REMEMBER WHEN: AUGUST

1993 Oxford ban their top bookie Gary Wiltshire from BAGS meetings. He questions whether it is a ploy by the big bookmakers to ensure they are easier able to manipulate odds.

1963 Romford stewards withdraw five runners belonging to trainer Ronnie Hughes midway through a Saturday night meeting. Hughes’ first two runners on the card had been beaten a distance. In the third race he had three runners. They finished fourth-sixth with the best of them beaten some 13 lengths by the third dog. His next runner finished last. In the fifth race he had another three runners who were all beaten a distance. The winner of the race was backed from 6-1 to 7-4f.

1999 Romford boss Bill Hiscock hits out at BGRB Chief Exec Geoffrey Thomas and the GRA for “Hijacking the racing calendar.” His outburst follows the decision of GRA to bring the 2000 Greyhound Derby forward by a month to avoid the Euro 2000 Finals.

2013 Racing Post reporter Jonathan Kay writes: “Promoters wield far too much influence at GBGB Towers, in a manner far different I am sure from what Lord Donoughue envisaged when drawing up the blueprint for the organisation.”

1959 The truly remarkable Gosforth grader Wine Steward is retired as a pet after finishing lame on August 18. He was whelped in June 1950 and he has completed 508 races for 118 wins and 105 seconds.

2002 Stan Gudgin announces his retirement from the sport. The former Harringay trainer went on to become racing manager at Harlow.  After retiring from full time employment he continued to act as steward and holiday cover. He said: “I am getting too old and this is the end of my involvement. I’ve been involved in various capacities since 1952 – I think I’ve done my stint.”

1972 The new track at Newbridge, Co Kildare, hold their first meeting and a crowd of more than 3,000 turn out to see the eight-race card, which carries £550 in total prizemoney. The first race goes to odds on chance, Killone Blue, who from trap 5 comes from behind to win the 525 yard opener by 1 ½ lengths, in 29.73. The beige Oct 70 dog by Weary Puzzle-Heath View is owned by D Whelan of Stradbally.

1944 August 12th The Irish Derby final winners prize has been double from the previous year, to £500. The showpiece at Shelbourne Park, draws together a class field of middle distance greyhounds for the 525 yard event. Victory goes to A O’Neill’s Clonbonny Bridge (Melksham Nobody-Bridge Of Avon). The owner-trainer’s fawn dog (7-2) holds off the 2-1 joint favourite Down Signal by a head in a slowish 30.53.

1956 In a novel idea, punters who have witnessed the heats of the Northern St Leger at Brough Park get three chances to verify qualifying form. The 700 yard final goes to Joe Booth’s privately trained Black Envoy. The 9-4 favourite leads on the run-in, wins by a neck in 41.08. There is also a consolation final for greyhounds that finished third and fourth in the heats. It is won by Booth’s other runner Silver Chief in 41.23. Lastly, the final for dogs who finished fifth and sixth in the heats goes to Jack Harvey’s Paracelsus in 41.27.

2009 Peter Shotton, former head of racing at Hove and Wembley and inventor of the Formbank system dies aged 75.

2011 14-1 outsider Jordansoilutions heads a Charlie Lister £125 tricast in the Select Stakes when beating favourite Boher Paddy and Taylors Sky in 30.07. The black becomes the third double winner of the event in 13 years following the footprints of Jaspers Boy (‘98/’99) and Cleenas Lady (‘06/’07).

1972 Currently running at Lifford – a dog by Irish Rain out of All The More. His name is Drenched.

2016 Monmore RM Tony Williamson writes to GBGB to ask them to consider amending rule 90 which means that in the event of two runners dead heating for a qualifying place in a competition, they must both contest a re-run if one set of connections choose it. The Monmore grader argues that the rule incentivises connections to run dogs when it may not be in their best welfare interests.

1993 John Brindley, joint promoter at Stainforth is seriously injured in a car crash. His wife Nancy is killed.

1985 Ballyregan Bob performs a miracle at Wembley in his semi-final of the St Leger.  When Bright Jester, who is fast away, slips over at the first bend causing all the field bar Evening Light to be badly baulked, Ballyregan Bob jumps over the stricken dog and sets about catching his litter brother, who has a long lead by now. This he does, overhauling him on the run-in to win by a length in 40.56. In the second round Bob had set a new track record of 39.46 for the 655 metre trip. The semi is his 13th straight win and proved to be unlucky. He injures himself in that first bend melee, and misses the final on August 30. It is a lucky day for Jet Circle, who wins the final in 40.14.

2012 GTA Chaiman Ricky Holloway claims the owners and trainers association GOBATA will soon close. In a SKY interview he states: “The GTA is the only group that represents trainers. GOBATA will probably cease to exist.” However a response on the GOBATA website states that GOBATA “will work alongside” the GTA.

