KATE MILLER

Weblog: A personal view from the William Hill PR director

That's me (left) on Saturday with the proud Kilara Missy team and RPGTV viewer Mick Relton, also wearing a t-shirt, centre. He had come from Ripon

  PICTURE: STEVE NASH  

Just 'a dog' race? No way, it's the world's greatest!
So I got a bit carried away on Saturday night. The third round is always one of my favourites during the Derby. When all the runners come together for the first time, and it had already been a colourful day as I'd been raising money for www.harrisonsfund.org as part of a 12-hour spinning relay team en-route to Wimbledon.

It looked set to be a great evening, and as the action got underway, several victories proved utterly compelling. Droopys Jet, Screen Critic, Ballymac Vic, all turned in sensational performances, and so I took to Twitter to voice my approval.

Cue one unidentified Tweeter, who responded with that line: 'it's just a dog race Kate'.

Now, I do get hopelessly excited about greyhound racing. I've watched it for years, and even now, the sheer speed, rawness, and power of watching athletes reaching speeds of 45mph, whilst navigating tight turns, and race traffic still thrills me. The people involved, they inspire me. They aren't the millionaires of Flat Racing, or the land owners of National Hunt. They recognise the joy or having a talented, top-drawer greyhound, and they are simply 'living the dream' of having a Derby runner still in at the third round.

They look like Ashleigh - and 'Team Missy' who had Kilara Missy t-shirts made and were hopelessly excited to have a third-round runner.

They look like Mike Burton, former England prop, facer of the Haka, fearless Lion - dazzled because because he's got a quarter-finalist in Screen Critic.

It's my Dad, a veteran of 40-years watching and owning greyhounds, and telling me he was physically shaking as the hare was running for Islas Scolari's race.

It's the hard-working track team at Wimbledon. Who cop much flack, but remain committed, and work tirelessly and enthusiastically.

So, it's not just 'a dog race' I'm afraid. Just the same as Justin Rose didn't just use a metal stick to chase a small white ball around some fields on Sunday.  It's 'just' the Greatest Dog Race in the World.

The William Hill Derby continues Tuesday, with the quarter-finals live on Sky Sports 3, and also in betting shops