2017 REVIEW: MARCH

Hall Green RM Rob Coulthard admits to being more immediately concerned about a bout of kennel sickness than the story that track owns Euro Packaging have put the stadium up for sale.

Meanwhile local trainer Richard Whelan has all his runners suspended following positives tests for azaperone and azaperol two months earlier. Whelan will never have another runner at the track.

Shawfield’s Thomas Jordan makes history when he sends out the first runner under the new owner trainer scheme. Pelaw expect to have their first runner over the same weekend. Perhaps the best known of the new licence holders though is former professional handler Lorraine Sams who joins Perry Barr.

A Belle Vue BAGS card becomes the first British meeting to be broadcast into Australia’s SKY/TAB service. Each race attracted average pool bets of between $3,000-$5,000.

On the track, Kevin Boon has a night to remember as Murrys Act (12-1) lands the Racing Post Juvenile, on the same night that kennelmates Knockard Spring (16-1) and Shaneboy Freddie (10-1) also do the business. The result is a 2,431-1 treble. There is an equally big shock when new track record holder Sober Call is beaten at 1-3f in the final of the Springbok. But trainer Ricky Holloway avoids a ‘stewards’ when allowing Razldazl Raidio to win a televised hurdle open while still wearing a collar. Under the radar on the same card was a little known Hove runner Astute Missile who landed the 500m open at 8-1.

Seamus Cahill produces his own treble with a 1-3-4 in the richest final of the month, the Ladbrokes Puppy Derby won by Forest Con.

The third of the trebles went to Kevin Hutton who landed a trio of Trainers Championship meetings. The competition remained a three-way contest going into the last leg with went to Hutton’s 12-1 chance Velvet Blaze. The race would also feature the final runner for trainer Jimmy Wright who was to hand in his licence.

Meanwhile in Ireland, Aulton Jet lands the Supersprint at Cork to send his record to 18 wins from 21 races.

Former Rye House racing manager Gerry Bailey dies aged 86.

Ricjard Hanikanai becomes the first owner trainer to win an open race when Cappoquin Jack is successful at Henlow. The former Mark Wallis trained runner goes on to win. He goes on to land another seven, and contest the Cat 1 Steel City Cup final.

A match race between Rubys Rascal and Roxhome Magic overshadowed a fine victory by veteran Clondoty Alex in the Golden Sprint at Romford. Alex’s kennelmate Rascal led to the sixth bend but then capitulated as Magic went on to win by 14 lengths.

The first triple dead-heat of the year is recorded in an A4 event at Hall Green.

Madabout Eoghan sets a new Towcester 500m track record of 29.16 in the first race of his career.

The picketing of Shelbourne Park sees Graham Holland target and land the Calne Racing Arc at Swindon with Garryvoe Bobby.

Lord Lipsey is appointed as a mediator to seek ‘off-shore’ payments from the betting industry.

The big story of the month though is the closure of Wimbledon Stadium on Saturday March 25, just short of 89 years of trading. The stadium was mobbed with only 3,000 allowed through the gates and many hundreds locked out. The final race was won by 10-1 chance Glitzy King, trained by Brian Nicholls. Racing manager Gary Matthews said: “”By the end there was a very sobre mood about the place. There was a bunch of flowers tied to a post, like a memorial. There was an enormous cheer, like a Derby Final, for the last race. Overall, it was just very sad.”

Wimbledon crowded terraces on their final night. Wimbledon 25th March 2017. Photo: Steve Nash