Toms The Best was a leading racing greyhound during the 1990s. He is the only greyhound to have won both the

English Greyhound Derby The English Greyhound Derby is the most prestigious race on the British greyhound racing calendar, with a history stretching back to 1927. It was first held at White City Stadium, but moved to Wimbledon Stadium in 1985, and then Towcester Gre ...

and the

Irish Greyhound Derby The Irish Greyhound Derby held at Shelbourne Park, is the premier greyhound racing competition in Ireland. First held at Harold's Cross in 1928, the event was unofficial until 1932 and called the National Derby. The first winner in 1928 was Tip ...

. He was also voted the 1998 UK Greyhound of the Year.

Whelping and rearing

He was whelped in June 1995, from a mating between Frightful Flash and Ladys Guest. He was bred by Ian Greaves at

Monasterevin Monasterevin (), also Monasterevan, and Mevin is a town in County Kildare, Ireland. The town lies on the River Barrow and the Barrowline, a canal branch of the Grand Canal. The population was 4,246 at the 2016 Census. Location and Access Sit ...

Racing

1997

After winning a race at Shelbourne Park he was purchased by Eddie Shotton for £10,000 and sent to trainer

Nick Savva Nicolas Savva known as Nick Savva is a greyhound trainer and breeder. He is a four times winner of the English Greyhound Derby and is regarded as Britain's most successful breeder, along with his late wife Natalie Savva (1935–2019) who also hel ...

Walthamstow Stadium Walthamstow Stadium was a greyhound racing track in the London Borough of Waltham Forest in east London.BBC News - Walthamstow race track to close' It was regarded as the leading greyhound racing stadium in Britain following the closure of Whit ...

. The black dog was aimed at the 1997 English Greyhound Derby after just seven UK races (one of which resulted in a steward's inquiry for time finding in a graded race). He performed well during the Derby, progressing to the semi-finals before being knocked out and won the

Consolation Consolation, consolement, and solace are terms referring to psychological comfort given to someone who has suffered severe, upsetting loss, such as the death of a loved one. It is typically provided by expressing shared regret for that loss an ...

on final night. After the Derby he won the Midland Gold Cup at Monmore and the Sussex Cup at

Hove Hove is a seaside resort and one of the two main parts of the city of Brighton and Hove, along with Brighton in East Sussex, England. Originally a "small but ancient fishing village" surrounded by open farmland, it grew rapidly in the 19th c ...

, before heading for the 1997 Irish Greyhound Derby. He progressed through the rounds and won the final, a race that included his great rival

Some Picture Some Picture was a leading racing greyhound during the 1990s. He won both the English Greyhound Derby and the Scottish Greyhound Derby. He was also voted the 1997 UK Greyhound of the Year and unusually for an English trained greyhound was voted ...

and became the first English winner since Sole Aim in 1971.

1998

The main target was the 1998 English Greyhound Derby but before the event started in May he reached the finals of the Blue Riband and

Scottish Greyhound Derby The Scottish Greyhound Derby was an original classic greyhound competition held at Shawfield Stadium. Held at Carntyne Stadium from 1928 to 1968, after the closure of Carntyne the race appeared at Shawfield from 1970 until 1985. In 1988 the Gre ...

. Then he headed for the Derby 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 motor ...

and became the first greyhound in history to win both the Irish and English Derby. He was retired after winning 21 of his 40 races and earned over £115,000 in prize money and was voted 1998 Greyhound of the Year.

Legacy

He was a successful sire at stud, siring many top open racers until he died in 2008, aged 13 at the Savva kennels.

Pedigree

References

{{Reflist Greyhound racing in the United Kingdom Racing greyhounds 1995 animal births 2008 animal deaths