January

• Graham Holland tips two unraced pups to do well in 2020 – Doolin Duke and Newinn Session. He has has high hopes for a pup with six wins from six races – Newinn Taylor

• Kevin Boothby announces that Towcester – which he acquired three months earlier, is due to re-open on April 18.

• GBGB announces that 2019 saw the lowest number of registrations in 20 years – 7,252

• Swindon trainer Clive Elliott is found guilty of four cases of cruelty

• A 40% decline in injuries at Crayford was one of several positive stories to come out of the four LadbrokesCoral tracks. 2020 should be a great year. . .

• With the Christine Keeler story dramatised on TV, former head lad Pat Quinn reveals that during her ‘missing period’ the former call girl was staying in hiding with his former boss Pam Heasman.

• Hannah Prince is unveiled as the 2019 Kennelhand of the Year.

• In a profile piece, Ernie Gaskin reveals how he had to learn to apply mascara to a greyhound.

• A video of the abandoned Coventry Stadium at Brandon is circulated on the internet.

• Ladbrokes Coral announce that there will be a £5K bonus should any dog manage the Romford Trip Crown – Coronation Cup, Essex Vase and Champion Stakes. Antigua Rum puts himself in prime position when landing the first of the trio.

• The Irish Performance of the Week chart flagged up a number of new stars including this pup making his debut at Youghal.

• Owlerton unveil their new £6m Conference Centre and look forward to a busy year of bookings . . . .

• Monmore are the first of the Ladbrokes Coral tracks to introduce a Hall of Fame. The first inductees are: Alison Bandurak, Elderberry Veron, Chris Allsopp, Kranky Scott, Florence Rowley and Peter Billingham

• The Irish Coursing Club reveal that there was a decline of just 20 litters in 2019 (to 2,487) though it is still the lowest figure on record.

Romford’s Hall of Fame has its first inductees: Ernie Wiley, Peter O’Dowd, Linda Jones, Terry Duggan, Ken Linzell and Archer Leggett

• GBGB warns trainers to be vigilant for bogus kennel inspectors

• Crayford and Hove announce the identities of their Hall Of Fame inductees.

• Mark Pierrepont produces an excellent pen portrait of ‘the Ballymac man’, Liam Dowling.

• Pat Kelly celebrated 91 years of racing at Hove.

• Ice On Fire is confirmed as 2019 Greyhound of the Year.

• GBGB releases a video ‘From The Track To The Sofa’ showing the life a racing greyhound

•Patrick Kelly profiles one of Hove’s great characters, bookie Chas Miller

• Sheffield veteran Shotgun Slade wins by 10 lengths in race no.246.

• Shelbourne Park obtain an injunction to prevent anti racing protestors from harassing patrons

• Star Editor Floyd Amphlett is interviewed for Star Sports’ Twitter followers

• Patrick Kelly profiles trainer Derek Knight

• The Breeders Forum announce a 28% increase in race funding for British breeders in 2020 including a string of new events.

• Nathan Hunt takes over the trainer’s licence from his guvnor Phil Simmonds

• Tickets go on sale for the Star Sports/ARC/LPS Greyhound Derby, with the final due to take place on May 16 . . . .maybe!