Palm Beach Best Of Lists For The 2016-2017 Season

Another racing season is about to be wrapped up in just over a week at the Palm Beach Kennel Club.  A season that saw remarkable stakes finals, new superstars emerge and even a spot on Fox News.  The memories that were made this year will last for a lifetime.

As with tradition at the end of the season, we love to look back at our favorite moments and greyhounds we've witnessed over the past 12 months.  Our Top 10 replays will be shown all week on our social media feeds, all leading up to our final Top 10 Rankings at the beginning of July.

But first....our best of lists.  Here's the best of the best we saw this season at "The Beach."

Best Sprinter

1. Whirlin Toodlelu ~ Douglas Kennel

"Toodles" was magnificent this season. 23 victories and three of the fastest splits of any greyhound this season, including her personal best of 29.22 secs.  She also made two stakes finals, finishing runner up in both with the Labor Day Puppy Stakes and the thrilling St Pats Invitational that she lost by half a whisker.

#2 Big Red Dog  ~ Rader Racing

#3 Superior Tyson ~ B & B Racing

Best Middle Distance Greyhound

#1 - Fraulein Morgan ~ Janie Carroll Kennel

Simply one of the greatest athletes to ever run on the Pat C Rendezvous 660 yard Course.  Morgan blew the doors off of the Track Championship chase early and retired in June with 33 victories and a 98% board hit rate this season.

#2 - Janice Dean  ~ Brindle Kennel

#3 - BartsRunninLoose  ~ Douglas Kennel

#4 Ethel Is Here  ~ Janie Carroll Kennel

Best Super Sprinter

#1 Hi Noon Vortex  ~ Lester Raines Kennel

If you were looking for the next KB's Like A Fox or Craigie Renegade to show up this season, that just wasn't in the cards.  Vortex was the top hound on the 301 super sprint course though, with the fastest time (16.35 secs) and most wins (21) of any greyhound out there.  Solid debut season for Vortex and his Kennel.

#2 Pepper Cream  ~ Janie Carroll Kennel

#3 Hi Noon Grace  ~ Lester Raines Kennel

Best Kennel

#1 - Douglas Kennel

They simply never let off the gas this season and will win their first Kennel Championship since 1990.  Setting the pace from the start of July led by their trainer Justin "Incredible" Douglas, their team had many of the top stars in the country running for them.  Whirlin Toodlelu, Gv MooseIsLoose, Char Vallon, BartsRunninLoose & Barts Big Bang led a squad that just couldn't be matched this season. Douglas will finish with well over 800 wins collectively.

#2 - Rader Racing

#3 - B & B Racing

Most Memorable Retirements

#1 Ethel Is Here ~ Janie Carroll Kennel

- February 4th, 2017

Track handicapper Jeff Prince told me that he has seen a lot of retirement ceremonies over his nearly 40 year career at Palm Beach, but never had seen anything quite as emotional as when Ethel hung up her racing jersey.

The track record holder and 2016 Derby winner captured the hearts of the country with her powerful performances and her unique look as a blue greyhound.

Replay of Ethel's retirement ceremony:

#2 Fraulein Morgan ~ Janie Carroll Kennel

- June 3rd, 2017

#3 Pj Smoke Em Out ~ Agganis Kennel

- June 3rd, 2017

Funniest Moment

#1 - "The Moon Shot"

On June 10th, Atascocita Eaton turns around in the starting box and flashes his backside for the world to see.

Best Race Lineup

#1 St Pats Final - March 18th, 2017

This was one of the most competitive fields in the history of the Club period.  Janice Dean was going for the Triple Crown, Fraulein Morgan was the season wins leader and Big Red Dog was in his 4th stakes final.  Add in Toodles and the eventual favorite sensational rookie Super C Martha, this was a field that will be remembered for quite some time.

#2 -  3/8ths Mile Derby Final - February 25th, 2017

#3 - He's My Man Final - January 28th, 2017

Best Nicknames

#1 - Janice Dean "The Weather Machine"

The name and the game that got this little lady from the Brindle Kennel on Fox News.  Named after the Fox meteorologist, she was an absolute must watch and a huge fan favorite when she was rolling.

Replay of her segment on Fox News:

#2 - "Fabulous" Fraulein Morgan

#3 - "Clifford" Big Red Dog

#4 - "The Luck of the Irish" Barts Dublin

Best Race

#1 St Pats Final - March 18th, 2017

It couldn't have been any closer than this.

Fraulein Morgan won this race by the slimmest of margins over Whirling Toodlelu to capture her first ever stakes victory.  How these two could be separated by this amount of centimeters is just incredible.

Replay: http://www.trackinfo.com/video-box.jsp?raceid=gPB%2420170318A12

#2 Derby Final - February 25th, 2017

#3 L's Cori Miracle Comeback - March 11th, 2017

Replay: http://www.trackinfo.com/video-box.jsp?raceid=gPB%2420170311E08

We hope you had as much fun following this season as we did!  The new season begins July 1st.  Remember to check out our Final Top 10 Rankings after the new campaign starts!