1965 Nine months after the NGRC authorised an experiment of allowing all racing managers to select trap positions for graded racing, almost all the London tracks are expected to reject the idea and will continue with trap draws. The exception is Wimbledon where racing manager Con Stevens believes the change can “significantly improve” graded racing.
1947 The Northern Irish Parliament issues new legislation banning Sunday racing and orders that all racing in Northern Ireland should come under the auspices of a single body – the Irish Coursing Club. The law is unusual in that “the bill does not apply to Eire, though Eire recognises the IC.”
1964 John Sutton, the 28 year old managing director of Catford Stadium, which recently merged with GRA, joins the GRA board. Sutton is also chairman of West Ham and a director at Brighton.
1947 NGRC stewards withdraw the licence and warn off trainer W A Mills of Southend. He has been found guilty of breaching rule 54 “causing rabbits to be exposed in enclosure where rabbits had little or no chance of escaping.”
1966 20-1 outside Bedford (Steady The Man-Over Beyond) was the surprise winner of the TV Trophy at Walthamstow. Bought for 125 guineas by Bert Pegrum of Crooked Mile in Waltham Abbey, Bedford set a new track record of 54.26 for the 880 yards. Trained by Bob Thompson, the fawn had been beaten in a Romford graded race between the TV Trophy heats and final.
1993 Eventual winner Ringa Hustle is a 28-1 ante post chance when he goes to traps for the first round of the Daily Mirror Derby
2010 Veteran trainer Pam Heasman dies aged 85. A former kennelgirl with Stan Biss, Pam became a successful private trainer before becoming attached to Hackney and Wembley. Her greatest success came with Gold Collar and St Leger winner Westmead Champ. Pam also became Britain’s foremost stud keeper and was a tireless supporter of the Breeders Forum and GTA.
1947 Clapton trainer Stan Biss is fined £5,000 for injuries incurred by Mr James Brandle in a road accident. No other details are available but the figure is roughly equivalent to £211,000 today.
1986 Canine superstar Ballyregan Bob clocked 29.28 in the 484 metre trial at Hackney on Sunday morning and later in the same day appeared at the Hilton Hotel to receive his Greyhound of the Year award.
1986 Talks between greyhound enthusiast group New Era and Chelsea chairman Ken Bates about re-introducing greyhound racing to Stamford Bridge, break up with no agreement.
1997 A fight between two dogs at the Hinckley pick-up ends with their owners joining in. One needs eight stitches, the other is barred for a year.
1986 Bookmaker Tony Morris has three 12-1 ante post joint favourites for the English Derby, Fearless Action, Fearless Champ and Murlens Slippy. The latter is one of eight Irish entries among the 163 for Wimbledon’s second Derby – seven more than its first.
1986 Jerry Desmond is appointed the new Secretary and Chief Executive of the Irish Coursing Club. Desmond is well known as a coursing slipper in Cork.
1997 Friday night – the Catford racing circuit is in pristine condition for the weekend which includes the semi finals of the Greenwich Cup and a first ever BAGS meeting at the track. Suddenly a youth one a trails bike burst through the main gate and does three laps of the track before being apprehended by security staff. He thought it was a speedway track – apparently!
1986 Breeks Rocket – future winner of the 1987 Grand National – is top lot at Shelbourne Sales at 3,250 guineas. Ring Gortnadi, future track record breaker for the Harolds Cross 525H course, sells for 1,500gns.
1947 One of the main topics under discussion in the greyhound press concerns the introduction of owners colours – much as in horse racing. The idea would not be to interfere with trap colours on racing jackets, but to have special paraders coats and parade coats for dogs after they had won a trophy.
2010 Wimbledon’s hugely respected groundsman John Forster retires on Derby Final night after 40 years service.
JOHN FORSTER on his last Derby night with son Marcus (who takes over) and the famous trophy alongside a special framed picture courtesy of William Hill, featuring some of the greats to have raced at the circuit. Pic Steve Nash