1933 There is an attempt to abolish the 40% tax charged on all Irish dogs being imported into Britain.

1962 August 18. The final of the Suffolk Derby at Ipswich over 500 yards and worth £150 to the winner is reduced to four runners, when two of the finalists are found to be lame. This makes the London-trained favourite Ink Pot a hot 1-3 chance, but he only just gets up to beat last year’s winner, Wagon Train, by a short head in 28.49. Players from Ipswich Town, new champions of Division 1 and managed by Alf Ramsey, are guests of the track, and present the trophy to the winning owner Mr White.

2014 Britain’s most mobile racing manager Karl Ward announces he is to leave Sheffield after just two months. The ex-Poole, Swindon, Doncaster and Coventry grader cites his wife’s failure to settle in the area as his reason for leaving.

1972 Yarmouth announce plans for the 26^th East Anglian Derby which will have a minimum of £500 added to entry fees. Local runners will be charged £15, others will pay £20. The trophy will be presented by England captain Bobby Moore.

1982 Westpark Mustard, the bitch who set a British record of 20 consecutive wins for trainer Tom Johnston, dies aged 11.

2002 Some 18 months after being homed, Mildenhall trainer Leon Steed was asked to take back six and a half year old Mustbee Molly following a divorce. After seeing the pensioner flying around the paddocks, the trainer cautiously took her for a trial. She went so well that she qualified straight back into A2 and finished second in her first race back.

1926 At Belle Vue the first triple dead heat occurs between Melksham Autocrat, Happy Peter and Musement in the 500 yard race.

2009 Former Limerick and Clonmel racing manager Gus Ryan retires after 42 years within the sport.

1989 Trainer Jane Glass becomes the second trainer to leave Powderhall due to the track’s perseverance with the Bramich Hare.

1993 The Greyhound, a glossy monthly magazine closes in its first year of trading.

1936 Clapton introduce their new safety hurdles. All but the bottom twelve inches is made from brush. The idea is that even though they are slowed up, even the poorest jumpers should not fall.

2004 Walthamstow find themselves under pressure from local trainers and the stewards when in the space of two meetings, six greyhounds suffer career ending injuries.

1999 Phantom Flash dies of  a heart attack aged 11 at the Kerry Hills Kennel in Kerry. Bred by Nick Savva, the son of Flashy Sir and Westmead Seal won the 1990 Sussex Cup (1-4f), Produce Stakes (1-2f) and Anglo Irish (4-5f).

Following a fall out between trainer and owner Dave Hawley, the dog joined Patsy Byrne and in 1991 landed the Scottish Derby by six lengths at odds of 1-4f. His career was ended by injury in the quarter finals of the English Derby.

Flash went on to throw several very fast dogs headed by littermates Spiral Nikita and Tina Marina. There was also Dew Reward, Sure Fantasy,Jackies Phantom,  Ardcollum Flash, Tuesdays Davy, Phantom Power, Droopys Mossie, Treasury Tag, Liffey Mills, Spit It Out, Get Connected and the brilliant brood Blonde Returns.

1953 Kensington Perfection broke the Eastville 500 yard track record when landing the Two Year Old Produce Stakes Final for owner/breeder Mrs MD Phipps whose husband reared the Black Invasion/Lambourne Firefly litter on his 500 acre farm at Bicester. Perfection had previously won Produce Stakes finals at Brighton, Catford and Stamford Bridge and had reached the semi finals of the Wimbledon equivalent. His career winnings currently stand at £2,027 – index linked to £69,400.

1973 There is an unusual prefix in the Hackney sales catalogue as minor open racer Westmead Trac (Carry On Oregon-Cricket Dance) is sold as the second highest lot at 400gns. The Natalie Savva bred Trac is a litter brother to Bucks Cup winner Delroney Leader and Scurry winner Westmead Valley.

1981 BAGS announce that Cambridge will become the first permit track to be granted an afternoon contract. The track’s trainers include champion trainers Natalie Savva, Joe Cobbold and Pat Mullins, plus respected open race trainers Freda Greenacre, Theo Mentzis, George Talmage and Gary Baggs. Other tracks supplying the service are Bristol, Crayford, Hackney, Romford, Harringay, and Wolverhampton (Monmore).

1963 John Rowe, former trainer at Oxford, Reading and Bristol Knowle, is the new racing manager at Coventry, after a two year spell as assistant at Leicester.

1985 Over two bends, Daleys Gold wins the National Sprint, Noble Spirit takes the Silver Salver and Fearless Swift breaks the 275 metre clock at Swindon. Across the sea Artic Rover wins the Irish National Sprint with new track record holder Curryhills Fox down the field.

