Downing

In the seventies, Downing was dubbed the "Greyhound of the Decade".  In the eighties, he ranked as one of the sport's most influential sires.  Even today Downing probably remains the most recognizable name of any Greyhound in this country, past or present, both among those in and outside of the sport.   

When called upon to do the impossible and to win the Classic with very few starts under his blanket, he delivered.  When asked to repeat that performance in his next three stakes at three different tracks (the Hollywood Futurity, the Biscayne Irish-American and the Wonderland Battle of the Ages) he delivered.  When asked to beat the one other sprint legend of his day, Rooster Cogburn, in a head on, best of three match series, he delivered, closing out the series in two races.  When asked to meet the track champ at a tiny track in western South Dakota, he delivered (with style demolishing the track record).  When asked to go the distance in the American Derby, when everyone knew he was a pure sprinter, he delivered, showing what he was made of by setting a track record of 36.84 in the trials.  

ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
1st Hollywood World Classic
1st Biscayne Irish-American
Set Black Hills 5/16th Record
Rural Rube Award Winner
1st Hollywood Futurity
1t Wonderland Battle of Ages
Winner of two match races with Rooster Cogburn
Won $124,471, then a record
Captain of the All American Team