2017 REVIEW: MAY

A row breaks out between Pat Rosney and the Kinsley management when Blackstone Ollie is disqualified by the local stewards in the heats of the Gymcrack. Opinion is divided. The returns to Ireland and races twice before re-joining Rosney. He makes a successful appearance in a Monmore 480m open, winning by five lengths in 28.12, but then fights next time out. This time opinion is not divided.

Dorotas Woo Hoo landed his first race at two year old when taking the RPGTV Scottish Derby. It is a seventh win in the event for trainer Charlie Lister OBE.

Paul Ephremsen is confirmed as the GBGB Owners representative when taking 764 votes in elections. Bob Boswell returns 630. Within a month, Ephremsen has announced the formation of an innovation panel to consider options to increase greyhound ownership.

Stadia UK announce that the grandstand for the relocated Swindon Stadium has been built in Wales. It will not be delivered until the site works have been completed.

Peter Cronin’s Irish entry Cometwopass justifies favouritism in the final of the Betfred Gymcrack Final at Kinsley.

Towcester receive 218 entries for the Star Sports Greyhound Derby – 18 more than ideal for a first round of 32 first round heats – three to qualify (192). Faced with the possibility of adding an extra round, they decide to wait to see if adequate runners are withdrawn before the draw. It proves a wise move – 190 go into the drum.

Poole stage their first handicap race in 25 years.

The greyhound world is stunned with the announcement that the William Hill tracks Sunderland and Newcastle have been acquired by racecourse group Arena Leisure (ARC). It had previously been reported that the tracks had been secured by media provider rivals SIS. Concurrently, it is announced that ARC have formed a partnership with a group of the nine tracks who have formed a company Greyhound Media Group. The Star determines that the move is ‘an industry game changer’.

Sales agent Glen Reid faces indefinite disqualification following a positive samples produced by Rosslyn Delight at Perry Barr Sales.

Blakes Danneel becomes the eighth member of the exceptional Ballymac Vic/Droopys Danneel litter to win an open race.

The IGB issue an apology for, and withdraw an article from their own website. The article is critical of Tipperary TD Alan Kelly, who himself has been critical of the Board’s handling of the sale of Harolds Cross.

Ginas Lad wins the year’s most lucrative graded race, the £5,000 Wilf Husband Memorial at Newcastle.

Razldazl Raidio wins a Central Park 480m hurdle open in 29.11 – faster than any of the night’s flat races.

BAGS announce that they have removed Hall Green’s two BAGS fixtures which will be transferred to Perry Barr. Locals treat the move as a signal of the track’s inevitable closure.