1949 Local Interprize and Village Major are 8-1 joint ante post favourites for the 1949 English Derby. 60 runners are quoted at odds up to 5,000-1 – but no sign of eventual winner Narrogar Ann.
1955 Five time Derby winning trainer Lesley Reynolds is considering quitting his job at Wembley and taking up a position in Massachusetts. He has previously taken teams or dogs to the USA to race. He says: “As things look now, I am almost certain to go. The job would pay enough to allow me to return in a few years time a lot better off than I am now.”
2006 Portsmouth replace their inside Sumner hare with a new ‘Swaffham’. The track also installs a new running rail and starting traps.
1978 A Croydon man is given a year in prison for attempting to pass a forged tote ticket at Wimbledon.
1957 A brawl breaks out on the White City cheap side after a punter attempts to claim winnings on 7-1 chance Charity Riot (yes honestly!) but the layer claimed he had backed the beaten favourite in the race, Charity Ramp.
1998 While many opens fail to fill, Reading have few such issues when receiving 91 entries for the Masters.
2013 RPGTV announce a deal to broadcast the first two round of the William Hill Derby before SKY take over with coverage of the latter stages.
2014 Wimbledon receive 222 entries for the William Hill sponsored Greyhound Derby. Betting: 14-1 Kereight King, 16-1 Swift Keith, 18-1 Sidarian Blaze, 20-1 Ballymac Vic, 28-1 Sidaz Jack, 33-1 Pay Freeze, Holdem Spy, Roxholme Ted
1971 GRA announce that Powderhall will be their latest track to switch from stadium employed trainers to a contract system.
2008 Dave Finden, assistant trainer to Hove’s Roy Towner, dies following a short illness aged 52.
1997 Peter Stephenson, promoter at Spennymoor, is so frustrated at the NGRC’s refusal to offer him permit status that he applies to go ‘full licenced.’
1982 The NGRC reform the license fee payments for BAGS tracks to £200 per meeting. They also introduce new security measures including the mandatory employment of a security officer and pre-race sampling.
2014 The Nick Savva bred, Rick Holloway trained Westmead Meteor is beaten when attempting to land his eleventh consecutive open. He finishes third behind the Nick Savva bred and trained Westmead Bertie.
2012 Sheffield celebrate their 80th anniversary with a special meeting with staffed dressed in 1930s fashions, free draws and a souvenir racecard from 1932.
1949 Figures released by the NGRS reveal an 11 per cent increase in attendances in 1948. A total of 25,264,011 punters went racing.
2013 Galliard Homes submit plans to build 220 homes on the site of Oxford Stadium.
2014 Oxford City Council’s Executive Board reject a planning application for housing from Galliard Homes and slap a conservation order on the site.
1955 The shareholders of the company which owns Hackney and Hendon dog tracks have been advised by the company secretary to reject an offer to buy the company for £500K (around £14.6m today) as it is considered too low. The company paid a 25% dividend on shares the previous year.
1983 White City announce that they do not have a sponsor for the English Derby following the departure of Spillers and that the entry fee for this year’s Derby will rise from £150 to £200. (Equivalent of £720 at 2015 values). The winner will receive £25,000 (£90,000).
1957 Walthamstow use an evening testing session for their new lighting system to give trials to unraced pups who have never yet trialed under lights.