1947 Owner Fred Trevellion announces the retirement to stud of Triple Crown winner Trevs Perfection. His stud fee will be a record 100 guineas, equivalent today of £4,980. He will stand at Trevellion’s Sutton-at-Hone (Dartford) kennel alongside his sire Trevs Despatch (the pair don’t get on and had to be separated during a photo shoot).He will be managed by Trevellion’s head man, Arthur Hancock. (The former Norwich trainer will eventually end up at Brighton, where upon retirement, his kennel is taken over by Derek Knight). Thanks in no small part to Perfection’s haul, which also includes the Circuit and Gold Collar, Trevellion is currently the leading prize money winner for the first seven months of the year at £6,360 – equivalent today of £316,470.

1977 GRA tell Catford trainers that they will switch to contract training from November 1. All existing trainers will be offered contracts and will be allowed to rent their Keston kennels. Jack Smith (77) will retire.

2017 Nobody could deny Shaneboy Freddie (Oaks Road-Shaneboy Sophia, Jul 13) his big race win after the Kevin Boon-trained black landed the Sussex Cup at Hove. The 9/2 chance led all the way and just held off Barricane Tiger by three quarters of a length in 29.94. 7/4f Donation was third. It was the 76^th race of his career. Incredibly, the veteran would contest another 31 races before being one of four hounds KO’d in the 2018 Select Stakes.

1992 Popular sales agent and Greyhound Star contributor Bobby Jack dies while at Cork Sales. He was 56

1953 Irish Leger winner Gortaleen is exported to the USA to contest the American Derby.

1981 August 27 The 49th running of the St Leger at Wembley has a good line line-up with (T1) Safe Landing, (T2) Ballybeg Bob, (T3) Johnny Bristol, (T4) Fox Watch, (T5) Longcross Smokey and (T6) Alfa My Son. The race turns out to be a cracker with less than three lengths covering the field. Mrs J Leeper’s Fox Watch (Rita Choice-Queen Of Moray), the only unbeaten finalist, keeps his record intact. Leading to the third, he is challenged by Longcross Smokey, before regaining the lead at the fourth. Fox Watch then holds off the strong finishes of firstly Ballybeg Bob, then Alfa My Son to win the 655 metre classic by 1 1/4 and half a length. The rest are threequarters, a neck and a head behind. The winning time is 40.17.

1962 Beaverwood Kennels proprioter Frank Sanderson’s Tuturama completes his domination of the Laurels with an impressive win in the final. The 4-6f is seeking a six-timer in the £1,000 Wimbledon decider and is never headed in the decider.

1972 August 12 After breaking a hock in last year’s Derby Consolation Final, A Mobley’s Clohast Rebel (Good Brandy-Clohast Pride) returns to London White City in a 725 yard open, where in a useful field including Westmead County, Rebel leads from the third and wins easily by 8 3/4 lengths in 40.56.

1972 Bord na gCon’s annual report for 1971 reveals that there were roughly 10 dogs exported to Britain for every dog sold to the USA, the figures were 5,398-522. The average price for a greyhound sold to Britain rose by 16% compared to the previous year to a figure of £189 – which equates to around £3,180 at current rates.

1947 Perry Barr announce that their Birmingham Cup heats (18 dogs) and final will both take place on Saturday September 6 (afternoon and evening meetings). Defending champ (and Derby winner) Mondays News is likely to take part. The winner’s prize is £600 with a £70 trophy (respectively worth £29,855 & £3,484).

1989 Water shortages and hosepipe bans are causing problems throughout the country. Least affected are Hove who are offered 3,000 gallons of untreated water by the local water authority.

1991 Movements: Frank Baldwin takes over as racing manager at Perry Barr, Roy Dwight is sacked as racing manager at Crayford, Freda Greenacre joins Wembley from Hackney, Brian Clemenson joins Hackney from Canterbury. And the NGRC introduce the Open Race Planning Committee.

1953 Of the 90 greyhounds on the kennel strength at Derby, only 20 are not lame. Racing is suspended for a fortnight.

1962 21 year old private trainer John Haynes lands his first major event when Katie Wong completes a six-timer and wins the £200 Mackeson Cup Final at Wandsworth.

1947 A new ‘flip’ track, is to open at Aylesbury. It promises easy bends, ‘traps regularly disinfected’ and hurdle races. It is to be run by George Macey who readers of a certain vintage may recall running a popular schooling track in Kent, Stedlyn. Flip tracks are able to operate without a betting license but are limited to no more than eight meetings in a ‘betting calendar’ year: July-June. They typically attract four figure crowds and the latest due to open is at Gallows Corner in Essex. Excluding ‘flips’ there are reckoned to be around 250 greyhound tracks currently operating, NGRS and ‘flapping’.

1992 BS Group add Hull to their portfolio which also includes Bristol. They also have plans to rebuild Poole.

1956 A wad of banknotes was handed in to the management at Brighton track. It was eventually claimed by Mrs Hugh Nicholls owner of local grader Pockets Empty.

1989 Waltham Abbey (Manorville Sand-Mona Lisa) becomes the first greyhound to break 39.00 for Walthamstow’s 640m when he beats Fort Leader in a match race. He clocks 38.98, some 20 spots quicker than his own track record.