1993 The lightweight (63lb 28.5kg) double Irish Derby finalist Ardfert Sean dies aged seven. Among the progeny produced in a short stud career were Irish Derby winner Ardfert Mick, Scottish Derby winner Droopys Sandy, Ayr Flyer, Heres Seanie, Coolmona Road, and Redwood Girl.
1948 Western Post (Lucky Post-Lonesome Sister, Feb 45) is a surprise 8-1 winner of the £500 Scottish Derby. Some 41 spots slower than the brilliant bitch Sheevaun (29.14) in the heats of the Carntyne classic, the three year old sneaks through a gap in the final when the Paddy Fortune trained 4-6f is run off the track by a wide runner in the final. Western Post clocks 29.45 in the 525 yard decider run two days later. Winning owner/trainer Fred Davis – later sent to prison for the Waggles/Red Wing ‘ringer’ case – then takes the dog to Dublin where he lands the same year’s Irish Derby Final.
1981 The NGRC scrap rule 24 (iii b) which means that dogs with flapping form, or their progeny, can now be advertised, providing that they were not owned by an NGRC owner during the relevant time. The rule was widely regarded as absurd and virtually impossible to enforce. It had nevertheless formed part of the rule book for many year. Another rule that is scrapped is the right of any owner to parade his/her dog and place the dogs in the starting traps in an open race.
1976 Charles Chandler, the greatest racetrack promoter of the post war period, dies in London Hospital aged 64. The son of Walthamstow founder Billy Chandler, Charles (senior) took over the running of the stadium in 1945 and continued to invest in the facility when the majority of promoters were cutting back. Chandler loved the greyhound industry and owned many top class coursers and racers, including the likes of Magounra Reject and Sole Aim, who ran in wife Frances’ name.
1935 The extension of an experiment by the NGRC which allows six runner hurdle racing, which they will repeat in 1951, authorities lift the limit on runners in graded racing. Slough becomes the first stadium to stage eight runner handicaps. These continue until the restrictions return in January 1936
1991 Trainer Barrie Silkman has a 28 day suspension and £500 fine NGRC fine quashed by the High Court. Silkman had been accused of using threatening and abusive behaviour in the Wimbledon paddock. The NGRC later accepted that they made ‘a procedural error’ in handling Silkman’s case and agreed to pay all costs. It is a bad month for the Club who also admit mishandling urine tests for Monmore trainer Don Bennett and Belle Vue trainer Frank Watson. Sadly the reprieve for Bennett arrives too late, he has already been sacked by Ladbrokes.
1950 Stan’s Sporting Bulletin is published for the last time. A weekly greyhound paper giving tips and stories, one of the journalists who worked on the paper was Jack Huss, who before his death in 1984 wrote for the Greyhound Star.
1961 GRA invite the first man in space, Yuri Gagarin, to present a trophy at White City during his visit to Britain.
1946 July 22 There is a riot at Harringay after the seventh race Rossbane Dasher, the 5-2 second favourite, is leading off the last bend in the 525 yarder, when he is caught and fought by 3-1 chance Bally MacBorder on the run in. This allows Rossmire Biddy, the 9-4 favourite, to slip through and win the race with Bally MacBorder finishing second. The stewards disqualify the second and promote the third greyhound Fair Paddy at 25-1 to second place with the unlucky Rossbane Dasher being awarded third place. A large crowd of more than 2,000 angry punters call for a no-race but their pleas are ignored, so they invade the track and start a fire using the railings, hare housing and bookmakers’ stalls as fuel.
Police and fire brigade are called and the last race is not run. An hour after the fire is put out many punters are still there venting their feelings at the judges’ box.
2013 Horse race trainer Mark Johhston has his first open race winner when Crush lands a 590m contest at Pelaw Grange.
1995 Further details have emerged concerning the nine dogs found dead in a quarry in Airdrie in May. The SSPCA’s Inspector Mike Flynn tells the Star that the owners of one of the dogs, former Catford grader Pats Darkie, “became extremely distressed” when hearing of their dog’s fate. They believed she had been retired to a good home in Scotland. The SSPCA trail ended with a ginger haired Scotsman known as ‘Dougie’ who had raced the dog at Ashfield. Another identified dog was former Shawfield grader Funny Man, and his last owner was trying to be traced. There was one other, partially identifiable dog. Inspector Flynn said: “Unfortunately we will never know the identities of the other dogs. Two had their heads missing, some of the others were severely beaten and their skulls were in several pieces. And there were another couple who could only be seen by their rears, we are not certain that they are even greyhounds. Words cannot describe the sort of person who would do this sort of thing to an animal. One of the dogs had a six foot piece of rope around its throat. We weren’t sure whether someone had tried to strangle it or drown it. But a post mortem carried out by the vet showed it had been asphyxiated, there was no water in the lungs. We don’t think the dogs were ever meant to be found but their bodies became bloated in the water and floated.” After appealing for information as to the circumstances leading to the deaths of the dogs, Inspector Flynn added: “I would like to stress most strongly that this type of incident involving greyhounds is extremely rare, and generally we have an extremely good relationship with the greyhound owners in Scotland.” Following the discovery, Shawfield promoter Billy King offered a £1,000 reward for information leading to a conviction.
