Sky (s)
Sidaz Jack (d)
Appearance Black coat

Westmead Hawk (May 2003 – 26 May 2014) was a black male Greyhound. He was a two-time winner of the English Greyhound Derby in 2005 and 2006, and has drawn comparisons with Mick the Miller and horse Red Rum. In 2011, one of Hawk's sons, Taylors Sky went on to win the Derby himself.

Racing career

Hawk was entered in the 2005 English Greyhound Derby. In the final, Hawk started in the fourth trap as the favourite at 5-4 and was lagging behind the leaders after the first bend. A late burst of speed saw him overtake the leader Blonde Mac on the final turn and win the race in 28.56 seconds by a length and three quarters.[1] This win earned his owners the prize money of £100,000.[2] After his victory, his owners announced that his next target would be the Irish Greyhound Derby.[1]

He went undefeated through the five qualifying rounds of the 2006 English Greyhound Derby and entered the final as the 4-7 favourite. Mineola Farloe set the pace during the race with Hawk hanging back behind him. Hawk closed over the final two bends, and won by three quarters of a length becoming only the fourth dog to have won the English Greyhound Derby twice.[3] This victory won a further £100,000 prize for his owners. In the run up to the Derby he was drawing comparisons with famous racing Greyhound Mick the Miller.[4] Chairman of the British Greyhound Racing Board, Lord David Lipsey, said "We launched a five-year plan for the rejuvenation of the sport this year but Westmead Hawk is doing more to encourage people to come racing than anything us humans could do! He is a canine Red Rum."[4]

Lord Lipsey went on to talk about his dream of Westmead Hawk winning the Derby for a third time, becoming the first Greyhound to do so.[5] However, the dog broke his hock while racing at Hall Green less than a month after the second Derby win and looked to have been retired to stud due to the severity of the injury. At the time Lord Lipsey said, "It is truly awful news. The Hawk really put greyhound racing back on the map - and anyone who saw him race at Wimbledon will never forget being there."[6]

Retirement and later life

Following his second English Derby victory, owner Bob Morton was approached by London's waxworks museum Madam Tussauds to include a waxwork of Westmead Hawk in a special "Best of British" week. Hawk became the first animal athlete to have a waxwork at the museum.[7] Head of Marketing at Madam Tussauds, Drew Potton, said "We're sure our first four-legged sports personality will be as big a hit here as he has been on the tracks during his illustrious career."[7]

Hawk sired Taylors Sky from the dam Rising Angel. Sky went on to win the English Greyhound Derby in 2011.[8] He also sired Sidaz Jack, the winner of the English Greyhound Derby in 2013 from the dam Ballaghboy Cool.[9]

Hawk died at the Dunstable base of his trainer Nick Savva on 26 May 2014.[10]

References

  1. 1 2 "Westmead Hawk romps to Derby win". BBC Sport. 2 July 2005. Retrieved 11 March 2012.
  2. ↑ Hunt, Adrian (4 July 2005). "Hawk Shows his Class". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 11 March 2012.
  3. ↑ "Hawk Claims Derby Honours". Sporting Life. Retrieved 11 March 2012.
  4. 1 2 "Top Dog?". BBC Sport. 2 June 2006. Retrieved 11 March 2012.
  5. ↑ "Lipsey says racing needs a third Westmead Hawk Derby win". The Daily Mail. 3 January 2007. Retrieved 11 March 2012.
  6. ↑ "Greyhound hero seriously injured". BBC Sport. 28 June 2006. Retrieved 11 March 2012.
  7. 1 2 Griffiths, Danny (19 October 2007). "The Hawk eyes place in history after becoming first dog to make Madame Tussauds". The Daily Mail. Retrieved 11 March 2012.
  8. ↑ "Sky's the Limit for Taylors". Sporting Life. Retrieved 11 March 2012.
  9. ↑ "Sidaz Jack". Sporting Life. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
  10. ↑ "Death of double Derby winner Westmead Hawk". Racing Post. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
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