2004 Len Silver and Hazel Naylor put the greyhound operation at Rye House up for sale. The pair claim to have spent £500,000 at the venue but have become disillusioned with the criticism of their operation by many locals. When no offer is received, the track closes later in the month but eventually re-opens briefly two years later.
2002 The BGRF announces that it will donate £60,000 towards the new racing kennels at Rye House – total cost £160,000.
1989 Following complaints over the GRA’s dominance of classic events, the NGRC announce ‘classic status’ is to cease. From now on, the top events will be more evenly split between different promoters and be given ‘Group One’ status providing they reach certain criteria. For the record, the classics were: the English Derby, Scottish Derby, Laurels, Scurry Gold Cup, Grand National, Oaks, Gold Collar, Grand Prix and Cesarewitch. Prior to its demise, the Welsh Derby also had classic status.
1980 The daughter of an unknown American import wins the Irish Oaks in 29.24 at Shelbourne Park. The bitch’s name is Strange Legend and she is by a dog called Sand Man out of Maythorn Pride.
1978 The Reading 465m track record was broken three times during the heats of the Berkshire Cup. Shiloh Jenny held the record at 28.77 for 15 minutes before Kilmagoura Mist set new figures of 28.74 and then Saucy Buck (Sole Aim-Limerick Lass) rattled up a 28.63.
1977 Yorkshire independent Askern re-opens after five years of closure. The new owners Barry Elwell and Frank Searceson have spent a good deal of money in improvements.
1968 William J Quinn of Killenaule, Co Tipperary, dies after a long illness. One of the best breeders and trainers Ireland ever had, he trained three Irish Derby winners (Tipperary Hills in 1928, which he also owned; Little Chummie in 1931 and Tanist in 1940). He handled many great greyhounds, including Brilliant Bob, who won as a puppy the Coursing Tipperary Cup in 1933 On the track, Bob won the Easter Cup at Shelbourne Park and the St Leger at Clonmel. He was sold for £2,000 to A J Dearman and trained by Sidney Orton at Wimbledon, where he won three English Classics in 1934 – the Laurels, Cesarewitch and the Scurry Gold Cup. Quinn also bred, owned and trained Quare Times and in 1946 he turned down a £10,000 bid for him.
1987 Wembley Stadium Ltd announce that they have acquired GRA Ltd in a deal worth in the region of £70m. After wholesale track closures, departing chairman Isadore Kerman had seen shares rise from 50p to £1.50.
1933 September 2: The Irish Derby final worth £200 to the winner at Shelbourne Park sees owner-trainer L Maher’s brindle bitch Monologue (Mutton Cutlet-High Force) just hold off 100-8 outside Right In Clune by three-quarters of a length. The 5-4 favourite records 30.52. Last year, she won the Easter Cup over the same 525 yard course in 30.78.
2002 William Hill announce that they have acquired Sunderland from Kevin Wilde for £9.4m. It is their first venture into track ownership.
1967 The International over 500 yards at Wimbledon brings together some of the best greyhounds in training that have won major open and classic races. In the field are the Welsh Derby and Gold Collar winners, Millies Valley and Stylish Lad. But they succumb to bookmaker Joe Edwards’s Maison Fox (Prairie Flash-Parkhouse Sally). The 11-8 favourite’s early speed takes him clear rounding second bend and he takes the £300 first prize by 4 1/2 lengths in 27.81. Trained at Wembley by Jack Kinsley, Maison Fox, had earlier in the year won the Oxfordshire Stakes
1976 Arthur Hancock, who has been a trainer at Brighton for 18 years, is to retire at the end of the month. He was head lad to Dai Hawkesley and Fred Trevillion, and held his own training positions at Carntyne, Boundary Park and the old Reading track before moving to Brighton. Now in his 70th year, his retirement is due to ill health.
1964 The NGRC announce that from October 1, racing managers will be able to allocate traps in graded races rather than draw for them. Many RMs are unhappy as the move will put them under ‘unenviable pressure.’