2001 Trainer David Pruhs was not satisfied with the Peterborough stewards verdict that his Honchos First had NOT fought in the quarter finals of the local Derby. He duly withdrew the dog
1981 Deel Joker (Free Speech-Leaping Lady) took an incredible 15 spots of the Walthamstow 475m record with a 28.54 run in the heats of the Circuit.
1956 Wimbledon announce the opening of a new grandstand which will have dining facilities for 200 members and seating for more than 600 in the stand. The racing press applaud the return of top class facilities at the track which have been comparatively sub standard since being gutted by the Luftwaffe in February 1944.
1937 July 31 The £300 Irish Derby final over 525 yards at Shelbourne Park, sees the event won by an all female team when Miss N O’Bryan’s red fawn bitch Mulnessa (Slanebeg-Won But Lost) beats 6-4 favourite Western Skipper by two lengths. The 6-1 chance recorded 30.83.
2003 GRA admit they are stunned after their plans to build a new track in Liverpool are rejected by the city council. The rejection was on grounds of ‘need’, ‘transport’ and ‘local environment’ issues. The plan for a stadium on the site of a former prison in Fazakerley were challenged throughout by the Labour councillors.
1961 Novice trainer Ernie Gaskin (28) agrees to run his dog Clopook in place of Clonalvy Pride in the Select Stakes. Sadly, a hastily arranged trial resulted in heartbreak when Clopook broke a hock.
1981 Shelbourne bookmakers pack up their joints with four Irish Derby heats still to be staged in protest over the stewards failure to call a ‘no race’. Their complaint followed a very messy eighth heat in which all six runners were caught up in first bend trouble. Five of the field finished the course which was won by the 7-4 favourite in a time of 31.55 (the fastest heat was won in 28.88).
2012 Hove trainer John Gammon announces that he is to retire at the end of August. Formerly at Ramsgate and Sittingbourne, he joined Hove in 1997.
1974 From the Hove menu: Consomme 15p, grilled dover sole £1.75, scampi £1, fillet steak (large) £1.50, raspberry melba 25p. Crayford would serve you up prawn cocktail for 45p and roast beef with Yorkshires for £1.20. The three course Chef’s Dinner at Wimbledon would set you back £2.20.
1996 Independent Kinsley bring in police when they discover that a bitch who is running at the track has been stolen. The Yorkshire track uncovered the deception after checking their database against earmarks supplied by Tipperary breeder Jack Stanton. The bitch had been stolen from Stanton eight months earlier and despite the thieves altering her earmarks, the deception was spotted by promoter John Curran.
1936 Creamery Border, known as “The Pride Of Kerry” is retired after damaging a shoulder. The 1933 Scurry winner never raced as a pup but set a national 525 yard record aged five. His first mating will be the Laurels and Oaks winner Kitshine.
1968 Walthamstow a new type of undersoil heating that won’t kill the grass. Instead of electrical wiring, the new system works on two miles of undersoil pipes filled with heated water. With plans already agreed to increase banking at the track by 12 inches, workmen lay the pipes on top of the ground and pile soil on top. The cost of the project is £8,000 (index linked £122K).
2003 Mike Raper the GRA’s PR and marketing director is made redundant within a week of the most successful English Derby for years. The Wimbledon GM was one of the architects of the re-shaping of the racing circuit at Plough Lane. Raper is the most high profile name to depart, most of the others were catering staff. The track also closed its new Mick The Miller stand until further notice as well as cutting Thursday from the racing schedule.
1948 Britain stages its first midweek evening greyhound meetings in 16 months. Following a cold winter and subsequent fuel shortages in 1946/7, greyhound racing had been temporarily suspended completely in early 1947, but then Saturday racing was re-introduced in June 1947. However after one full week of racing, Wembley owners face six barren weeks – from July 10 until August 28 – the stadium will be staging the Olympic Games
1957 Surely one of the most bizarre trebles of all time! At 8.22pm, The Pent House II (5-2) wins at Wembley. At 9pm, Pent House (1-1f) wins at Brighton. Ten minutes later, racehorse Pent House (7-4) wins at Alexandra Park.
