1952 29 of the 35 runners “slipped and slided” their way through race a meeting at Eastville (Bristol). It was reported: “Runners for the last two races went back home unused as the stewards thought that the going was too icy. Only five races were decided and they gave non-betting spectators more entertainment than the normal eight though the dogs may have been grieved.”
2013 Bookmaker Gary Wiltshire announces his retirement from betting on greyhound tracks after 37 years. After standing at his final Sittingbourne meeting he states: “the on-course greyhound betting game has just about gone.”
1961 Yeovil’s Larkhill Stadium publish an unusual advert in Greyhound Owner. It reads: “Notice to Patrons. Mr F Brand, well known to patrons in the West Country, and other parts, has been appointed Racing Manager at this stadium. Like us, he started from scratch in greyhound racing. He progressed from kennelboy to open race trainer, then to grader and is a man of proved ability and integrity”- “We started at this stadium 14 years ago with a ball of string and bicycle. By sheer hard work and Ballyhoo, we now have a good track, and most of the necessary amenities. We have earned and get the respect of our patrons” – “Almost every open race we have put on has filled. We have run more opens and given more added prize money that any other track in this area” – “We shall not try to be the ‘White City of the West’ but we do guarantee a fair deal always”.
1988 Slieve Donard is withdrawn from a Wembley open after producing a positive dope test. Two hours later, a second test gives a negative result. Interestingly, the greyhound is trained by future NGRC stipendiary steward Irene McNally who is fined £200.
1952 Bayton Charmer, bought for £100 in Ireland (approx. £3,350 today) escaped from Ringway Airport on arrival in Lancashire. She survived by scavenging bones from a nearby butcher’s shop. She was eventually caught, a month later, when a hut behind the shop was fitted with a trap door which closed behind her.
2015 Former Belle Vue trainer Ron Saunders dies.
2007 Walthamstow racing manager Chris Page celebrates his 50th birthday.
1962 Jim Layton, former GM and RM at Staines flapping track has taken out a private trainer’s licence. He will later become the RM at Hove.
1987 End of year figures will reveal that Ireland exported 8,261 greyhounds, of which 6,182 went to Britain at an average price of £262. Of those, 1,836 were sold at Shelbourne Sales, 936 at Limerick and 782 at Cork sales. 548,891 people paid for attendance, an average of 295 people per meeting.
1961 Round Tower Rose the bitch puppy who has just won the Irish Laurels arrives in Britain but finishes last in her first race at Dagenham.
1951 100-1 chance Castle Tina, who was bought by owner Alf Vango for £50, wins the Orient Vase for trainer Dave Geggus.
2012 Runaway Turbo was not destined to win the KAB Maiden Derby at Henlow. The Kelly Findlay trained runner had been leading a heat which was stopped in the interests of safety. He had won the re-run, only for it to be discovered that he was ineligible to race as he wasn’t qualified having only contested one three-runner trial.
1992 Bodies Lisa (Murlens Slippy-Off The Line) wins the Premier Byproducts Marathon at Harolds Cross by ten lengths in 60.14 for the 1,025 yards.
1952 Bahs Choice, the leading open race sire in Britain with 109 winners and £7,170 in prize money dies at his stud kennel in Ireland. Mad Tanist is second on the table with 82 wins but £11,608 in prize money.
1961 A private trainer who – concerned over skin disease – removed straw from the beds of his greyhounds and replaced it with blankets and pillows is ordered to replace the straw or lose his licence.
1977 Glenroe Hiker who changed hands between semis and final collects the £1,250 first prize in the Dunmore Puppy Cup Final for new owners Colm and Mary McGrath.
2012 Aero Rebel removed one of the oldest records from the archives when slicing half a second off Salina’s 31 year old Romford 925m clock.
1953 S F J Hodgman, head of the Canine Research Station at the Animal Health Trust, tells a meeting of the Dobermann Pincher Club that first results on a new distemper vaccine, given to 350 greyhounds, at various tracks, have resulted in a high level of success.
1972 Wembley trainer Tom Johnston lands the Romford Puppy Cup for the third consecutive year when his Puppy Oaks runner-up Shara Flash (Silver Hope-Flashy Minnie) obliges. The runner-up was Black Banjo, who had also finished second in the Kent Puppy Salver and Puppy Derby, and down the field in the Manchester Puppy Cup, Trafalgar Cup and Eclipse Puppy Stakes.
1961 Somerset County Cricket club stage the first greyhound meeting on the outside of the playing area and attract a crowd of 1,600.
1952 A final figure shows that £103,321 was paid out in open race prize money during the year. That would equate to £3.46m today. The leading private trainer was Surrey based Paddy McEvoy.
1995 GRA announce that Hall Green will be fitted with a Bramich hare in the New Year.
