1960 July 30 The Betting Bill receives its Royal Assent in Parliament. It licences bookmakers and even makes provision for ‘betting shops’, the first of which is expected to open within a year. Greyhound track promoters are given rights to copyright their tote odds. The GRA’s Major General Sir Miles Graham welcomed the move at the company’s AGM. He said: “Since most of our meetings start later in the evening, the new legislation might be helpful to us. It might put an end to the growing number of illegal betting shops in the Manchester area, many of which we believe to remain open while we are operating.”
1994 Two Scottish trainers, Hugh Davies and Alex McMillan, had their licences withdrawn indefinitely following positive dope tests for cyclizine and propranolol respectively.
1974 Walthamstow’s Circuit final has five local runners and one from Rochester for the £500 prize. Victory goes to Leaders Champion (Monalee Champion-Little Leader, Jun’72) owned by Harry Gover and Alf Fuller and trained locally by Dave Geggus. The 3/1 shot wins the 525 yarder in a fast 29.05.
1993 Star editor Floyd Amphlett announces the name of the Australian dog that he has been negotiating to buy on behalf of Michael Dunne. Through Victorian based stud keeper Geoff Parnaby they acquire Frightful Flash. Most other Irish stud keepers are dismissive of Australian imports.
1928 July 7 Swansea hold their first meeting racing under NGRC rules and about 5,000 people turn out to witness the new sport in glorious weather. Among those present include Major Tottie, stipendiary steward of the racing club, and the judge was Sir Arthur Whitten-Browne. The seven race card went off well and the first race over 525 yards, The Glais Opening Plate, went to Mr O’Brien’s Paddy Baun. The 3-1 third favourite, trained by T Dalton, who had another 3 winners during the evening.
1999 The brilliant Melbourne Cup winner Roanokee joins Sean Bourke at stud in Ireland. Ladys Guest, the dam of Toms The Best, is his first mating though the litter ultimately proves disappointing.
1990 Two Catford racegoers are killed as a car smashes through the gates and into spectators. A man is arrested for drink driving. The meeting is abandoned.
2006 Pelaw Grange reverts from five runner fields to stage its first six dog race in 18 years following substantial track improvements.
1996 The last independent track in East Anglia, Bury St Edmunds, closes. Promoter Duggie Dutton, who family have run the track for 47 years, blames “the national lottery, the economic climate and the purge by NGRC stewards on local trainers” racing dogs at the Suffolk venue.
2006 Stadia UK are forced to quell local anxieties following the announcement of a planned redevelopment of the company’s 35 acre Abbey Meads site at Swindon. The plans include a new stadium plus houses, a care home and small business units. Recently appointed operations director Bill Glass issues a statement claiming greyhound racing would be safe under the plan.
1997 Simon Marcantonio is appointed as the sport’s first PR officer.
2005 The Reading Masters gets underway. Bookies are unable to decide on the ante post favourite. Some have Killeigh Grand at 8-1 (12s elsewhere). Other firms opt for Blonde Mac, priced between 8-1 and 10-1. The Grand supporters will ultimately be proved correct. In the final he heads home (with ante post prices): Flashing Away (50), Black Bower (33), Ballymac Giggs (40), Vatpack Brandon (100), Joint Reaction (100).
1990 Wont Retreat wins the Northumberland Gold Cup Invitation (£1,000) but is disqualified for fighting on the run-in.
1944 During the war classic events were suspended and at Wimbledon the Holiday Cup replaced the Laurels which was run over the same distance of 500 yards and with a winner’s prize of £125 and trophy. The final on July 22 drew a good line-up including last year’s winner, Wireless Delight, who started favourite to complete a double after a fine heat win. But most punters saw the improving Jubilee Time – who started second favourite at 9/4 following 6 wins in a row – as the better bet. Mr R H Dent’s brindle dog by Fine Jubilee-Winning Time, Mar’41, did not let his owner or supporters down by taking the lead at the first bend and easily winning by three lengths in 28.46.
1992 One of the racing highlights of the year at Hove, the Wingspares International Festival of Racing is cancelled. Earlier in the year, the track also lost a sponsor for the Regency but the event was saved by a group of local owners.
2000 Mountleader Peer wins a high quality 2000 Champion Stakes Final at Shelbourne Park. Christy O’Callaghan’s brindle 6-1 chance was never headed after a flying start. Six clear at one stage he held on by two lengths in 30.58.
1977 The Tipperary Cup at Thurles has attracted Ireland’s best 525 yard open racers for the 72 runner event. Bord na gCon has contributed £548 towards the winners prize of £1,100. In the final on the 23rd, Michael Barrett from Crohane, Tipperary, owners of Linda’s Champion (Monalee Champion-Merry Linda, Apr 75) sees his black flying machine easily win the race in 29.44. This is the first part of a big race double for the black dog, who later the following month won the Irish Derby.
2003 Former champion trainer and breeder Joe Cobbold dies aged 76. The Suffolk carrot farmer won the 1981 Trainers Championship thanks to the efforts of a mixture of mainly home bred stock. The stars included Echo Spark (Laurels), Decoy Ranger Guineas and the Greyhound of the Year Decoy Boom (TV Trophy, Ike Morris Stakes, Scottish Marathon), Stow Marathon and East Midlands Marathon)
2000 Harolds Cross re-opens following a £6m re-fit and a new grandstand and sales centre.
1999 Derby winner Toms The Best sires his first ever winner in a graded race at Poole – the 15 month old Hes Nobodys Fool (pictured) wins an A6. Deborah Walker’s blue dog eventually goes on to win the Produce Stakes a Hall Green.
DAIRYLAND SUE – Select Stakes presentation – pic Steve Nash
2004 Dairyland Sue (above), who only scraped into the Select Stakes as a reserve was the surprise 25-1 winner. What’s more, her winning time of 29.74 was the fastest ever recorded in the race. Sadly, the track record holder Bell Legend (29.69) broke a hock in the same race and was retired.
