1978 The Royal Commission on Gambling is a disappointment to the greyhound industry and recommends few of the industry demands. On the positive side, it does recommend allowing tracks to stage 10 races instead of eight and a relaxation on the number of available racedays. Among the negatives, the inevitable refusal of a levy. While apparently considering horse racing as an entirely different entity, the study noted: “while it cannot be more than a matter of judgement, we doubt that it would be widely accepted that there is a case for supporting greyhound racing in the national interest as an expression of national sporting and cultural identity.” It also refused the tracks proprietary rights over its results (ie copyright). The commission also refused to recommend the squashing of the bookmakers ‘five times admission’ law. It did proclaim that all independent runners should compete in stud book names. In hindsight, the greyhound industry could expect little from a review body which concluded that “greyhound racing was distinguished from other events largely because the meetings were promoted solely for the purpose of providing opportunities for betting. . .”
2007 Leading Sussex Cup fancy Westmead Joe was withdrawn with a weight variation from the heats. The notorious fretter had lost weight for his trip to Dundalk and had weighed in at 1.5 kilos heavier on his trip to Hove.
1971 The 1962 Trainer of the Year John Haynes gives up his license to take over as racing manager at Cambridge.
1951 Crayford grader Gallerus Hero pulled up lame at the first bend with a dislocated hock. He was carried from the track to the paddock. As he has put back on the ground, he fell over, and is everyone’s amazement, the hock replaced itself, much to the total bemusement of the track vet.
1969 Representatives from Dundalk are speaking to the British racing press attempting to drum up support for a new event, an International, featuring three British and three Irish runners. Planned to be staged in August, it will be sponsored by tobacco firm PJ Carroll to promote their ‘Major Extra Size’ brand will carry a £350 first prize.
1958 White City celebrate the 50th anniversary of the opening of the track for the 1908 Olympics. Opens are staged over all distances from the rarely used 500 yards to 1,025 yards. Among the races is the ‘Entry Badge Stakes’. Although best remembered as the first Derby winner, Mr E Baxter’s dog was also the winner of the first ever trophy race staged in London, a feat accomplished during the second meeting held at White City. That original trophy, which carries an original plate saying ‘This is the first cup won in the era of greyhound racing in London’ will be presented to the winner of the Entry Badge Stakes by Mr Baxter’s son. At a speech at the commencement of the meeting, GRA chairman Sir Francis Gentle noted the role that greyhound racing had played in the re-opening of the derelict stadium in 1928. Mr Gentle stated that “had it not been for Charlie Cranston (winner of the first race) and his contemporaries, there would be no White City as we know it today. More likely, 1958 would have seen a block of flats on the stadium site.”
1971 Bletchley (later renamed Milton Keynes) switch from independent to NGRC racing.
1951 The NGRC announce that they will allow six runners in hurdle races during a six month trial period before determining whether to change their rules. Until 1935, all jump races were for four runners. But with the re-opening of totalisators, they briefly experimented with six runner fields before rejecting the idea and setting the limit at five.
2008 The NGRC’s new appeals board quash a £1,000 fine and severe reprimand on Yarmouth trainer Michael Clare following his handling of Dunmurry Queen. The greyhound had been injured at Yarmouth and Clare – by profession a barrister – had been given instructions by the track vet as to the arrangement and treatment of the bitch the following day. However, the owner of the greyhound had expressly forbidden the trainer to take the bitch to the vets and had taken her home when she later had to be destroyed. The appeals panel found no evidence that Clare had permitted unnecessary suffering to the greyhound.
1980 The High Court refuse Poole Stadium permission to appeal over their court loss earlier in the year over their refusal to allow a fifth bookmaker to stand at the track. In the original case, the bookmaker had been declined admission to the track despite offering to pay the ‘five times admission’ charge as stipulated under the 1963 Betting Gaming & Lotteries Act.
1951 After years of harassment from the British Greyhound Breeders and Owners Association, British Rail reluctantly agree to a change in their rules. To date, the many greyhounds being sent around the country by rail for open races are allowed in the passenger compartments, unless there is an objection from another passenger. At that stage, the dog is banished to the guard’s van, which the kennel hand may not enter; much to the consternation of the NGRC. From now on, the kennelhand may join the dog in the guard’s van, providing he receives permission from the station master.
2007 The Irish Greyhound Board announce two major track projects. A new track at Limerick is to be built at a cost of €20m, and another at Kilkenny costing €8m. The Kilkenny track is due to open in January 2010 and the new Limerick five months later.
1959 GRA are so concerned about the effect of the Derby roar on the finalists that they are considering methods to overcome it. Recent finalist Crazy Paracute was reckoned to be particularly disturbed by the huge crowd. Options include, a possible adaptation of the racing muzzles to muffle the sound, broadcasted requests to race goers to be silent before the race or a plan to broadcast recordings of the Derby roar during the latter rounds of the competition to allow the runners to acclimatise.
