1985 The bill to allow tracks to race as often as they choose gets its final reading in the House of Commons. Until now, tracks have only been allowed to race 130 times per year.
1994 The Dublin Owners and Breeders hold a picket at Shelbourne Park in protest at the proposed sale of Harolds Cross. Eight bookies, including leading layer Ted Hegarty declined to cross the line. Bord na gCon immediately suspended racing at both tracks.
2004 Lord Lipsey announces a deal with the off-course bookmakers. It will see the bookies payments into the BGRF rise from 0.4% to 0.6% by 2006. Figures suggest that income could rise from £8m to between £11.3m and £16.1m depending on growth of business and an increase in contributing bookmakers.
1992 Shelbourne and Harolds Cross acquire a new GM. The new man, Noel Hynes is from a sales and marketing background.
1995 Walthamstow BAGS runner Coolagorna Rhine slipped out of his racing jacket in the traps and completed the course jacketless. The stewards allowed the race result to stand.
1956 Theres a major upset in the 6th W J Cearns Memorial Trophy final over 500 yards at Wimbledon, when Mrs C Chandler’s Duet Leader 1-4 favourite was expected to easily win the £250 & trophy. But after earlier trouble he could not catch locally trained, Spark Prince (Fire Prince-Ell For Leather, Apr 53). The 8-1 chance won by a length from Duet Leader in 28.41, the winner was trained by Paddy Fortune. Duet Leader (Champion Prince-Derryluskin Lady, Jan 53) comes good after his heavy defeat earlier in the month, to take the Wood Lane Stakes final over 525 yards at London White City. Starting at 8-13 favourite and trained at Walthamstow by Tom Reilly, he wins the £240 and trophy by six lengths in 29.00 Spark Prince finished fourth.
1993 The Other Court made the top price at Wimbledon Sales. The former Matt O’Donnell trained dog made 6,250 guineas after recording 27.69.
1988 Hove punter Mark Sellwood, won the roll-over Super Jackpot at his local track, when he successfully picked the first three in three selected races, giving him a £30,309.24p pay day.
1997 Belle Vue announce they will be implanting microchips under the skin of racing dogs in a plan to revolutionise greyhound identification. “There is no possibility of them migrating around the body” assures racing manager Lee McAlpine after consultations with NGRC experts. The plan is scrapped when the chips are found to be migrating around the body.
2004 Prolific open race Troy Nijinsky is retired from racing after he becomes prone to fits.
1992 Brendan Matthews wins a court battle with the ICC over the failure to award his dog Needham Bar the 1990 Irish Cup. ‘Winner’ Flashing Crystal failed the chromo. Three of Matthew’s dogs had been beaten by Crystal but he was duly awarded the £8,000 winner’s prize
1966 Kinsley advertise for six runners each for two Easter opens. Entry fees are £10, winners collect £50.
2004 The Racing Post’s April Fools gag drags in many a mug when they advertise Errols Flyer in their classified section. The son of Top Honcho and Shes Not Real is described as being the track record holder at Millersfield – the interactive dog track dreamed up for the betting shops.
1977 One of Britain’s top owner trainers Dave Drinkwater has been banned by the NGRC stewards after a ruckus the previous month at White City. He alleged that the hare was slowed at the second bend in a sprint open. Drinkwater’s runner Gin and Jass had been leading at that point but was beaten by Mutts Silver. After verbally abusing vet Bruce Prole in the paddock afterwards, Drinkwater pulled Instant Gambler out of a later race. Drinkwater sold his dogs and never returned to greyhound ownership.
1969 April 18 Worksop, the Nottinghamshire independent closes to make way for factories.
