History of the Silver Chief
The Classic is one steeped in tradition, first being run in 1964. Directors of the Melbourne Greyhound Racing association saw fit to name The Classic after the greyhound “Silver Chief” who was whelped in 1936 and owned by Ray Herbert. Silver Chief was a “Waterloo Cup” winner in 1939 and performed admirably on the speed coursing circuit as well. He raced in both Melbourne and Sydney and was keenly sought after for stud duties once his racing career was finished.
The cream of racing have won this event referred to as the Derby of Greyhound Racing.
Champions such as Plunder Road, Black Diro, Satan’s Legend, Tempix, Chariot Supreme, Ginger, Light of Fire and Awesome Assassin to name a few. Many have gone on to produce sons who have also won the Classic. The mighty Tempix won in 1978 then produced sons who won in (81) Tempix Image and Bold Assail in 1982. Australian super sire Chariot Supreme won the race in record time in 1983. His progeny took out the honours in 1986 (Hopeful Supreme), 1989 (Autumn Chariot) and 1991 (Bomber Gleeson).
Light of Fire won in 1994 then produced greats such as Awesome Assassin and Kantarn Bale. Awesome Assassin went on to sire 2005 winner Ben’s Fury. Leading Sire Primo Uno sired the 2009 & 2010 two winners Fedex and Enry Walt. In 2012 leading Victorian trainer Jason Thompson made it five winners of the time honoured event when outsider Godsend started an extraordinary year for the Peacedale based mentor. He trained the winners of eleven Group races and over 1.1 million dollars in prizemoney. His Silver Chief record is a long way in front any other trainer in the history of the race.
Only two champions have won the Silver Chief – Melbourne Cup double Light of Fire in 1994 and Kantarn Bale in 1999.
Silver Chief Honour Roll
| Year | Dist. | Venue | Winner | Margin | Time | Trainer | Runner-up | Box | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | 560y | OLP | Feat | Barunah | 4L | 31 | A. Belcher | Rocket Streak | 4 |
| 1965 | 560y | OLP | Feat | Spartan Prince | 7L | 30 11/16 | G. Markis | Hood Winker | 1 |
| 1966 | 560y | OLP | Feat | Phantom’s Return | 2L | 30 14/16 | R. Tinks | Sean’s Lad | 7 |
| 1967 | 560y | OLP | Feat | Lord Baden | 2-1/4L | 30 14/16 | P. Kurdian | Wentwood | 5 |
| 1968 | 560y | OLP | Feat | Dupondy Two | 5L | 30 11/16 | B. Oxenham | Solar Myth | 1 |
| 1969 | 560y | OLP | Feat | Plunder Road | 5L | 30 7/16 | R. Deakin | Milimsimbi | 1 |
| 1970 | 560y | OLP | Feat | Black Diro | 2L | 30 11/16 | W. Bleazby | Incus | 5 |
| 1971 | 560y | OLP | Feat | Michael Takiri | 6L | 30 10/16 | R. Dingfelder | Royarco | 5 |
| 1972 | 560y | OLP | Feat | Getaway | 5L | 30 1/16 | R. Drake | Bold Dux | 8 |
| 1973 | 511m | OLP | Feat | Flash Gordon | 1/2L | 30.81sec | I. Mackay | Magic Release | 1 |
| 1974 | 511m | OLP | Feat | Petillant | 4L | 30.47sec | F. Carew | Lone Star | 3 |
| 1975 | 511m | OLP | Feat | Nigger Chimes | 2L | 30.66sec | M. Thomas | Alpha Brava | 1 |
| 1976 | 511m | OLP | Feat | Fitz Mactavish | 1-1/2L | 30.83sec | H. Siakew | Campus Wood | 3 |
| 1977 | 511m | OLP | Feat | Satan’s Legend | 1-1/4L | 30.75sec | D. Gilliard | Dusty Progress | 1 |
| 1978 | 511m | OLP | Feat | Tempix | 1-1/4L | 30.60sec | R. Smith | Sharp Roo | 8 |
| 1979 | 511m | OLP | Feat | San Remo | 3-1/2L | 30.78sec | B. Flannery | Mr. Micro | 2 |
| 1980 | 511m | OLP | Feat | Mork The Stalk | 1-1/2L | 30.42sec | A. Huggins | Texas Typhoon | 3 |
| 1981 | 511m | OLP | Feat | Tempix Image | 4-1/2L | 30.31sec | R. Smith | Eliminate | 2 |
| 1982 | 511m | OLP | Feat | Bold Assail | 4L | 30.64sec | F. La Bozzetta | Salva Amour | 3 |
| 1983 | 511m | OLP | Feat | Chariot Supreme | 4-3/4L | 29.80sec | R. Rounds | Bold Ranger | 5 |
| 1984 | 511m | OLP | Feat | Rumpus Pappa | 5-1/2L | 29.89sec | N. Bryant | Blue Coup | 3 |
