Racing Legends: Charlie Lister OBE
Discover the incredible journey of Charlie Lister OBE, a true icon of greyhound racing whose unmatched achievements and humble beginnings shaped a legendary career. From flapping tracks to record-breaking Derby victories, this is the story of a man who defined an era in the sport.
Charlie Lister OBE is a name that echoes through the world of greyhound racing like few others. Born in Yorkshire in 1940, Lister’s path to becoming the most decorated trainer in English Greyhound Derby history started humbly. He grew up attending coursing events with his father, and his early involvement in the sport saw him owning dogs with Joe Booth, a trainer on the independent, unlicensed circuit - often referred to as "flapping."
The grassroots beginning laid a strong foundation. Lister went on to earn his professional trainer’s licence after starting with a C-licence from the National Greyhound Racing Club. His big break came when he was offered a contract at Leicester Stadium by Mick Wheble. From there, he never looked back.
His early success included dogs like Swift Band, who won the East Anglian Derby in 1981, and Glamour Hobo, who came close to Derby glory as runner-up in the 1985 Scottish Greyhound Derby. But the big wins started flowing in the 1990s. In 1993, he landed his first major Classic victory with Killenagh Dream in the Cesarewitch at Belle Vue. Just a year later, he made his first appearance in an English Derby final.
It was in 1997, though, that Lister’s name became truly legendary. That year, Some Picture won both the English and Scottish Derby’s and reached the Irish Derby final - an extraordinary campaign by any standard. Some Picture remains Lister’s favourite, remembered not just for the wins, but for nearly achieving the “impossible treble.”
The wins kept coming. Rapid Ranger brought back-to-back English Derby titles in 2000 and 2001, joining a short list of dogs ever to manage that feat. Farloe Verdict followed in 2003, then Bandicoot Tipoki in 2010. The next year, Taylors Sky not only won the Derby but broke the track record at Wimbledon. Lister’s final Derby win came in 2013 with Sidaz Jack - Taylors Sky’s half-brother - bringing his total to a record-setting seven English Derby wins.
But Lister’s dominance wasn’t limited to just one event. He matched his English Derby total with seven Scottish Derby wins, and his tally of East Anglian Derby victories hit twelve. He trained out of his kennels in Newark, Nottinghamshire, but his influence was felt nationwide.
After a remarkable career, Lister retired in September 2018 at the age of 78. He passed the reins to his trusted head man, Chris Akers, and paid tribute to his longtime assistant Ian Sutherland and his partner Pat Cartledge. It was an emotional farewell, but one he approached with the same thoughtfulness that marked his entire career.
In 2011, he was honoured with an OBE for services to greyhound racing - a fitting tribute to a man who shaped the sport for generations. Though retired, Charlie Lister remains a towering figure in greyhound racing history. His story isn’t just about the wins, but about dedication, loyalty and a deep love for the sport. That legacy is still running strong, in every sense of the word.
