1993 Patsy Byrne opens a new state-of-the-art kennel complex at Hooley in Surrey. Set in eight acres, the kennel has a 400 metre firbresand gallop and kennels for 36 dogs.
1957 Tim Forster finally gets his chance to become a GRA trainer. The 40 year old joined the company in 1933, became a head lad at Hall Green in 1937 and remained in that role for 20 years. He will take over at Harringay from Joe Pickering who transfers to White City.
1965 Wimbledon announce the appointment of its first female trainer, the former children’s nurse from Limerick, Nora Gleeson.
1997 Linda Mullins celebrates the New Year as champion trainer for the first time.
1992 Ernie Gaskin retired from training – some 31 years after he took out a licence and hands over his kennel to son ‘young Ernie’.
1947 With food shortages hitting tracks hard, the Wandsworth Group ask owners of any greyhounds currently off the racing strength to take their dog home to be fed.
1982 The firebombing of the home of an employee of Newton Abbott stadium “may have had something to do with a punter’s grivevance” reports the press.
2006 Belle Vue racing manager Stephen Gray is suspended over ‘matters of integrity’ which is GRA-speak for concern over his relationship with local trainer’s daughter Alison McCombe. He never returns as Willie Reid takes temporary charge of the racing office.
1974 The Waterloo Cup, due to be staged in February, has been postponed due to the installation of new drainage at Altcar.
1982 Suffolk breeder Joe Cobbold scoops most of the awards when his staying start Decoy Boom is voted 1981 Greyhound of the Year (and its British bred equivalent). Her dam Ka Boom is Brood Bitch of the Year. Cobbold’s Echo Spark is one of the runners-up. Essex born Gigolo Diomedes receives a special British breeding award.
1949 Wimbledon’s newly introduced rule, whereby every new dog joining the racing strength must trial once over the 725 yard course is reaping dividends. They are currently staging at least three staying races on every eight race card.
1970 Shady Primrose, who had a 4,000 guinea reserve at the recent Brough Park sales begins a graded career at White City.
1947 Fred Trevellion, the leading private trainer in 1946 with 88 open winners, announces he is to increase security at his Sutton-at-Hone Kennel in Kent. He already employs a night watchman and has a specially trained team of Alsatians which are trained only to accept food from their handler.
1957 The 1957 fixtures list shows most of the major events in their regular slots in the calendar. Dates of finals: Grand National (May 3), Gold Collar (May 25), Greyhound Derby (June 29), Welsh Derby (July 6), Scottish Derby (July 13), Scurry Gold Cup (July 27), Laurels (Aug 23), St Leger (Sep 7), Grand Prix (Sep 24), Oaks (Sep 28) Cesarewitch (Oct 11), Pall Mall (Nov 25).
1957 Rushton Mac is Britain’s most expensive sire at 40gns per mating (index linked to around £1,020). He stands alongside Rushon Spot at his kennel in Tarporley, Cheshire. Other UK based stud dogs are the Wembley based quintet, Ballylanigan Tanist (30gns), Barrowside (30gns), Cookill Chieftain (25gns), Jeffs Pal (25gns) and Knockeevan Champion (25gns). Charles Chandler has two stud dogs at his kennel in Mount Epping, Polonius and Magourna Reject (both 35gns). Reject has earned more than 2,500gns in his stud career to date. Mac pictured with his owner/trainer/breeders Frank and Mary Johnson
