1969 At Shelbourne Park sales, Patrick Kelly of Cork has put his Kilronane Jet (Tontine-Jet Hostess, Apr’68) up for sale. Snapped up for 600 guineas after his sales trial of 30.17 for 525 yards, he is destined for a career now at Wembley. He goes on to win the following year’s Spring Cup and Midland Flat for Tom Johnston.
1971 Christmas Eve evening and the only meeting in London is at West Ham where the final of the Cambridgeshire is run off. But the highlight of the meeting is the Sporting Life’s tipster Reg Potter, who goes through the card, selecting all eight winners. They are priced at 4-6, 4-7, 1-3, 6-4, 11-8, 6-4. 7-1, 1-4.
1999 Ladbrokes announce that their tracks Monmore and Crayford will share a £100,000 prize money increase during the following year. GRA announce that their six tracks will share £200,000 or “a 10% increase”.
1986 A four-dog invitation race at Walthamstow called the Stow Super Clash over 820 metres and worth £500 plus trophy to the winner, brings together Rosewood Girl, Glenowen Queen, Silver Mask and Yankees Shadow. In a thrilling race, K Wright’s Regency and Cesarewitch winner Yankees Shadow (bd b Cosmic Sailor-Eings Lace, Sep 83) trained at Brighton by George Curtis, shows her rivals why she is champ, winning the contest by three and a quarter lengths in 52.10.
1990 In the Anglo-Irish International at Shelbourne Park, Britain were trailling Ireland by 12 points to 14 and looked certs to be beaten. But Nick Savva sent out litter brothers Bens Baby and Westmead Havoc (Flashy Sir-Westmead Alva, Nov’87) to snatch a draw. They take the first two places, with the Irish runners, Graciously, Coral Town and Angelo Calotti in 3rd, 4th and 5th places. The English Derby winner, Slippy Blue, brings up the rear for Britain. The two leg match resulted in a draw 27 points each.
2004 Betting exchange Betfair reach agreement to pay into the BGRF. It will be backdated and is expected to be within the region of £500,000.
1954 Mr A Bowdery’s Lizette won the 1953 Oaks, trained by Paddy Fortune at Wimbledon, This year she is trained at the same track by Stan Martin.
1991 Sportscast announce a deal to beam live racing into their 1,300 pubs and clubs. Racing will be from Canterbury, Romford and Sunderland with the programme fronted by presenters Richard Thomas and Trevor Harris. Interestingly, racing will not start until 10.30pm
1935 At Lensford near Hatfield, a coursing meeting is staged exclusively for greyhounds which are kennelled at Northaw. The judge is H F Ingleton and the slipper is trainer Leslie Reynolds.
1989 A Romford owner agrees to change the name of his new dog to On Off to spare the blushes of the racing office. London Road regulars were denied the chance to hear – ‘In trap one – Sod Off’.
1973 In the return leg of the Carrolls Anglo-Irish International over 525 yards at Shelbourne Park, the English team have a 12 points to 9 lead to protect. The Irish field the same three greyhounds that were beaten in London two weeks ago, Baylough Jet, Dark Mercury and Rail Ship. Up against them are Say Little, who won the London race, plus Delrony Leader and Same Discretion. The Irish win the second leg by 14 points to 7 to win overall by 23-19 thanks to John Costello’s Baylough Jet (w d Clonmoney Jet-Bay Pride, Jul’70) trained by Ger McKenna. Say Little finishes last and is found to have a broken toe.
1991 Nottingham become the first NGRC track to stage 15 races in a day.
1964 The bookmakers organisation the BPA, with 14,000 members, announce that they are interested in buying their own greyhound tracks for afternoon racing. They claim to be looking from protection from the horserace levy authorities.
1993 Shawfield are fined £1,500 and three trainers had all charges cleared after a string of runners tested positive. Two paddock stewards were subsequently sacked by the track and had their licenses taken away.
