Rita Williams on the tragic tale of Tudor Prince

TUDOR PRINCE – Pic Steve Nash

We reared Tudor Prince from 16 weeks old, and he was  second in eight Category One races. His Achilles heel was he couldn’t start.  But he was fantastically bred; after racing he went to a chap in Scotland who promised to look after him and advertise him for stud. We don’t know what went wrong but he ended up in Northern Ireland, at a kennels which was run by men who were so cruel it beggars belief.

These scumbags received 10 years for cruelty to greyhounds they went in twice a week to feed and let them out. This had been going on for years!! Where were the IGB! Anyhow my kennelhand and Harry tried to track him down but they didn’t let me know about the situation. When theIGB went into the kennels with the Garda, five dogs were dead and Tudor Prince was in a poorly state.

A kind trainer took him in for two weeks until he was fit to travel. We got him back and he lived his last 5 years with us. Today I had to put him to sleep as he had a tumour in his throat. He was lovely but scarred by his experience in Northern Ireland, rest in peace old boy.

Rita Williams

Such a sad tale about such a lovely greyhound. Thank you Rita for sharing the experience as a warning to others.

Ed

 

Former Stow RM Tony Smith remembers Ernie

Sad to hear of the death of Ernie. Your article was a fitting tribute to a true “doggy” man. He’s left a legacy though with young Ernie already establishing himself as a brilliant trainer.

I always remember having a chat with Ernie at Walthamstow, and we were discussing open races and current events etc. and he was talking about the 730 open race at White City where he had been mystified how his good bitch Gala Louise had led and got beaten by this “new” dog. His words were something like..”Either there is something wrong with the bitch, or this “new” dog is some machine. The “new” dog in question did turn out to be something special…  Scurlogue Champ. Ernie’s bitch was also by Sand Man, so a good introduction to her half brother.
Ernie said it as it was, and like most trainers would moan occasionally about trap draws, and so it was quite comical when Curryhills Gara drew six consecutive ‘trap ones’ during the Derby at Wimbledon. I used to enquire “How can you explain that Ernie?”. It was the only time I’d ever see Ernie lost for words.
One of the most fascinating converstations with Ernie was about Come On Dolores who you mentioned in your article. I think he was of the opinion that Monalee Champion was the sire of Dolores Rocket and not Newdown Heather. It’s difficult to prove I suppose, as she had been with both of the sires, and only the late great Jack Mullan may possibly have thrown some light on it. There was always some doubt, but either way, the ICC registered it as Newdown Heather and that’s that.
Tony Smith
Thanks Tony. I remember asking the late Freddie Warrell, who owned Monalee Champion, about the parentage of Dolores Rocket. He told a story of the day he had asked Jack Mullan about it. The pair were the best mates ever, but surprisingly Jack didn’t give him a straight answer. He simply said something along the lines of, ‘it should be obvious’.
I would hate this to come out as criticism of Mullan. The opposite it true. He was a very decent man, who tried to make sure that every bitch left the kennel in whelp. If a breeder was struggling, he would often let them off the stud fee. It was rumoured that certain matings were wrongly registered but nothing was ever proven.

Dolores Rocket.

Personally, I am convinced that Dolores Rocket was a daughter of Newdown Heather. The evidence was not so much in Rocket herself but the rest of the litter. They were big strapping hounds – all black or coloured (Heather only threw those colours) – and there were a couple of kinky ones in the litter, including Come On Wonder, who was exported to Australia after breaking the West Ham track record + being disqualified for fighting. All typical Newdown Heather characteristics.

As for dear Ernie, he was one of the industry’s great characters. I first got to know him when we had stud dogs and he brought Develish Dolores for a mating. I think he quite reveled in his ‘grumpy’ reputation, but quietly on his own, he was very interesting and extremely knowledgeable. If you couldn’t learn from Ernie, it was because you weren’t listening.
Of course, he was also a man who ‘knew the value of a pound note’, and one of the great traditions of staying in the Minella Hotel in Clonmel for coursing week, was that you knew that inevitably somebody would order a huge round of drinks and bill it to Ernie’s room. They were always from the same kennel. They will remain anonymous, but you might want to ask around at Romford!!!
Needless to say, come finals day and everyone was checking out, people would be hiding around corners (sniggering) waiting for Ernie to pay his bill.
“F$%& OFF! I DIDN’T F$%&ing ORDER THIS!!!”
They don’t make them like that any more! You’ll be missed Ern.
Ed