Fred Basset (greyhound)

Fred Basset (born 4 October 2004) is a greyhound dog which was owned and raced by Australian comedy duo Hamish & Andy. The dog's name is taken from the comic strip character Fred Basset, whose strip featured regularly on the Hamish & Andy radio show.[1] Since retiring from racing, Fred Basset has become an ambassador for greyhound adoption.[2]

This article is about the Hamish and Andy Show greyhound. For the UK-based comic strip, see Fred Basset.

Fred Basset

Other name(s)	Hoppa
Breed	Greyhound
Sex	Male
Born	(2004-10-04) 4 October 2004 Australia
Occupation	Greyhound racing
Years active	2006 – present
Owner	Hamish and Andy
Parent(s)	Awesome Assassin, Taylah Ruth
Weight	32 kg (71 lb)
Appearance	Black
Named after	Fred Basset
Fred Basset

History

The search for a greyhound

Andy Lee was nominated for the 2006 Cleo Bachelor of the Year competition.[3] Hamish Blake took $860 (initially intended for a holiday for himself and his girlfriend) and won over $12000 for betting on Andy to win.[4]

Listeners suggestions led to the duo continuing gambling. The pair found "Ange the Dog Whisperer", a greyhound trainer who provided a greyhound sired by Awesome Assassin. On 26 August 2006, this greyhound was named Fred Basset after receiving 77% of listeners' votes. In September 2006, Hamish and Andy purchased the greyhound for $9,000.[5]

The People's Greyhound

Fred's journey was a regular feature on Hamish and Andy's Melbourne-based afternoon drivetime radio show since Andy won Bachelor of the Year. Through every step of the journey, the boys have pushed the idea that Fred is "The People's Greyhound", purportedly since without the continued support of the listeners, Andy would never have won.

Fans of the show flocked to Fred Basset's first ever race in Melbourne on 12 October 2006. Unfortunately he placed last in Race 4 at Sandown Raceway (which was named The Hamish and Andy Stakes), but fans remained supportive. Fred then went on to win the Perth Greyhound Race Day with a fairly convincing lead.[6]

Celebrity endorsement

Hamish and Andy competed to find a celebrity who could relate to dogs, who would endorse Fred Basset. Hamish chose to pursue Paris Hilton, since she owns a 'tea cup' chihuahua, while Andy chose John Travolta. After fruitless phone calls to American Scientology churches, followed up with a call to Qantas, Andy managed to find a representative from Football Federation Australia promising to find Travolta's details. After a few more days of dead ends, Hamish then received Kiefer Sutherland's mobile phone number but was unable to obtain his endorsement. Currently, Mike Whitney officially endorses Fred.[7]

Track record

After his first loss, Fred won at Albion Park in Brisbane.[8] Later on at Angle Park Raceway in Adelaide, Fred backed up his first win with another victory, beating Nitrix in a close finish.[9]

Race 4 on 11 November 2006 at Cannington Raceway in Perth drew large crowds, however even with the support of Mike Whitney and hundreds of Fred Basset fans, he could not achieve a podium place and finished fourth.[10] Fred's celebrity status meant that he attracted media attention even when he failed to win.[11]

In the 2007 Good Friday Appeal race,[12] Fred won against two other greyhounds. Hamish and Andy donated half of his winnings to the 2007 Good Friday Appeal.[13]

In June 2007 Fred had a bad fall in a race and was forced out of racing until he recovered.[14]

Fred Basset last raced on 12 March 2008. He started in 57 races, for 8 first placings, 11 seconds and 13 thirds. His total prizemoney was $19,720.[15]

Fred Basset now makes promotional and celebrity appearances at various events.[16][17][18] He is also an ambassador for the Greyhound Adoption Program.[19]

Fred the psychic

Fred Bassett enjoys chicken McNuggets, and is referred to as "the McNugget-loving champion". Hamish and Andy tried to use Fred's taste for McNuggets to predict the future. Before the two football grand finals of 2006 (NRL and AFL) were played, the boys performed two experiments. On one paper plate they wrote Broncos and on another they wrote Storm (these being the two teams who played in the NRL grand final) and placed one McNugget on each. Fred chose the Broncos McNugget, and after that the Broncos went on to win the match. The boys then did the same thing for the AFL, putting a nugget on one plate that read Swans, and another that read Eagles with Fred successfully choosing the winning team, the Eagles, once more.

