1983 George Curtis wins three major finals in six days, and all with British bred dogs, as Sandy Lane takes the TV Trophy, Sir Winston wins the Grand National and half brother Yankee Express lands the Pall Mall.
George Curtis with Sandy Lane, Yankee Express and Sir Winston
1989 The best known tipster in racing, the Sporting Life’s Reg Potter retires after more than 40 years in the job.
1996 Greyhound Life editor Bob Betts finds himself being quoted in his own paper when Luzostev lands the Northern Oaks at Belle Vue.
1991 GTA chairman John Coleman is frustrated by the response to a Calendar survey asking if wide seeds should be equally distributed in open race heats. He receives only 17 replies.
2008 The Irish Greyhound Board announces a six per cent increase in prize money from May 1.
1957 Charlon’s management have been forced to employ track staff to scare away pigeons using a long cane. The birds have taken to feeding on the track and only scatter when the racing dogs are a few yards away.
1986 Following discussions with trainers, Hove decide to relay turf around the bends for summer racing. They race on sanded bends during the winter. Once restored, Hove is the last remaining all-grass NGRC track.
1998 Dismissing claims that Sittingourne is struggling, promoter Roger Cearns reveals the track is attracting crowds of 500 on Fridays and 550-600 on Saturdays. Furthermore the track expect to introduce eight-runner racing within the next month.
1982 A survey of major race winners from 1970 to 1981 in Greyhound Owner reveals that Monalee Champion was bar far the most successful sire with 37 wins, some 21 more than closest rivals Spectre and Newdown Heather. Ka Boom with four winners was the top brood.
1971 The SSPCA offer a £25 reward for information leading to a conviction when a dead greyhound is found tied to a tree in Ravenscraig Wood in Carfin. The dog appears to have been killed with a hatchet. The dog’s earmarkings are made of two sets of numbers – the ICC uses letters and Britain does not tattoo. While some North East independent tracks operate their own earmarking systems – none use the eight digit format as in this case
1985 Faced with 25% reduced prize money grants at ‘B tracks’, the Irish Greyhound Owners and Breeders Association announce a national strike.
2009 Cabra Cool wins the Scottish Derby final in 28.83 – one of five Irish trained runners in the field. The beaten favourite is the Barrie Draper trained Thurlesbeg Joker (5th). The winner clocks 28.83, some 17 spots slower than the track record set by Greenwell River in the invitation.
1991 A ‘Droopys’ runner is top lot at the sales for the first time. Droopys Prince changed hands for 3,000gns after winning his 663m trial at Hall Green. Coloured Linnen was led away unsold with a top bid of 7,000 guineas after clocking the fastest time of the day, 29.25.
1965 Cambridgeshire bred puppy Chittering Clapton completes a graded five-timer (one inter-track) for Clapton trainer Adam Jackson. Within two months he will also have landed the English Derby.
1988 The NGRC celebrate April 23 as the Diamond Jubilee celebration of its formation.
1998 Hove’s first 475 metre race is won by Tony Lucas’ Donore Dawn.
2012 Sheffield celebrate their 80th anniversary with a special meeting with staffed dressed in 1930s fashions, free draws and a souvenir racecard from 1932.
1937 New Clonmel record holder Monarch Of All is sold for a record price at an Irish sale when changing hands for 350gns at Harolds Cross sales. That would equate to roughly £27,800 today
1985 Former Laurels and Scurry winner Xmas Holiday (pictured with Ann Mahon), now eight years old, is offered for sale as a stud dog for £650.
