1973 Brough Park trainer Norman Oliver is having a good time on the big opens at the moment. His Pit Lamp (Booked Out-Ballingaddy Fly, Apr71), who won last month’s St Mungo Cup at Shawfield, beating kennel companion Ramdeen Stuart (pictured with Norman above), goes unbeaten through three founds of the Ebor Stakes over 650 yards at Leeds. He takes the final in 36.95. The same evening at Catford in the Gold Collar final, Ramdeen Stuart (Sallys Story-Any Streak, Sep 70) wins by nine lengths in 35.04 for the 610 yard classic. He won the previous rounds by similar large distances of 103⁄4, 141⁄4, 101⁄2 lengths. A week later on May 19 Fly Dazzler (Kilbeg Kuda-Nualas Lovely, Mar 71) wins the All England Stakes over 550 yards at Brough Park, beating Ramdeen Stuart in the process.

1978 May 6, At Watford, the 6th race over 410 metres is won by Dyke Bridge from trap 4 at 7-1 from Delse Inca from trap 6 at 6-1. There is only one 10p ticket on the forecast at the track, and the winners scoops £105.43. The computer forecast pays £4.57, and the N.S.L. charge forecast £4.99. But some bookies pay tote odds and Bartletts report losses of more than £10,000 on the race.

1960 Concerned over integrity, the daily racing paper the Greyhound Express introduce a policy of putting quotation marks around the word ‘gold’ when promoting the Gold Cup at Wimbledon. They explain: “Wartime regulations prohibited the presentation of gold trophies. The regulations have long been relaxed but nowadays, a gold cup would cost something in the region of £300, so the trophy to be presented tomorrow will be made of silver.”

1999 Wimbledon announce the lowest number of Derby entries since the runner restriction was scrapped – 152. That total includes 11 Irish runners headed by 4-1 ante post favourite Chart King. Another Irish entry, Race One is forced by the NGRC to change name to Race First – to avoid confusion.

2003 The time and money spent re-shaping and improving the Wimbledon circuit pays immediate dividends with an entry of 207 runners for the Derby – up 34 on the previous year and highest total for a decade.

2001 Alan Hutton apparently secures the long term future of Brough Park when purchasing the freehold from Kevin Wilde. Regulars belived the track would soon close though local bookie Hutton promises substantial redevelopment work.

1933 May 13 At Blackpool Squires Gate Stadium, the only track in the country to have a straight 500 yard course, a New World record is set by Beef Cutlet (Mutton Cutlet-Burette, bd d Jun 30). The 1-7 favourite wins by eight lengths in 26.13. Owned by Miss J M Merrett and trained by John Hegarty at Cardiff White City, the 1932 Laurels winner goes on to finish second, beaten a neck in the English Derby final by Future Cutlet, and later picks up the Welsh Derby final at his home track.

1972 May 19, Wimbledon in the 38th Two-Year-Old Produce Stakes Final, Denholme Chief trap 5 at 11-4 beast Westmead County trap 1, the 5-4 favourite by two lengths in 27.82 for the 500 yards. The same night at Harringay the Oaks final, Decimal Queen from trap 5 beats the two Irish stars Gahans Wood trap 2 and Catsrock Daisy trap 6 by 21⁄2 lengths and a short head in 28.60 for the 525 yards.

1994 May 20 Northern Ireland gets a new track with the opening of Ballyskeagh near Belfast. Over 2,000 turn out for the first night and see Carloway Dancer win the first race.

2005 Irish Derby winner Like A Shot dies in his kennel. He is diagnosed as having a twisted gut.

1999 The BGRB announce a £56,000 shortfall in accounts following a ruling by the VAT inspector. The marketing budget is then axed.

1960 Surrey bred Debbie Lew was so small when reared that she was given away as a pet. She settled into family life and became best friends with the family cat. As she reached racing age though she showed such determination that she was sent schooling and rapidly developed into a useful open racer despite her mere 43 lbs (19.5kg). During seasonal rest, she returned home to owner Jim Maw and resumes her friendship with the cat.