1975 Yarmouth become the sixth and most significant independent track to join the NGRC permit scheme. The East Anglian circuit, whose previous year’s tote turnover was greater than 15 full NGRC tracks join Halifax, Ipswich, Norton Canes, and Rye House. Cambridge also joined but subsequently switch back to independent racing.
1950 An owner successfully sues Catford Stadium and trainer Sherry after his racing bitch, Fine Lass, has an ‘accidental’ litter of three pups by a minor open racer in the same kennel. The owner is award £10 (index linked to roughly £357) plus costs.
1984 A group of former Perry Barr racegoers have been given the green light to build a greyhound track on the Birchfield Athletic site. Meanwhile, Ladbrokes have been denied permission to build a shopping complex on the site of the old track which they recently shut down.
1973 Hackney Council slap a compulsory purchase order on already doomed Clapton. The Council plan to build houses on the six and a half acre site; GRA had planned housing and warehouses.
1986 Walthamstow grader Against All Odds dies of heat exhaustion after being kennelled for more than four and a half hours before he was due to race.
1996 TV Trophy runner-up Martinstown Gem is disqualified for fighting in a graded race at Wimbledon.
1973 Pet food company Spillers are unveiled as sponsors of the English Derby in a three year deal, at £10,000 per year.
1991 Stewards ordered an inquiry when marathon runner Allglaze Jazz inexplicably stopped chasing. Bloods tests all proved negative though a veterinary examination detected that the bitch had an eye defect.
1950 Wimbledon introduce a breakthrough in photo finish technology. Until now, the print merely showed the position of the dogs crossing the winning line. The new system, which goes virtually unchanged for the next 50 years, also shows times along the bottom of the print to coincide with the time that each dog has recorded as he crosses the winning line. In a separate development, GRA’s Francis Gentle tells the Royal Commission on Gaming that it costs £2,000 per year to operate a photo finish system (index linked to roughly £71K).
1965 GRA announce that the entire entry fee for dogs beaten in qualifying trials will be forfeited for the first time. That will be either £60 or £100 (they equate to £1,230 and £2,050 index linked). The previous year, the forfeit for not making “the 48 proper” was either £5 or £10 (late entries). 1964 Derby winner Hack Up Chieftain is among the first to lose his entry fee when failing to qualify from the trials.
2000 Following numerous complaints, Stainforth dispenses with its ‘chutes’ and places the traps in the centre of the track.
1991 Ger McKenna receives a two year ban from British coursing after two of his runners test positive. They are Waterloo Plate winner Island Oak and Go Speedy Go.
1985 Councils are panicking following a report into the Hillsborough fire. Swansea Council refuse the renew the licence of the local independent track until the town’s Chief Fire Officer returns from holiday and files a report. A report submitted by his deputy stating that Swansea’s all metal/concrete stand does not constitute a fire risk, is binned.
1987 Westhoughton owner Steven Hayes is the toast of the track after Little Orphan – a name given to him by track secretary Christine Crooks – finds 66 spots and wins a graded race by nine lengths. ‘Orphan’ was found abandoned in the track kennels after recording a very poor trial and was taken on by unemployed Hayes.
