Scooby The Lady set a new track record en route to victory in the 2026 Arena Racing Company Kent Plate at a packed Central Park Stadium on Saturday night.
Richard Rees’ kennel star held off a ferocious challenge from GBGB Greyhound of the Year Proper Heiress to scoop the £12,500 first prize and earn the Hove handler a second Category One win in just four months.
After breaking well from trap four, the January ’24 black bitch cut across the first bend to deny odds-on favourite Proper Heiress a clear inside run around the first bend before extending to win by three-and-one-quarter lengths.
It marked a first Category One success for one of the sport’s brightest young stars, who will now be targeted at Hove’s prestigious Brighton Belle in April with connections not ruling out a tilt at the English Greyhound Derby either.
Richard’s son Charlie Rees was more than impressed by Scooby The Lady’s performance, which marked her eighth career win.
“She won a couple of races at Hove during Christmas, and from her first trial here we knew she’d run the track well,” said Charlie.
“She’s performed better each time she’s raced here, and to win a race of this caliber against strong opposition as a bitch is top class.
“We knew she had a chance, but at the same time we knew the competition was competitive.
“The draw wasn’t ideal on paper, but she delivered a proper performance and to set a new track record as well is amazing.
“We’ll look at the Brighton Belle (at Hove) now, and then possibly the Derby. We have great memories at Central Park – the Kent Derby, the Cesarewitch and now the Plate.
“We just need to tick off the Silver Salver to complete the set!”
Mark Wallis’ Proper Heiress finished second, while Patrick Janssens’ Droopys Graph was third. Cinderella Tell, Burrows Charm and Ballymac Axel were fourth, fifth and sixth respectively.
Elsewhere on the card, Newmarket-based Patrick Janssens enjoyed a four-timer with Fabulous Heka, Slick Skylark, Romeo Empire and Romeo Tomcat all winning their respective races.
Meanwhile there was a major upset in the Arena Racing Company Standard Division II when Dan Brabon’s Our Big Bill beat Hasty Lottie by a length priced 50/1.
Brabon was on the podium again four races later when Bumble Belles won the £1,000 ARC Bitches Trophy Final. Barry O’Sullivan and Nick Carter were the two other local trainers to win on the night with Harlequin Brinn and Joyces Wallender winning both divisions of the ARC Maiden Trophy respectively.
Central Park’s 664m track record was also broken in race nine when Bubbly Evie won the ARC Novice Stayer final in 39.77 seconds.
Category One greyhound racing returns to Central Park in June with 72nd renewal of the Arena Racing Company Kent Silver Salver, which starts on Saturday, June 13. Saturday night racing continues each weekend in the meantime with racing starting at 5.30pm, tickets for each fixture are available online via www.centralpark-greyhounds.co.uk.