Since these two key predictions, Fred also has successfully forecast that Mutto would be voted off Australian Idol, a one in nine chance.

After Fred's disappointing performance in his first race, it was decided (by Fred himself in a final McNugget choice) that he would choose to race and give up the McNuggets rather than continue as a "psychic lazy dog".

Results

Colour	Result
Blue	1st
Green	Place

Place	Box	Weight	Distance	Track	Race	Date	Time	Margin
3	6	32.8	525	MEA	R3	2/08/2006	30.77625	3.75
S	-	-	520	DTO	R22	7/09/2006	-	-
1	1	33	450	BAL	R1	20/09/2006	25.56	10
1	2	32.8	450	BAL	R3	27/09/2006	25.4	6.5
8	1	32.8	515	SAN	R4	12/10/2006	31.08625	13.75
1	6	33.1	520	BGC	R6	19/10/2006	30.47	3
1	2	32.6	515	APK	R6	26/10/2006	29.85	0.5
4	6	32.7	530	CAN	R4	11/11/2006	31.396	2
1	8	32.6	457	GEL	R6	20/11/2006	25.75	6
3	5	32.8	525	MEA	R4	25/11/2006	30.611	7
3	5	32.6	515	SAN	R9	30/11/2006	30.4765	5.5
3	3	32.8	457	GEL	R6	8/12/2006	25.896	2
3	2	33	450	BAL	R11	13/12/2006	25.69405	4.35
6	5	33	525	MEA	R7	23/12/2006	31.571	17
R	-	-	525	MEA	R1	30/12/2006	-	-
4	5	33	450	BAL	R6	3/01/2007	26.00675	7.25
S	-	-	525	MEA	R2	6/01/2007	-	-
3	2	33	457	GEL	R4	2/03/2007	26.10625	3.75
3	5	33.6	457	GEL	R5	9/03/2007	26.21175	2.25
3	7	33.4	525	MEA	R2	17/03/2007	30.6395	6.5
3	4	33.2	515	SAN	R5	22/03/2007	30.21525	6.75
5	5	33.2	515	SAN	R10	29/03/2007	30.67076	6.52
7	7	33.4	525	MEA	R10	14/04/2007	30.95475	13.25
2	6	33.4	450	WBL	R1	25/04/2007	25.58025	1.75
1	6	33.4	450	WBL	R9	2/05/2007	25.48	0.5
4	5	33.2	525	MEA	R8	9/05/2007	30.84075	5.25
4	5	33.4	457	GEL	R5	18/05/2007	26.0335	4.5
1	1	33.4	457	GEL	R6	25/05/2007	25.82	0.25
2	1	33.4	515	SAN	R6	30/05/2007	30.1445	1.5
F	6	32.8	515	SAN	R3	7/06/2007	-	-
2	7	32.8	525	MEA	R10	16/06/2007	30.632	4
7	5	33.6	525	MEA	R6	20/06/2007	31.11275	19.25
6	6	33	480	HOR	R5	26/06/2007	28.39	10
S	-	-	525	MEA	R3	30/06/2007	-	-
R	-	-	450	WBL	R8	11/07/2007	-	-
2	3	33.4	515	SAN	R3	12/07/2007	30.3115	0.5
3	3	33.2	515	SAN	R7	19/07/2007	30.52325	2.75
2	4	32.8	515	SAN	R9	26/07/2007	30.38725	0.75
2	2	32.8	515	SAN	R9	2/08/2007	30.0263	0.1
5	2	33	515	SAN	R3	9/08/2007	30.83505	11.35
5	6	33.2	525	MEA	R1	18/08/2007	30.83825	7.75
1	1	33.2	457	GEL	R6	24/08/2007	25.65	0.75
7	4	33.4	515	SAN	R9	30/08/2007	30.758	16
7	5	33.4	515	SAN	R8	5/09/2007	30.9375	12.5
2	4	33.4	480	HOR	R6	11/09/2007	27.54575	0.25
2	1	33.4	525	MEA	R4	15/09/2007	30.2305	3.5
2	2	33.4	480	HOR	R8	18/09/2007	27.413	1
4	1	33.4	457	GEL	R8	28/09/2007	26.2635	4.5
4	7	33.4	525	MEA	R9	6/10/2007	30.4665	5.5
5	6	33.4	525	MEA	R8	10/10/2007	31.14475	13.25
4	3	33.6	480	HOR	R7	16/10/2007	28.23525	6.75
3	4	34	480	HOR	R6	30/10/2007	27.85375	6.25
4	6	34	457	GEL	R6	2/11/2007	25.95475	3.25
S	-	-	515	SAN	R4	6/11/2007	-	-
3	8	34.5	457	GEL	R6	23/11/2007	25.87925	4.75
2	1	34.4	450	BAL	R7	28/11/2007	25.569	3
5	4	34.2	450	WBL	R8	5/12/2007	26.08125	8.75
3	2	33.8	440	SLE	R7	9/12/2007	25.59425	9.75
8	7	34.1	515	SAN	R3	20/12/2007	31.31975	18.25
4	2	34.3	457	GEL	R6	28/12/2007	25.85705	5.35
4	1	34.4	450	BAL	R3	2/01/2008	25.943	1
2	3	34.4	332	WBL	R9	5/03/2008	19.4975	2.5
7	1	34.4	332	WBL	R9	12/03/2008	19.733	11

