1992 March 10 in his budget speech, Tory Chancellor Norman Lamont announces a reduction in betting duty to be returned to Government and then surprisingly announces: “I hope that voluntary arrangements can be found to direct some of the money to the greyhound racing industry.” In those few words, Lamont opens the door to the formation of the BGRF and the complete re-structuring of bookmaker contributions to greyhound racing.
1977 Dave Drinkwater one of the country’s leading open race trainers is involved in a fracas with GRA vet Bruce Prole in the White City paddock. The incident follows a sprint open race where Drinkwater’s Gin And Jass led up Derby winner Mutts Silver before checking wide at the bend. The trainer accused the track of pulling the hare to allow Mutts Silver to win. Drinkwater then removed his other star performer Instant Gambler from the track kennels before he was due to contest an open on the same night. Following the race, Drinkwater issued a £20,000-a-side challenge to Mutts Silver’s owners. The match never takes place as the Northants based handler loses his license.
1992 After 20 years at Ramsgate, Peter Rich switches to Catford.
1994 Peter Miller (pictured) becomes the new Hove racing manager taking over from Jim Layton. Miller’s former position at Romford is taken by Ray Spaulding who is sacked within a fortnight after breaching rule 76 relating to trap draws. The stewards later heard that Spaulding was unhappy with the NGRC’s trap draw for a minor open race. He concluded that one of the runners drawn in trap one was not a railer. He swapped it with the dog drawn in four. He also reversed the draws for the dogs in another two traps. The switch was not noted until after the race had been run. Spaulding’s licence was withdrawn indefinitely.
1968 March 30 After heavy defeats at odds on (2-5 twice) in the heats Miss P Wallis & Sir R Adeane’s Yellow Printer (f d Printers Prince-Yellow Streak, Mar 66) comes good in the final of the Wood Lane Stakes at London White City. He wins the £300 final in 28.91 for John Bassett at Clapton.
1936 Forecast pools are introduced for the first time at Hall Green.
1992 BS Group secure a deal to re-open racing at Poole which has been closed since June 1990.
1960 The Government agree to withdraw new regulations which would prevent the sale of knacker meat to all premises other than ‘zoological, menageries and mink farms’. This follows a complaint by greyhound tracks who say the move would cause substantial financial loss. The Government’s new plan allows knacker meat to be sold to greyhound kennels provided it has been either stained or steralised.
1994 A man found passing forged £10 notes at Henlow is kept locked in the ladies toilets until police arrive.
2004 Popular vet Des Fegan decides to continue his career at The Meadows track in Melbourne.
1967 The final of the Waterford Glass Stakes final has thrown together some pacey greyhounds, including Hack Em Jo Jo, Foyle Tonic, Hack Up Pedro. Mr E Flynn’s Foyle Tonic (4-1) from trap 2 took a flyer. He showed such early pace he had the race won by the first bend, eventually extending that to three lengths from outsider Dazzling Warrior (12-1) and Hack Up Pedro (4-1) in 30.30.
1999 Pam Cobbold decides to end her association with greyhound racing and close her kennel.
1976 March 27 The £1000 Guineas Final is a triumph for the Pat Mullins’ privately trained London Spec (Spectre-Hi Lasinagh, Apr 73). He goes unbeaten through the four rounds at Hackney to take the final in a new track record for the 484 metres in 29.02. (The track record was to remain intact until 1994 and then only after changes had been made to the circuit). Three days later Pat Whelan’s brindle takes on three of the best in the Flying Four at Wolverhampton over 484 metres. In trap 1 Flying Secret, 3 Tranquil Clon, 6 Drynham Star and from trap 4 London Spec. The 5/4 favourite flies the boxes to lead all the way to win in a fast 29.38.
2003 Hopeful Moment becomes the third bitch to land the Arc at Walthamstow; a result that had seemed almost impossible to imagine just six months earlier. As a pup, Ernie Gaskin’s bitch had shown great promise before smashing into the inside rail at Walthamstow. She had part of her foot amputated and was sold as a brood bitch. The promised cheque never arrived and after several months on the retired list, Gaskin decided to give her a trial and the rest, as they say. . .
Ernie Gaskin receives the trophy from UK Packaging’s Teresa Dark after Hopeful Moment’s win – photo Steve Nash
