Misty Wonder was a top notch racing greyhound and from his early days as a pup, was earmarked as a potential Greyhound Derby candidate for honours at Wimbledon after winning juvenile races at Walthamstow and Catford.
He also broke the track record at Hackney in a sizzling 27.25.
Based in Kent for his wily old fox handler Kevin McDonagh, he was known as the “Biggin Hill Blaster” as he was like quicksilver from the traps.
The problem was that Misty Wonder didn’t like the rain and was scared of the dark - a big problem for Wimbledon, which staged the blue riband in the evening, and the week before the big race, it rained non stop.
McDonagh was frantic, pacing up and down the kennels every morning, and at one stage was considering a rain dance.
The morning of the Wimbledon final, Misty Wonder was backed into 8/11, but punters were perhaps unaware of the kennel secret against the elements.
He had never raced in the evening.
McDonagh decided to let him take his chance for fear of a punter backlash, and with the rain hammering down on the steel boxes, Misty put his head down as the lure rattled round.
“And away we go,” said the track commentator - but Misty Wonder didn’t, he looked out of his trap, skywards, and proceeded to lay down and curl up in a ball.
Peter Rees’ dog Blakes Seven won and Misty got his cover from the rain back to the kennels.
By Al Dudman
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