2011 Fleeting Image, eliminated from the Corn Cuchulainn at the semi final stage, is re-instated following a bereavement for one of the other finalists and duly lands the €7,000 first prize.
1978 July At Romford with a new outside hare, the 600 metre trip is shortened to 575 metres, an d the final of the Essex Vase on July 11 is won by Ken Usher’s locally trained Bermudas Fun (w bk d Supreme Fun-Avondhu Lass, Aug 75). The 4-1 chance also sets a track record of 35.15, which Ballyregan Bob equals winning the event in 1985.
1999 GRA announce that all future supporting opens on a SKY card will be worth £500 to the winner.
1946 One of Britain’s best known racing journalists, Mr D H Watson-Wood, otherwise known as ‘King Cob’ in The Sporting Life, dies following a serious illness.
1989 The British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection graphically describe the fate of greyhounds used in experimentation at Belfast University. (Warning – graphic detail to follow – Ed) “In laymen’s terms, what actually happened was that 119 greyhounds of both sexes were anasthetised and had either their fourth or fifth rib removed to expose the heart. Wires were then attached heart and the left coronary artery was tied. The dogs were then allowed to regain consciousness. After 24 hours, 32 of the dogs had died. Most suffered strokes, the rest failed to recover from the anaesthetic , haemorrhaged to death or suffered heart failure. Of the 87 dogs who survived the 24 hour period, six were destroyed because of severe wound infections, vomiting and dehydration. Another 15 died ‘suddenly and unexpectedly’ during the post operative week. The remainder of the dogs were all given electrical stimulations of the heart via the attached wires.” The BUAV claim that in excess of 300 greyhounds are used in experimentation annually.
1964 Northumbrian and Crayford Trust Ltd, who own Crayford Stadium are to join the Totalisator Group who already own six tracks. Meanwhile a plan to build shops on land owned by NCT, and adjacent to Crayford stadium are rejected by the local council.
1987 New Shawfield promoter Ross Searle fails in a bid to secure the Scottish Derby at Shawfield despite promising a record winner’s prize of £12,500. The NGRC decide that the event is the property of GRA who choose to switch the event to Powderhall.
1946 Several greyhound trainers have made enquiries about obtaining one of the Government built kennels that were used for training German Shepherds during the war. One of the first to buy one is Mr Alleyne Davies who acquires the range at Down Hatherley, near Gloucester.
1988 The final of the Cesarewitch over 600 yards at Navan and worth £4,000 to the winner, sees trainer Matt Travers with a nap hand. He fields three of the finalists, Rockys Banker, Easy Silver and Keystone Prince. Favourite Rockers Banker and Easy Silver led until the 3rd bend, where they were crowded allowing Keystone Prince to nip through the melee to take the prize for owner Liam Brady in a time of 33.60.
1976 Among all track closures, a new circuit opens Ystrad Mynach. Dennis Duggan is the racing manager at the new Valley Stadium.
2008 Mildenhall is sold to stock car promoters Ron and Dave Coventry
1981 Deel Joker (Free Speech-Leaping Lady) took an incredible 15 spots of the Walthamstow 475m record with a 28.54 run in the heats of the Circuit.
1963 Trip To Dublin, a former English and Welsh Derby finalist who was subsequently sold at Aldridges Sales, is stolen with 48 hours of arriving at his new owner’s kennel in Luton.
1985 Stud dog Trytravelscene is the guest of honour at the wedding of former Fleet Street compositor (and future ‘muscleman’) Ron Mills and wife Sarah. The pair are opening a rearing kennel on 35 acres near Aylesbury.
2000 Westhoughton is put on the market for £100,000 by owner Arthur Brightcliffe.
1987 Rye House owners Carter and Bailey have reached agreement for the sale of the track to a consortium which includes greyhound owner/breeder Toni Nicholls and bookmaker Sid Sweeney.
1973 17 month old Miles Apart (Monalee Gambler-White May, Feb 72) is sold for 450 guineas at Shelbourne Sales. He goes on to break the 465m, 485m and 510m track records at Perry Barr and twice break the 474m clock Hall Green.
2009 Paul Illingworth is appointed as the new GBGB senior stipendiary steward.
1989 The NGRC Calendar advertises the Tyneside St Ledger and Rye House Permit St Ledger. Clearly a book keeping error.
1963 Cranog Bet, recently purchased by Mr & Mrs Sam Gee becomes the first puppy ever to win the English Oaks.
1987 Track attendances for Britain’s tracks for the first six months of the year. Crowds are up by 7.6% and tote turnover by more than 16%. Prize money is up by 9%. The NGRC attribute the rise to two reasons 1) The 1995 Act which enabled tracks to stage more than eight races per meeting 2) the scrapping of on-course betting duty.
