Phil Rees (greyhound trainer)
British greyhound racing professional trainer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Philip "Phil" Richard Rees Sr. (8 April 1914 – 19 March 1986) was an English greyhound trainer. He was three times British champion trainer and a winner of the English Greyhound Derby.[1]
| |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 8 April 1914 |
| Died | 19 March 1986 (aged 71) Surrey, England |
| Occupation | Greyhound trainer |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Greyhound racing |
| Achievements and titles | |
| National finals | Derby wins: English Derby (1976) Welsh Derby (1961) Classic/Feature wins: Laurels (1976) Oaks (1963, 1964, 1968) Scurry Gold Cup (1976) Gold Collar (1961) |
Biography
Rees worked as a Fleet Street rep, an advertising rep and a greengrocer before training greyhounds on the Welsh flapping tracks (independent tracks). He then became a kennel hand for Ernie Pratt, at Slough Stadium.[2]
After taking out a private trainers licence, his first major success came in 1961, when a greyhound called Long Story won the Gold Collar.[3] Just one month later the Derby final favourite Oregon Prince finished runner-up in the 1961 English Greyhound Derby.[4][5] The greyhound made amends by then winning the Welsh Greyhound Derby.
On 8 July 1963, he won the Oaks for the first time with Cranog Bet but shortly afterwards gave notice to quit at Clapton Stadium, where he was a contracted trainer.[6] He subsequently joined Wimbledon Stadium and repeated his Oaks success by winning the event with Cranog Bet again during 1964.[3]
Shady Parachute qualified for the 1967 English Greyhound Derby final finishing fourth[7] and one year later Rees had a second and fourth-place finish in the final. Shady Parachute was an overwhelming favourite but failed to secure the title,[8] but did win the 1968 Oaks.
After a few quieter years Rees finally won the sports biggest prize when Mutts Silver won the 1976 English Greyhound Derby.[8][9]
In 1978, he retired and transferred the Burhill kennels in Walton-on-Thames to his son Philip Rees Jr.[10] His grandson Richard Rees became a third generation trainer at the Burhill Kennels in 2008.[11]
Awards
He was a three times winner of the Greyhound Trainer of the Year in 1968, 1969 and 1976.[1]