Undoubtedly one of this state’s greatest ever sprinters, 1998 WA Greyhound of the Year, Reggemite, formed half of a unique pairing that year for renowned Hall of Fame trainer, Linda Britton.
The other half of the duo was Paradise Street and, while that dog took out the National Distance Championship at Cannington, Reggemite won the State Sprint Championship.
By top imported UK sire Barneys Alarm, Reggemite is a grandson – through his mother Leading Example – of brilliant race performer and breeder Miss Crisp, the dam of Paradise Street.
During his career, Reggemite, a picturesque white and red brindle dog, created an aura of near invincibility in the West, winning 29 of his 38 starts here and five of 13 at top level interstate.
Reggemite’s initial 28 races in WA came in just 46 weeks, between mid-October 1997 and early September 1998. In that time he registered 21 wins and two seconds, including a string of 13 consecutive victories.
His greatest asset was sheer speed and at one point he held the four fastest 530 metre times recorded at the old Cannington track and the three fastest at Mandurah. His quickest efforts were 30.34 seconds at Cannington and 30.10 at Kanyana Park.
At only his 14th outing, Reggemite ran second to one of Australia’s all-time greats – NSW sensation and National Hall of Famer, Rapid Journey – in the Group 1 Perth Cup at Cannington.
It would be the first of several intriguing clashes between the two. Just four starts after the Perth Cup, Reggemite was victorious in the Group 2 WA Derby, then won the WA Bred Championship and a heat and the final of the Listed Westbred Puppy Classic.
Reggemite’s most prized success though, in what was a very rich sequence, followed with his scoring brilliantly in the WA final of the National Sprint Championship.
In September of 1998, he finished fifth in the national final, again behind Rapid Journey. In November, Reggemite won yet another big race, securing his heat and final of the Group 2 All Stars Sprint, in scintillating fashion at Cannington.
It was the icing on the cake of a stunning season and preceded Reggemite’s being crowned 1998 WA Greyhound of the Year. In February of 1999, Reggemite flew to Melbourne and notched up a milestone success in the inaugural running of the winnertake- all Shootout at Sandown Park.
After that, still at Sandown, he was edged out in a thrilling battle by his nemesis, Rapid Journey, in the Group 2 Topgun.
Remaining in Melbourne, Reggemite was successful in a semifinal of the Australian Cup at The Meadows but was unplaced in the final.
Returning to Perth, he immediately added another feature race trophy to his cabinet with victory in a heat and the Group 3 final of The Schweppes, at Mandurah, in which event he downed Mindoro Miss and Billy Cruise.
In April, back at Cannington, Reggemite defeated the same two greyhounds in the Group 3 Interstate Challenge, running 30.53 and breaking Rapid Journey’s race record in the process.
That same month, Reggemite won a heat of the Perth Cup and ran fourth in the decider – his fifth Group 1 final.
Retired soon after, he became a successful sire, fathering a plethora of feature event winners including the brilliant Reggekate.
Reggemite’s career tally ended at 51 starts for 34 wins and five placings, stamping him a worthy entrant into the WA Racing Industry’s Hall of Fame.
Career Record:
51 starts; 34 wins, 3 seconds, 2 thirds
WA: 38 starts; 29 wins, 2 seconds, 1 third
INTERSTATE: 13 starts; 5 wins, 1 second, 1 third
WA Career Stakes: $147,885
Interstate Stakes: $73,000 (approx.)
1998 WA GOTY Winner (also had 3 Greyhound of the Month
Awards, archived December votes not finalised)
WA Feature Event Wins:
1998 Group 2 WA Derby
1998 WA Bred Championship
1998 WA Sprint Championship
1998 Group 3 Westbred Puppy Classic
1998 Group 2 All Starts Sprint
1999 Group 3 “The Schweppes”
1999 Group 3 Sprint Challenge
Runner-up:
1998 Group 1 Perth Cup
Finalist:
1998 Group 1 National Sprint Championship
1999 Group 1 Perth Cup
Interstate Feature Event Wins:
1998 Shootout (Sandown Park)
Interstate Feature Event Finalist:
1998 Group 2 Topgun (Sandown Park) – 2nd
1999 Group 1 Australian Cup (The Meadows)
Track records:
530m (Old Cannington, pre-transition turns) – 30.34secs
Had the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, =5th, =7th, 10th, 13th, =14th & =17th (x2)
best times over 530m at Cannington
530m (Old Mandurah track) – 30.1secs
Sire of (amongst others):
WA Feature Event winners: Reggekate, Ruddikan, Ruddock, Run
Mushy Run, Train Approach & Sickabills