2002 A change in the law which will reduce the time of testing of semen from Australia from six months to two weeks seems likely to increase the importation of frozen semen.
1985 Heres Dandy is sold for 3,800gns at Belle Vue sales (roughly £12k today), almost double his sale price at Shelbourne Park just eight weeks earlier. He goes on to become a minor open race marathon runner.
1967 The £350 East Anglian Derby is won for the second year in a row by Happy Harry, who also won the Suffolk Derby at Ipswich the previous year. Reckoned by many to be the best dog ever to race at Yarmouth as an independent track, the dog was never identified by his NGRC name but was reputedly trained by the great Joe Booth.
1946 Dumbles Maid becomes the fourth Oaks winner trained by Clapton trainer Stan Biss. Interestingly, when first trialled at White City two weeks previously she had twice turned in the traps and refused to chase. Following her second refusal, Racing Manager Percy Brown had ordered that she be given a handslip. A number of Clapton runners have recently refused to chase the White City hare, the general consensus is that they fail to notice the hare on the outside of the track and are looking at the centre of the course. At Clapton, the hare passes the boxes between traps three and four.
2006 Sunderland carry out a £30K project to improve racing by replacing and moving the hare rail and perimeter fence.
1973 VAT officers launch a series of raids on greyhound agents who have presented unrealistically low purchase prices on dogs. A number of greyhounds are seized.
2013 GRA Chief ExecClive Feltham reveals that NAMA will listen to bids for Hall Green and Belle Vue. It later transpires that deals for both were already at an advanced stage and only six weeks away from completion.
1946 Open racer Judge’s Nip wins an Eastville open race on Saturday, a heat of the Glamorgan Cup at Newport on Monday, a heat of the Eclipse at Coventry on the Tuesday (beating Irish superstar Quare Times) and a semi final of the Eclipse on the Friday. He fails to make a five timer when he is beaten in the final of the Glamorgan Cup on the Saturday. That’ive races from Saturday to Saturday.
2008 Blonde Dino wins his final race for trainer John Mullins, the £5,000 Steel City Cup. The dog had been sold days earlier for £27,500 to owner trainer Ricky Holloway.
1957 Irish Derby winner Hopeful Cutlet is among a select field for a £200 invitation to celebrate 25 years of racing at Shawfield. The race which also includes the Scottish Derby and English St Leger winners eventually goes to London based Northern King.
2010 Charles Lenox-Conyngham retires after 14 years in charge of the BGRF. Sadly, the event is overshadowed by the news that receipts for the year could be as low as £6m.
1978 Reading’s 465m track record is broken three times in the space of an hour during the heats of the Berkshire Cup. Shiloh Jenny sets a new best of 28.77 which lasts only one race before Kilmagoura Mist lops off three spots. Two races later Saucy Buck slices off another 11 spots.
2006 Razldazl Billy is a six length winner of the Paddy Power Irish Derby for trainer Dolores Ruth. The son of Brett Lee clocks 29.46 with Antrim Classic in second place
Carmel Marks (wife of owner) and daughter Camilla receive the Irish Derby trophy from Minister John O’Donoghue (left) and Prime Minister Bertie Ahern. Also pictured are trainer Dolores Ruth holding Razldazl Billy and above her are Dick O’Sullivan (Chairman Bord na gCon) and Paddy Power Chief Executive Patrick Kennedy Pic Steve Nash
