1973 The NGRC finally alter its notorious rule 174 (i) which prohibits all license holders and owners from attending independent tracks. However they will not be allowed to sponsor races or own greyhounds that race on them.
1959 An artists cartoon in the Radio Times shows the trap three runner leading in a preview to the Sportsview TV Trophy heat at Eastville, Bristol. The white jacketed runner duly. . . .finishes last.
2009 Kilkenny trainer Billy Hanlon, together with two friends, landed the €430,000 Pick-7 jackpot at Shelbourne Park. Incredibly, Hanlon had two runners on the night, and were both among his winning selections, including the all-important seventh leg.
2008 Richard Rees becomes the third generation of the family to train at Wimbledon following the retirement through ill health of his father Philip. Richard’s grandfather Phil joined the Plough Lane team in the early 1960s.
1959 Figures issued by the NGRC reveal that there were 6,117 greyhounds registered in 1958. There were 1,592 new owners, 240 racecourse trainers, 605 kennelmen, 859 kennelmaids, 75 private trainers and 1,474 open races.
2001 The ICC reveal that Coursing Oaks winner Ballymac View had tested positive.
1981 Three years after the famous Rochester Coup, the Director of Public Prosecutions Sir Thomas Hetherington has decided that there is insufficient evidence to warrant any legal proceedings into the event.
1958 Wimbledon apply for a liquor licence which will allow all patrons to imbibe. At present, only members of the owners club, or their guests, can be served alcoholic liquor.
2011 Peterborough announce that they will not accept entries for their Puppy Derby for any pup that has not trialled over the course and distance. 108 pups duly trial.
1970 Wimbledon announce that owners of adult greyhounds that cannot record 29.20 for the 500 yards will be asked to take the dogs away. All six Wimbledon kennels currently have their maximum permitted racing strength of 40 runners.
1975 Drynham Star, making his first visit to Derby, was involved in a no-race after the hare broke down at the third bend of a 590 metre open. Despite completing a circuit, the runners were sent back to traps for a re-run and the Savva trained runner duly took five lengths off the track record.
1968 The Annual Silver Awards take place at the Dorchester Hotel. The 1967 Greyhound of the Year award goes to Carry On Oregon, winner of 16 of his 24 races including the Scurry, Laurels, Chelsea Cup and Select Stakes for trainer Clare Orton. The Bitch of the Year is Bob Burles’ Miss Taft, who won ten consecutive opens. Top British bred, with a moderate record was Warfield Flash. Indeed it was such a poor year for British breeding that the judges decided not to choose a ‘Dam of Best British bred litter’ and made a special award to super Irish dam Supreme Witch, mother of Spectre II, Gezeira, Forward King and Forward Flash. The proposer of the speech on awards night is to be given by playwright Willis Hall. An owner at Wimbledon, Hove and Wembley, Mr Hall recently returned from Hollywood when he had been working on a script for “the new Charlton Heston film’. Responding to “The Sport of Greyhound Racing” will be former footballer turned pundit, Jimmy Hill. Heading the cabaret is “the fine young comedian” Roy Hudd.
1959 Clonmel decide to proceed with the Produce Stakes irrespective of whether on-going talks between Bord na gCon and track bookmakers representatives are successful. Bookies at all southern Irish tracks are striking over the cost of admission of themselves and their staff. Some pay £3, though the Board seem set to climb down with a deal of 25 shillings. No racing took place at any track in Eire during the strike.
1986 An open race trainer has his licence withdrawn for six months after he is found in possession of a syringe in the Wimbledon racing kennels. The stewards dismissed Rory Smyth’s claim that the syringe was to be used to administer olive oil to the sore throat of his runner Pagan Penguin.
1978 Kings Comet, winner of the 1976 Ben Truman Stakes and seemingly retired to the breeding paddocks, returns after producing her first litter to win the 23rd race of her career in 29.64 for 500 metres at Brighton. That first litter, by Myrtown, included Kings Lace who would soon finish runner-up in the Pall Mall. Comet eventually did return to the breeding paddocks and two years later produced Yankee Express, Kings Merlin, Sir Winston, Copper Beeches. .
