1950 Wimbledon’s stadium kennels at Burhill are hit by dog dopers for the second time in three weeks. Stewards withdraw 10 runners showing “unsteady gait” in walking. An examination of the door of the Hannafin kennel reveals that the padlock was secure but that three bolts in the door had been pulled out. Stan Martin’s range had been targeted previously but raider had been spotted by a security guard. Wimbledon offer £250 for information leading to a conviction. Meanwhile at Dagenham, the nightwatchmen is bound and gagged by two masked raiders who then use explosives to open the safe. It contains between eight and nine pounds. Whoops.
1989 Lorraine Sams, head girl to John Coleman, takes over Stan Kennett’s range while the Hackney trainer recovers from an operation.
1984 Brough Park has been sold by promoter Jim Glass to businessman Bernard Neesham. Brough Park trainers Norman Oliver, Jean Williams, John Bell and Kevin Wilde will no longer supply runners to neighbouring Gosforth. Neesham then bans four of the leading bookies in a dispute over pitch fees. The layers currently pay around £25 per night; Neesham is apparently demanding £45.
1992 Sunderland stage Britain’s first ever Sunday meeting and feature the first round heats of the Mailcom Puppy Derby. A crowd of 1,450 turn out. However, since Sunday gambling is illegal, no bets can be struck on the day.
1974 Westpark Mustard starts at 1-14f when winning a Wembley 700 yard open by five lengths in 39.66. It is her 20th consecutive win, thus beating by one, the European record held by Mick The Miller. The American dog Real Huntsman holds the world record at 27.
2010 Shelbourne experiences its first case of ‘dog shortages’ when it is unable to fill an eleven-race card.
1987 Carrivekeeney (Whisper Wishes-Townview Linen) fetches a record 9,000 guineas at Wimbledon sales. He goes on to win minor opens and finish runner-up in the Essex Vase.
2010 Leeview Jet sets a new Irish national record for 525 yards when clocking 27.88 at Drumbo Park.
1991 Sporting Life tipster Mark Sullivan is invited along to the launch of the 1992 Guinness Book of Record year book. Mark had selected all 12 winners on a Wimbledon card in December 1990 –at combined odds of 256,279-1.
2011 BAGS announce a new £150,000 inter-track championship for the 17 stadia supplying the service.
1932 October In Falkirk, racing was taking place at Brockville Park Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday; Firs Park on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday; and at the Stadium on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, as these three stadia were within a short walk of each other, punters could leave one track and to another if their luck was out.
1965 With provincial bookmakers refusing the join the winter afternoon greyhound service, due to the cost, the NGRS reduce the price from £50 (for the winter) to £20.
1970 GRA have introduced eight-dog trials at Harringay. The first two do not go well with the field spreadeagled and the eighth dog beaten a distance in each case. The company had already commenced eight runner trials at New Cross and Catford. Meanwhile the company have made three Kings Heath trainers, Jim Todd, Alf Gibbins and Bill Bryant redundant along with the track’s senior management. The Birmingham venue is due to shut down in three months time. Hall Green’s Jim Woods has been asked to grade meetings at both tracks.
1977 The launch of The Racing Greyhound Volume 2, priced at £5.50 is greeted by coursing and track people alike as a great read. Covering greyhound history since 5000 BC, it has contributions from leading vets Paddy Sweeney and the GRA’s Bruce Prole, and from many sporting journalists.
1989 The top Scottish independent tracks have rejected an invite from the NGRC to join the permit scheme. Ashfield, Ayr, and Wishaw all decline. In England, Bolton are undecided but Blackpool boss Michael Boyle states: “I don’t see what we would have to gain.”
