Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.WHEN SPORTING considerations go nose-to-nose with cold financial reality, it is generally Corinthian spirit which leaves the ring feet- first. In the case of Toms The Best, the Greyhound Derby winner, however, romance could yet prevail over the more functional demands of a career at stud.
When Toms The Best went clear at Wimbledon last Saturday night to become the first dog ever to win both the English and Irish Derbys, few among the thousands who had backed him seriously expected to get a chance to play up their winnings.
Like the equine Derby winners during the money-mad 1980s, it was assumed that, with nothing left to prove, Toms The Best had simply become too valuable to race. After all, when a stud dog is mated three or four times a week at pounds 500 each, the earnings accumulate very quickly.
Toms The Best, though, is owned by an old-fashioned sportsman, Eddie Shotton, whose first instinct will be to race on. Shotton is away on holiday until the weekend, but Nick Savva, Toms The Best's trainer, confirmed yesterday that his dog, already thought to be among the best the sport has seen, could continue to build on his reputation, possibly in the Select Stakes at Nottingham next month before moving up to the extended six-bend trip of the St Leger.
"He's a very sporting man, but he was so ecstatic with the Derby win that he just couldn't make any future plans immediately," Savva said. "Many owners would have retired him immediately, but knowing him, he will probably say `let's go for a little more and see what happens race-by- race'.
"My belief is that he would be even better over a longer distance, but we haven't had the chance to attempt it yet. That's what I will suggest to him."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments