1997 Droopy Paul is top lot at Walthamstow sales as he makes 5,900 guineas. He goes on to win 34 opens including three major finals. Also sold on the day was Cashen Sleeper who made 2,600 guineas and goes on to reach English & Irish Oaks Finals.
1956 In the heats of the Wembley Spring Cup over 325 yards, Noel Purvis’s litter brothers, Northern King and Northern Champion (Champion Prince-Big Bawn, Jan 54) both win their races. In the final on the 30th, Northern King easily wins the £150 final and trophy in 29.40.
2006 Former Meopham based trainer Derek Sankey is jailed for seven and a half years after being found guilty of drug dealing. He was also ordered to hand over almost £360K.
1994 Six members of the same Dempsey Duke/Castlelyon Moll litter contest a race at Bristol.
1960 There is still a month to go before the start of the English Derby but Mile Bush Pride heads he ante post betting at. . .2-1!
1999 GTA chairman John Haynes finds himself on the mat at Sittingbourne after one of his runners is backed and wins finding 38 spots. Meanwhile, the kennel’s other runner is beaten 11 lengths.
2005 A Night At The Dogs, an award winning play about a greyhound owning syndicate, opens in the West End.
1993 SIS announce plans to show the English Derby Final live and free of charge at all NGRC tracks.
2005 John Nicholson resigns as NGRC senior steward after 18 years in the role. He had been warned by his fellow directors on the BGRB that he faced a vote of ‘no confidence’.
1996 Following a six month trial at Wimbledon, racing managers vote to ask the NGRC stewards to introduce middle seeding in all open races.
1954 West Ham switch track surfaces from coir matting to all grass. The dictionary defines coir matting as “A thick, hard-wearing material made from the coarse, hairy covering of the coconut.” They also change from a sleigh hare to an inside hare. Eactly eight years later they switch to the outside McKee-Scott.
1995 Catford regulars witnessed a most unusual graded event. One of the runners who was KO’d, ran across the centre of the track and rejoined the race. She jumped into the homestraight just as the race leader was coming past. Although fractionally distracted, the leading greyhound kept running. But the remainder of the runners, perplexed by the unusual arrival, stopped chasing. The stewards announced the result was unaffected for the winner but there were no other finishers.
1982 In the Pall Mall final at Harrigay, Sugarville Jet (bd d Cairnville Jet-Santas Sugar, Jan 79) from trap 1 and starting at 8-1 beats Special Account, the 6-4 favourite to take the £3,000 first prize bringing his winnings to £8,693 from 54 races with 18 firsts and 11 seconds. Last year Sugarville Jet finished third in the final to Creamery Pat. Jet is trained by John Honeysett at Crayford.
1990 There is a controversial end to the Silver Collar at Walthamstow when winner Fionntra Forge is disqualified for fighting. After running his clearing trials, John Faints’ dog returns to win the Rye Gold Cup.
