+ A year after winning the Derby Plate, Kevin Hutton’s Dorotas Wildcat was a flawless winner of the Star Sports Greyhound Derby. A winner of 13 of his previous 20 races at Towcester, the 2-1 chance was never headed with a 28.85 run. It had been a turbulent period for the kennel who were still reeling from a kennel break in and the theft of five greyhounds on May 22. Four were soon released by travellers who had used them for hare coursing. The fifth, Jovial Monk was found abandoned in Bournemouth a week after his kennelmate’s Derby success.
+ Matt Dartnall, having his best ever year as a trainer, departs Towcester after accepting a contract to race at Hove. He is soon followed by Hampshire based June Harvey. Meanwhile their new colleague Claude Gardiner is temporarily quarantining his kennel following the death of one of his greyhounds due to pneumonia. No sooner had quarantine been lifted than one of Norah McEllistrim’s runners was taken ill with similar symptoms. With runners at a premium, Hove cancel the next three Saturday meetings.
+ Ladbrokes announce a £50K sponsorship boost for ‘Crayford Tuesdays’. The Kent venue have announced significant prize money increases to the Ladbrokes Guys & Dolls (£7,500 from £5,000), Jay & Kay Coach Tours Kent St.Leger (£7,500 from £2,500), and the Ladbrokes Kent National Hurdle (£5,000 from £1,000). The fixture list still includes the Ladbrokes Gold Collar (£8,000) plus the Ladbrokes Kent Cesarewitch (£3,000).
+ Owner Carl Harris produces a video aimed at shaming Betfair into contributing to the BGRF. On the plus side, Betdaq agree to pay into the fund.
+ Former RSPCA Chief Exec Jeremy Cooper is unveiled as the new chairman of the Greyhound Board of Great Britain. The move is applauded by Clarissa Baldwin MBE, chairman on the Greyhound Forum
+ Michael Dunphy, from the famous Droopys Kennel in Portlaw tells the Star “I can’t speak for any one else, but as far as we are concerned, the breeding game has certainly turned around in the last year.” In the same month, four Droopys hounds reach the Gold Collar final which is won by Droopys Dresden.
+ Irish Derby runner-up and Scottish Derby finalist Black Farren badly breaks a hock in a trial at Crayford. The leg is saved by vet Stefano Malegori. Three days later, the kennel’s English Derby finalist Bruisers Bullet chips a bone in a wrist at Nottingham. Thankfully another Wallis star, Rubys Rascal, retires for less urgent reasons after completing 96 races, the highlight of which was victory in the 2017 St.Leger.
+ Yarmouth hold their first greyhound sale. It is managed by assistant RM Ben Mannell and all 28 lots are sold.
+ Richard Brankley, Ladbrokes Head of Stadia, announces plans to leave the company with immediate effect. Within two months, he will reappear alongside his former boss Gordon Bissett in a new role at media broadcaster SIS.
+ Towcester increase their open race prize money, upping ‘also ran’ money to £75.
+ Sunerland racing manager Micky Patterson is to leave the sport. His role will be taken by assistant Joe Frelford.
+ The Trainers Assistance Fund announced its most recent grants amounted to £79K to 21 trainers.
+ Despite having had a broken metatarsal, a litter of pups and being a month off her fourth birthday, Ballyoak Petal wins the BGBF Sprint at Harlow.
