Black Top as he is today on display at Wentworth Park for many years he located at the Greyhound Social Club.
BLACK TOP
After the running of the inaugual Black Top Classic I wrote the following. The NSW NCA could not have selected a better name for this on going feature at the Gardens. Black Top by Top Linen from Classy Jane was an icon of the sport, he was raced by Frank Holmes of Highfields (near Newcastle) and his breeder Mrs. Edna Hanson bred him in Birmingham Gardens the suburb in which the Gardens track is located. He raced in the early 60’s only contested 20 races for 17 wins and two seconds. He retired as Australia’s highest stakes winner with 5352 Pounds. His introductory stud fee set at 65 pound was a record service fee in Australia. A breeding success of extraordinary proportions Black Top created his own dynasty which continually re-wrote the record books on greyhound racing in this country. The feature races his progeny won are vast and listed below, he served a record 1326 bitches and sired 6000 puppies earning approximately $250,000 in service fees.
Black Top, a black dog whelped in February, 1961, and registered at 70 lb., was owned and trained all through his racing career by Frank Holmes of Kellyville, who retained the dog throughout his outstanding career at stud.
He was a fabulously successful racer, winning the 1962 N.S.W. St. Leger (in 31.3 sec., a race record time), the Vic Peters Classic at Harold Park (in 26.4 sec., again a race record and also a track and world record for the 500 yards) and the Interstate Challenge. Had the N.C.A.’s Greyhound of the Year award been in operation then, there is no doubt that Black Top would have received the title in 1962, for he stood clearly above his contemporaries.
His career consisted of 20 starts for 17 wins and 2 seconds in a twelve‑month period. He ran the then world record time of 26.4 sec. for the 500 yards on three occasions, and five times missed the record by 1I10 sec., running 26.5 sec. At Wentworth Park he 10 got down to 31.2 sec. for the 580 yards, only 1I10 sec. outside the course and world standard.
Because of his fine pedigree, success was certainly expected for Black Top at the stud, but it is doubtful if even his owner Frank Holmes, could have foreseen the spectacular career in store for his favourite.
Commencing his stud career in August, 1963, Black Top’s stock won approximately 10,000 races!
This marvellous money-spinner netted $250,000 in stud fees for his owner, who refused several five‑figure offers from the U.S.A.
By way of his progeny Black Top has performed some 4 incredible feats including: 6 wins in 10‑ races at Harold Park and again at Wentworth Park;
7 wins in 9 flat races at Sandown, Victoria, and also Olympic Park, Victoria;
8 wins in 10 races at Goulburn, southern N.S.W.;
8 wins in 9 races at Richmond, N.S.W.;
All three placegetters in a Melbourne Cup, Australian Cup and a Richmond Oaks;
Topping the stud lists for a record six successive years;
Siring over 100 winners on the two Sydney city tracks for the first time (in 1966) and repeating the feat in ’67, ’68, and ’69.
Frank Holmes selected Black Top from a litter of puppies by Top Linen (a Wharminda descendant) from Classy Jane at the age of six weeks. Classy Jane is by Gogodalla, who was exported to the U.S.A., from Glyetta, a daughter of Glyn Occa and Smooth Reply. Black Top has a double cross of Roccabright in his fourth generation remove.
Black Top’s progeny included Rose Moss, Zoom Top and Only Ten (each the best stayer in Australia of her time), The Shoe (recognised as the world’s 500 yards record holder), Perfect Socks (Vic Peters Classic winner), African Ballet (Vic Peters Classic), Rokoko (Bi‑Annual Classic), Top Kabana (the world’s fastest Maiden Stake winner), Another Glitter (St. Leger), Swanston Lass (Australian Cup), Min’s Doll (Christmas Gift), Cheltenham Lass (Lord Mayor’s Cup), Top Lulubelle (South Sydney Cup), Arthur’s Desire (National Derby), Romantic Top (N.S.W. St. Leger), Miller’s Moss (sire of National Championship Victor King Miller), Milimsimbi (won Harold Park Classic, Anniversary Cup and Melbourne Cup), Blackamoor Lad (Melbourne Cup), Petite Panther (multi record holder), Silent Ring (Harold Park Bi‑Annual Classic), Heather Rev (Harold Park Association Cup), Top Bomber (sire of National Derby Winner Bomber’s Gift), Cabernet, Holding, Chadford, Sheer Blonde, Fullock and Busy’s Charm.
