Banbury owner Chris Kyme was gob-smacked after seeing one of his dogs involved in a history-making triple dead heat.

The 61-year-old, who used to train at Oxford, watched in an amazement as his Killishin Masai crossed the line with Droopys Djokovic and Ayamzagirl at Romford on Wednesday.

The dogs were declared co-winners of the 925m race in a time of 59.53secs.

Several triple dead heats have occured in graded races, but it was the first time it had happened in a televised open.

Kyme said: “I’d heard of a rumour of a triple tie at Brighton 40 years ago, but didn’t think it was possible.”

OXFORD Stadium will stage a series of kennel sweepstakes aimed at promoting more interest in BAGS racing.

BAGS and SIS, who cover the live races in the bookies, have formed a project which will see all BAGS-contracted tracks offer a £500 first prize as well as a trophy and presentation jacket.

Oxford stage their heats on Sunday, May 1 with £150 to the winner and £35 to the also rans.

The final will be on Friday, May 6, and the event will be called the BAGS/SIS 500.

THE Tony Magnasco-sponsored Trafalgar Cup, worth £1,000 to the winner, will be renamed the Fairview Kennels Trafalgar Cup.

It will be the 76th running of the trophy. The heats are on March 24, with the final a week later.