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
| DATE | GREYHOUND | SIRE | DAM | ODDS | TIME | BOX | STAKE | TRAINER |
| 29/06/1964 | BARUNAH | Sunagari | Northbound | 3/1 | 31.00 | 4 | 800 Pds | A.BELCHER |
| 27/09/1965 | SPARTAN PRINCE | Shan’s View | Bylane | 7/4 | 30 11/16 | 1 | 1000 Pds | G. MAKRIS |
| 8/08/1966 | PHANTOM’S RETURN | The Stripper | Shifnal | 5/1 | 30 14/16 | 7 | $2,000 | R.TINK |
| 7/08/1967 | LORD BADEN | Fawn Scout | Brocatel | 6/4 | 30 14/16 | 5 | $2,000 | J.CURRAN |
| 5/08/1968 | DUPONDY TWO | Dupondy | Belle Linen | 4/6F | 30 11/16 | 1 | $2,000 | R. OXENHAM |
| 28/07/1969 | PLUNDER ROAD | Nulla View | Glenda Gale | 4/5F | 30 7/16 | 1 | $2,700 | R.DEAKIN |
| 20/07/1970 | BLACK DIRO | Venetian Court | Lena Black | 3/1 | 30 11/16 | 5 | $3,500 | T.BLEAZBY |
| 26/07/1971 | MICHAEL TAKIRI | Takiri | Bon Fides | 5/1 | 30 10/16 | 5 | $3,500 | R.DINGFELDER |
| 24/07/1972 | GETAWAY | Sammy Sparrow | Blonde Shan | 6/1 | 30 1/16 | 8 | $3,500 | R.DRAKE |
| 6/08/1973 | FLASH GORDAN | Gala’s Dream | Real Tapestry | 3/1 | 30.81 | 8 | $3,500 | I.MACKAY |
| 22/07/1974 | PETILLANT | Gabriel Mist | Montano | 7/4F | 30.47 | 3 | $3,500 | F.CAREW |
| 25/08/1975 | NIGGER CHIMES | Fawn Roamer | Mini Chimes | 7/2 | 30.66 | 1 | $3,500 | M.THOMAS |
| 26/07/1976 | FRITZ MAC TAVISH | Newmore King | Gundy | 9/10F | 30.83 | 3 | $3,500 | H.SIAKEW |
| 25/07/1977 | SATAN’S LEGEND | Temlee | Cyclone | 8/11F | 30.75 | 1 | $5,600 | D.GILLARD |
| 9/10/1978 | TEMPIX | Temlee | Pixie Dianne | 11/2 | 30.60 | 8 | $5,600 | B.SMITH |
| 22/10/1979 | SAN REMO | Come on Wonder | Riviera Moss | 11/8 | 30.78 | 2 | $7,000 | B.FLANNERY |
| 20/10/1980 | MORK THE STORK | Bowetzel | Miller’s Cottage | 5/1 | 30.42 | 3 | $10,000 | A.HUGGINS |
| 10/08/1981 | TEMPIX IMAGE | Tempix | Simply Honey | 5/1 | 30.31 | 2 | $10,000 | B.SMITH |
| 9/08/1982 | BOLD ASSAIL | Tempix | Brindle Hermes | 10/1 | 30.64 | 3 | $10,000 | F.LA BOZZETTA |
| 8/08/1983 | CHARIOT SUPREME | Waverly Supreme | Mixed Blessings | 4/1 | 29.80 | 5 | $10,000 | K.RICHARDS |
| 17/12/1984 | RUMPUS PAPPA | Royal Rumpus | Newmore Glenys | 6/1 | 29.89 | 3 | $10,000 | S.AMORE |
| 23/12/1985 | SUPREME SPOT (SA) | Waverly Supreme | Miss Lemoss | 100/1 | 30.57 | 4 | $10,000 | C.WATCHEL |
| 22/12/1986 | HOPEFUL SUPREME | Chariot Supreme | Hopeful Victory | 9/2 | 29.95 | 1 | $10,000 | K RICHARDS |
| 28/12/1987 | CALAMITY KID | Kid Campbell | Juliet | 12/1 | 29.96 | 3 | $10,000 | G.BRYANT |
| 19/12/1988 | GINGER | Eaglehawk Star | Rinaldi Lass | 7/4 | 29.80 | 3 | $15,000 | S.CONDO |
| 18/12/1989 | AUTUMN CHARIOT | Chariot Supreme | Autumn Road | EV.F | 30.03 | 2 | $15,000 | H.HILL |
| 17/12/1990 | ENFIELD | Pop Gun | That’s Lika Flash | 2/1F | 30.10 | 4 | $15,000 | S.JOHANNSEN |
| 23/12/1991 | BOMBER GLEESON | Chariot Supreme | Hoppy’s Girl | 6/1 | 29.72 | 4 | $20,000 | G.BATE |
