2000 Greyhound Star reveals that in 1999 the average cost of testing for each of the 37 greyhounds who failed a dope test was £13,500.
1941 The 11th Red Cross Stakes at West Ham over 600 yards has brought together a good field of well known stars for a war time race. Gretas Rosary (Mick The Miller-Greta Ranee) the 1938 St Leger winner is made 5-4 favourite but its Ballyjoker (Beef Cutlet-Jeanne Of Waterhall) who won the 1938 Cesarewitch that leads all the way at 100-8. Gretas Rosary finishes last. Part of the prize money is donated to the war effort.
1956 Ireland’s stud dogs are getting younger! Two dogs born in March 1954 Man Of Pleasure and Major Of Pleasure, both owned by Eddie Madden of Mallow, Co Cork, are at stud. Man Of Pleasure was runner up in the Puppy Derby final at Harolds Cross in 1955 and Major Of Pleasure won the Dunmore Puppy Cup in November 1955.
1968 Up and coming hurdling star, Ballintore Tiger (Prairie Flash- Not Landing) gave his opponents fair notice of his intentions to figure in this year’s Springbok and Grand National competitions when smashing Crayford’s 500 yard record with 29.70.
2000 A greyhound’s body, minus one ear, is found beside the A46 near Evesham. A group of greyhound enthusiasts pledge a bounty of £10,000 for information leading to a conviction.
1971 February 20 The final of the Springbok Trophy over 550 yards at London White City is a real thriller with the lead changing hands three times in the five runner final. Eventually the slow starting 5-4 favourite Ragtime (Super Orange-Maggie From Cork) took the lead at the third bend when a trio of dogs bunched together. The John Coleman Romford trained favourite makes good use of this trouble to gallop clear and win by 3/4 of a length in a slow time of 32.10.
2000 The Government introduce a passport scheme which will allow dogs to forego quarantine. There is no major influx of overseas runners – the most notable, in retrospect, was the arrival of Australian bred, Swedish based Billabong!
1946 February 27 Owen Patrick Smith dies. Who is he, you ask? Well, he was the man he patented the first mechanical hare in the USA in 1912, which eventually found its way to Belle Vue in 1926. At Miami Beach Kennel Club, the O P Smith Memorial Classic is run in his honour for more than 60 years.
2000 Wimbledon and Nottingham both report overcrowding for Saturday night cards late in the month. Wimbledon draw 3,500 and Nottingham attract 850 customers.
1976 February 9 A photo-finish camera made by Omega for the Olympics is used for the first time at Wembley, giving a much clearer picture, with digital time read out.
1957 February 18 N Purvis’s Coolkill Chieftain (bd d Celtic Chief-Coolkill Darkie, Jan 52) dies at Jack Harvey’s Wembley range. He was favourite for the final of the 1954 St Leger at Wembley, but was withdrawn with gastric trouble. In 1955 he won the Laurels at Wimbledon, and the Wood Lane Stakes at London White City, and finished third in the English Derby there to Rushton Mac. He held track records at 525 yards West Ham 28,65 and 500 yards Wimbledon 27.67.
2000 John Gibbons becomes the latest trainer to depart Catford citing financial reasons. He states “there has only been once increase in prize money in eleven years.” His departures follows in the wake of David Mullins, Peter Rich, Roy Towner, Pat Thompson and John Honeysett.
1978 Paradise Spectre (Spectre-Paradise Wonder, Mar’75) is a virtually backable 1-3 shot for the 669m Winter Stayers Stakes at Hackney. Pat Mullins’ black duly holds off Westpark Punter by half a length. By year end Paradise will have broken track records at Ipswich (647m), Powerhall (650m) and Walthamstow (640).
Trainer John Counsell and owner Ricky Holloway with Springbok winner, ROSSA RANGER
2001 (Greyhound Star report) ONLY three of the last 20 Springbok favourites have gone on to land the spoils – Rossa Ranger seemed determined to make it 3 from 21. The 6-4 ante post favourite clocked a fastest semi of 28.20 and went to traps as the evens favourite for the £3,000 final. But a slow break and crowding around the first two bends saw him trailing 33-1 shot Baloo Day. Fortunately for favourite backers, the fate of ‘next in’ Ballmac Keano was worse as he was taken out at the first. Meanwhile the favourite, with fantastic pace to spare, caught the outsider at the third bend where the pair collided. Ranger rallied strongly and soon opened up a four length lead. But with the race apparently won, he jumped a phantom hurdle two yards in front of the real thing which was then flattened. He then survived a late scramble to the line for head victory in a comparatively moderate 28.92