References

1. "Fred Basset's Kennel". fox.com.au. Retrieved 15 August 2009.
2. Twining, James (10 June 2008). "The people's greyhound". Wyndham Leader. Retrieved 15 August 2009.
3. "Andy Lee bachelor of the year". news.com.au. 15 September 2006. Retrieved 15 August 2009.
4. Gatehouse, Luke (November 2006). "Journal" (PDF). 199. Greyhound Racing Authority of Qld: 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 September 2009. Retrieved 15 August 2009. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
5. "X X X". austereo.com.au. Retrieved 15 August 2009.
6. "Fred Basset's first race: a montage". nuts.co.uk. Retrieved 16 August 2009.
7. Willis, Charlotte (6 February 2013). "Best-known Aussie game show hosts: Where are they now?". News.com.au. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
8. "Fred Right On Script". graq.org.au. 19 October 2006. Retrieved 15 August 2009.
9. Meegan, Genevieve (29 October 2006). "Fred sets pace for radio lads". news.com.au. Retrieved 15 August 2009.
10. Evans, Craig (14 November 2006). "The people's greyhound a big hit on track". mandurahmail.com.au. Retrieved 15 August 2009.
11. Atwell, Glen (29 March 2007). "Fred Basset just wouldn't listen". senews.com.au. Retrieved 16 August 2009.
12. Gladman, Simon (6 April 2007). "http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2007/04/06/2701_news.html". geelongadvertiser.com.au. Retrieved 15 August 2009. External link in |title= (help)
13. "Fred shares the love and his cash". news.com.au. 19 September 2007. Retrieved 15 August 2009.
14. "Fred Down and Out for Two Weeks". racingandsports.com.au. 8 June 2008. Retrieved 15 August 2009.
15. "Fred Basset". Greyhound Racing Victoria. Archived from the original on 28 October 2009. Retrieved 15 August 2009.
16. Pitstock, Kevin (7 November 2008). "Greyhound Adoption Program Christmas Party On November 16th". australianracinggreyhound.com. Retrieved 15 August 2009.
17. Pitstock, Kevin (19 December 2008). "Bendigo Greyhound Racing Club Celebrates 30 Years". australianracinggreyhound.com. Retrieved 15 August 2009.
18. Swan, Kate (15 August 2009). "Hound track goes green". Hume Leader. Retrieved 15 August 2009.
19. "Fred Basset Goes Green". racingforum.com.au. 6 April 2008. Retrieved 15 August 2009.

External links

• Fred's official website
• Fred Basset – complete racing history