1988 After 12 years racing, Maidstone hold their last meeting on April 30th. The final meeting draws a good crowd before the site becomes part of MFI’s furniture conglomerate. All the races are well sponsored, and the final race has a trophy donated by the Owners Association to the last greyhound to cross the line. This went to Pretty Ash (Kilmagoura Mast-Pretty View). The honour of winning the final race went to the well backed Movealong Jewel (Whisper Wishes-Movealong Crosty, Feb 85)
1940 In Glasgow White City’s programme all persons are urged to carry a gas mask, and in the event of an air raid should take cover in the barricades and embankments near by as “you are safer here than in the streets.”
1992 Oxford owner Roy Gibbons removes four of his greyhounds from Tony Meek’s kennels in a protest to the track. After arriving to see his Barefoot Blue contest an A4 graded race, Gibbons was furious to discover that open racer Jerpoint Ali had come in as a reserve. The newcomer started at 6-4f and won by four lengths in 27.53.
1953 Stud dog, Prince Palatine (Shaggy Lad-Negros Fire, Sep 46) has five of his six offspring running in the seven race card at Enniscorthy on the 4th of April – and they all win. During his racing career Prince Palatine won the McAlinden Gold Cup and was second in the Easter Cup.
1994 Ballyskeagh opens for trials. Racing will start within a month. The first trial session is cancelled due to damage by vandals.
Glengar Ranger
1992 A massive punt sees Glengar Ranger cut to 14-1 from 20s to win the 1992 Mirror/Life Derby. He shares joint favouritism with Murlens Abbey and Early Potter. Eventual winner Farloe Melody shares a 20-1 quote with Certain Way.
1997 Ballyskeagh stewards void a graded race after uncovering a ringer.
2004 Brough Park receive plenty of publicity when staging their first handicap open races in nearly 40 years. Three of the four races are won by favourites. The winning margins vary from one and a quarter to four lengths.
1994 NGRC Stewards issued a severe warning to Perry Barr after the track staged a meeting without a vet in attendance. And Shawfield were fined £2,000 after a trainer without a license raced a dog at the stadium.
1953 Gosforth Stadium Greyhound Racing Club is the winning owner of the One Thousand Guineas (worth £500 and trophy (worth £100) staged at Park Royal. Snow White Brown (Captain Brown-New Lady Tanist, Jul 50) trained at Crayford by Henry Parsons, recorded 22.51 for the 400 yards
1980 Celtic Park in Belfast re-opens after a two year closure. The crowds were still queueing to get in by the fourth race.
1994 Three Animal Rights Protestors fail to prevent the final of the BBC TV Trophy from taking place. For his trouble, one of them was given a hefty clip around the ear by a local racegoer. The race went to the locally trained Jubilee Rebecca.
1976 The 41st Stayers Plaque over 1068 metres at Wimbledon has a fair class field for the one-off £150 plus £25 trophy prize. But its money in the bag from the first bend as Mr R G Batchelor’s Tell You What (Black Top – Silver Vals, Jul 73), trained at Bristol by Ernie Wilson, storms home by 143⁄4 lengths. The 4-5 favourite also sets a new track of 67.44.
1965 Easter Monday and Wisbech hold a Grand Gala night with a 12 race card. The meeting is to mark the opening of their new stand, bar and casino. There are free drink vouchers for everyone.
1997 Hove announce that even their slowest hurdlers will collect a minimum of £42 runner money.
