1937 The previous year’s Waterloo Cup winner Hand Grenade, fancied to repeat his exploits, is retired to stud having never been beaten on the coursing field.
2000 Wimbledon announce a rise in tote deductions from 24 to 25%.
1991 After a spell at stud in the USA and in Europe, Ballyregan Bob leaves quarantine and returns to Britain.
2012 On the first day of the year, Hills make Mark Wallis the 11-10f to wrestle back his champion trainer title from Chris Allsopp. Although Kelly Findlay leads after the first week the layer’s judgement will prove to be spot on. Sadly, Wallis will no longer be assisted by Patrkck Jannsenns who announces that he is to leave the sport to go into the painting and decorating business. (Whatever happened to him? – Ed)
1947 Successful Wokingham trainers Mr & Mrs A Ayres discovered all their racers were going off colour. Then they too became ill. Even the plants and trees on their property started to die. Following a series of scientific tests, the cause was discovered to be fumes from a local brick works. It was ordered to shut down by Wokingham Council. The kiln owners appealed to the Ministry of Works who revoked the council order and sent a congratulatory letter to the kiln owners congratulating them on producing two millions bricks in the previous nine months.
1972 Cambridge racing manager John Haynes buys top lot at Shelbourne Sales with Wonderful Copper who makes 450 guineas.
2013 Lord Hesketh, chairman of Towcester Racecourse states that he expects to introduce greyhound racing to the site in the summer.
1959 Inspired by the story of a Soviet rocket orbiting the moon for the first time, a Birmingham punter backs Latest Satellite, Sputnik No.1 and Jet Streak and lands a 323-1 treble,
2010 Veteran Mildenhall trainer Maurice Manning collapses and dies before the start of a Sunday evening meeting.
1965 In addition to putting their Kildare breeding kennel up for sale, GRA are believed to be interested in off-loading the neighbouring rearing kennels Upper Childown and Fan Court Farm at Longcross in Surrey.
1973 Pat Dalton is among a group of internationally known sports stars given awards following a vote by Irish newspaper journalists. Ireland’s most successful breeder and exporter is joined by athlete Mary Peters, boxer Danny McAlinden and Leeds United footballer Johnny Giles.
1994 Shelbourne and Harolds Cross boss Noel Hynes announces that each track will stage one Sunday meeting per month.
1982 Former Brough Park racing manager Joe Trelease is to become an NGRC stipendiary steward for the North East.
1977 There are 49 NGRC tracks currently in operation. In 1976, the average ‘per meeting’ attendance was 1,096.
1932 New Year’s Day racing takes place at Harringay and Wimbledon in the Capital, both tracks staging seven-race cards. Harringay’s features two hurdle events for four runners, winners collecting £12 (index linked to £708). Wimbledon’s card includes races over 440 & 500yds (flat and hurdles both distances), 550yds, and 700yds. Top grade prize money is £15 (£885). It doesn’t all go to plan though with one race made void due to one of the runners fighting. A second race is lost due to mechanical failure.
2013 Trainer Dolores Ruth arrives in Australia ahead of a string of young Irish stars who she plans to race there. The first two are Irish Puppy Derby winner Razldazl Luke and Razldazl Apollo.
1951 Tamworth, the small NGRC track in Staffordshire announce that they are to close for the foreseeable future. They blame the three year old tote betting tax for the slump in profits.
1973 The Government is currently considering proposals to allow totalisator betting – currently illegal – at the four Northern Irish tracks: Celtic Park, Derry, Dungannon and Dunmore.
1993 A graded race at Belle Vue is wrecked when a cloth cap is thrown onto the track as the dogs raced along the home straight. The leader was distracted and eventually finished fourth. The perpetrator escaped.
1949 Sheevan, (Bellas Prince-Honey Gale, Mar 46) reckoned by many to be the greatest bitch of her generation, lands her second Longcross Cup at White City. The Paddy Fortune trained fawn wins the White City £200 decider by eight lengths.
