2017 REVIEW – JANUARY

2017 started off on a sobre note with the death of two of the industry’s most popular figures. Former promoter, owner, breeder and all-round greyhound mad enthusiast Terry Corden finally lost a long battle with cancer aged 76. We also said goodbye to the inspiring, controversial, colourful but always passionate vet Paddy Sweeney.

There was a different type of bad news when BBC Radio Norfolk ruined Yarmouth’s 70^th birthday celebrations with a piece infiltrated by ‘antis’. They intimated that three dogs involved in a trouble strewn race three months earlier had all been destroyed. In fact, by the time that Radio Norfolk ran the story, two of the trio had raced on another 25 times between them, the third runner was patched up and living as a pet with trainer Linda Brown

On a far happier note, the GBGB announce that it will now take applications for a new type of licence, Owner Trainer.

With closure on the horizon, Wimbledon are struggling. There are only two entries for their final set of opens and there are just 36 graded runners for the Saturday card with Brian Nicholls supplying 17 of them.

Irish racegoers also experience a runner shortage that will become increasingly common but the prestigious puppy event, the Joe Dunne Memorial is cancelled after attracting only 16 of the planned 36 runners.

The most exciting youngster on the scene was Droopys Live with six wins from her first seven opens. The ‘reject’ had failed to make a moderate reserve at Brian Harrison’s final sale and been placed with Elaine Parker to be sold.

Newcastle sack Jimmy Wright after he withdraws six graded runners following a dispute over the condition of the racing circuit. Partner Angela Harrison takes over the contract.

A plan to install James Chalkley as a new handler at Central Park fails when it is impossible to licence new kennels.

Towcester are announced as the new hosts for the Derby and begin a new Saturday morning schedule of eight x eight-dog races after signing a deal with Attheraces.

In less than four weeks of the new year, champion trainer Mark Wallis has made a flying start. He picks up the first three major events with Roswell Romanov (Coronation Cup), Rubys Razzle (Prestige) and Clondoty Alex (Silver Salver). Seamus Cahill collects the Cearns Memorial with Brinkleys King but Wallis already leads the trainers championship by 62 points.