1968 Not Flashing is an interesting entry at the Anglo-Irish sales. The dog, who is not present, get a top bid of 1,700gns, some 300gns short of his reserve. The brother of Grand National winner Ballintore Brave would make even bigger headlines three days later when he contests an English Derby semi and is disqualified for fighting.
1946 Brood bitch Gainswell Cut produces a litter of 14 pups, just seven months after producing a litter of 13 pups and 13 months after whelping her first litter of 7 pups.
1971 GRA have fulfilled their promise of making the English Derby Final worth a record £10,000 to the winner by increasing their contribution to the prize money fund to £4,345.30. However, by increasing entrance fees they are actually reducing their 1970 contribution. The entry fee remains at £50 (index linked – £735), final acceptance fee is £25 and a late entry fee is £125.
2011 Peterborough staged a graded Derby worth £2,500 to the winner. It goes to Diamond Cnoc, by nine and a half lengths. The winner is jointly owned by the event sponsor Duncan Begley and comes during a period when the dog wins eight from nine races.
1960 For the first time, only 36 of the 48 runners for the Derby have been chosen by White City racing manager Percy Brown. The remaining 12 first round runners must finish first or second in six trialstakes to be offered one of the remaining dozen places. Connections of Clonalvy Pride, who were dumbstruck when their dog was not chosen by Brown are vindicated when their dog wins in a brilliant 28.86. Four weeks later he finishes in last place in the final. The last heat goes to Hack Up Friend in 29.20. There is a photo finish for the last qualifying place and the print reveals that Duleek Dandy has prevailed by a short head. You can guess the rest.
1987 Owner Bob Morton was at Wimbledon to see his Flashy Sir contest the Derby consolation which was declared void. He headed off to Hove, watched another of his runners, Westmead Move, destroy the field in the Brighton Belle Final before dashing back to Wimbledon – where Flashy Sir was beaten in the re-run.
1949 Local Interprize becomes the first dog to win two Gold Collars. The Stan Biss trained son of Ruby Border, also won the ’48 Cesarewitch and Scurry.
1969 In their Derby semi final issue Greyhound Express advertises a three month old litter for sale by Newdown Heather out of Come On Dolores. Two years later, one of the litter will be contesting the Derby Final – Dolores Rocket.
1973 GRA’s first ever contract trainer Peter Collett resigns from his position at Slough “by mutual consent”. A week prior to his departure and “totally unconnected to it”, Collett had four graded runners at the track. They all won and were returned 10-1, 12-1 twice and 16-1.
1991 American promoters cause controversy when failing to vote CC Big One (Winner Great Race, RU Grady Sprint, finalist in the World Classic) onto their All American Team – but including him among the eight runners for the internationally selected All-World Team.
2009 SKY viewers are left bemused when the Belle Vue judge announces the wrong result of a sprint open. All leading bookies pay out on both results and GRA pay winner’s prize money to both sets of connections.
1987 New sponsors Wembley Fair announce that this year’s St.Leger final will carry a winner’s prize of £12,500 (index linked to £35K at current values).
1970 Clonmoney Hope wins the £300 Slaney Cup at Enniscorthy on the 14th of the month. Twelve days later the dog makes 1,000gns as top lot at Shebourne Sales. The Slaney Cup runner-up Monalee Storm is second on the sales list at 700gns.
1951 Bookies report one of the biggest ever ante post books on the Greyhound Derby with several having a higher turnover than on the horse equivalent, One bookie alone, Bob Guinness, has almost £20,000 already in the book.
1993 Stainforth report a triple dead heat just two months after a similar result at Mildenhall.
1991 American racer KC Bobbywillin attracted plenty of press attention when winning the £75,000 Sunflower Stake at Woodlands. The reason for the interest was not Bobbywillin’s track ability, but the fact that he has no tail. Sadly the tale (sic) took a turn for the worse when the brindle became trapped behind the hare rail in his next race and died after rupturing an artery.
1988 GRA Chairman John Cearns rejects an offer from SIS who want to broadcast 64 races of the English Derby, including the final, into their 2,500 betting shops. The offer is £500.
1973 Trainer Natalie Savva sent out five open race winners at four different tracks on Bank Holiday Monday afternoon. Westmeads Hall and Mia won at Hall Green – the latter breaking the 700 yard track record. Drynham Rocket won at Hackney, Dallas Harmony was successful at Southend and Vals Nip did the business at Willenhall.
1950 On the day that the three Davis brothers Frank, Aaron Henry, and Sidney, receive notification of their trial date for alleged substituting Derby favourite Red Wind with Irish open racer Waggles, four Irishmen appear in front of the Central Criminal Court in Dublin, charged with running in a ringer in a horserace at Haydock Park.
