Mick the Miller facts for kids
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| Species | Dog |
|---|---|
| Breed | Greyhound |
| Sex | Male |
| Born | 28 June 1926 Killeigh, County Offaly, Ireland |
| Died | 6 May 1939 (aged 12) |
| Nation from | Ireland |
| Occupation | Racing greyhound |
| Years active | 1928–1931 |
| Known for | 2 × winner of the English Greyhound Derby |
| Predecessor | Boher Ash |
| Successor | Seldom Lad |
| Owner | Father Martin Brophy & Kempton family Trainers - Mick Horan & Sidney Orton |
| Parent(s) | Glorious Event (sire) Na Boc Lei (dam) |
| Appearance | Brindle markings |
Mick the Miller (born June 29, 1926 – died May 6, 1939) was a famous male brindle Greyhound. He is known as the first really great racing greyhound to compete in England, even though he was born in Ireland.
Mick had a short racing career of only three years. But his amazing wins were talked about all over the world. By the end of his career, he was a true legend in the sport. He won nineteen races in a row, including the important English Greyhound Derby twice in a row! In 1931, he got hurt during a race at Wimbledon Stadium, which ended his winning streak. After he recovered, he tried to win a third Derby title but didn't succeed. Mick even appeared in movies! Today, he is still seen as one of the greatest sports heroes in the UK.
Contents
Mick's Early Life
Mick was born in Killeigh, County Offaly, Ireland. This was before greyhound track racing became popular in Ireland and Britain. He was the smallest of ten puppies. His father was related to Master McGrath, another famous Irish Greyhound who won the Waterloo Cup three times.
People first thought Mick would be used for hare coursing, which is a type of hunting. There was even a plan to send him to America for racing. But a big tornado hit St. Louis, Missouri, and sadly, it killed many of the other greyhounds. This stopped the deal.
A Catholic priest named Father Martin Brophy brought Mick to race in England. At that time, the Catholic Church in Great Britain was not in favor of greyhound racing.
Mick's Racing Career
1928: Starting Strong
Mick's first race was on April 18, 1928, at Shelbourne Park. He won the Punchestown Stakes. In 1928, he raced five times and won four of them. He even tied the world record for 500 meters! After one race, he got very sick with a disease called distemper. He almost died, but a kind vet helped him get better.
1929: Derby Champion
In 1929, Mick won the Easter Cup final and the Spring Cup final in Ireland. Then, he traveled to England for the first time. Before the 1929 English Greyhound Derby, Mick broke the track record in a practice run. This made him the favorite to win the Derby.
In the first round of the Derby, Mick pulled far ahead and set a new world record! Father Browne, who owned Mick, sold him for £800. This was more than the cost of a house back then! About 40,000 people came to watch the final race.
During the final, there was a big crash at the first turn. The race had to be restarted! Mick was given a cool, wet handkerchief to help him stay cool on the hot summer evening. In the re-run, Mick won by three lengths! When people in his hometown of Killeigh heard he won, they had a big bonfire party!
After the Derby, Mick won another race at West Ham Stadium. He finished 1929 with an amazing record: 26 wins out of 32 races! He then moved to train with Sidney Orton at Wimbledon.
1930: Double Derby Winner
Mick started 1930 well, winning the Spring Cup at Wembley. Then, he won the 1930 English Greyhound Derby again! About 50,000 people watched, including King Alfonso XIII of Spain. This was his eleventh win in a row!
Mick then won the Cesarewitch and the Welsh Greyhound Derby. He even set another world record! His winning streak reached nineteen victories in a row. This amazing run ended when he hurt his shoulder at Wimbledon Stadium. During this time, he broke world records four times. Newspapers stopped calling him "Wonder Dog" and simply called him "Invincible." He finished 1930 with 20 wins out of 23 races.
1931: A Tough Year
Mick tried to come back in February 1931 but got another small injury. He finally returned in March, winning the Spring Cup again. Then, he aimed for a third Derby win.
However, Mick lost a few races, which was very unusual for him. In the semi-finals of the 1931 English Greyhound Derby, he was not the favorite for the first time in many races. He started slowly but sped up and almost caught the leader, Ryland R. The Evening News newspaper said, "Mick has never run a better race." Even though he lost, he still made it to the final.
The final race was on June 27, 1931. A huge crowd of 70,000 people came to watch Mick the Miller race against Ryland R. Both dogs were equally favored to win. At the start, Ryland R got ahead, and Mick was in last place. Ryland R led for most of the race. But then, the race steward called it a "no-race" because Ryland R had snapped at another dog.
Suddenly, Mick the Miller came speeding through the pack! He found a clear path and passed the other dogs, winning the race by a head! The crowd was cheering, but the announcer kept saying it was a "no-race." Mick's owner, Phiddy Kempton, was crying tears of joy, thinking Mick had won.
A re-run was ordered, but Mick was tired. He slipped at the first turn and finished fourth. Seldom Lad won the race. This was the first time Mick had lost four races in a row. The crowd booed when Seldom Lad received the trophy.
Even though he lost, this Derby made Mick even more famous. He became a symbol of greyhound racing around the world. The Greyhound Mirror and Gazette said he was as popular as any movie star or athlete. Mick was featured in newspapers in Germany, Australia, and the USA.
Mick continued to race for the rest of the year. His final race was the St Leger Stakes in October. He won this race in front of 40,000 people. This race was later called the greatest race ever held at Wembley Stadium. Mick retired from racing in December 1931.
Mick's Later Life and Legacy
After retiring, Mick spent two years as a stud dog, which means he was used for breeding. He was the most expensive stud dog at the time. He also made special appearances, like at the opening of Catford Stadium in 1932.
Mick even became a movie star! He appeared in the 1934 film Wild Boy.
Mick the Miller passed away on May 6, 1939, just before his thirteenth birthday. He earned a lot of money from breeding fees, movie appearances, and prize money. After he died, his last owner gave him to the Natural History Museum in London. You can still see him today at the Natural History Museum at Tring in Hertfordshire. He stands in a special airtight case to protect him.
Mick the Miller is still famous for making Greyhound racing in Great Britain very popular. He was the only dog to win two Derby titles until 1973. A famous company, Royal Doulton, even made limited edition statues of Mick the Miller in the 1990s. There is also a statue of Mick in his birthplace of Killeigh, Co. Offaly, Ireland. It was unveiled by the Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of Ireland.
In 2007, a journalist named Jon Henderson included Mick the Miller in his list of 100 top British sportsmen. Mick was the only greyhound on the list, showing how important he was. He is still called the world's most famous greyhound. He won 51 out of 68 races he entered and is the only dog to win the Derby, Cesarewitch, and St Leger races.
