1978 Wembley staged their first ever sprint race, a 275m open won by Ardeegha Gift. The track also introduce a new 710 metre trip.
1948 Abilene announce that there are so many dogs booked for the forthcoming national coursing meeting that many courses will have to be staged under lights. The hares are being trained to identify the escapes under the artificial lights.
1955 White City starter Leslie Bridgewater appears on the TV programme ‘Whats My Line?’ After eight ‘no’ answers, Mr Bridgewater’s profession was correctly guessed by panellist David Nixon.
1972 Victory in a Pall Mall trialstake takes Patricias Hope’s (Ppictured) career earnings to a record £15,067. The previous record of £15,044 was held by Dolores Rocket. At today’s values, Hope would have earned a little over £203,000.
1989 Following several critical comments over the tried (and failed) American style points system for the Irish Derby, Bord na gCon send a letter to all staff warning them not to speak to the press.
1969 Cash For Dan, trained by Ben Parsons at Nottingham White City, wins the BBC Television Trophy at London White City over 880 yards in a track record of 49.44.
1977 The Greyhound Stud Book records its highest number of litters since 1950, 1,123.
1934 Queen of the Suir’s attempt to win a third English Oaks is over in the first round at White City. The 100-7 chance is squeezed out of third place by Kitshine who goes on to finish last in the final behind Gallant Ruth but will turn the tables in the ’35 decider.
1966 Top pup Tric Trac, who had recently won the Midland Puppy Derby at Monmore, finished last in the Yorkshire equivalent at Leeds. The race was won by his litter brother Spectre II with another littermate, Forward Flash taking second place. Tric Trac will gain his revenge eight months later when leading Spectre II home in the 1967 English Derby Final.
1971 There is tragedy following the final of the Irish Leger. Michael Loughnane, owner of the neck winner Time Up Please died of a heart attack a few minutes after the result was announced.
1955 Construction work is currently underway on a new grandstand on the Wimbledon backstraight.
1973 At Limerick, the final of the St Leger has a superb line-up, with four classic winners in the field. In Trap 1 its Oaks winner Romping To Work, Trap 2 Nankies Pet, Trap 3 Cesarewitch winner Ritas Choice, Trap 4 China Sea, Trap 5 Laurels winner Kilbracken Style, Trap 6 Derby winner Bashful Man. Bashful Man, the 6-4 favourite, is well away and leads round the first bend with Romping To Work (Swanky Pa-Go To Work), who with a strong finish out-stays him to win the 550 yard classic by 1 1/2 lengths, with Ritas Choice, at 5-2, finishing fast to take runner-up spot three-quarters of a length ahead of Bashful Man in 31.04. Kilbracken Style (7-1), China Sea (18-1) and Yankies Pet (20-1) bring up the rear.
1946 A newspaper report reveals that Yardley Whistler, who recently changed handed for £3,500 (roughly £144,000 at current values), and unbeknown to his new owners, previously been disqualified for fighting. The Harolds Cross 600 yard record holder had his card marked in the Trigo Cup at Celtic Park under his previous name of Time To Whistle.
1974 Lively Band becomes only the second dog ever to land the Irish Derby/Leger double. Own Pride was the first. He also won the English Derby consolation final and the Dundalk International taking his winning to over £13,000.
1994 The NGRC have reached agreement with the betting industry for the increased payment for special licence fees. It will now cost £30 per race plus £400 for live BAGS meetings.
1989 Sheffield promoter Jon Carter is hopeful that his track can re-open by November after being closed down by the local council over health and safety issues. The Sheffield runners have been racing at Nottingham in the interim.
1946 Stewards of the National Greyhound Racing Society announce plans to swoop on the Stratford Stadium in East London for the forthcoming Cambridgeshire. They plan to identify and disqualify any owners attending meetings at the flapping track which is less than half a mile from Hackney Stadium. The Cambridgeshire carries a first prize of £1,000, roughly £41,000 at current values.
1994 Highway Leader is retired after damaging a gracilis muscle in a Sunderland open. A winner of 29 or his 49 races, he won both the Peterborough Derby and Edinburgh Cup. His Peterborough 420m clock was not bettered until changed the timers on its starting traps a decade later.
