2001 Irish Derby sponsors Paddy Power launch the least offensive version of a new poster campaign – a dog eyeing up a tree and a nearby pedestrian’s leg with betting of 6-4 and 2-1 on the likely outcome. Less well received was the advert of three ripe pimples on a boy’s chin, betting on which would burst first. Or the prices against two old ladies crossing the road with a car speeding towards them.
1965 Northumbrian & Crayford Trust limited, the owners of Crayford, Gosforth and Gateshead tracks announce increased profits of £37,400 for 1964 (roughly £744K today). A plan to sell the 17 acre Crayford site for £275,000 (equivalent to £5.4m today) fell through when planners decided that they would not accept the plan to build shops and flats on the site.
2010 The GBGB announces a 15% cut in budgets following the announcement earlier in the year that BGRF income would be down by £1.5m to £8m. The prize money grant for each runner is down by 50 pence to £5.50 – a net saving of almost £400,000 (8%). All grants are reduced, the RGT (£1.795m to £1.645m), integrity services by almost £200,000 with commercial initiatives losing around a third of its £171,000. That leads to the cancellation of the GBGB’s ‘The Dogs’ programme.
1987 Hove are offering £25 travelling expenses to all trainers based more than 50 miles away entering dogs in the Olympic.
1959 A London veterinary conference is told that a vaccination has been successfully tested for canine hepatitis, a disease with very similar to hardpad, but not affected by the hardpad vaccine.
2002 Wimbledon boss Mike Raper announces that the track will hold a press conference for the first time following the Derby final.
1989 Fearless Ace creates history when he becomes the first dog to defend his Pall Mall crown. Trained by Geoff De Mulder the previous year, Ace sets a new Oxford 450 metre clock of 26.80 for current handler Theo Mentzis.
2010 Coventry announce that they have their GBGB and Gambling Commission documentation and will be micro-chipping and registering dogs for racing later in the week.
1968 Romford celebrate one of its finest meetings when the host the final of the Sportsview TV Trophy, live on the BBC. The final itself boasts the three top marathon stars in training,plus the best best stayer. The betting is headed by Brough Park’s Shady Begonia (2-1) but the race is led by a dog who will go on to win the St Leger later in the year, Forward King (11-4). The Sheffield runner took up a commanding dead, but approaching the last two bends, he was a spent force. The favourite took up the running only to be pursued on the run-in by Wembley’s Hi There Snow (9-2). The latter drew closer with every stride failing by just a short head over the 880 yard course. Poor Mick was three quarters of a length back in third. The highly rated Miss Taft finished lame. The seven supporting opens on the eight race card included four 650yd opens on the flat, a 650 hurdle, another 880 yard race, with the last race on the card staged over 1,030 yards.
1981 Trainer Francie Murray and owner Eddie Costello land Ireland’s two biggest prizes of the month. The first leg goes to Murrays Mixture (Brush Tim-Styish Heather) in the £2,000 Easter Cup at Shelbourne Park. 12 days later Calandra Champ (Itsachampion-Calendar Girl) just holds off Pure Hardship by a head in 29.66 to win the £6,250 Produce Stakes final at Clonmel.
2002 The Star’s Walthamstow correspondent highlights an unraced pup who has impressed the racing office with his qualifying trials. The 15 month old brindle clocked 29.70c in his first trial and 29.40 (-20) in his sealing trial. His name – Maxie Rumble.
2001 Trainers of Irish runners decline the chance to contest the Scottish Derby as they will not be able to return until the end of Foot & Mouth restrictions. In fact, restrictions are lifted on April 19, two days before the final.
1968 In an attempt to reduce a surplus of greyhound being bred, Bord na gCon reduced qualifying time for 525 from 32.00 to 31.75. They point out that over 19,000 greyhounds were registered in 1967 (by comparison, the 2011 figure was 15,900) The Owners Federation react furiously and manage to get a motion tabled in the Irish Parliament to have the order rescinded.