Only Ten won the Sydney Cup and was a Wentworth Park 790 yards record holder, until her time of 43.3 was bettered by another daughter of Black Top called Zoom Top. This outstanding bitch is rated the most versatile champion ever produced here. She has won $59,060 in prizemoney, more than double that of any other greyhound in Australian history.
Zoom Top’s successes include the Wentworth Park Gold Cup (twice), Harold Park Association Cup, Wentworth Park Sydney Cup, Richmond Oaks, South Sydney Cup and Dapto Silver Collar. She smashed or equalled track records at Wentworth Park, Dapto, Cessnock, Temora, Gosford, Bulli and Beenleigh, Queensland.
A simple way to indicate Black Top’s amazing stud success is to list briefly some of his better known progeny, indexed under their dam’s sires (in alphabetical order).
| AMAZING CHIEF
Polly Lane Swift Lane Susie Lane
BARATTA Blackamoor Lad Chadford Wonoka
BRIGHT CROIFTON Only Ten
BYAMEE Favourite Girl
CANTEE Velvet Lodge
CHEETHAM LAD Shimea
CHIEF RANEE Le Swift
CHIEF ZEPHYR Lazy Sue Gold Tenderfoot Topline Jet
DASHER’S BOW Jet Trust Niger Riger The Shoe Tivoli Boy Classy Silver Top Confidence Rambling Maid Top Bomber Classy Zoom Top Em All Busy Bomber Busy’s Gem Dollar Judy
HARBOR MIST Misty Min Helen’s Breeze
HIGHLAND SAM Speedy Yellamo First Student
HARRYED Kallodent
LIGHT JET Arthur’s Desire
LORD JULIGHT Lady London Ranee Tiger Tihero
LORD LAKEY Holding
LUCKY BINGO Alma Mater Half Class Phyl’s Clipper Crown Diamond Crown Patton Flash Astaire Meteor Moss Shy Moss Anne Lewis Danny Moss Murray Moss Top Lulubelle Evening Magic Billick Top Johnny Min’s Dol Bee Kay Top Magic Ties Armatree Prince Good Guy Black Contessa Min’s Miracle Junior Top Top Mustang Classy Pace Sheer Blonde Second String Agogo Moss
|
MAGIC BULLET
Bingara Lad
OAKLEY’S PAL Real Blast Nancy Fairbairn
OUR OAKLEIGH Dakota Lad
PINE MULGA Swanston Lass Rare Dollar Petite Panther O’Mara Heather Rev Top Silhouette Maydrian Top Sonny Dark Dane Black Donsan Black Dawnise Cheltenham Lass Feature’s Top
FINE EARL Lascelles
HAPPY BEAVER Zoom Top Busy’s Charm Revalong Revoro Revmond Barnes Peace Star Robert Rev
ROCKET MAC Silent Ring Top Kabana Milimsimbi Black Swami El Fuego The Cadillac Whisk
SHAN’S VIEW Loraine Ivy Cabernet Top Book Black Booklet
SHY WHISKY Weston Range
MAGIC BABE Shameless Fullock Foldaway Carbon Lass Bill Moss Clay Moss Miller’s Moss Molly Moss Andy Moss Rose Moss Chris Moss Beverley Moss Miami Moss
ROCKETEER Calm Princess ROCKET JET How Gorgeous Sutania African Ballet Scenic Lass Red Duo Perfect Socks Revs Galore
|
SPOTTED LIGHTNING
Toni Broke Luxury Lover Ivor Lott Lucky Nitro General Ajax Kanggen Sleepy Guy
SUNMARKER Cilla Ravenna Gratius
SUNNY STREAK Another Glitter Gay Glitter Sarn’s Top
SUNVIEW Favourite Dream Rokoko Red Elk Blatolorev Lord Pao
SUPER SLIPPER Top Cheque
SUPER SUCCESS Belafonte
TAKE A BOW Tecoma Gal Peter’s Eagle
WARCROFT Grille lillisina Apollyon
WHICH CHARIOT Running Prince
YOUNG NELSON Tancred
YOUNG PEUGEOT Frisky Dish
|
There is no doubt we will never see another Black Top, he was the one and only.
Neil Brown.