| 21/12/1992 | NEVIK | City Skopos | Two Dots | 14/1 | 29.74 | 6 | $20,000 | J.CONNELLY |
| 27/12/1993 | PLUGGER FEVER | Shining Chariot | Eaglehawk Midge | 16/1 | 30.14 | 4 | $20,000 | L.KETELAAR |
| 12/1/1994 | LIGHT OF FIRE | New Tears | Centrefire | 11/8F | 30.47 | 4 | $20,000 | J.THOMPSON |
| 12/1/1995 | ZEALOUS GUY | Little Denver | Plus Velvet | 6/4F | 30.46 | 2 | $20,000 | T.PROCTOR |
| 23/12/1996 | AWESOME ASSASSIN | Light Of Fire | Tranquil Flame | 2/1 | 29.96 | 6 | $30,000 | J.THOMPSON |
| 12/1/1997 | HOT SHOT | Acacia Ablaze | Mary La Maze | 5/2 | 29.99 | 8 | $30,000 | R.REDENBACH |
| 1/1/1998 | JAMELLA PRINCE | Malawi Prince | Bindari Fox | 7/2 | 30.08 | 7 | $30,000 | D CROSWELL |
| 12/1/1999 | KANTARN BALE | Light Of Fire | Jindara Bale | 6/4F | 29.91 | 1 | $30,000 | G.BATE |
| 10/9/2000 | DAVE’S MENTOR | Head Honcho | Best Of Bev | 4.40 | 29.74 | 2 | $40,000 | D.BOOBY |
| 9/22/2001 | BURALI BALE | Gun law Osti | Louisa Porta | 2.90 | 30.36 | 6 | $50,000 | G.BATE |
| 4/01/2003 | JIMMY NEUTRON | Big Ginger Boy | Reeba Honcho | 3.40 | 30.04 | 6 | $50,000 | S. MCKENNA |
| 3/01/2004 | BIG DADDY COOL | Just the Best | Sobbing Sal | 1.40F | 29.62 | 1 | $50,000 | N.JANJIC |
| 8/01/2005 | BEN’S FURY | Awesome Assassin | Bonnie April | 3.30F | 29.82 | 1 | $50,000 | J THOMPSON |
| 7/01/2006 | CLOSING ARGUMENT | Exceptional | Maddy Shiraz | 2.60F | 29.85 | 4 | $50,000 | C TAYLOR |
| 6/01/2007 | METICULOUS | Brett Lee | Dance Portrait | 5.10 | 30.11 | 2 | $50,000 | M BRIGANTI |
| 5/01/2008 | REGAL THYME | Bombastic Shiraz | Thyme Travel | 14.90 | 29.92 | 6 | $50,000 | G LONG |
| 4/01/2009 | FEDEX | Primo Uno | Tranquil Goddess | 1.60F | 30.01 | 1 | $50,000 | J THOMPSON |
| 3/01/2010 | ENRY WALT | Primo Uno | Awesome Saint | 16.20 | 29.84 | 7 | $50,000 | G ENNIS |
| 1/01/2011 | KILTY LAD | Superman | Cisco Train | 5.40 | 29.66 | 5 | $50,000 | K BRAVO |
| 1/01/2012 | GODSEND | Bombastic Shiraz | Sensational Lee | 15.50 | 29.93 | 1 | $75,000 | J THOMPSON |
| 5/01/2013 | RENEGADE CHIEF | Bombastic Shiraz | Teeze | 4.30 | 29.89 | 2 | $100,000 | K GREENOUGH |
| 4/01/2014 | OLLIE BALE | Go Wild Teddy | Zambola Bale | 6.90 | 30.19 | 8 | $100,000 | A DAILLY |
| 3/01/2015 | ABOVE ALL | Magic Sprite | Kara Jinx | 4.40 | 29.78 | 5 | $100,000 | R BRITTON |
| 2/01/2016 | MIDWINTER | Cosmic Rumble | Tania Two Shoes | 41.00 | 29.99 | 3 | $100,000 | A STEWART |
| 8/01/2017 | LIGHTNING FRANK | Black Magic Opal | Kirabilli Abbie | 3.60 | 29.98 | 5 | $100,000 | M WRIGHT |
| 5/01/2018 | OUT OF RANGE | Fernando Bale | Nicki Fields | 2.40F | 29.83 | 1 | $100,000 | S THOMPSON |
| 5/01/2019 | BAROOGA BRETT | Barcia Bale | Destini Gold | 1.90F | 29.73 | 1 | $100,000 | B ENNIS |
| 4/1/2020 | Simon Told Helen | Barcia Bale | Lindylu | 3.50 | 29.67 | 4 | $100,000 | D Burnett |