Ballynennan Moon

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Ballynennan Moon
1940 Ballynennan Moon.jpg
Ballynennan Moon C.1940
SireMr Moon
DamBanriogan Dann
Sex Dog
WhelpedApril 1939
Color Brindle
OwnerJessie Florence Cearns (née Crittenden)
Trainer Sidney Orton
Major wins
Berkeley Cup
Wembley Summer Cup
Walthamstow Stakes
Eclipse
Guineas
International
Stewards Cup
Wembley Summer Cup
Wimbledon Spring Cup
Charlton Spring Cup
Metropolitan Cup
Joe Harmon Memorial Cup

Ballynennan Moon was a famous racing greyhound during World War II. [1] He is regarded as being one of the greatest racing greyhounds and was denied the opportunity to win the English Greyhound Derby because of the postponement of the event during the war years. [2]

Contents

Racing career

1939 & 1940

He was born just before the start of the war in April 1939 [3] and was owned and trained by leading Irish trainer Billy Quinn. His first significant win in Ireland was the North Kilkenny Stakes and his first twenty races resulted in eight wins. [4] [5]

His last race in Ireland was at Shelbourne Park where he broke the 29 second barrier. Leading owner Mrs Jessie Cearns (the wife of the Managing Director of Wimbledon, W.J. Cearns) purchased him and put him with trainer Sidney Orton. [1] [4] [5]

1941

His first two races in 1941 ended in a major success when he won the Wembley Summer Cup. [6] He won five more races before suffering from illness and being laid off until 1942. [4]

1942

Ballynennan Moon returned after a winter rest and won the Walthamstow Stakes and Wimbledon Spring Cup. The ease in which he won his races endured him to the British wartime public and he became a welcome distraction from the war. In his next 48 races, he was to win on forty occasions and finish second seven times. After finishing first, fourteen times in succession, he seemed certain to beat Mick the Miller's 19 straight wins but, in the fifteenth race, he was beaten a neck by Laughing Lackey. [4] [7]

He then went on to record another eight successive wins during a five-month period and became a household name. He won the Wimbledon Spring Cup, the 1,000 Guineas at Park Royal Stadium, the Wembley Summer Cup, the Eclipse at Coventry, the Stewards Cup at Walthamstow Stadium [4] [5] [8] and at the end of the year the International at Wimbledon Stadium at odds of 1/5f. [9] Moon broke track records at Bristol, Coventry and Wandsworth. [10]

1943

After 52 career wins, he was rested for two months following defeat at White City. [11] He returned to win the Metropolitan Cup at Clapton Stadium and the Charlton Spring Cup at Charlton Stadium. [5] Another month's rest followed in late July before it was announced that he would retire to stud in November 1943.

Retirement

He was the first greyhound at stud to command a 100 guineas mating fee. [12] He won 65 races out of 91 and won 38 trophies winning over £4,000 in prize money. [13]

Pedigree

Jamie
Mutton Cutlet
Miss Cinderella
Mr Moon
Beaded Dick
Miss Moonlight
Jazzaway
Ballynennan Moon
Melksham Tom
Other Days
Na Boc E
Banriogan Dann
Lax Law
Lilette
Leisure

References

  1. 1 2 Genders, Roy (1975). The Greyhound and Racing Greyhound. Page Brothers (Norwich). ISBN   0-85020-0474.
  2. ↑ Tarter, P Howard (1949). Greyhound Racing Encyclopedia. Fleet Publishing Company Ltd.
  3. ↑ "Ballynennan Moon". Greyhound Data.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN   07207-1106-1.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Genders, Roy (1990). NGRC book of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN   0-7207-1804-X.
  6. ↑ "Mrs. Cearns' Cup Winner - Ballynennan Moon" . Norwood News. 15 August 1941. Retrieved 7 December 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. ↑ "Ballynennan Moon surprise" . Birmingham Daily Gazette. 16 November 1942. Retrieved 8 December 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. ↑ "Hall of Fame, Ballynennan Moon". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
  9. ↑ "London Dog Track Winners" . Irish Independent. 14 December 1942. Retrieved 8 December 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
  10. ↑ "Greyhound Racing Notes" . West London Observer. 11 September 1942. Retrieved 8 December 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
  11. ↑ "Moon To Rest" . Sunday Express. 24 January 1943. Retrieved 8 December 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
  12. ↑ "Remember When - October 1946". Greyhound Star. 13 October 2018.
  13. ↑ "Hall of Fame". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
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