1960 Hymer Black’s connections were determined that their young dog should not lack experience over hurdles before giving his racing debut. After schooling and 20 official trials he was entered in a Wandsworth hurdle open – and finished fifth!
1947 March 15 A government fuel ban is lifted after 29 days but 160 meetings are lost in London alone.
1962 An Oxford punter landed the biggest ever forecast dividend ever on a British track when a 4-1 chance beat a 100-8 shot and paid £142/8/6 for a 4 shilling unit – odds of 711-1.
2000 Richard Brankley become one of the youngest general managers in the industry when taking over the reigns at Monmore from Ken Little. The former Gala Bingo man is 28.
1935 The De Haviland Royal Air Liner “Mercury” starts daily flights to Ireland, with supplies of the Greyhound Express.
2001 The greyhound race due to be staged during the Cheltenham Festival should be the best yet as it will feature former open race stars Reactabond Rebel and Smoking Bullet. Unfortunately, the whole festival falls victim to the foot and mouth outbreak.
1978 Weston Andy is reckoned to be the smallest male greyhound ever to have won a race at Norton Canes. He weighs just 22 kilos. Meanwhile, Ramsgate believe they have the biggest dog ever to have won a race at Dumpton Park, the George Ripley trained Knockemstiff bends the scales at 45 kilos.
1996 Pat Dalton unveils two exceptional youngsters in a 30.70 confined stake at Limerick. Nine month old Wise Flyer clocks 29.40, litter sister Wise Beauty records a brilliant 29.17.
1953 There are 40 greyhound tracks (NGRC and Independent) racing in Scotland.
2003 Centour Corker breaks his own track record in the final of the Ladbroke Golden Jacket. The 11-8f led from the traps before clocking a 23.13 sectional for 380 metres. He crossed the winning line just over six lengths clear of Slaheny Sally in 44.74.
1985 The £3,000 to winner Pall Mall final over 475 metres at Harringay, and sponsored by bookmaker John Power, goes to the only railer, C M Crane and M J Kane’s Hong Kong Mike (wf d Knockrour Slave-Amalthea, Jan 83) Drawn trap one and 11-10 favourite has things all his own way, when the five wide runners jostle at the first bend.
1989 Future open race star Demesne Chance is sold at Shelbourne sales for 925 guineas.
