Revere, Massachusetts: Scoobie Blue Sets New Wonderland Greyhound Park 5/16ths of a Mile Record

In late 2001, the exceptional sprinter Bacnine set the 5/16ths of a mile record at Wonderland Greyhound Park, in Revere, Massachusetts on the outskirts of Boston when he ran the distance in 29.50 seconds. The mark stood unassailed for five and a half year, but has now been lowered by a greyhound named Scoobie Blue. On July 28th, during the Saturday evening performance, Scoobie Blue broke from the seven hole in the feature race, a Grade A event that had some of the best at Wonderland on display. By the time she crossed the finish line, the white ticked and brindle female had not only broken Bacnine's 1,650 foot standard at the Bay State oval, she had absolutely shattered it.

Bacnine was the winner of a record seventeen straight at Wonderland during his fabulous career, and in a twist of irony, Scoobie Blue had been the greyhound that had snapped the winning streak of Snow Blower at twenty wins in a row earlier in the meet, on June 23rd. Snow Blower's skein was established at two tracks, Sarasota and Wonderland, so Bacnine's record was not really close to being in jeopardy. However, the victory over Snow Blower was the biggest of Scoobie Blue's life, until now.

The field that she dominated was full of Wonderland standouts, the aforementioned Snow Blower included. He occupied the eight hole, and had in his last start been a victim of Scoobie Blue's late kick once more. In that heat, he had gone to the front, but Blue had cleared in second right behind the eighty-four pound black male and had proceeded to whip him soundly, by over seven lengths in 29.82. It was Snow Blower's third loss to Scoobie Blue in his last five Wonderland outings, and it was clear which the faster animal was. But in this July 28th race, Snow Blower had a good spot, as he would be able to use his early foot to perhaps gain an advantage.

The wily veteran Neftal was in the three box, with a pair of wins in his six lines showing in the program. Almost four, Neftal had coincidently won his first race at the Woodlands in Kansas on July 28th, 2005, two years ago to the day. Craigie Starturn was in the green blanket, right next to Neftal in the four, and had won eight of his thirteen times to post at Wonderland after coming over from nearby Twin River in Lincoln, Rhode Island. She was a speed demon, doing her best work on the front, while Hidden Diamond and Chaseadream, in the five and six boxes respectively, were capable of coming from off the pace. But with all this talent in the race, the Wonderland patrons weren't buying an upset possibility, sending Scoobie Blue off at nine dimes to the buck as the wagering closed and the lure went into motion.

Earlier in the card, Skippy Lou, a come-from-behind type, had bolted to the front and won by four in 29.91. Then a few races later, Camrah ran a 29.73 as he won by eleven for just his second win of the meet. This showed the track was plenty fast, but lots of things still need to go right for a track record to be set. One bump or misstep can be costly, and it is just about imperative that whoever is going to break an existing record do so by getting around no farther back than second place at the first turn call. On this night, Scoobie Blue would break well enough to actually make the lead by five lengths to the first turn call pole, and the race against the Wonderland timer was on.

The outcome of the contest was definitely not in doubt, as it would have taken a greyhound riding on a motorcycle to make a run at Scoobie Blue once she had made the lead. Going into the far turn she had seven on Snow Blower, who by now must be seeing this dog in his dreams while asleep in his kennel. Down the homestretch ran the December 2004 daughter of Crew Cut and Jaleel, owned by Barney O'Donnell, who is no stranger to greatness in greyhounds. Across the line went Scoobie Blue, and the judges must have double checked to see that the time they would be putting up on the toteboard was correct. The lights came on and showed that Scoobie Blue, who had won by almost twelve, had indeed run a stunning time, a clocking of 29.38 to be exact. Holding a record does not mean that one greyhound is better than another, or that the new standard bearer would handily defeat the old one. What Bacnine and Scoobie Blue would do in a race against each other can never be known. Now all that's left is for those that do such things to take Bacnine's name out of the record books and replace it with that of Scoobie Blue, until the time, if ever, when it becomes necessary to do it all again.