1994 From the first day of the new year, NGRC tracks must have a vet in attendance before they will be allowed to race or trial. Until now, they were allowed to have one on-call.
1993 Nick Savva announces that he is getting out of the stud dog business because he “cannot make it pay”. In Floyd Amphlett’s breeding column in the Sporting Life, Savva predicts that recently retired Right Move will go to Ireland and litter brother Balligari to Australia. However the first dog expected to leave the yard is George Lightfoot’s underused sire Slaneyside Hare.
1973 Selection of British track records: Brough Park 525yds-Ramdeen Stuart (28.82), Hall Green 500yds-Short Cake (27.37), Perry Barr 525yds-Discretions (29.24), Brighton 525yds-Carry On Hasty (28.32), Cardiff 525yds-Mile Bush Pride (28.80), Shawfield 500yds-Rushton Smutty (27.60), Hackney 525yds/565yds (Kybo Venture (29.52, 31.60), Harringay 525yds-TJs Silver (28.32), Powederhall-500yds-Say Little (27.80), Walthamstow 525yds-Say Little (28.83), Sheffield 525yds-Tric Trac (28.48) Wembley 525yds-Pigalle Wonder (28.78), White City 525yds-Super Rory (28.36), Wimbledon 500yds-Moordyke Spot/Shady Parachute (27.57).
2012 The GBGB warn off bogus vet Patrick Keniry following his recent 20 month conviction in the High Court. At the same hearing, former trainer Trevor Wales and kennelhand Richard Williams were disqualified indefinitely following convictions of money laundering and handling stolen property.
1991 The NGRC are called in following an integrity row at Sunderland involving directors Terry Robson and Lloyd Milligan.
1988 Yarmouth unveil their new upgraded paddock. The £20,000 project, designed to make the area “the most secure in Britain” is extended to include 90 racing kennels.
1959 Irish racing is now under the control of the Greyhound Industry Act which takes powers away from the ICC and assigns them to the newly formed Bord na gCon.
1947 Plans to build new track at Lowton in Lancashire are quashed by the Admiralty who are concerned at the effect betting might have on recruits at the local training base.
1970 Yarmouth have reduced admission charges since more than doubling their tote retention from 6% to 12.5% following the change in law the previous month.
2011 Breeders Forum Treasurer Bob Gilling announces that the Produce Stakes will be discontinued following the staging of the 2012 race. Gilling blames a fall in income due to the sharp decline in British breeding. The Produce Stakes was first staged at Harringay in 1983.
1987 Monmore is the base for an experiment by BAGS into eight-dog racing.
2012 Former champion trainer Ray Andrews dies aged 67.
1970 A White City grader had some unfinished business following his race. He escaped from the paddock, made his way onto the track and attacked the hare as it was heading for its starting position for the next race.
1960 Leading trainer Jimmy Jowett leaves hospital three weeks after being attacked by four greyhounds he was exercising on Christmas Day.
2010 Monmore trainer Michael Harris announces that he is to quit the sport. Charlie Lister’s former head man reveals he is does not enjoy BAGS racing. A month later he joins Hall Green.
1947 Dog collars, harness chains and leads are now exempt from purchase tax. Dog whips, whip leads, coats and imitation bones remain taxed.
1957 Press report: “Harassed bookmakers were finding life hard at Brighton the other evening when six favourites won the first six races. One prominent layer decided to put a spanner in the works of jubilant punters. “I’ll stop ‘em” he said and called 7-2 the field for the seventh race. Up came a punter to place “£10 to win the favourite”. High Promise ended up the 3-1 favourite and duly won. Then to rub it in, the eighth and last race was taken easily by Hurrying So (11-10f).”
1993 Ladbrokes Chairman Berjis Daver admits that thus far, no money has yet been paid into the new bookmakers fund – the predecessor of the BGRF – nine months after it was set-up. Daver states that a chairman is still to be appointed and estimates that 21% of all off-course business is on greyhound racing.
2013 Following threats by anti greyhound racing campaigners, Kinsley stage a BAGS meeting in front of “regulars” only. Other punters are refused admission.
1973 Commutering, now four years old and having once been retired to stud, returns to racing to win the Longcross Cup for trainer Frank Melville.
1947 Racing names deemed to irritate racing journalists include Killeenagallive Glory, New Killoughteen Square and Red Lion Bridgetittle.
1951 Walthamstow announce an increase in their minor open race prize money. All winners will receive £50 with runners-up collecting £15 (inflation linked to £1,730 and £519 at current values).
1977 In their submission to the Royal Commission on Gambling, the Churches Council on Gambling state that bookmaking companies should not be allowed to own greyhound tracks or racecourses.
2011 Jimmy Lollie becomes only the second sprinter ever to land the Greyhound of the Year title. Tims Crow was the first. Lollie’s 37 wins from 54 outings included the National Sprint, Festival Flyer and Coral Sprint. He had been favourite for the Scurry decider but was a non-runner due to extreme weather conditions. The British bred also set four track records.
1947 There are 54 private trainers registered with the NGRC with the largest number – 12 – being based in Kent.
1993 Ladbrokes issue ante post prices for the Derby and offer 25-1 each of four: Daleys Denis, Murlens Abbey, Manx Treasure and Skip Pass. Not one of the eventual finalists are among the 29 dogs listed. The event would be won by Ringa Hustle.
1959 Northern King, beaten ante post favourite for two English Derbys is sold to Dublin stud keeper Paddy Nugent for a reputed £4,000 (index lined to around £74K).
1993 Sunderland suspend permit racing which is proving “a financial disaster”.
1973 The Dean and Chapter of Gloucester Cathedral receive a windfall of £115,000 when they sell their shares in the local greyhound track. They had been left 23 per cent of the stadium in the will of former promoter Jack Edge. The shares are snapped up by a propterty developer.
2013 GTA Chairman Ricky Holloway has his explanation accepted in a GBGB enquiry following the non-arrival of two of his runners in an open race at Hove the previous month.
