2016 August 9 – a new organisation is launched, Greyhound Media Group. The representatives of 11 different tracks sets out the aims: “to promote the distribution of live UK greyhound racing to enhance its reputation for integrity and welfare in general and the racing from its member racecourses in particular. Further announcements will be made in due course.” There is no room in the organisation for the likes of Henlow, Harlow, Mildenhall, Doncaster, Pelaw, Shawfield and Towcester. Nor is the space for the six tracks owned by Ladbrokes, Corals and William Hill. Of the original 11, Belle Vue, Hall Green, Peterborough, Poole and Wimbledon have all since closed.
1979 One of Britain’s best known owners, Joe De Mulder, dies aged 69
1998 Harry Redknapp, the guest tipster on the Racing Post’s card to raise money for charity Scope, sees all three of his selections land the odds (4-5f, 4-5f, 7-4).
2016 Belle Vue GM Mick Hardy states that unless a sponsor is found for the Oaks and Laurels, neither event will take place. Towcester’s offer to stage both events is dismissed. With no options for an already scheduled televised meeting, RPGTV will eventually step in as sponsors. Both events will carry £7,000 first prizes which represents a £1,000 increase for the Laurels and an £8,000 reduction for the Oaks.
1973 There is an unusual prefix in the Hackney sales catalogue as minor open racer Westmead Trac (Carry On Oregon-Cricket Dance) is sold as the second highest lot at 400gns. Trac is a litter brother to Bucks Cup winner Delroney Leader and Scurry winner Westmead Valley.
1993 Former Hove trainer Bill Masters, who quit three years earlier, announces plans to return to the track and take over his old kennel in Albourne. During the break he has built up an egg-laying business.
1975 There is no quarter given in East Anglia where the Ipswich and Yarmouth Derbys are run concurrently – the finals are a week apart. Each event carries a £1,000 first prize (index linked to £11,120).
2016 Steve Gammon relinquishes his trainer’s licence with Katie O’Flaherty taking over. Meanwhile Bernie Doyle hands in his notice at Wimbledon after being offered a Romford contract. In the Midlands, Paul White switches from Nottingham to Monmore.
1988 Chasewater are selling of their greyhound equipment. The track closed for greyhound racing earlier in the year but will continue with trotting.
1973 Fragrant Flyer (Prince Of Roses-Forest Brown) returned from a brief stud career to retain his Flying Four title at Crayford. The Bill Wescott trained runner stretched his unbeaten sequence over the track’s 462 metres to seven races.
1993 Kevin Wilde’s plan to buy Sunderland appears to have been thwarted with Lloyd Milligan increases his share in the track to two-thirds when buying out fellow director Peter Stephenson.
1998 Millstream Lad breaks Rush For Silver’s eight year old Shelbourne 750 clock when winning in 42.04.
1975 Main Avenue (Kilbelin Style-Freckled Fawn) bounced back from expensive failures to land the Dundalk International for owner Cyril Scotland and trainer Dave Kinchett. The White City bitch went to Ireland with four wins and two defeats in her last six races. The defeats were in the finals of the Midland Flat and Welsh Oaks. The four wins were all track records, two were at Hall Green, one at Cardiff and one at Powderhall. Opposed in the betting by Shamrock Point, the brindle clocked the second fastest time of the year at the Irish venue, 29.74.
2010 Barnfield Haveit wins on his 110th outing and sets a new Harlow 415m track record.
2016 Wimbledon greyhound track received its last rites when London Mayor Sadiq Khan overturns Boris Johnson’s objection and accept Merton Council’s plans to close the greyhound track and replace it with a new football stadium and housing.
2016 John Mullins’ Ascot Woodie (8-1) beats Starring Storm (2-1f) in the final of the Champion Stakes at Romford. All 10 favourites in the competition were beaten.
1993 With Wembley closed for pop concerts, Gordon Bissett has borrowed its ‘removable running rail’ for experimentation at Monmore. He discovers that the track “is lopsided and has been pegged out wrongly”. The standard distance may be extended from 484m to 486m or 488m.
1970 Ger McKenna’s Own Pride is retired after failing to land his second Irish Derby Final. He becomes a successful sire with offspring including Flip Your Top, Cairnville Jet, Kilmac Chieftain and Empty Pride, though he is best remembered for his daughters which included Moss Drain, Clonad Fancy and the great Maythorn Pride.
1998 The NGRC are to examine how former Wimbledon grader Home Colours ended up in Battersea Dogs Home. The dog only came to light when the new owners of the white and blude, who once contested the Derby, contacted the RGT interested if the dog was an ex-racer. The dog was originally picked up as a stray. Former handler Sam Sykes said: “If I had to keep tabs on every greyhound which left my kennel I would have time for nothing else. Of course I am interested in where they are placed but it really is impossible to keep up with.” Meanwhile the dog’s new owners, the Lane family from Mitcham, are offered a complimentary meal at the stadium by Wimbledon GM Mike Raper.
