Flying Stanley: Greyhound Racing's Tiger Woods

Flying Stanley is the greyhound world's equivalent of Tiger Woods, a nearly unbeatable competitor that rises to the top when the biggest chips are on the line. Like Woods, Flying Stanley is at his best in the major events, and he plies his trade at all the top greyhound venues in the nation. But where Tiger often has room for error on the golf course, Flying Stanley has none. The slightest bump during a greyhound race can cost a dog dearly, so Stanley makes sure that he cannot be off-strided, bolting to the front like he has seen a ghost and leading the other seven canines around the oval in the vast majority of his races.

Woods lays claim to golf's major championships, winning the Masters, PGA, British, and United States Opens with regularity. Flying Stanley has won more than his share of "majors" as well, annexing such prestigious titles as the Derby Lane Million and the Mardi Gras World Classic. In addition to these races, Stanley has taken the Great Kansas Shootout, the Kansas Bred Juvenile, the Derby Lane Fall Sprint, and the St. Petersburg All-Star Kennel Preview. It was no surprise then that when St. Pete ran their $10,000 Inaugural recently, the 83rd version of the event, that Stanley, already the sport's all-time money winner with well over $600,000, would be front and center.

The Inaugural took on a different look this year, with a pair of qualifying races that would pit the first 4 finishers in each against each other in the finals. In the first heat, USS Talladega made the front against Derby Lane stalwart Brady Thomas, holding on to win by less than a full length over the 550 yards in 30.99 seconds. A few races later, Flying Stanley made quick work of Upland Flower among others, besting the field by 4 in 30.82.

In the Inaugural finale, Stanley found himself in the red blanket of the one box, a spot from which the Derby Lane patrons pounded him down to make him an overwhelming chalk. He broke well in the January 5th feature and managed to outrun Deco Cargo to the first turn and grab the lead coming out of it. You can count on Venus De Milo's hands the number of times Stanley has been run down in a sprint with a clean lead, and as he drew off from the pack it was obvious that the chase was for second. Stanley crossed the line in 30.36 seconds, one of the fastest times ever run in a St. Pete Inaugural, with Dermatophyte closing up for second over the tiring but game Deco Cargo. Suffice to say that the trifecta of 1-8-4, paying $230, was a pleasant surprise for those that held the ticket.

Stanley now awaits the Derby Lane Matinee Idol Stakes later this month, and then looks to compete in the March Sprint Classic. The 84 pound red brindle son of Kiowa Sweet Trey and Flying Rimes won't turn 3 until January 21st, so he is in his prime as you read this, just as Tiger Woods is in his. When all is said and done, both Flying Stanley and Tiger will be remembered as the greatest in their respective sports, but they are too busy now to contemplate the history they are making.

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