1946 For sale – “Fine piano-wire racing muzzles – feather light – ideal for open racers 7s 6d each”. (Roughly £15 at modern values).
1957 Catford celebrate their 30th anniversary with an all-open race card. The eight races are over 230yds, 440yds, 440yds hurdle (x2), 600yds, 810yds, 970yds and 1,180yds.
1946 The British Breeders Association issue a statement stating that they expect a shortage of greyhound pups following restrictions in the bread supply. Breeders had already been forced to switch to toasted white bread from wholemeal, but following the latest regulations, all bread is now rationed by bakers.
1975 Shifting Shadow, trained by Dublin bus driver Podge Molloy wins the £11,000 Irish Derby with Moonshine Bandit a length adrift in 29.35 for Shelbourne Park’s 525 yards.
1946 GRA announce that shareholders will receive a 35% dividend on their shares.
2010 Former NGRC chief executive Frank Melville is asked by the IGB to head a review into its control procedures.
1987 Sheffield call off plans to stage permit racing after a “disappointing response” from local owners and trainers. The Yorkshire circuit had hoped to cash in when Whitwood ditched permit racing and returned to the independent circuit.
1957 Surely one of the most bizarre trebles of all time! At 8.22pm, The Pent House II (5-2) wins at Wembley. At 9pm, Pent House (1-1f) wins at Brighton. Ten minutes later, racehorse Pent House (7-4) wins at Alexandra Park.
1973 Sporting Life tipster Reg Potter is at the centre of a debate in all the sport’s newspapers as he calls for the end of seeding in open races. He appears particularly irritated that wide seed Patricia’s Hope has won consecutive Derbys. Among those who go to print to challenge his views are trainer Pat Mullins and Brighton racing manager Peter Shotton. Potter eventually gets his way, for one year only, a decade later.
1991 Wembley trainers Hazel Walden are both fined for positive tests taken randomly immediately before their dogs were due to race. However, samples taken at routine pre-kennelling testing proved negative. Mrs Walden states she will dispute the £500 penalty. Wembley announce a review into kennel security.
1969 Walthamstow will drop the presentation of trophies for all graded winners, but promise to increase prize money.
1946 Nottingham are forced to cancel a whole race meeting due to an outbreak of ‘canine hysteria’. The condition, which was quite commonly diagnosed at the time was believed to be associated with feeding.
1993 Dave Baldwin is appointed racing manager at Sheffield following the departure of Dave Gunson. Lee Duffy will be his assistant.
1987 A story in the Irish national press claims that certain Irish farmers are avoiding tax by registering additional farms in the names of their greyhounds. The Star’s ‘Briefing’ column advises the taxman to beware of ‘Cathy Fugitive, Ron Hardy, Fred Flinstone, Sammy Bear and E C Enslow.
1957 Kilcaskin Kern wins the Irish St Leger but within minutes is whisked off to Shannon Airport. The October puppy who has won eight of his nine races is flown to London Airport where he is met by trainer Tony Dennis. The plan is that the Cork 525 yard record holder will run in the Cloth Of Gold which takes places exactly one week later. To comply with NGRC rules, the dog must be handled by a licence holder within seven days of the race. Now, they simply have to give him three trials before the first round at Charlton. He trials over 440 yards at Wandsworth on Tuesday, over 400 yards at Park Royal on Wednesday and over 415 yards at Charlton on Thursday. He duly makes his debut over 600 yards on the Saturday afternoon card. He finishes second beaten a length and a half in a calculated 35.35. A week later the diminutive 59 pound (26.7kg) dog wins his semi in 35.17 before going on to win the final in 34.74.
2010 It appears that Irish greyhound supporters have managed to win major concessions from the Irish Government who planned to include the industry within its new Dog Breeding Establishment Bill. The main argument with the legislation which has been driven by the Green Party is that it involve additional duplication of checks and licensing alongside the existing Greyhound Industry Act 1958.
