1949 Frank Davis’ Red Wind is withdrawn and then re-instated into the Critchley Memorial. Britain’s top puppy was withdrawn following the arrival at the track of officers from New Scotland Yard. The dog was examined by several Irish greyhound men including the former owner of a top Irish puppy “that this year disappeared from the ken of the sport’s authorities”. The NGRC’s Colonel Forsdyke orders an immediate enquiry into the case. The solicitor acting on behalf of Davis threaten “I have already started investigations and it is expected that proceedings will be taken against the people responsible for making false accusations.” They don’t realise it at the time, but Britain’s most famous ‘ringer’ case is about to unfold.
1963 BAGS racing effectively starts as Park Royal with a ‘race by race’ service going into 1,600 betting shops in London and Belfast when there is insufficient horse racing. The cost for the winter schedule is £50 per shop. Park Royal will provide service for Mondays and Fridays, Dagenham (Tuesday), Kings Heath (Wednesdaday) and Stamford Bridge (Thursday).
1984 6-1 Shelbourne winner was supported by just one punter on the tote. He picked up £205-18 for his 30p ticket.
1988 Former miner and milkman Terry Corden will become a millionaire following the sale of Derby Greyhound Stadium. 48 year old Corden bought the freehold of the Vernon Street site for £300,000 in 1984 before selling the six acre site onto developers. The one-time Derby assistant racing manager has spent some of the cash on a 40 year lease at Nottingham.
1980 Leeds owners are so angry over the sacking of racing manager Harry Bridger that they hold a collection for him. A spokesman for the owners acknowledges that Bridger had made errors, but point out that owners Ladbrokes had not replaced the general manager three months earlier and had left Bridger filling two roles.
1990 American track Woodlands launch a promotion giving away wallets containing prizes. The idea is such a hit that attendances rose for 7,000 to over 22,000 for the matinee meetings.
1957 Disenchanted trainer Sidney Orton is to send his open race Vintners Cup to Ireland after failing to secure a race for the dog. He said: “Time and again I am told ‘Sorry, if your dog runs, the race will not fill’. I think it’s a farce. Why call them open races? It is not an open race when a dog is refused. They should call them ‘restricted open hurdles’ or something of the kind.” Wimbledon boss Con Stevens responds sympathetically, but points out, that when there are insufficient entries for opens, many hours are wasted phoning trainers for entries. At that point, trainers invariably ask, who has been entered. At that point it is the trainers themselves who decline to enter their dogs. Stevens suggests a central office for open racing, an equivalent of Weatherbys, who will register all entries without disclosing the runners until the race has filled.
2000 Arthur Hitch announces plans to leave Wimbledon at the end of the year. He is replaced by Catford’s Seamus Cahill.
1998 The BGRB announce a new hardship grant of £75,000 will be put aside to help trainers. It will be taken from the £150,000 which had been earmarked for extra prize money.
2005 Walthamstow trainer Jim Reynolds announces that he is to join Romford to take the place of Kim Marlow – sacked after a third positive sample.
1978 Former permit track Cambridge announce plans to open as a full NGRC track following its sale to Peter Smith. Meanwhile Long Eaton announce that they hope to become the eighth permit track alongside Halifax, Henlow, Ipswich, Norton Canes, Preston, Rye House and Yarmouth.
1970 Peterborough’s newly formed owners association are at loggerheads with the track management over pre-race kennelling. Track racing manager Sid Ayres insists that all dogs must be kennelled. The owners and trainers complain that the independent track kennels are insecure and that greyhounds are regularly being nobbled by dope gangs.
1996 The NGRC withdraw three trainer’s licences on the same day. The trio, who are found guilty of various offences, are Ken Shearman, Steven Maund and Patrick Arnold. Another handler, Glenn Lynas, receives a £750 find.
2004 Coventry promoter Avtar Sandhu launches a £40m bid to buy GRA from owners Wembley Plc.
2009 The Irish Grand National, which has been extended from 24 to 48 runners to incorporate the nine English runners. None make the final which is won by defending champion Distant Legend who was eliminated in the semi finals but allowed back as a reserve.
1985 Walthamstow based youth Vincent Day is fined £25 with £178 costs after a failed race wrecking attempt at Peterborough. Day ran onto the track claiming that a stone had been thrown at Scurlogue Champ. Veterinary evidence showed no sign of a wound to the dog who was beaten.
1995 Super sprinter Ravage Again is retired to Willie Frew’s Scottish range. He had been at stud at Newpark Kennels but had not been a success.
