The Harringay main grandstand
2012 The GBGB launches its new iPhone app called ‘The Dogs’.
1948 Sir Herbert Dunnico, the former Deputy Speaker at the House of Commons, gives an outspoken attack on gambling laws after administering fines in his roles as a magistrate passing sentence on street bookmakers. In administering two £10 fines for men with no previous convictions and three £20 fines for offenders with previous convictions, he says: “The Bench have to administer this law and do our best to impose penalties of varying degrees for successive sentences, but the betting laws of this country are wicked. I can sit here and fine a man £20 or more for taking a few slips and a few shillings in the street, and I can then go upstairs in this very court, pick up the telephone and put £50 on a horse. The whole thing is wicked and unfair.”
1971 Litter brothers Smelter and Spooky Spouse contest a two-dog trial at White City. Spouse broke a hock at the second bend, Smelter broke down with a similar injury at the third.
2009 A meeting of owners and trainers takes place at the East Midland Hilton – the birth of GOBATA.
1999 In an attempt to raise open race prize money, GTA chairman John Haynes announces that from January 2000, only open races with a minimum of £150 to the winner will be awarded points towards the trainer’s championship. Out of interest, index linked to 2019, that would be the equivalent of £252.
1954 The leading three open race prize money winners to date this year are Derby winner Pauls Fun (£2,583), Rushton Mac (£2,205) and Coolkill Chief (£1,983). Index linked, those figures would currently be worth between £68,700 and £51,000.
1979 Local handler Paddy Milligan wins the Gold Collar at Catford with Gay Flash (Fionntra Frolic-London Child). The 7-2 chance beat Corduroy in 35.08 with 7-4 favourite Dangerous Lad back in last place.
2002 Nottingham begin work on a new high-tech kennel complex, complete with airflow system. It will increase the capacity from 94 to 118 kennels.
1986 The 40th running of the Easter Anglian Derby at Yarmouth, worth a record £7,500 to the winner, goes to Ken Linzell’s Short Answer (w bd d You Genius-JoJos Girl, Sep’84), the 2-1 second favourite, heads round the last bend and wins by two lengths in 28.35, the fastest in the competition.
1997 Some Picture is retired to stud after finishing last in the Irish Derby to Toms The Best. It is the end of Charlie Lister and Steve Spiteri’s dream of a triple crown following wins in the Scottish & English Finals.
2005 Owen McKenna’s Boherduff Light is retired to stud after winning his second consecutive Kilkenny Derby.
2007 Nick Savva and Bob Morton are honoured by the Variety Club of Great Britain.
1954 Britain’s top brood Rushton Panda dies at the Cheshire kennel of owners Frank and Mary Johnson. Within the previous week, her son Rushton Mac had won the Select Stakes and Edinburgh Cup. Mac, who also won the English Derby is a brother of Scottish Derby winner, Rushton Smutty. Panda is a daughter of dual Waterloo Cup winner Swinging Light, while her dam Hazy Rhyl was by another Waterloo winner, Rotton Row. Pictured: Mr & Mrs Johnson with Rushton Mac
