2001 Romford bookie Steve Allen, Tony Morris’ representative at Romford, announces that he is to cease trading at the track due to the track’s increased fixtures. They are now racing seven meetings per week.
1966 Coursing Derby winner Dillies Pigalle (Pigalle Wonder-Millies Dillie) produces one of the greatest 525 performances ever witnessed in Ireland when landing the McAlevey Gold Cup at Celtic Park by six lengths in 28.86.
1997 Shelbourne Park announce a change of date for the Irish Derby Final which will now be held on Saturday October 4. Despite having arrangements already in place to marry fiancée Letley on the opposite side of the Irish Sea at 3am the following day, trainer Tony Meek refuses to cancel his big night. Best man Laurence Blunt is confident: “A night at Shelbourne, a few clubs, fly home the next morning.” Mum Marlene Meek is panicking “I have been waiting to get rid of him for years. Nothing must go wrong!”
1956 A 21 acre site incorporating Bristol’s Knowle Stadium comes under threat from an application to build a housing estate and filling station.
1947 An advertisement from Greyhound & Bloodstock Agency (underwritten by Lloyds). “1946 was a black year for greyhound owners. They reeled under the blow of repeated epidemics. Yet despite the owners’ worst year in history, all insurance claims, varying between £30 and £3,000, were paid within 14 days – many by return of post. 1947 is showing little improvement, so a word to the wise owner – insurance will save you from financial loss. Ask your broker today for details.” It transpires that the London broker is diversifying into insuring 200 runners in the ‘Coon Hound Championships’ – a 10 day trial for specially bred lurchers hunting racoons!
1966 Greenane Flash (Prairie Flash-Greenane Item) becomes the fastest dog in eight years over the White City Derby course when clocking 28.48 in a trial. It is just four spots outside Pigalle Wonder’s track record.
1975 Mount Vernon track in Scotland offer an unusual first prize for the winner of the Easter Handicap, a four day trip, for two people, to Dublin.
1960 The NGRC agree to meet with the National Greyhound Racing Society to discuss Frances Chandler’s speech at the Gymcrack dinner. In it, she asked for greater standardisation at all 65 NGRC tracks. They eventually agree to implement new rules on starting procedure but not on standardisation of equipment due to the cost.
1983 The English Derby attracts a record number of entries – 218.
1979 Bord na gCon’s Pat Holland agrees to accept Derby entries on behalf of GRA due to an on-going postal strike in Ireland.
1968 Portsmouth owner Les Smith was having a bad day. Just as he was about to go racing, the lights went out. He spent ages finding tools and fuse wise. On went the lights, and then off again. He returned to the electrics, and changed the fuse for a second time, now furious that it was now to late to go racing. Suddenly the phone rang. It was Charlie Curtis on the phone. He had a new dog coming into the kennel, was Les interested? What’s it called asked the bad tempered owner. “Fuse Box” chirped Charlie. How could he possibly say no?
1976 May Westpark Mustard whelps her first litter of pups, four dogs and four bitches, at Dave Murphy’s kennels at Bantry, Co Cork, the sire is Ritas Choice.
1997 Sheffield announce that they are to dispense with the Sumner hare and switch to the Swaffham. The track also plan to build new racing kennels with track trainers Sue Robinson and Philip Woodward both expected to leave.
1959 Wimbledon are delighted with a new type of racing jacket made from nylon. They stay cleaner and do not become as sodden as the traditional woollen type.
1960 The Reading grader bamboozles the local bookies so often that they have taken to chalking up ‘4-1 the field’.
2010 Ian Walton, the assistant operations manager at Sunderland will take over the top job at Newcastle following the retirement of Terry Meynell.
1997 Night Trooper (T3) beats Blue Murlen (T4) in the Reading Masters Final. Both dogs finish lame and miss the English Derby. – pic Steve Nash
