Tico was one of the sports leading racing greyhounds during the 1980s and a winner of 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 ...
.
Whelping and rearing
He was whelped 6 February 1984, from a mating between The Stranger and Derry Linda. He was bred by Jim Morrissey of
Carrick-on-Suir.
As a puppy he was moved to a pig farm and reared by Sean and Michael Dunphy of Portlaw.
Racing
1985
Tico made his debut at
Clonmel Greyhound Stadium on 8 July 1985 when owned by Morrissey and won by ten lengths. He was purchased by Alan Smee for £5,000 and sent to trainer Arthur Hitch, who had recently left
Oxford Stadium
Oxford Stadium is a greyhound racing and speedway venue in Oxford, located in Sandy Lane, Cowley.
Races were historically held every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday evening with afternoon BAGS (Bookmakers Afternoon Greyhound Service) racing on ...
for
Slough Stadium
Slough Stadium originally known as the Dolphin Stadium was a greyhound racing stadium in Uxbridge Road, Slough, Berkshire.
Origins and opening
George Bennett Sr. a resident and entrepreneur of Slough bought and sold a cinema in Chalvey befor ...
.
[ He raced several times at Wimbledon Stadium before being rested until the following year.][
]
1986
The black dog was aimed at the Pall Mall Stakes and went on to win the final at Harringay Stadium
Harringay Stadium was a major greyhound racing and motorcycle speedway venue in Harringay, north London. It was built and opened in 1927 and closed in 1987.
Construction
Harringay Stadium was the third greyhound racing stadium to open in Br ...
. In the final he beat his Hot Sauce Yankee. After winning a Derby Trial Stake at Harringay (on 16 May) he was entered for the 1986 English Greyhound Derby
The 1986 Daily Mirror Greyhound Derby took place during May and June with the final being held on 30 June 1986 at Wimbledon Stadium. The winner was Tico and the winning owner Alan Smee received £25,000. The competition was sponsored by the Dail ...
and was one of the leading fancies for the competition.[ He won a qualifying heat on 27 May (at odds of 1–6) and first round on 7 June (at odds of 4–7), but lost to the new track record holder Fearless Action in the second round but still qualified. In the quarter-finals he bounced back on 19 June in the quarter-finals and impressed when beating Fearless Action and Lodge Prince in the semi-finals two days later. In the final he ran brilliantly to win by over five lengths helped by Murlens Slippy moving off and hampering Fearless Action, kennelmate Master Hardy finished second.][
Tico then travelled to ]Shelbourne Park
Shelbourne Park is a greyhound racing stadium in the south Dublin inner city suburb of Ringsend.
Greyhound Racing
Opening
The plans to open a greyhound track in Dublin were drawn up by Paddy O’Donoghue, Jerry Collins, Patsy McAlinden and Jim ...
in an attempt to double up and win the 1986 Irish Greyhound Derby
The 1986 Irish Greyhound Derby took place during August and September with the final being held at Shelbourne Park in Dublin on 20 September 1986. The competition was raced over the slightly longer race distance of 550 yards for the first time.
T ...
. The English champion progressed to the final which included a semi final win in 30.06 for 550 yards, just three spots off the track record.[
]
Retirement
After a final appearance and win at Harringay he was retired to stud despite only being lightly raced, with a record of 17 wins from 23 races.[
]
Pedigree
References
{{Reflist
Greyhound racing in the United Kingdom
Racing greyhounds
1984 animal births
1995 animal deaths