Kim Billingham landed her first Monmore trainer’s title in 2015 with 268 winners from 1,482 runners (18.08%), just 16 clear of Paul Sallis.
Kim said: “My dad, Peter, moved away a couple of times before we finally settled here 31 years ago, and I have practically grown up at the track. I took over the licence from dad eight years ago. He finished top trainer in his last year so it was lovely to emulate him. Dad still watches the dogs at trial sessions for me and mum does the banking. It is a family run kennel business.”
Kim currently has 65 racing dogs of whom 45 are currently qualified for grading.
She said: “You expect to have half of them available and we normally average between 35-38 runners, so I am delighted to have so many fit and available. We had a very good run for avoiding injuries late in the year.
“We have a particularly good class of dog at the moment and some very good pups coming through which helps your strike rate.
“Its all down to the owners really. Dad always told me ‘dogs are expensive, but owners are priceless’, and we have the most amazing group of owners you can imagine.
“On any given Sunday, there are always at least 20 cars here with owners coming to see their dogs. There is a great spirit among them and they enjoy each other’s successes.
“Some own dogs individually, others have them in groups of syndicates. One owner, Carl Collins, has just set up a new syndicate called Skysthelimit Greyhounds and all the shares practically sold straight away.
“Although we all have bad days, I really love my job, and am very lucky to be at a top track. That’s all I can say really.”
2015 was a decent year at Monmore according to Ladbrokes’ Head of Stadia, Richard Brankley.
He said: “The ‘per-meeting’ figures were up, not significantly, but pleasing nevertheless. Attendances rose by around one and a half percent, with the tote up by around two percent.”
Well Jean (Ace Hi Rumble-Precious Story, Apr 13) was Monmore’s most prolific winner in 2015 with 12 victories from 34 races.
Sandra Ralph’s black was a slow burner in the early part of the year having started off in A8. But was Spring four-timer took her up to A2/3 where she spent the rest of the year.
11 wins: Farley Gene, Oleg, Romeo Acclaim, Sandymount Gent, Tyrur Vettel
10 wins: Ardera Victor, Head Paw
Romany Rouge was the leading open winner at the track with six wins. Joint top open race trainers were Karen Price and Paul Sallis with 13 winners each, though Barrie Draper took top win prize money, £19,300.
Emils Banjo was the fastest 480 metre graded runner in 28.18, some six lengths behind the fastest 480 open winner, Swift Hoffman (27.70). The average winning time was 28.59. The average for A10 is 29.53.
Monmore staged 2,836 races of which 15 finished as dead heats. 33.8% of races were won by under a length. 22% were won by more than four lengths.
The percentage of winning favourites was 27.96.
White was the favourite box for winners, with black the least popular. T1-466, T2-487, T3-528, T4-425, T5-432, T6-507.
2,347 of the 2,837 were staged over the standard trip (82.7%).
The Monmore racing office have nominated two youngsters to follow in 2016.
COOLADERRY FORD bk d (Scolari Me Daddy-Business Diva, Apr 14)
Owned by Mr J Doble & Miss A Reynolds and trained by Paul Sallis, the black clocked 28.75 in his first four-bender at the track when just 16 months old. He has been gently treated and has just five races on his card but has already won twice (both A2) and recently romped up by 10 lengths in 28.69 (-40).
SKYS BART bd d (Kinloch Brae-Swift Salt, Jul 14)
Owned by Skysthelimit Greyhounds and trained by Kim Billingham, brindle Bart qualified in 28.73 and was narrowly beaten on his debut in A3. Bred and reared by Ian Greaves, he will not have been over-schooled and should improve in the coming months.
