Houston, Texas: Bob's Wal Wins Firecracker Hotbox with Amazing Rally at Gulf Greyhound Park

Anyone watching a replay of the Firecracker Hotbox Feature, held at Gulf Greyhound Park on the outskirts of Houston on the Fourth of July, would have a hard time believing that Bob's Wal actually won the race. The November 2003 son of Gable Dodge and Bob's Fraschilla was hopelessly mired in last place on the way to the first turn in a rainstorm, and even after the rail opened up and the huge closer got through traffic unscathed, he still had so many lengths to make up on the leaders that the task seemed impossible. But Bob's Wal is a greyhound of near mythical proportions in a state known for legendary things, and he used a burst of late speed to win the race, leaving people shaking their heads at his latest triumph.

A hotbox is one of the hardest of races to win, as virtually every greyhound in it is running at the top of its game and has been handpicked by the track's racing office for the event. This Gulf Greyhound Park Firecracker Hotbox was no different, as the cream of the sprinting crop was on hand for the tenth race on the Independence Day card. SP's Rags was in the one hole, a winner thirteen times this year and in five of his last six. San Tan Ugh Lee was sitting pretty in the two hole, ten times in the winner's circle this season. Justalittlegirl, a speedy puppy, was in the three, with the wily veteran Bob's Wal at home in the green four blanket. The five contained U Too Wood, in a dozen quinielas out of seventeen tries in his young career at the Texas oval, with C Ya Hells Fire, owner of the event's fastest times, in the six. Tipp Kurt, an early foot racer that rarely has anyone in front of him at the bend had the seven hole; the far outside was manned by CL Fast Recovery, an aptly named pup that has a penchant for flying late.

In a race like this, one would figure that it would be disastrous to start poorly, and Bob's Wal has never been in a box that he couldn't come out of last. Wal breaks from the starting box like a husband being led on a shopping trip with the wife, unenthusiastically to say the least. On this day, in the rain, he broke ninth in an eight dog field, and looked to have dug himself a hole that even he could not climb from. Like the Phoenix rising from the ashes, Bob's Wal began to get back in the game, starting at the first call when everyone went wide that could have blocked him, allowing him to get into fifth place for the chartwriter's pen.

One of the things that Bob's Wal had in his favor was that SP's Rags had broken poorly and been outrun to the turn by Tipp Kurt in the seven and San Tan Ugh Lee in the two. Bob's Wal had caught Rags the race before from fifth, but if Rags had been on the lead in this Firecracker Hotbox, it is unlikely he would have succumbed late. Tipp Kurt on the other hand loses leads like absent minded people lose their car keys, and although he was well in front, his supporters knew they couldn't count their money until the finish line was crossed. Bob's Wal drove down the backside of the Gulf Greyhound Park racing surface and eventually passed Rags and CL Fast Recovery, who hasn't seen anyone pass him on his eighteen trips around the track.

Even as the dogs were running through the far turn, there was ten lengths between Bob's Wal and Tipp Kurt, with Ugh Lee in between. But now Bob's Wal was in the midst of one of his wonderful late speed runs, and nothing was going to deter him. He sucked the hair off of Ugh Lee as he sped by him, and took aim at the frontrunner, which was still a good six lengths in the lead halfway down the stretch. With a flash of speed that could only be described as breathtaking, Bob's Wal, the brother of Rural Rube Award winner Bob's Skeet and a great star in his own right, ran by Tipp Kurt and won by a full length. If it is possible for a greyhound to be bewildered, Tipp Kurt was, but he held off a late charge by Fast Recovery to save second place by a length.

With the crowd still buzzing in disbelief, the prices went up and they showed that Bob's Wal paid $9.40 to win. He combined to form a $21 quiniela with Tipp Kurt, and with the 5-2 favorite SP's Rags off the board, the triple came back for $267. The superfecta was a real sparkler on this 4th of July, as the 4-7-8-2 ticket paid $1,529, with San Tan Ugh Lee in the fourth slot. The amazing effort was the eleventh victory of the year for the great Bob's Wal, who will long be remembered by those in attendance that day as having run one of the most dramatic races that Gulf Greyhound Park has ever seen.