2000 The NGRC suspend litter sisters Spenwood Wizard and Spenwood Gem following a dispute between joint owner Steve Wood and trainer Ron Hough. Hough threatens to race the bitches in Ireland. Ultimately, Hough keeps Gem while Wood gets Wizard.
1972 Sid Meades and Jim Welland promoters at independent Wisbech are each fined £15 for using floodlights during the electricity shortage of Edward Heath’s winter of discontent. Peterborough are still waiting for their case to come to court.
1974 Essex track Rayleigh closes for property development. There are now 43 NGRC tracks boosted by the switching in the same month of former independent Cambridge to the new fangled ‘permit scheme’. Ipswich was the first flap to sign up and Rye House have also made application.
2003 Two general managers leave their positions within days of each other. John Charlton leaves Brough Park (pushed); Bernie Maxted hands in his notice at Sittingbourne (jumped).
1975 March 8 The GRA Stakes final worth £2000 & challenge trophy to be held for one year has drawn a great line up of stayers to London White City for the 730 metre final. In trap 1 Westmead Bounty, 2 Silver Spectre, 3 Chain Gang, 4 Silver Lipstick, 5 Fahee Chief, 6 Joybringer. Owned and trained privately by Mr & Mrs Mobley Westmead Bounty a fawn dog by Westmead County out of Hacksaw justifies favouritism after two heat wins. He takes the final on heavy going by one length and a neck from Joybringer and Silver Spectre in 45.86. Despite the heavy going the consolation final run two races later is won by Emperor’s rule in 45.87.
1994 Walthamstow switch from grass and sand to an all sand surface. The cost around £50,000.
1950 March USA champion Beach Comber nearly 5 years old has broken the American 550 yard track record, when he records 30.50 at West Flager, Miami. It was his 92nd career win. Previous best time was Lucky Pilot’s 30.80 at Wonderland, Massachusetts. Best British time for the 440 yards is 30.27 by Ballymac Ball.
1940 March 23 Sunderland choose wartime to hold their first meeting with an eight race matinee programme starting at 3 o’clock. A large crowd turn out for the new stadium boasting low admission prices of sixpence, a shilling and two shillings (2 1/2p, 5p, 10p). There’s free car parking, three luxurious club houses and a full totalisator. The meeting goes off without any problems and the first race over 450 yards is won by Percheron (5-2) in 28.35.
1999 The Mullins family field four of the six Grand National finalists. Linda sends out reigning champ El Tenor, Rum And Black and Hello Buttons. Son David is responsible for Pottos Storm. In a classic solution for family harmony – Pottos and Buttons dead heat.
1995 Cradley Heath stadium closes after 47 years of racing. Outgoing BGRB boss Archie Newhouse predicts 25 NGRC tracks by the end of the millennium.
2005 Cumbria based Jan Little famous for her ‘Wath’ prefix announces that she has sold her kennels and is leaving the sport.
1984 March Mr R S Milne’s Hay Maker Mack , one of the fastest trackers of his time has retired to stud. Trained at Brighton by Derek Knight the black son of Brave Bran-Excuse Me Madam made history by flying round the 500 metres at last year’s Derby final meeting, clocking 28.95 – some 14 spots faster than the old record held by Parkdown Jet, set in 1981. It was also 45 spots quicker than I’m Slippy when he won the Derby some two hours later. The record remained intact until the track closed.
2001 In his budget speech, Chancellor Gordon Brown announces that off-course betting tax is to be abolished from January 2002 and replaced with a 15 per cent gross profit tax.
