1972 March 22 At Hall Green five heats of the Midland 700 – where only the heat winners progress to the final – is marred by the disqualification of heat 5 winner, Westmead Silver, who is out of the final for fighting. The four runner final three days later, has fastest heat winner Commutering (39.52) up against Black Myross (39.54), Clohast Rebel (39.68) and Fawn Spectre (39.72). In an exciting race, Eddie Moor’s Manchester White City entry, Black Myross (9-4) sets off fast and builds up a useful lead. But Commutering 6-4 favourite, trained by Frank Melville at Harringay, gradually wears down the leader and forces a dead heat on the line in 39.50. Fawn Spectre is third and Clohast Rebel not back to his best since breaking a hock finishes last.
1989 Dancing Pride (Spartacus-Never Sweeter) is sold for £10,000 at Wimbledon Sales after a 27.89 trial. Trained by Barry Silkman the dog goes on to half a dozen minor opens, through he also collects a £1,500 invitation race at 12-1.
1995 Plans to stage a re-run of the Ladbroke Golden Jacket (won by Wexford Minx) are thwarted when Appy Appleton’s finalist Ronnoco Silver is killed in a car accident.
1989 Independent circuit Sunderland is sold to a consortium including local building Terry Robson and local owners Harry Williams and Lloyd Milligan.
1997 Perry Barr overcome a problem with a handicap dead heat qualifier by announcing seven runners for the final.
1976 Ramsgate track owned by Dumpton (Thanet) Greyhounds has been sold to Northern Sports. The 7.2 acre site went for £185,000 to Mick Hawkins, former NGRC trainer whose best runner in recent years was the Oaks winner, Decimal Queen. Northern Sports also own the independent track at Stainforth.
1985 March 5 Romford stage their longest race ever. 1100 metres. It has a good line up with Walthamstow’s Gala Special installed 13-8 favourite. Tartan Sarah 2-1 and Brighton’s Sandy Lane 11-4. Owner/trainer Jim Edmunds’ fawn bitch Tartan Sarah (Tartan Khan-Weston Wonderful, Mar 82) trained at Milton Keynes, takes the lead at the eleventh bend to win in 73.15.
2003 Irish superstar Late Late Show is retired after collapsing at the first bend in the a Shelbourne Park 575 yard race. The injury is not serious but the dogs is four and a half and clearly past his best. Trained by Paul Hennessy, owned by Pat Kenney but racing for charity, Ireland’s best known greyhound won 28 of his 55 races.
1968 At the Shelbourne Park sales Mrs R Carroll’s brindle bitch Clinker Way (Prairie Flash-Water Cress, Sep 66) was snapped up by trainer Norman Oliver. He is acting on behalf of Brough Park Stadium and pays 325 guineas after seeing her sales trial over 525 yards in 30.10 the fastest of the day. She goes on to win a string of opens for her new owners in England.
1976 March 11 White City London becomes the first track to have an executive box. Known locally as the Glass House it was only used for VIPs and Royalty. Now for a fee of £75 which includes admission and car parking in front of the main entrance, up to 28 persons are catered for, with tote messengers on hand. Drinks and meals are extra. The inaugural booking was made by David Mason, an art dealer. His party included show jumper David Broome, footballer Martin Chivers and ex racing driver Stirling Moss.
1993 Heavenly Lady (Manorville Sand-Black Sansisco) wins her second major event of the year, the Cearns Memorial at Wimbledon. Three weeks after her victory in the Golden Jacket, Lady beats Airmount Flash by a length and a half in 40.48.
1989 Figures released by the Home Office show 355 greyhounds were used in laboratory experiments the previous year. Most were used for test involving the respiratory system.
2000 Popular Hove trainer Gordon Hodson succumbs to cancer aged 67. The former White City handler, who spent several years in Australia, had been ill for a year and his licence had recently been transferred to headman Wayne Wrighting.