| 1985 | 511m | OLP | Feat | Supreme Dot | 1/4L | 30.57sec | J. Crofts | Potty’s Gully | 4 |
| 1986 | 511m | OLP | Feat | Hopeful Supreme | 3-1/2L | 29.95sec | K. Richards | Maradona Magic | 1 |
| 1987 | 511m | OLP | Feat | Calamity Kid | 4-1/4L | 29.96sec | D. Booth | Benito’s Boy | 3 |
| 1988 | 511m | OLP | Feat | Ginger | 4-1/2L | 29.80sec | G. Condo | Super Gun | 3 |
| 1989 | 511m | OLP | Feat | Autumn Chariot | 1-1/2L | 30.03sec | M. Hill | Lotus | 2 |
| 1990 | 511m | OLP | Feat | Enfield | 1-1/2L | 30.10sec | S. Johannesen | Wild Cactus | 4 |
| 1991 | 511m | OLP | Feat | Bomber Gleeson | 6L | 29.72sec | G. Bate | Black Sid | 4 |
| 1992 | 511m | OLP | G2 | Nevik | 5-1/2L | 29.74sec | J. Connelly | Coastal Town | 6 |
| 1993 | 511m | OLP | G2 | Plugger Fever | Neck | 30.14sec | L. Ketelaar | Midnight Sting | 4 |
| 1994 | 511m | OLP | G2 | Light Of Fire | 1L | 30.47sec | J. Thompson | Benchimes | 4 |
| 1995 | 511m | OLP | G2 | Zealous Guy | 1L | 30.46sec | A. Proctor | Road Safe | 2 |
| Olympic Park closed – M.G.R.A. move to Sandown Park | |||||||||
| 1996 | 515m | SAN | G2 | Awesome Assassin | 9L | 29.96sec | J. Thompson | Manawartoo | 6 |
| 1997 | 515m | SAN | G2 | Hotshot | 3/4L | 29.99sec | R. Redenbach | Proven Reward | 8 |
| 1998 | Race Not Held – Held Twice In 1999 | ||||||||
| 1999 | 515m | SAN | G2 | Jamella Prince | 1-1/2L | 30.08sec | D. Crosswell | Moonambel Law | 7 |
| M.G.R.A. move to Broadmeadows Venue | |||||||||
| 1999 | 518m | MEA | G2 | Kantarn Bale | 3L | 29.91sec | G. Bate | Mepunga Ben | 1 |
| 2000 | 518m | MEA | G2 | Dave’s Mentor | 3L | 29.74sec | D. Booby | Frozen Keysy | 2 |
| 2001 | 525m | MEA | G1 | Burali Bale | Head | 30.36sec | G. Bate | Halla’s Rocket | 6 |
| 2002 | RACE NOT HELD | ||||||||
| 2003 | 525m | MEA | G1 | Jimmy Neutron | 1-1/4L | 30.04sec | S. McKenna | Most Awesome | 6 |
| 2004 | 525m | MEA | G1 | Big Daddy Cool | 8-3/4L | 29.62sec | N. Janic | Harvey Bale | 1 |
| 2005 | 525m | MEA | G1 | Ben’s Fury | 6-3/4L | 29.82sec | J. Thompson | Mr. Tab | 1 |
| 2006 | 525m | MEA | G1 | Closing Argument | 2L | 29.85sec | C. Taylor | Captain Odessa | 4 |
| 2007 | 525m | MEA | G1 | Meticulous | 2-1/2L | 30.11sec | M. Briganti | Salegrey’s Verto | 2 |
| 2008 | 525m | MEA | G1 | Regal Thyme | 3-1/2L | 29.92sec | G. Long | Top Fuel | 6 |
| 2009 | 525m | MEA | G1 | Fedex | 1/2 Hd | 30.01sec | J. Thompson | Austin Bale | 1 |
| 2010 | 525m | MEA | G1 | Enry Walt | 6-1/4L | 29.84sec | G. Ennis | Zenith | 7 |
| 2011 | 525m | MEA | G1 | Kilty Lad | 3-3/4L | 29.66sec | K. Bravo | Prefect Fancy | 5 |
| 2012 | 525m | MEA | G1 | Godsend | 5-1/4L | 29.93sec | J. Thompson | Glen Gallon | 1 |
| 2013 | 525m | MEA | G1 | Renegade Chief | 1.80L | 29.89sec | K. Greenough | Allen Makoto | 2 |
| 2014 | 525m | MEA | G1 | Ollie Bale | 2.26L | 30.19sec | A. Dailly | Kid Maximus | 8 |
| 2015 | 525m | MEA | G1 | Above All | 1.30L | 29.78sec | R. Britton | Dyna Villa | 5 |
| 2016 | 525m | MEA | G1 | Midwinter | 0.70L | 29.99sec | A. Stewart | Harlon | 3 |
| 2017 | 525m | MEA | G1 | Lightning Frank | 3.00L | 29.98sec | M. Wright | Reefton Treasure | 5 |
| 2018 | 525m | MEA | G1 | Out Of Range | 0.79L | 29.83sec | S. Thompson | Degani | 1 |
| 2019 | 525m | MEA | G1 | Brooga Brett | 2.03L | 29.73sec | B. Ennis | Sennachie | 1 |
| 2020 | 525m | MEA | G1 | Simon Told Helen | 3.86L | 29.68sec | D. Burnett | Aston Wizard | 4 |
| 2021 | 525m | MEA | G1 | Lakeview Walter | 0.94L | 29.70sec | M. Whelan | Tyler Durden | 2 |
| 2022 | 525m | MEA | G1 | Zippy Tesla | 0.04L | 29.79sec | A. Dailly | Compliance | 3 |
| 2022 | 525m | MEA | G1 | Amron Boy | 4.00L | 29.45sec | B. Ennis | Amron Dan | 3 |
| 2023 | 525m | MEA | G1 | Mepunga Shine | 3.06L | 29.76sec | J. Britton | Rocket Riot | 3 |
| 2024 | 525m | MEA | G1 |