Although five of the top 10 greyhounds in Wheeling Island history have raced in the past two years, the best dog to ever compete at the track was DD’s Nelson in the late 1980s.

That’s the opinion of local greyhound historian Robin Reed and this writer, who recently composed a listing of the Top 20 greyhounds in Wheeling history (1976-2010).

“I know a lot of regulars of the track love reminiscing about the greyhounds of the past and I think the listing gives the newer fans a sense of how great the history is at Wheeling Island. It also adds to the pageantry of the sport,” Reed said. “Anytime we can get people talking about the greyhounds, past or present, it’s a good thing, in my opinion.”

While DD’s Nelson is the consensus top pick, another old-timer – Friend Delilah – is No. 2 on the all-time list. Rounding out the top five are (3) TK Quick Strike, (4) Gable Sour Cream and (5) Hi Noon Hero.

Next in line are (6) Kiowa WW Brother, (7) Greys Beaver, (8) Kiowa Power Pak, (9) Casual Casey and (10) Slick Genius. The second 10 are (11) Kiowa Day Jazz, (12) Stage Door Ace, (13) Diamond’s Rose, (14) Cool Highway, (15) Steph’s Good, (16) WW Apple Jax, (17) Greys Royalcrown, (18) Fortified Rush, (19) Nimby TP Jan and (20) Iruska All Star.

Several dogs were “on the bubble,” just missing the Top 20. They included Kiowa Sweet Trey, Gene’s Champion, Itsjustplaingood, Odd Express, J’s Susie and DEA’s Magictouch.

“There were about 75 greyhounds considered in all and a number of dogs on the bubble for the last few spots,” Reed said. “One of the main factors that allowed a greyhound to make the cut was the length of time they raced at a high level versus just a brief, albeit spectacular, flash like Kiowa Sweet Trey or Onie Reid.”

The emphasis of the poll was to honor true hometown Wheeling greyhounds versus ones that may have just come in for a stakes race or two and made a lot of noise.

“Greyhounds like My Tipper who won the 1984 West Virginia Commissioner’s Cup, ran third in the 1985 Commissioner’s Cup and set the 5/16ths track record three times were not included,” Reed said. “Another dog that would have fallen in that category was Mr. Wizard, who won the 1982 West Virginia Classic, made the finals of the 1982 City of Wheeling Stakes, and set three Wheeling track records during those brief stints.”

The top-ranked DD’s Nelson received All-American honors in 1987. He won 96 career races, including 38 in 1986 when he was the track win champ and had an 11-race win streak.

As far as a stakes competitor, Nelson won the 1987 Stroh’s Invitational Sprint in Colorado, the 1987 New Hampshire Invitational Cup and the 1987 Wheeling Countdown; was second in the 1987 Wheeling Challenge; was third in the 1986 Race of Champions; and a finalist in the 1988 Mountaineer Classic.

“I think DD’s Nelson made the biggest impact nationally of any of our hometown greyhounds in the track’s history,” Reed noted. “He was our first All-American and won several stakes races around the country in addition to his many Wheeling Island achievements.”

James Bowen, who trained DD’s Nelson in 1987-88, accompanied the star to his stake-winning efforts in Colorado and New Hampshire.

“We had a special bond between us that could not be described,” Bowen said. “Nelson and I seemed to draw upon each other’s competitiveness.”

When asked if Nelson was the best to ever race at Wheeling, Bowen didn’t hesitate.

“Hands down and not because I trained him,” Bowen said. “Most trainers throughout their careers never come across a dog like Nelson.

“He was all heart and he had that extra desire, extra sense all the great ones have. He also was very intelligent,” Bowen said. “He not only loved to run, but he loved to win.”

Bowen said Nelson would still be a star today.

“I firmly believe he could run against the best today and do it very well,” Bowen said.

Looking back at Nelson’s career, Bowen said, “I was so lucky to have had the opportunity to handle such an amazing animal. He was such a natural runner that it surely wasn’t my expertise in the field that led him to victory.”

