Oshkosh Racey

Inducted into the greyhound hall of fame in 2001, Oshkosh Racey had two outstanding careers - the first as a racer and the second as a sire. The son of Hall of Famer Unruly and Oshkosh Benefit, the black Greyhound was whelped in March of 1986. Bred and owned by Bill Pollard, Oshkosh Racey died in March of 1999.

A versatile racer, he excelled at both 5/16 and 3/8-mile distances wherever he competed, whether it be Mile High, Derby Lane, Tampa, Southland, Cloverleaf or Multnomah. In 1988, Oshkosh Racey had one of the greatest single-year performances ever recorded by a Greyhound. That year he won the Mile High Countdown by 14 lengths over kennelmate Oshkosh Hardy, the Stroh's All-American Invitational at Mile High, and the Tampa Sprint and Distance Classics. He was a finalist in the Cloverleaf Classic, was runner-up to Oshkosh Zest as the leading qualifier in the Timberline, and was 4th place finisher as the leading qualifier in the Greyhound Race of Champions in the 5/16 at Southland. He won the Mile High track championship; and, with a record of 39-9-5 in 66 starts was runner-up in the United States win championship. He set a 5/16 record at Mile High and twice broke the 5/16 record at Tampa. For his efforts, Oshkosh Racey was named captain of the All-America Team, won the Rural Rube Award and was runner-up for the Flashy Sir Award. Only one other Greyhound, Hall of Famer Downing in 1977, won the Rural Rube Award and finished second in the Flashy Sir competition in the same year.

In 1989, Racey went 11-1-0-2 in14 starts at Derby Lane before sustaining an injury. He returned to capture the Multnomah Superstar Invitational and was a finalist in the Greyhound Race of Champions at Mile High over the 3/8 course with kennelmate Oshkosh Juliet the victor. That year Oshkosh Racey was named to his second All-America team.

In his second career, Oshkosh Racey was a perennial contender on national Sire Standings, finishing in the Top 5 from 1994 through 1998. In 1997, he was second only to Hall of Famer HB's Commander. Among his offspring are All-American Starlight Irene, Southland multi-stakes winner D's Jakethesnake, Gulf superstar Sweet Theme, BD's Phillip, Flying Penske, Jetset Rules, Chick's Racey, Oshkosh Affair, Oshkosh Slammer, Iruska Excalibur and Basic Benefit. Through these Greyhounds and countless others, the Oshkosh Racey line will endure for many generations to come. The Greyhound Review magazine recognized Oshkosh Racey as one of the most outstanding Greyhounds of the 20th century, and also as one of the fastest racers of the period.