Ballymac Ball was a famous racing greyhound during the late 1940s and early 1950s.

Breeding and rearing

Ballymac Ball was whelped during September 1949 and bred by Reidy.

Racing

1948 Events January * January 1 The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) is inaugurated. The Constitution of New Jersey (later subject to amendment) goes into effect. ** The railways of Britain are nationalized, to form British ...

Ballymac Ball impressed in his first races in Ireland and recorded some of the fastest times at

Celtic Park Celtic Park is the home stadium of Celtic Football Club, in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, Scotland. With a capacity of 60,832, it is the largest football stadium in Scotland, and the eighth-largest stadium in the United Kingdom. It is also ...

. His owner Tom Nicholl planned for him to be sent to England in an attempt to win the

English Greyhound Derby The English Greyhound Derby is the most prestigious race on the British Greyhound racing in the United Kingdom, greyhound racing calendar, with a history stretching back to 1927. It was first held at White City Stadium, but moved to Wimbledon ...

1949 Events January * January 1 – A United Nations-sponsored ceasefire brings an end to the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947. The war results in a stalemate and the division of Kashmir, which still continues as of 2022. * January 2 – Luis ...

The brindle dog arrived in the United Kingdom during February 1949 and was placed in the

Hook Estate and Kennels The Hook Estate and Kennels was a greyhound racing kennels facility located just off Coopers Lane Road in Northaw, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire. It was the leading United Kingdom greyhound racing kennels for over fifty years and became a famed fac ...

training out of

White City White City may refer to: Places Australia * White City, Perth, an amusement park on the Perth foreshore * White City railway station, a former railway station * White City Stadium (Sydney), a tennis centre in Sydney * White City FC, a football clu ...

. His first race in England was at

Stamford Bridge Stamford Bridge may refer to: * Stamford Bridge, East Riding of Yorkshire, a village in England ** Battle of Stamford Bridge, 25 September 1066 * Stamford Bridge (bridge), a bridge in the village of Stamford Bridge * Stamford Bridge (stadium), in L ...

on 14 May. He was aimed at the

1949 English Greyhound Derby The 1949 Greyhound Derby took place during June with the final being held on 25 June 1949 at White City Stadium. The winner Narrogar Ann received a first prize of £1,500. Final result At White City (over 525 yards): Distances 1¼, 2½, 1� ...

and was described as the

Greyhound Racing Association The Greyhound Racing Association was a UK-based private company founded in 1925 and existed until 2019. It was involved in the management of sports venues, notably greyhound racing stadia. The GRA was responsible for introducing Greyhound racing ...

's best chance to claim the trophy but crashed out in the first round in heat six. Nicholl switched trainers and put him with Stan Martin at

Wimbledon Stadium Wimbledon Stadium, also known as Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium, was a greyhound racing track located in Wimbledon in southwest London, England. It also hosted stock car and other small circuit motor racing events, and until 2005 hosted motorc ...

which proved to be a wise decision because Ballymac Ball was an instant hit at the track. Just two months after the Derby defeat he won the

Laurels ''Laurus nobilis'' is an aromatic evergreen tree or large shrub with green, Glossary of botanical terms#glabrous, glabrous (smooth) leaves. It is in the flowering plant family Lauraceae. It is native to the Mediterranean region and is used as ...

at Wimbledon over 500 yards. In the heats he broke the track record recording 28.03 and then bettered it in the semi-finals when posting 27.99, becoming the first greyhound to break 28 seconds over 500 yards at Wimbledon. After the Laurels he competed in the

Silver Salver The Kent Silver Salver is a greyhound racing competition held annually at Central Park Stadium in Sittingbourne, Kent. It was inaugurated as the Thames Silver Salver in 1933 at Southend Stadium but was discontinued following the closure of the sta ...

Southend Stadium Southend Stadium was a former greyhound racing and football stadium in Grainger Road, Southend-on-Sea, Essex. It was also the home ground of Southend United between 1934 and 1955 and was also known as Greyhound Park. Origins The first greyhoun ...

; he won both heat and semi final but on 19 September lost the final to Red Wind, who break the track record in the process. After a rest he reappeared on 10 December at White City over 550 yards and broke the track record recording 30.30 and then on Boxing Day he went even faster by setting a new record of 30.27.

1950 Events January * January 1 – The International Police Association (IPA) – the largest police organization in the world – is formed. * January 5 – 1950 Sverdlovsk plane crash, Sverdlovsk plane crash: ''Aeroflot'' Lisunov Li-2 cr ...

The main target for 1950 was the 1950 English Greyhound Derby but before this he won the 16th International (January), the Wimbledon Spring Cup (March) and reached the Wood Lane Stakes final (April) where he lost to his great rival Red Wind. When the 1950 Derby got underway Ballymac Ball had won 19 races from 23 starts for Stan Martin and was a leading contender but the ante post favourite was his rival Red Wind. Ballymac Ball progressed through the heats by winning his heat on the 10 June and won his second round race despite a horrible start on 15 June. He finished second in his semi final on 17 June behind Ballycurren Garrett and a race in which Red Wind was eliminated. In the final he led all the way and recorded 28.72 which was the fastest Derby final win to date. Ballymac Ball continued his impressive form by successfully defending his Laurels title.

1951 Events January * January 4 – Korean War: Third Battle of Seoul – Chinese and North Korean forces capture Seoul for the second time (having lost the Second Battle of Seoul in September 1950). * January 9 – The Government of the United ...

In January he won the 17th International before retiring to stud where he became a successful sire.

Pedigree

References

{{Reflist Greyhound racing in the United Kingdom Greyhound racing in Ireland Racing greyhounds 1946 animal births