1994 GRA change their policy on disqualified dogs when allowing Slippy Corner, who had his card marked earlier in his career, to compete in the Laurels.
1987 Carriglea Ese (Yellow Ese- Killeacle Linda, Jun 86) set a record price for a bitch sold on the bench when sold to Midlands trainer Paddy Hanco. She duly wins the Crayford Puppy Cup and finishes runner-up in the English Oaks. However a few days earlier, Minnies Siren was snapped up for a mere 1,500 guineas at Shelbourne Sales. She went on to win almost £14,000 following victories in the TV Trophy and Cesarewitch.
2009 Flying Winner is retired after failing to overcome a series of niggling injuries. During her career, she broke eight track records and started favourite in every one of her 32 British opens. She went on to become a top dam with progeny including Mr Chow (Regency), Afew Dollarsmore (Ladbroke Summer Stayers), Calzaghe Lily (RU Grand Prix) and Dashing Star (Kent Cesaewitch). Pic Steve Nash
1994 At the World Greyhound Conference in Dublin, American promoters Patrick Winters and George Downey told the tale of a novel marketing plan that became too successful. It involved ‘doggie days’ when the owners of other breeders were invited to come along to the track to trail against other dogs of the same breed, beagles, sheepdogs, spaniels etc. When a reliable field could be compiled, it would be added to a greyhound card as a novelty race. However, it all went gloriously haywire when they invited owners of Dachshunds to take part in a doggie day at Multnomah. The local radio stations picked up on the idea more than 12,000 people crammed into the stadium. All the neighbouring freeways were jammed, with track employees unable to get to work. Many thousand potential punters went home hungry, thirsty and decidedly unimpressed.
1966 The NGRS reveal that the Kennelmaid of the Year trophy could be scrapped. The reigning champ, who received her reward, along with a voucher for a holiday in Majorca is Sharman Lewis who works at the Chartlon kennels.
2002 The Star’s October front page announces that the NGRC are finalising a change in their rules to disqualify a dog if he fails a dope test during the course of a competition, even if he passes a test for the final. Spokesman Frank Melville said: . . .in other words, if a dog failed the drugs test in the second round of the Derby, he would be ineligible for any prize money later in the competition. It would mean he would forfeit the winner’s prize even though he passed a subsequent dope test before the final.” Next to that story, we report that Wimbledon are considering remedial work on the track. Accompanying the story is a random photo of dogs on parade at Wimbledon – it is being led around by Andy Ionnou!
1970 Dr Dick Handley, founder of the Greyhound Breeders Forum dies aged 36. The Dunstable GP was a successful breeder in his own right, having produced top hurdler Tonys Friend out of his brood Maggie From Cork. He also owned the stud dog Ballyard Music.
1994 Harlow stages its first ever trial session with 30 runners going around the Pinnacles circuit. Meanwhile, the commencement of racing Sittingbourne has been put on hold. The stadium held several trial sessions before their landlords, the local football club, announced debts of £1.1m with a major structural design fault to the stadium roof that will cost £680,000 to repair.
1995 A crowd of 2,125 turned out for the first meeting at Sittingbourne on October 3 – one year later than expected. The opening was a triumph for John Aitken who had been involved with the project from the beginning. The racing manager is Paul Nevett.
1955 Lizette (Master Captain-Dorothy Ann, Jan’51) wins her second Oaks final at White City London. She won her first in 1953 and she finished lame in her next in 1954. Within a fortnight her brilliant half brother Gulf Of Darien (Imperial Dancer-Dorothy Ann, Mar 53) had run away with Cesarewitch, equalling the West Ham 600 yard track record in the final.
1955 The previous year’s English Derby winner Pauls Fun wins the first staging of a new competition at Wembley, the Blue Riband. The invitation event worth £140 to the winner (roughly £2,800 at today’s rates) also attracts the 1956 Derby favourite Hi There, Duet Leader (Laurels, Select, Grand Prix) and Gulf Of Darien (Cesarewitch.
