2011 December 9 The Racing Post TV Channel is launched.
1933 Carlisle based Tommy Johnston, one of the best known figures in track and coursing, has accepted a job as a trainer at West Ham. He will bring “a top class kennel of North Country dogs” with him.
1981 Sample of track records: Walthamstow 475m Deel Joker (28.54), 640m Paradise Spectre (39.50), Todo Liza (51.58), Wembley 275m Travara Rock (16.21), 490m Decoy Ranger (28.99), 655m Black Earl (39.73), 710 Croshea Echo (52.88) White City 268m Travara Rock (15.67), 500m Parkdown Jet (29.09), 680m Brampton Badger (40.80), 730m Fair Reward (43.93) 962m Westown Adam and Portland Dusty (59.81) Wimbledon 252m Ballybeg Sport (5.04), 460m Upland Tiger (27.45), 660m Jingling Star (40.61), 868m Decoy Boom and Linkside Liquor (54.60).
1946 Greyhound racing discovered a new fan in M Klentsov, head of the Soviet Trade Delegation. The Secretary for Overseas Trade, visited White City for the first time and “picked out most of the winners at the meeting and backed his choice each time.”
1967 Following the voluntary cessation on December 2, punters must endure the remainder of the month without open racing due to an outbreak of Foot & Mouth Disease.
2011 The Times produce a list of dogs that BT engineers would most like to encounter when visiting customers. The top five are 1) Labrador, 2) Golden Retriever, 3) Poodle, 4) Greyhound, 5) Whippet. Worst? Daschund!
1992 The Oaks is switched to December for the first time and Wimbledon receive an incredible 117 entries for the 48 runner event. It is eventually won by Skelligs Smurf in what is the biggest success to date for popular Reading trainer Bob Gilling.
1979 For the first time ever, two bitches head the open race prize money table for the year. Derby and Eclipse winner Sarahs Bunny won £23,230 among her 10 victories, almost £11,000 more than Kilmagoura Mist. Completing the top 10 were Desert Pilot, Royston Supreme, Frame That, Gay Flash, Greenville Boy, Our Rufus, Aglish Boss and Lacca Champion.
1950 While Sandhurst might have produced as many track managers and NGRC stewards as it did generals, there were few with similar backgrounds on the other side of the fence. There is one less when Ramsgate announce the death of trainer Captain G S Ward DSO following a brief illness.
1989 Spiral Five who went on to become European Champion is sold at Shelbourne Park Sales for 1,350 guineas.
1973 The hare was between the third and fourth bends during a race at Monmore when the dummy lure suddenly assumed an upright position on the trolley. The dogs appeared unfazed by the ‘sittting bunny’ and retained their positioning to the winning line. The judge was a little more squeamish and voided the race.
2005 Annies Lamb is withdrawn from a race by the Reading vet when the vet detects the smell of liniment.
1989 Hurdlers Razmac Dancer and Pantile finish as the most prolific open race winners of the year. Dink Luckhurst’s brindle actually won 16 of his 23 opens over jumps, the remainder were over four and six bends on the flat. Pantile won 20 hurdle opens for Linda Mullins.
1977 Catford are claiming to have the biggest bitch currently racing in Britain. Her name is Fleur Again, and she has slimmed down to a racing weight of 33 kilos having trialled in at 36 kilos.
1950 GRA win a court case against a woman who fell over when the lights were dimmed during a meeting at White City. Her claim for £131 was dismissed by the judge who stated: “Whether her spirit of gambling inspired this action I do not know, but it is rather a disgraceful action.”
