On Sunday July 24, greyhound racing in Britain celebrates its 90th birthday. To celebrate we have compiled, with the kind written permission of Pathe News, the following collection of films depicting some of the earliest days of greyhound racing with a few historic and novelty items thrown in. We hope you enjoy the history and charm of full-on Britishness. Absolutely splendid!!
Floyd Amphlett – Editor
We start off with absolute gold – Belle Vue at the very beginning. The issue date of the film is 22 July 1926 which suggests it was a trial session a few days before the first race meeting. It is described as ‘coursing without cruelty’ – something of a misnomer having seen the first couple of runners attempting the hurdles course. There are eight-dog traps, dogs in unusually coloured racing jackets and lots of old boys with moustaches and caps. (And absolutely no jokes about original paintwork and carpets!!!)
http://www.britishpathe.com/video/europes-first-greyhound-racing-track-aka-europes
This clip from 1930 comes from the South London Stadiums kennels which house the Charlton, Park Royal and Wandsworth greyhounds. Only girls were employed as they were deemed more trustworthy than lads with doping a major issue at the time
http://www.britishpathe.com/video/the-greyhound-girls/query/Greyhound
Greyhound fans may recognise this scene as the still taken at the same time are perhaps the most famous of Mick The Miller with his trophy collection. He is pictured with Mrs Arundel-Kempton in Surrey and at five years old, Mick is still an active racer.
http://www.britishpathe.com/video/meet-mick-the-miller/query/greyhound
This 1935 round-up of news includes a clip of a wintery West Ham and proof that the search for artificial racing surfaces didn’t start with Starmat and Viscoride.
http://www.britishpathe.com/video/news-in-a-nutshell-7/query/Greyhound
The following 1939 clip taken at Wimbledon’s Burhill Kennels in Walton On Thames shows a kennel routine and set-up that barely changed in many decades. It includes footage of Sidney Orton and the great Mick The Miller in the last year of his life.
http://www.britishpathe.com/video/greyhounds/query/Greyhound
The 1944 film shows Mrs Ivy Walsh at Bell Weir Park, Staines greyhound track. The track remained operative until 1960.
http://www.britishpathe.com/video/one-woman-dog-track/query/Greyhound
This 1945 film shows the introduction of photo finishes – as later adopted by horse racing – at White City. It is developed by Instaprint and is an immediate success though it is several years before it is widely adopted; Wimbledon don’t don’t introduce theirs until 1949. It is expensive though costing around £2,000 per year to operate (roughly £65K at modern rates).
http://www.britishpathe.com/video/dog-racing-photo-finish-has-try-out/query/greyhound
This 1946 film features private trainer Vicki Coombs, about whom we know very little else, unfortunately.
http://www.britishpathe.com/video/no-dogs-life/query/greyhound
This 1946 film about Sir Arthur Elvin has limited interest for greyhound enthusiasts though there is a short sequence showing five-time Derby winning trainer Leslie Reynolds.
http://www.britishpathe.com/video/a-j-elvin/query/greyhound
This footage of unknown date has no sound but is a reminder of the volume of betting that took place at Britain’s greyhound tracks immediately after World War II. Not sure of the venue. Hendon maybe?
http://www.britishpathe.com/video/greyhound-racing/query/greyhound
This quirky 1950 clip from Hall Green features ‘mad greyhound’ Halfpenny Whistle who seems entirely oblivious to the fact that he is in glass-sides starting traps.
http://www.britishpathe.com/video/mad-greyhound/query/Greyhound
This 1951 film shows behind the scenes at the Wimbledon tote. Will probably only appeal to the greyhound but will give nightmares to Keith Hallinan – a 16% total deduction including 10% to the Treasury!!
http://www.britishpathe.com/video/totalisator/query/%22dog+racing%22
This 1959 colour film shows the GRA breeding kennels at Farncourt Farm in Surrey. The company also had a bigger establishment in Naas for rearing but would also send litters to Cumberland to be reared on farms.
http://www.britishpathe.com/video/greyhound-training/query/greyhound
This 1960 film shows the very early efforts at re-homing by an anti vivisection charity. There are also some nice shots of the giant West Ham (of Custom House) Stadium.
http://www.britishpathe.com/video/greyhounds-in-retirement/query/greyhound
All lovers of Harringay look away now. This silent footage shows the track on the night HRH Prince Philip was the guest of honour and was given a young dog called Camira Flash which ran for the Grand Order of Water Rats charity. As greyhound followers will know, the story doesn’t quite end there . . .
http://www.britishpathe.com/video/greyhound-for-duke/query/%22dog+racing%22