Bowen said racers like Nelson don’t come around very often.

“He was definitely one of a kind and I honestly feel that we may never see another greyhound with the intelligence, heart and passion that he possessed,” Bowen said.

Gary Dietz, who trained Nelson for two years, broke him in at Wheeling in 1985.

“When Nelson got the front, he never got caught. He had a huge heart … never gave up,” Dietz said. “And he could run both 5/16 and 3/8.”

Dietz also feels Nelson could easily compete with today’s greyhounds.

“I think some of the great athletes in different sports could compete today,” Dietz said. “Nelson’s one of them.”

Dietz also trained Cool Highway, No. 14 on the all-time list.

“Cool Highway was my all-time favorite,” Dietz added. “I think he should have been higher on the list.”

Former track announcer Bart Przelenski, who called the races for some 20 years, said DD’s Nelson was the total package.

“Nelson was the whole deal and I liked him a lot. He had speed, power, desire and was a very smart dog,” Przelenski said. “He was the kind of dog you could count on.”

Nelson also was the first greyhound at Wheeling to go under 30 seconds in the sprint and under 38 seconds on the backside.

“People would come to the track to see DD’s Nelson and Friend Delilah run. They were the stars of their time,” Przelenski said. “They were great but I just don’t know how they would stack up against today’s dogs. I do know some of today’s dogs would have been huge stars back then.”

Current Wayne Ward Kennel trainer Ron Otto recalls going to the track to watch DD’s Nelson.

“One of the best I ever saw. I remember the track was packed the night they showed the Mile High stake and he crushed them,” Otto said. “At the Race of Champions Nelson was 10 times the best dog, but didn’t have any luck.”

Abrahamson Kennel trainer Tom Engle said Nelson should be No. 1 on the all-time list.

“He was a tank,” Engle said. “He could run against any dog in the country.”

Following are capsule looks at Wheeling’s other all-time greats:

Friend Delilah – 1981 national and track win leader (47); 112 career victories (track record); 1982 track win leader (36); 10-race win streak (1981); 5/16 track record twice (1981); finalist 1980 City of Wheeling and finalist 1981 City of Wheeling.

TK Quick Strike – 2008 Flashy Sir Award; 2008 win champ (31); 3/8 track record three times (2008); 1st 2008 Mountaineer Classic; 1st 2009 Mountaineer Classic; 1st 2008 Night of Stars; 2nd 2009 Night of Stars.

Gable Sour Cream – 2009 All-American; 5/16 track record twice (2009); 1st 2009 Wheeling Island Invitational; finalist 2009 Holiday Sprint (scratched).

Hi Noon Hero – 2009 All American; 5/16 track record (2009); 1st 2009 George Kellas Memorial Cup; 1st 2009 Holiday Sprint; 2nd 2009 Superstar Challenge; 2nd 2009 Firecracker Sprint; finalist 2009 Winner’s Challenge.

Kiowa WW Brother – 10-race win streak (2009); 1st 2008 Wheeling Island Invitational; 1st 2009 Superstar Challenge; 2nd 2008 Holiday Sprint; finalist 2008 Panhandle Sprint.

Greys Beaver – 85 career wins; 1991 win champ (33); 1992 win champ (34); 11-race win streak (1992); 1st 1992 Wheeling Sprint; 1st 1991 Spring Juvenile; 1st 1992 Commissioner’s Challenge; 2nd 1991 Wheeling Sprint; 3rd 1991 Norman Hanson Memorial.

Kiowa Power Pak – 2009 win champ (31); 2nd 2009 Mountaineer Classic; 2nd 2008 Night of Stars; 3rd 2010 Joe Ryan Memorial; finalist 2010 World Classic; finalist 2009 Sweetheart Derby.

Casual Casey – 98 career wins; 1993 win champ (39); 1994 win champ (31); track record 16-race win streak (1995).

