Owners of popular WA greyhound Tommy Shelby will donate part of his prize money to charity for rest of his career

Steve and Kira Withers could only dream about their homebred greyhound Tommy Shelby becoming a star on and off the racetrack. But that dream has turned into reality, with the striking blue dog earning a cult following for his name as much as his record on the track. Named after the lead character in the hit television series Peaky Blinders, Tommy Shelby is one of WA’s most exciting chasers with 14 wins from 20 starts. His surprise popularity inspired trainer Steve Withers and his wife Kira to donate 10 per cent of his prize money for the rest of his career to charity. They will donate to a different charity every month, with the August proceeds going to Beyond Blue. “He’s got this massive following and it’s exploded out of nowhere,” Steve Withers said. “A lot of it is online. We felt it was right to do something positive and it’s been really well received.” The Withers’ donated the proceeds of 100 Tommy Shelby stubby holders, which sold out in 2 1/2 hours, to the Greyhounds As Pets WA program last month. At the same time, Tommy Shelby won a heat of the Group 1 Vic Peters Classic at Wentworth before running an unlucky second in the series final. He delighted a group of fans at Cannington last Saturday night when he won a heat of the WA Sprint Championship Final. “There was a table of 20 blokes all dressed up in Peaky Blinders gear,” Steve Withers said. “I couldn’t believe it, but was pretty cool.” Tommy Shelby is the $1.95 favourite for Thursday night’s WA Sprint Championship Final at Cannington. The winner of the final gains an automatic entry to the semi-finals of the world’s richest greyhound race, the Million Dollar Chase, at Wentworth on October 16. “We had some idea he was handy but we didn’t dream he would be this good,” Steve Withers said. “It’s been amazing and we’re very thankful. He’s got a sticky draw (box two) Thursday night but he just needs to stay out of trouble.”

Owners of popular WA greyhound Tommy Shelby will donate part of his prize money to charity for rest of his career

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