1996 11 months after conceding – following a Catford coup – that pre-race chromatography (which costs a quarter of all fund income) is ineffective, the NGRC announce that it is no longer a requirement for a special licence fee (BAGS/televised racing). Within a month, they announce a 66% increase in post race drug testing.
1973 BAGS announce a £60,000 increase in the fees paid for the afternoon service in 1974. Of the total cost of £300,000 some £50,000 will be shared out “in compensation” to non-BAGS tracks by the NGRC. Harringay will no longer be used for the 240 days of racing, they are replaced by Portsmouth. The other tracks are Manchester White City, Hackney, and Slough.
2008 In a shock move, Wimbledon announce that general manager Darren Kennedy had resigned. No explanation of his sudden departure is ever given.
1965 The English (Wimbledon) and Irish Puppy Derby winners are run on the same night. The Irish version goes to the unbeaten Prince Of Roses (4-6f) owned by Manchester based Ernie Wood. The English version goes to Morden Mist, bred by Pam Heasman and sold as a pup for £30.
1957 The NGRC turn down a request from the Animal Health Trust in Cambridge for an enforced levy on all greyhound registrations. The NGRC originally funded the scheme in 1947 to a tune of £75,000 (equiv to £1.6m today) to be spread over 10 annual payments. The Trust claim it is no long enough, they need £27K per year. The centre has played a leading role in the research of vaccinations, albeit they are still not entirely effective, plus work on liver disorders. There has still been no major advance though in the treatment of demodetic mange.
1996 Hove trainers: Colin Barwick, Brian Clemenson, Maria Collins, Gordon Hodson, Derek Knight, Tony Lucas, Bill Masters, John Rouse, Terry Townsend, Doreen Walsh, Bob Young
1979 Honeygar Kid, who will go on to win a string of major events, including the 1980 and 1981 Cock O’The North finals, is sold at Shelbourne Sales for 1,500 guineas.
2005 The NGRC announce a new initiative of contacting the owners of all runners who have not recently trialled or raced to remind them of their responsibilities under rule 18 – relating to an owner’s responsibility for their greyhounds.
1957 The new de Valera Government in Ireland have agreed to resurrect the Greyhound Industry Bill which was abandoned by the previous coalition. The Irish Coursing Club, headed by Secretary Kitty Butler, have been pleading for the new legislation which will lead to the setting up of Bord na gCon.
1981 For the first time in history, the English Derby and Oaks are won by blue greyhounds. British bred Thanet Princess took the bitch’s classic four month’s after Parkdown Jet had landed the Derby.
1946 An Irish puppy sold for £1,500 (roughly £65K at current values), dies in the hold of a ship as he is being transported to Britain. It is believed he became strangled by loose chains.
2012 BAGS announce that Oxford will lose its Friday morning BAGS fixture, which will be taken by Kinsley. They will still have a Sunday afternoon meeting. Rumours suggest BAGS have been unhappy with various integrity issues at the track but describe their action as “a business decision”. GRA’s Clive Feltham describes it as “a bombshell”.
1982 Irish Laurels winner The Stranger (Dark Mercury-Lovely Blend) fails in his Irish Leger double attempt when eliminated at the semi final stage. He nevertheless sets a new Limerick 550 clock in the consolation final in 30.12. The final was won by Supreme Tiger in 30.44.
1996 Figures issued by Shelbourne Park revealed that in the first seven months of the year they shelled out IR£302,000 on advertising compared to £12,000 the previous year. During that period, attendances doubled.
1966 Only Corville Gallant had managed to survive the carnage that had seen half a dozen odds-on favourites beaten in the Cesarewitch qualifiers over the massive West Ham 600 yard (four bend) course. The unbeaten favourite goes to traps at 8-13, but can’t catch local grader Rostown Victor who holds on by half a length at odds of 66-1.
2005 Coral announce they will refund any losing punters following a ‘wrong dog’ incident on a BAGS card. The error occurred between two John Gammon trained litter sisters, placed in adjacent racing kennels and with earmarks JIJ8 and JIJB.
1982 Liverpool based Sumner Hare systems introduce a ‘new economy package’ hare system to be installed by the purchaser, under supervision, ‘from £6,300’ (roughly £24,400 today).
1990 Bord na gCon announce that random pre-race drug testing will take place at all race and trial meetings from January 1991.
2012 Ballyoak Alice (Tyrur Hestor-Ballymac Pepper, Jul 10) becomes the first graded runner to be voted GWA Greyhound of the Month. This follows the Poole runner’s local 10-timer which concluded the previous month. The Keith Elliott trained black began her sequence in A6, went on to include three races in Easter Bunny and concluded it in A1
1990 The ‘Westmead’ team of Brits came home with a 15-12 lead from the first leg of the Anglo-Irish at Shelbourne Park. Maximum points scorer was Westmead Harry who led home Monaleen Stag. Harry’s team mates Phantom Flash and Bens Baby finished third and fifth.
1952 Following their presentation of the Cesarewitch winner, West Ham stage a parade of 50 different breeds of dog. The biggest cheer goes to the cheerful mutt bringing up the rear – a mongrel.
1954 Owner/trainer/breeders Frank and Mary Johnson request a stewards enquiry into the running of their two dogs Rushton Mac (2-1jf) and Rushton Spot in an open race at White City where they had finished fourth and sixth respectively. Mrs Johnson believes that the dogs were doped while in the kennels at the stadium. They paid a 20 guineas fee for an analysis of the dogs. Following a two and a half hour enquiry, the NGRC state that they too believe the dogs were doped, but not while in the care of White City, and order Mrs Johnson to pay a fine of £20 and order her to be more cautious of the greyhounds in her care.
