1966 Waterford decide to commence their winter break from racing a month early “because the hare has broken down”. They will resume racing in March.

1981 After being beaten in the first leg at White City, the Irish team, led by Limerick record holder Oran Jack, were strongly fancied to turn the tables back in Dublin. In front of a stunned Shelbourne Park, the three British bred dogs landed the tricast. First home was Gigolo Diomedes (Linacre-Ramblers Meteor) followed by Special Account and Duke Of Hazard.

1950 Catford bemoan the fact that only 115 entries were received for this year’s 22nd Spring British Breeders Produce Stakes – roughly half of what were entered the previous year.

1966 Wimbledon’s newsletter takes issue with Jim O’Connor, owner of Gymcrack winner Dusty Trail who stated in the Gymcrack speech that all greyhound tracks should have undersoil heating. The Wimbledon bulletin commented: “This electrical system may become obsolete if artificial surfaces prove successful. Those who wait and see may come off best in the long run.”

1977 It is a unique Wednesday evening. Wimbledon cancel the capital’s only meeting following ITV’s decision to broadcast live coverage of the England v Italy football match.

1981 Brighton owners are a tad confused by pup Michelles Dream who appears on the racecard as a grader and as the dam of another racer just three months her senior. The confusion arises because the race is British bred but the dam of similar name is registered in the Irish Stud Book.

1997 Hall Green bookies stage a ‘pricing up protest’ when trainer Barbera Smith has three runners in the same race. They priced the three Smith runners at 6-4 with the remainder of the field available at 2-1, 3-1 and 4-1 for a total betting percentage of 198%. The three Smith runners finished 1-2-3.

1946 Eire Law is an interesting grader at Wandsworth. While five wins and five seconds in ten races makes him the most consistent runner at the track, he is also the smallest at 49lbs (22.2kgs).

1979 Tough Decision (Minnesota Miller-Carters Drain), takes his Dublin winnings for the year to £Ir12,000 after adding the Guinness 600 final to his Cambridgeshire, plus Harolds Cross and Shelbourne Park Bookmakers Stakes.

1948 The directors of West Ham Stadium provided wine for the staff luncheon that a toast be drunk in honour of the infant prince born to Princess Elizabeth. The toast was proposed by Captain R C Dane RN, the racing manager.

1995 MP Willie McKelvie tells the House of Commons that the bookmakers contributory arrangement with the BGRF is not working with only 57% of payments being made. However Fund chairman Lord Kimball claims that figure will rise to 80% during the current year.

1997 Swindon stage their first ever BAGS meeting. It is presumably popular with the betting organisation with only one winning favourite in 12 races.

2000 Droopys Veiri clocks the fastest time ever record at Waterford with a 28.13 (525yds) trial run prior to the Waterford Masters. He duly landed the invitation in 28.86 and is retired to stud for the winter.

2003 The well named Solid Money (8-13) justifies his odds in the Victor Chandler Puppy Final at Walthamstow, clocking 29.10 in the £3,500 final.
Chandlers’ odds compiler Ian St Pier (right) makes the presentation for the Puppy Stakes Final to John Ward, joint owner with Derek Knight (left – what is he doing?) pic Steve Nash

2002 Ballymac Bargain wins the €15K Eclipse at Cork. A multiple big stakes finalist, Bargain went on to become a top class brood for the Dowling family producing, among others Balymac Charley and Calzaghe Boyo, 1-2 in the 2006 Monmore Puppy Derby
A young Shane Dowling with Ballymac Bargain, pic John Sheehan

2002 Home bred Alibulk Lad (Toms The Best-Glencoe Star) wins the St.Leger for Peterborough trainer Dilys Steels. A 10-1 chance in the final, Lad reversed form with John Mullins’ Sheriff Bow Wow – who had beaten Lad in the Grand Prix final, with favourite Form Of Magic in third.
Owner Paul Broomfield pictured with Richard Devenish – pic Steve Nash

1998 Dans Sport wins the Racing Post Festival Stayers Final for trainer Charlie Lister. The 7-4jf clocked 39.77 for 640m to land the £2,500 first prize. Charlie’s partner Pat Cartledge is pictured with the winner – pic Steve Nash

2011 The exceptional Eden Star lands the Betfair Laurels at Belle Vue for trainer Barrie Draper. The 4-9f clocked 27.27 in the decider, his third major victory of the year following the Puppy Derby and Romford Puppy Cup.
EDEN STAR’s co-owners Graham Bacon (right) and Vic Atherton hold the Laurels trophy joined by fellow owner and trainer Barrie Draper (left), whose son Mark holds the winner. Pic Steve Nash

2014 Tony Collett’s Fit To Win causes an upset in the final of the Betfred Eclipse at Nottingham. The 10-1 chance beats Maum Legend (4-5f) in 29.53
Eclipse winner FIT TO WIN with trainer Tony Collett, owner Helen Booth holding trophy, and behind her the Moore family – Colin, Anne and son Mark (Helen’s partner). Photo: Steve Nash