Many Irish and Englishmen of my vintage would know of the legendary Mick the miller I certainly respect how much you folk love him and he’s memory .
In Australia I’m not so sure many are aware of what this dog did for the sport’s evolution , when I ask people they haven’t heard of him , my bookworm elderly mother grew up with her uncle as a trainer and hadn’t heard of him , many of the youth today have no idea they even race in other parts of the world.
In the 80’s at the track I’d heard he’s name mentioned and seen the name written ,even though I was aware he was special ,I thought he was American for a decade or so until I researched him with the wonder of internet.
So I would like to rectify that and give an insight into what a little dog did nearly 100 years ago , there is material with slight variations but mostly it’s fact , this is my tribute !
Born in killeigh county Offaly Ireland in June 1926 litter of 10 or 12 (uncertain) his Sire was Glorious Event whose blood traced back to the great coursing dog Master McGrath who won 3 Waterloo cups in the 1860’s :dam-Na Boc Lei ,they were bred by father Martin Brophy greyhound enthusiast , mick was the smallest in litter when born ,the runt .
Michael Greene or Miller some thought he’s name was ,he worked in the vicarage as the handyman he took a liking to the pup and bottle fed him with extra care until he caught up , Brophy sold the litter but kept the small pup and one brother.
The two would engage in some local coursing events with success, Greene or Mr miller whatever he’s name was superb with the dogs they were fit and muscular, but Brophy made a deal to sell them both for 150 pound to an American Mr Rebenscheid who wanted them for circuit racing in America 🇺🇸.
Enter mother nature a tornado struck Missouri ripping the kennels apart killing 27 of Rebenscheid’s greyhounds , plus in a separate incident overturned he’s son’s van and killing a few more , a letter quickly came back to Brophy stating that god was against he’s greyhound dreams the deal was off !
Mick Dunne who owned the mill at killeigh was called mick the miller some say that’s how the dog got he’s name , but more credible is that Brophy named him after he’s employee mick Greene or Miller it turns out ,he stuck (the)in the middle the rest is history it’s quite apt because everybody seems to be named Mick !
Very handsome was the dog brindle with white paws white chest long white tipped tail , and an angelic face , very good with people he had canine pizzazz.
1927 things changed Celtic park and Shelbourne park had opened both dogs were trialled there and back at home mick Greene (we’ll call him that from now on save confusion) would build a track with a bend for them to practice on.
Enter Mick Horan licensed trainer at Shelbourne he picked up lead n collar and Mick the Miller won he’s first four races , but bad news the young dog was found sick in he’s kennel with distemper, Greene nursed him , along with the aid of Doc Callinan the local vet , no vaccines in the 20’s it didn’t look good the brother was sold by Brophy and it went on to become champion hurdler macoma in England , the rest of the litter is unknown to me.
Recovery for Mick the Miller took 6 months but that he did , he won the Easter cup Spring cup and National cup he won 11 of 15 races with 4 2nds , in all he won 15 of 20 races in Ireland they loved him .
In 1929 Brophy took the dog to England for a tilt at the derby he was 25/1 but trialled ,after the trial he was 4/7 odds on as he equaled track record , in he’s next run he won by 8 lengths and smashed the track record ,many offers came and Brophy didn’t hesitate selling him for 800 pounds enough to buy a house . Bookmaker Albert Williams bought the dog but the deal was Brophy got the trophy and Prize money if Mick won the derby , he did . 40000 people cheered ,Brophy done a lap of honour and on he’s return to Ireland there was more fanfare their dog had won the English derby and everyone knew Mick the Miller .
Mick continued in England winning 6 races he was sold again for 2000 pounds to Phyllis Kempton a gift from Husband Arundel the powerful couple with the glamorous lifestyle looked the part with their new acquisition.
Arundel was a wealthy businessman and vice chairman of Wimbledon greyhound stadium, mick was moved to trainer Sydney Orton in late 1929 he finished 1929 with a record of 26 wins from 32 starts .
1930 he won the spring cup at Wembley in March he then won the derby again with 50000 on track including King Alfonso X111 of Spain , he was that impressed he went straight home and built tracks. This was mick’s 11th win a row then he won the cesarewitch at West Ham ,Welsh derby another track record he was unbeatable 19 wins in a row before a muscle tear at Wimbledon stadium stopped he’s juggernaut, he finished the year with 20 wins from 23 starts set 4 world records in 5 weeks .
