1993 Sporting Life celebrity columnist Clement Freud put noses out of joint at Henlow following a visit to the track. He criticised the canteen for running out of bacon rolls, the fish stall sold frozen jellied eels and the track was “a mud heap”.
1996 Sittingbourne racing manager Paul Nevett leaves his post. He is followed shortly afterwards by GM John Aitken. Nevett then returns as GM.
2010 Leading sponsors Ibetx.com have been rebranded as Bettor.com
1973 Former trainer of the year John Haynes, who recently gave up his job as Cambridge racing manager, has again taken out his trainer’s licence.
1985 Following the recent closure of Poole, trainer Jo Burridge joins Portsmouth.
1995 Irish owner Jimmy Langan is so convinced that his dog has been nobbled in a race at Shelbourne that he demands he be allowed a minder for future runners to stay in the kennel.
1960 The prize money for the English Derby Final is raised by £850 with the winning owner now set to receive £2,000. (index linked, that would be worth around £49,600) today
1993 Trainer Ray Barratt is fined £500 by the NGRC after admitting forging a signature on a registration form.
1957 There was an unusual collection of high prices made at Aldridge’s sales. One of the top lots, Nice Hand had previously contested the Waterloo Cup. Another, Derby Day, had been disqualified for fighting at White City but had since become one of the country’s most promising novice hurdlers.
1997 The BGRB announce that they are to introduce a new annual award for kennelstaff.
1995 BBC programme Hear And Now blames the EU’s ‘alternative farming’ subsidy for a “puppy mountain” leading to “10,000 healthy greyhounds being unnecessarily destroyed ever year.”
1983 Owner trainer Mark Sullivan has a fine month. First he wins the William Hill Invitation Hurdle at Hackney with Master Bob (Greenview Bob-Bowery Lady). Nine days later he wins the £500 Spring Cup at Milton Keynes with 6-4f Valiant Point (Valiant Band-Ashgrove Point) who clocks a flying 26.76 for the 440 yards.
1998 Ireland’s leading stud dog Frightful Flash fractures a hindleg while exercising at Michael Dunne’s stud range in Portlaoise. He will be sidelined for two weeks.
1954 Beaten 17 lengths by the great Lizette (Master Captain-Dorothy Ann, Jan 51) in an 800 yard open race two weeks before, Sundown Silver Stream (Sandown Champion-Knight Shade, Aug 51) renews rivalry in the GRA Stakes – then a one-off race worth £100 and trophy – over the same distance. This time Sundown Silver turns the tables on Lizette, beating her by 2 length in 46.16.
1995 The Trainers Championship meeting is struggling. First Charlie Lister withdraws and his place taken by John Coleman. Next to pull out is Tony Meek followed by his likely replacement, Jim Gibson. With organisers having seemingly found a suitable back-up in Terry Dartnall, another of the original sextet, Dave Conway announces his withdrawal. The meeting will eventually be won by Coleman.
1954 Dumpton Park (Ramsgate) announce their profits for the previous year – £10,998 (equivalent to £327,000) of which £6,907 (£205,000) goes to the Exchequer.
1987 Varra Five is the top lot at Wimbledon sales after clocking 28.08 (-10) for the 460 metres. He changes hands for 6,500gns (equiv to £21,300 today). A flop on the flat, he eventually goes on to win four hurdle open races.
1997 Sunderland are attracting record crowds with 1,430 through the gate on Friday followed by 1,300 on Saturday. Sheffield are also reporting weekly attendances in excess of 4,000. Hove have more than 2,000 customers for a graded Thursday card.
