2013 Airport Captain (Big Daddy Cool-Airpot Boss) becomes the first greyhound to break 33.00 for Henlow’s 550m trip when landing the Gold Cup in 32.94 for trainer Kevin Hutton and owner Mick Freshwater.
2001 Tina Marina becomes only the second bitch (Peaceful Lady was the first) to defend her Irish Oaks title. The Seamus Graham trained bitch clocked 28.60 a time bettered in the consolation by Tinys Bud (28.43).
2014 Following six positive tests, the Irish Coursing Club dish out heavy fines to go along with disqualifications of the recent Irish Coursing Derby winner Kyle Calvin and Champion Stakes winner Corriga Rebel.
1958 Henry Parsons, handler of all the graded dogs at Crayford since 1938 is appointed racing manager. His replacement is his nephew Eric.
2014 Sheffield receive only 15 entries for the TV Trophy. Sadly, two intended runners were both defeated by injuries, defending champ Musical Gaga and Barrie Draper’s recent Irish intake, Volcano.
1994 Due to a hiccup with their regular Sumner hare, Shawfield stage the heats and final of the St Mungo Cup on their back-up McKee system.
2007 The BGRB are inviting owners of ‘non-NGRC’ tracks to apply to test a new racing surface – Viscoride.
1965 July 1 Clapton trainer Adam Jackson and owners Paul and Victor Leah parade to the public their Derby winner Chittering Clapton (Noted Crusader-Chittering Hope, May’63) and their 1000 Guineas winner Chittering Cheapjack (Noted Crusader-Chittering Cindy, May’62). Afters the management give them a dinner party to celebrate their achievements.
1958 Shares in Wembley Stadium rise almost double on the rumours that the management have agreed to see 50 acres of freehold land surrounding the stadium, which is currently set to carparks or is unused.
1947 Wandsworth announce the launch of a new race, The Olympic.
1997 Recent Regency winner Million Percent is sold to Nicki Chambers for “an undisclosed five figure sum.”
1981 Greenwood Robic is a fifth priced 1,150gns purchase at Shelbourne Sales. Within three months he is back in Dublin lifting the £6,000 Irish Puppy Derby.
2001 El Othello, an ante post 7-1 chance to win Romford’s Champion Stakes duly obliges in the final – at 7-1.
1958 Police do not have evidence to prosecute Charles Frederick Poulson with any doping offence, they charge him with the possession of 200 ‘luminol’ tablets. This phenobarbital tablet, usually prescribed for the treatment of epilepsy is the drug of choice for dog dopers.
1992 Nottingham describe the experimental Saturday morning matinee meeting as “a disaster” with a crowd of less than half the worst midweek attendance.
2001 Wimbledon announce the return, following a five year break, of the Puppy Oaks.
2014 Sittingbourne are given a warning by the Gambling Commission over the weakness of its on-course betting market.
1984 County Clare based brindle Burnpark Sally won the fastest Irish Oaks ever when clocking 28.92 in the decider – just six spots outside Romping To Work’s 11 year old track record.
2009 – Romeo Expert is 50-1 for next year’s English Derby after setting a new track record in the final of the Two Year Old Produce Stakes at Swindon.
Dave Firmager’s December 07 whelp, the youngest in the final, clocked 28.29 for the 480 metres, when beating Milly Marina by just over seven lengths, almost two lengths quicker than Rhyzome Wizard’s October ‘06 track record.
Romeo Expert went to traps an even money favourite for the £15,000 to the winner final after twice being under the track record in the preliminary rounds with 28.39 and 28.29.
Firmager was delighted with his charge, who made his debut in this competition and was giving away upwards of six months to his rivals.
He said: “Romeo looks very special. He’s had six spins around Swindon and has gone inside the track record in five of them on calculated times.
“Thankfully the going was good for the final and he could set his own record.
“It wasn’t the plan for him to make his debut in the Produce Stakes.
“He was in the heats of the Gymcrack at Hall Green and had gone four lengths quicker than Droopys Bogart in a pre-event trial with 28.32sec but went off colour and we had to withdraw him.
“The Swindon Produce Stakes allowed him a gentle introduction to racing and he’s confirmed what a fantastic prospect he is for the future.”
Firmager also picked up the £2,000 prize for breeding Romeo Expert out of his bitch Fabulous March.
ROMEO EXPERT and Dave Firmager (top) as kennehand Rory Logan holds the Produce Stakes winner.
Swindon 25.7.09 Pic Steve Nash
