+ The biggest story of the summer – by far comes on August 16 when Towcester announce that they have gone into administration. The shockwave only lasts briefly, with the Towcester trainers announcing their exits. The vast majority end up shoring up badly depleted racing strengths at SIS tracks: Hove (Richard Yeates), Crayford (Jim Reynolds), Monmore (Kevin Hutton, Emma Richards) Doncaster (Jane Houfton) and Central Park (Patrick Janssens had left three months earlier) in particular. Although Henlow have an ample strength, the arrival of nine trainers including Mark Wallis, Heather Dimmock, Jon Blencowe, Steve Rayner and Hazel Kemp means they will soon be able to extend their weekly schedule to seven meeetings.
+ A study on this website reveals that in the first six months of the year, there was an 18% reduction in open races, mainly attributable to the media rights battle with ARC/GMG and SIS. That shortage is also feeding through to open racing. For the first time ever, the Ladbrokes Gold Cup is undersubscribed with only 30 entries. Crayford only attract 18 for the 36 runner, £7,500 to winner Kent St.Leger.
+ Sporting Dave is a thoroughly deserved winner of the Coral Sussex Cup. Following the race, Seamus Cahill explains how part owner Dave Doyle came to acquire his ‘makeweight’ dog: “Jerry Griffin in Ireland bought a dog for Dave who didn’t turn out quite as well as we had hoped. He was okay, but a bit short of what we were expecting. Jerry then offered Dave the puppy who was only eight months old at the time. The pup was then named because of that.”
+ Charlie Lister is the latest trainer to bemoan an extended injury list due to the hot summer with Newinn Shadow breaking a hock at Hove, Local Playboy similarly injured at Yarmouth and Kalmoun also going lame.
+ In Ireland, Droopys Steel breaks the prestigious Dundalk 400 clock with a 20.81 run while Galway pup Magical Tess wins a four round unraced stake by a total of 33 lengths.
+ In an Editors Chair article, we reminded racegoers that the current sound bite about ‘over racing’ is more about short memories.
+ John Curran threatens court action against supporters of a ‘Shut Down Kinsley Stadium’ group of protestors. Their leaflets feature a photo of a three-legged greyhound, the inference of which is that the dog was crippled at Kinsley Stadium. In fact the true story of ‘Henry’ or ‘Cleffie’ turns out to be one of this website’s most widely read stories in the year.
+ Matt Dartnall moves into second spot on the Trainers Championship table as Ela Juliet produces the performance of her career to win the Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic.
+ The most sensational debut of the year is produced by Queen Beyonce on the night the sensational litter make their debuts at Central Park.
+ Pelaw Grange land a deal with The Racing Parnership meaning every track bar Shawield (from their own choice) has a media rights contract.
+ Crayford have a night to forget when two accidents on the M25 (including an overnight closure of the Dartford Crossing) see four trainers fail to reach the track in time for kennelling. Punters are treated to some novelty events including a two-runner match, three races for three runners, and four races for four.
+ One of the nicest stories of the year concerns Mo Twenty One, who is bought by Gary Wiltshire in memory of Mo Done, recently deceased wife of bookmaker Fred Done. The plan was that Mo would run at Belle Vue in aid of a Manchester cancer charity. However, the Done family soon fell in love with the pretty little white bitch who only raced seven times before leaving Pat Rosney’s range for a retirement in Fred Done’s mansion.
