1978 Romford announce that they will accept no more dogs for graded racing over 400 metres as “they can’t guarantee them regular runs” says racing manager Des Nicholls. The track’s graded strength is bursting at the seems with over 170 dogs (Haven’t times changed – they currently need 120 on Saturdays alone-Ed). Nicholls reckons the sudden surge follows the move from a grass to a sand surface the previous year. It had “a major effect” in the reduction of injuries.
1971 Southend management have handed in a petition with some 3000 signatures, to the local council. It is seeking permission to stage stock car and speedway racing, inside the greyhound track. The hope is that eventually they will be able to stage speedway derbies against nearby Rayleigh Rockets.
1981 Poole Stadium are one of the few tracks to challenge the law on a bookmakers right to stand at a track providing he has paid the statutory five times admission fee. With five bookmakers already present, they refuse to allow bookmaker Peter Joliffe to trade. He takes them to magistrates court and wins his case.
2001 Nottingham stage Britain’s first unraced puppy stake. It is sponsored by Chris and Roy Brookes and is won by future Eclipse finalist Malbay Trustee.
1998 Ted Soppitt is fined £300 by the NGRC for failing to allow his stipendiary steward access to the kennels. Meanwhile Stainforth’s Susan Shaw is warned off all NGRC tracks for allowing a meeting to be held without an NGRC licence. No order is made against the track’s Chick Hicken.
1978 Peter Shotton leaves Brighton after being appointed as Wembley’s executive head of racing. The firebrand Brummie had been at Brighton since 1964 following spells at Wolverhampton, Leeds, Willenhall and Brough Park. He originally worked as a journalist on the Greyhound Express.
1937 Ex West Ham grader Whipped J (Maidens Boy-Whipped Cream, Apr 34) now renamed El Kiljerry, wins heat and final of the Prix Des Perce at Courbevoie Stadium near Paris. The 593 metre handicap race is worth 10,000 French francs. Racing off scratch and giving anything up to 12 metres away, El Kiljerry wins in 38.60.
2006 Belle Vue trainer Pat Branagh retires and is replaced by Ian Aylward. The Lincolnshire based trainer hands in his notice five months later blaming financial reasons due too few of his runners being given races. Mrs Branagh dies six months after her retirement
1992 Figures released by the BGRB reveal that 1991 saw a 9.6 per cent decline in attendances and a 10.9% drop in tote turnover at Britain’s 38 NGRC tracks. Irish tracks suffer a 5.8% drop at the same time.
2006 Irish stud dog Smooth Rumble is put to sleep following a long illness. His progeny included Centaur Corker, Maxie Rumble, Keltie Sparkler, Lethal Rumble, Ericas Equity, Dog Almighty, Serene Rumble, Maryville Rumble, Mustang Hero, Mountleader Rolf, Blue Boomer, Kincraig Brindle, Heart Rumble and brilliant broods Mega Delight and Killeacle Phoebe.
1975 The Longcross Cup final at London White City is run for the first time over the new metric distance of 680 metres. It was previously over 725 yards. There is a good line up for the £300 and trophy prize. Trap 1 Westmead Bounty, 2 Seafield Poppins, 3 Sampson Flash, 4 Reliable Rosey, 5 Pitmans Brief and in 6 El Raco. Mrs H Mobley’s Westmead Bounty (Westmead County-Hacksaw, Dec 72) trained by her husband is set to show how unlucky he was in the heats after being badly baulked. Bounty is made 11/8 favourite and does not let his backers down by storming home to a 2 1/4 length win in 42.23.
1962 Mick Horan, the original trainer of Mick The Miller, dies in Newry. A trainer and coursing slipper, he was based at Hollywood County Down and was a brother in law of Walthamstow’s Tom Reilly.