March 1931 he won 4 on end then equaled record in spring cup , he made English derby final again for a 3rd time.
In them days if the race was marred by interference they would sound the klaxon horn for a re run after the dogs rested , mick was getting on a bit he’d suffered a few losses but after a bump at the start he gave 36 kilo or 79 pound Ryland R 15 lengths start and ran him to a half length on the line in a heat, the big dog was known as “the black Express “ it was mick’s greatest run when losing .
The English derby Final was on 27th June 1931 70000 people packed white city In London , Ryland R leads mick is last and sets out after them ,on the home turn the leaders come together and the legend sweeps past ,as he does the Klaxon horn sounds as Ryland is deemed to have interfered with seldom lad , but the horn is drowned out by 70000 roaring fans they think they’ve seen the unbelievable.
Phyddie Kempton thinks she’s won and cries uncontrollably but a re run is ordered the bigwigs were on track , the Kemptons said no he’s already won the derby , but finally they were coerced into running again , mick couldn’t muster the stamina he was unplaced and seldom lad was presented with the trophy to the boos of the huge crowd, but the people knew what they’d witnessed the black express was no slouch along with the others ,in awe that a dog could win 3 derby’s but not to be ,Mick the Miller was an iconic figure now !
He’s last race was the st ledger at Wembley ,gruelling distance and Mick the Miller was now 5 he went through the series undefeated and with 40000 at Wembley had he’s revenge on seldom lad beating him for a 3rd time in final , they say in the history of Wembley Stadium which finished hound racing in 1998 its the greatest race ever run at the track , no greyhound ever won the st ledger at 5 years old .
He won 61 of 81 races ,the 1st greyhound to win consecutive derby’s and the 1st greyhound to win 19 races in a row it took 40 years for another to achieve, he equaled 2 track records and broke 7 creating world records as well ,some will say he had a blank canvas because the game was in its infancy , but he was a marvel in every sense going about he’s business ,a true professional who had many owners and 3 trainers .
On retirement he was in heavy demand he went to stud , paraded before big races, appeared at charity events and on television.
1934 he hit the big screen ‘wild boy’ was a movie made about he’s life story. He lined up with celebrities to meet the King and Queen and was mentioned in Hitchcock’s 39 steps, he fronted with he’s pups at a boxing charity night in January 1939 this was he’s last public appearance.
He lived with he’s old trainer Sydney Orton and Mick the Miller passed away on 5th of May 1939 age 12 nearly 13 .
Memorabilia was a plenty , paintings postcards calendars brass statues T-shirts, badges ,cuff links key rings you name it , Royal doulton made porcelain statues limited edition 7500 pieces .
Was he’s body preserved and put on show at the British history museum some say it’s not him but he’s advertised as , and then moved to Tring Hertfordshire ,postcards from both times made 1970 and 2010 .
Inducted into American hall of Fame in Texas in the 80’s , grand stands and bars and even a mick the miller ale was brewed, quiz shows loved him eggheads and the chase ,he was mentioned on coronation street and steptoe and son .
In Killeigh he’s hometown they wrote a song about him in 2011 a bronze lifelike statue on stone base was unveiled by the prime minister 500 people attended, descendants from Brophy ,Greene and Mick Horan were emotional and the statue is still a tourist attraction.
The Wembley stadium 100 year anniversary poster has all the greats who graced the turf plus entertainment people as well ,but if you look closely you will find a dog such is the respect he has in England even though he was born in Ireland ,I may have said before both countries loved him as their own.
He’s mosaic was saved when they demolished the old stadium and now sits somewhere in the new venue .
Racing people love champions they all want to watch them it’s not about the money we just want to admire the best of the best it’s in our makeup , why did this dog come at a time when the hound sport was new ,why the task to catapult it forward more then any promotional team or tool , more then any amount of money could achieve.
My theory is that he was a gift from an ancient time , my old friends the Egyptians maybe, who knows but wow did he have an impact !!
Thank you for reading about Mick the Miller I hope now Australians can realise what he did for the sport and the esteem in which he is held around the world, is he the greatest of all time , hard to argue.
Until next time Hounfrenz 💚 lots a love !
My Houndbound life 