1932 January 12 Owlerton Stadium Sheffield held their first greyhound meeting. In fine weather for January, a crowd of more than 10,000 turned up including many celebrities, to give the stadium a good send-off. Seven races were run that night, and the honour of winning the first race, the Oxford Stakes over 525 yards, went to Cabrook Ted. The 3-1 shot beat Old King Cole the 7-4 favourite by two lengths in a time of . . . 33.63.
1993 Yarmouth favourite Big City returned to racing aged six years and six months old and won a 659m open in 41.44.
1976 January 23rd After winning heat and semi-final of the Winter Cup over 595 metres at Watford and twice breaking the track record, Ballybeg Story is made an even money favourite to take the final. This he does easily, beating a high class line up including previous record holder Dark Rum in 37.83. Story is trained by Dick Holloway at Reading.
2002 Former champion trainer John McGee has his license removed following the positive test produced by hurdler Apple Rambler for the drug lidocaine. McGee is told that the stewards would not consider returning his licence for at least a year. McGee’s open race plans are thrown into chaos with Golden Jacket Finalist Grayslands Gift transferred into the kennel of Yvonne Harrington.
1992 Trainer Mick Mavrias is sacked by Catford following a gamble on grader I’m Reggie. Racing manager Mick Smith is despatched to Wimbledon as assistant to Simon Harris
1996 The Home Office announce reform of tote betting legislation. The main benefits to the tracks include the right to stage inter-track betting and operate without an accountant in attendance.
1995 Hall Green stages its first ever BAGS fixture.
1947 January 4 The 1946 Irish Derby winner Steve (bd d Printer-Verge Of Palm) dies. A post-mortem examination revealed Stuttgart Disease, a rare infection that attacks the digestive system and the mouth, causing victims to waste away. He was kennelled with trainer Campbell at Clapton at the time.
1995 Former owner Bill Cooke is appointed as the NGRC senior steward.
1946 January 28 Dark Shadow (Ruby Border-Coming Now, Apr 43), the 1945 Irish St Leger winner at Limerick in a new track record for 550 yards of 31.37, makes his English debut at Wembley. Trained by J Syder, the 4-1 shot finishes well over 525 yards to win by three lengths in 31.65.
1998 Strideaway Teddy is installed the 5-2f for the Springbok, with 28.17 trialist Killouragh Roy next best at 11-4. Teddy eventually finishes runner-up to Frisco Sir (25-1).
1987 January After a lot of research by promoter Tommy Grant, Hinckley are to get a new computer tote, based on the SCCS system that is in operation at Chesterfield, Norton Canes and Nottingham.
1990 The Irish Greyhound Board – currently on strike – nevertheless issues a press statement denying an article written by journalist John Martin suggesting widespread track closures. The piece in the Irish Independent claims that 13 tracks are to close and that all future refurbishment plans will concentrate on the remaining five tracks: Cork, Shelbourne, Tralee, Dundalk and Limerick.
1937 January 9 Mr and Mrs A S Reid’s Anzak (bk d Conversion-Batch, Jan 34) trained privately by H Galt in Lanark in Scotland, is making his third appearance at Harringay, a round trip by train of more than 800 miles, to contest the 700 yard Berwick Stakes, worth £40 and trophy to the winner and £10 to the second. He is made 6-4 favourite but the 9-4 second favourite Maiden’s Delight, trained at Wembley by J Syder leads at the third bend holding off Anzak by two lengths in 41.47.
1996 Romford escape with a warning following the death of grader Cairns Butcher in their kennels following a race in August 1995. The dog is believed to have died from complications brought on by the excess heat in the stadium’s old wooden range. Owner Dave Sawyer who was not invited to the NGRC inquiry threatens legal action. Another owner Ali Hunsu is also up in arms after being fined £250 for failing to make suitable arrangements for ex-Wembley grader Garbally Striker. In his defence Hunsu claims that Striker was the 13th greyhound that he had owned. He had found homes for the other 12 but was told by the Wembley homefinders that the dog was very excitable and needed careful homing. Declining the option of putting the dog to sleep, Hunsu handed the dog over to Battersea Dogs Home, signed all the relevant forms and made a donation to the charity. The stewards eventually re-open the case and rescind the Hansu decision and the owner donates the refunded fine to charity.
1998 Top Honcho leaves quarantine kennels in England en route to Michael Dunn’e kennel in Ireland. Meanwhile six year old stud dog Cry Dalcash dies from cancer.
1992 RGT organiser David Poole issues a statement saying that the organisation is on the point of bankruptsy. The charity survives on an annual budget of £55,000 plus donations.
2000 Walthamstow win the Racecourse of the Year award for 1999. Chart King was voted Greyhound of the Year, Palace Issue received the Best British Bred award and Spenwood Magic was the top dam. SKY’s Dave Lawrence received the Services to the Greyhound Industry award. The Independent Greyhound of the Year award went to Dev Smilie’s Copperfield Tim (Trade Official-Clare Contender)
1996 The Sheffield track staff are praised after foiling a race rigging attempt. The staff discover sheets of dark formica is all traps bar trap two prior to racing. The obvious implication of the move is that the runners from those traps would lose their grip on the slippery surface. The track’s Jon Carter reveals that a similar plan had been foiled several years earlier.
