1997 Ernie Gaskin’s Lemon Duchess finished the year on 30 open race victories, five clear of closest rival and kennelmate Toms Rover
2013 Trainer Mark Wallis receives a double injury blow when littermates Bridge Honcho (Monmore) and Bridge Ruth (Coventry) both break hocks within 24 hours of each other in their 53rd and 60th races respectively.
2003 GRA Chairman Jarvis Astaire and Clarissa Baldwin of the Dogs Trust are both awarded OBEs in the New Years Honours list.
1974 Wembley trainer John Coleman prepares the British team for the upcoming Inter-national in Miami by giving the seven runners trials on Rye House’s inside lure. Quickest of the group is Guineas winners Money Again.
1997 Monmore trainer Derek Edwards claims he has had to put six greyhounds to sleep due to hardship caused by his suspension by the track two months ealier after one of his greyhounds failed a drugs test. Clarissa Baldwin of the National Canine Defence League issues a furious attack on greyhound racing. “…shows a blatant disregard for life. These dogs may have been low grade but they were living feeling creatures. The NGRC promised more money would go into integrity and welfare services, but apart from a small amount, which went to the RGT, nothing extra has been allocated towards welfare.” The BGRB swoop into action. Chief Executive Geoffrey Thomas informs the RGT’s David Poole that in future, when any trainer is suspended, the RGT must write to that trainer and remind them that the RGT exists to help them find homes for their greyhounds and that any decision which affects the welfare of their greyhounds should not be taken without prior consultation with the RGT.
1974 Westpark Mustard, who recently broke Mick The Miller’s British record of 20 straight wins, almost dies after contracting a severe strain of enteritis.
2008 Kildare Lark, who is about to retain his title as Hurdler of the Year is retired from racing after sustaining a gracillis injury.
1967 Clapton punters let the new arrival Daybreak Again go to traps at 8-1 in his debut graded race. The dog who had won the Derby consolation final quicker than the decider when trained by Geoff De Mulder, duly landed the odds.
1986 Courser Carlton, owned by jockey Greville Starkey and trainer Frankie Durr is stolen from his trainer’s van shortly after winning a stake at Newmarket. He is recovered several days later in Mitcham.
1970 They don’t know it yet, but Noreen Collin and Molly Redpath, representing the Greyhound Private Trainers Association, will get mixed rewards following a meeting with NGRCS and NGRS secretaries Lt-Colonel Tom Forsdike and Fred Underhill. Ultimately successful, will be their request to switch open race traps draws from the tracks, to the NGRC offices. The ladies’ request to reduce kennelling time from four hours goes unheeded.
1950 Ballymac Ball finishes as the year’s biggest prize money winner with £2,995. A winner of the English Derby, Laurels, International and Spring Cup, he had 11 wins and 3 seconds from 15 races. Second on the table with a very creditable £2,254 was another Derby final Ballycurreen Garrett whose victories included the Pall Mall, Welsh Derby and the One Thousand Guineas.
1996 Shelbourne drop their Monday fixtures in favour of Thursday nights for “an experimental period”. With Harolds Cross turn down the chance to take up the Monday slot.
1986 Wimbledon believe they have made a breakthrough in the preparation of sand surfaces – a bed of stone under a membrane for drainage. They experimented with a seven metre section of track. Spokesman Jerry Monk said: “The results were spectacular. We had a race meeting the very next day after completing the work and rain ensured the whole track got a soaking by the first race. Although the track was wet and glistening with water slowly percolating through the sand, except for the treated area which was deep and crisp and even.” Monk noted that although the rest of the track cut up, “the exception was the new stretch which remained stable and showed a fine appearance.”
1970 Kildorrery stud keeper John O’Connor pays 4,000 guineas (that’s roughly £70,000 at today’s prices) for top lot Irish Airport at Monmore Sales. Already established as one of the top pups in training, he has won the North Of England Puppy Derby and Yorkshire Puppy Derby at Leeds where he broke the 500 yard track record. The dog never wins another major event. Nor does Mic Mac, winner of the 1970 Guinness 600 and Wills 700 at Dunmore. The dog fails to make his reserve of 2,700gns at Walthamstow sales and returns to Ireland.
1998 Blackburn Rovers manager Brian Kidd buys a share in a new Belle Vue arrival Pendragon.
2011 Host track Monmore carry off the £6,000 first prize in the BAGS Track Championship final.
1964 GRA is diversifying its interests as it takes a £100,000 holding in a company that builds golf driving ranges.
1957 Wimbledon will race only once a week – Wednesday evening – between December and February.
1974 The Enniscorthy 600 yard track record is broken twice in 15 minutes. Glin Bridge (Spectre-Shore Sussie) equalled the old record when winning the Irish Auctioneer Stake, before Get Going (Sole Aim-High Road Sally), reduced it by 10 spots to 33.40.
1959 White City grader King Puck is officially described as a “white, red fawn brindle”. He is believed to be the only dog registered with that colouring in Britain.