Slick Genius – 1977 win champ (30); 1st 1977 City of Wheeling, 3rd 1977 Shehan Sprint, 3rd 1979 Wheeling Downs Sprint, finalist 1978 Wheeling Downs Sprint.

Kiowa Day Jazz – 96 career wins; 1996 win champ (41); 12-race win streak (1996), 2nd 1997 Spring Classic.

Stage Door Ace – 90 career wins; 1989 win champ (29); 38 wins (1990); 13-race win streak (1990); 3/8 track record (1990).

Diamond’s Rose – 1978 win co-champ (27); 1979 win champ (26); 5/16 track record (1979); 1st 1978 Wheeling Downs Sprint; 3rd 1979 Shehan Sprint.

Cool Highway – 1st 1978 West Virginia Classic; 2nd 1978 Wheeling Downs Sprint; 2nd 1977 Spring Derby; finalist 1978 City of Wheeling; finalist 1977 Shehan Sprint.

Steph’s Good – 15-race win streak (1987); 7/16 track record – three times (1987).

WW Apple Jax – 2003 All-American; 5/16 track record (2003); 1st 2003 Night of Stars; finalist 2003 Commissioner’s Cup.

Greys Royalcrown – 2004 All-American; 2004 win champ (23); 1st 2004 Survivor Series; 1st 2004 Independence Day Classic; 3rd 2004 Couch Potato.

Fortified Rush – 11-race win streak (2001); 1st 2001 Spring Classic; 31 wins (2000).

Nimby TP Jan – 2005 All-American; 2005 Flashy Sir Award; 2005 win champ (27); 1st 2005 Spring Night of Stars; 1st 2005 Fall 2005 Night of Stars.

Iruska All Star – 2001 win champ (30); 2nd 2001 Spring Classic; 3rd 2002 Commissioner’s Cup.

Comparing greyhounds from different eras was challenging.

“It was very difficult considering the fact that the level of competition at Wheeling Island has changed drastically in the last 10 to 15 years compared to the first 20 years of the track’s history,” Reed related. “Also, the track surface has changed much over the years which has a big affect on running times, so in some ways it’s not a fair comparison.”

Reed also feels some of the best old-timers could stack up with today’s elite runners.

“I do think the dogs we have ranked in the Top 20 that raced from the late 70s to the mid 80s, like DD’s Nelson, Friend Delilah, Slick Genius, Cool Highway, and Diamond’s Rose could definitely compete with the best of today because they were battle tested by competing in some of the best open stakes racing in the country at the time,” Reed said. “If a greyhound could make a final of the West Virginia Classic or City of Wheeling Stakes events held annually at Wheeling from 1977-1985, they had to do so against some of the best talent in the country that came to our track for these races. I think that is a major factor in validating how good those early dogs were when looking at the best of all-time here at Wheeling.”

IN THE HOMESTRETCH:

HOT DOGS: Vince Berland Kennel’s Flying Chattaroy has four straight Grade AA victories for trainer Pamela Webb. Kennel-mate Flying Burgundy has three wins and a second in her last four Grade AA starts.

Steubenville Kennel’s Shonn has won four out of his last five Grade AA 3/8 races for trainer Debbie Schweizer. Kennel-mates Deerfiled Peter has captured three out of his last four Grade AA starts and Tam Hootie Eye has two wins and a second in his last three Grade AA trips.

Charter Kennel’s JCB Lesley has two wins and two seconds in her last four outings for trainer Rodney Cooley.

C And C Kennel’s CTW Gran Torino (A, AA) and Large Lee (B, A) have back-to-back victories for trainer Patrick Bever.

Plum Creek Kennel’s Del Shannon has two wins in a row (A, AA) for trainer Joe Otto.

Wayne Ward Kennel’s Its Quenna has two straight 3/8 wins (B, A) for trainer Ron Otto.

Cardinal Kennel’s Kiowa Mon McRay has back-to-back victories (B, A) for trainer Mike Schweizer.

Pawloski can be reached at sjpawloski@yahoo.com