2016 Following an inquiry, the New South Wales Government announces that it plans to ban greyhound racing in the state from 1 July 2017. Premier Mike Baird blames the “widespread and systemic mistreatment of animals” In fact, Baird’s political career was already on a downward spiral and he left politics in January 2017.
1993 Locally trained Pearls Girl (Flashy Sir-Desert Pearl) completed a seven-timer when beating track record holder Greenane Squire in the Wey Plastics Invitation at Wimbledon. That was then extended to eight with a win in a £500 invitation at Catford.
2003 July 9 – some 11 days after the final the NGRC announce that Derby winner Droopys Hewitt has failed a dope test earlier in the competition and faces a stewards inquiry.
2014 Shashi – winner of the 2005 Waterloo Cup – the last of the 158 victors, dies of natural causes at owner Michael Darnell’s Cambridgeshire home.
1967 Bottleneck, who will be found in the pedigrees of stars such as Lulus Hero, Moths Dysert, Elbow Patch and Tammys Delight, is sold at Clonmel sales for 110gns.
2016 GBGB produces a new smaller coloured Calendar (A4 from B5). It will now also be available on-line.
1929 July 30 The second running of the Irish Oaks at Harolds Cross over 525 yards. First prize of £60 and a £25 trophy go to P Tuites’s The Rover (Gros Abu-Lively Bit). The 5-1 outsider leads all the way, hanging on by a short head in 31.15.
2013 Horse race trainer Mark Johhston has his first open race winner when Crush lands a 590m contest at Pelaw Grange.
2015 Wimbledon are still two years from closure but struggling for runners with around 140 dogs on the strength. In order to accommodate a first twelve race Saturday BAGS fixture, their Friday meeting is cut to eight races. Grading time is reduced and £35 is added in prize money for each race. Among the trainers who left is John Simpson who tells the Star that but for the opportunity at Romford, he would probably have exited the industry. He said: “At Wimbledon I had 40 on the strength but might only get 20 runners on at any weekend. I now have 120 dogs including 86 on the strength and I had 21 runners at one meeting recently. The whole thing has kicked on. I spent roughly £50,000 on the kennels which are now immaculate, and have between 30 and 40 paddocks. We have seven full time staff and six or seven part-timers but I can afford to do it because by income has increased five-fold since I came to Romford.”
2016 Central Park issues the following statement when local trainer Frank Gray indicates in an interview that he sees the Kent track as a stepping stone to a more lucrative contract: “Further to being made aware of Frank Gray’s future plans and ambitions he has been advised that he is free to race his graded runners elsewhere with immediate effect. Stadium Promoter Roger Cearns said “Having supported Frank from the start of his career I accept that he now wishes to seek new challenges within the industry and I wish him well in his future endeavours”
1958 Despite a list of worthy applicants, Wimbledon decide to appoint George Waterman as their new trainer following the recent death of Paddy Fortune. Waterman had worked for Fortune for the previous 13 years.
2015 Michael Dunphy announces that Ace Hi Rumble is to be retired from stud duties aged 13. The Australian import made the top ten of the sire’s table with leading progeny including Billys Bullet (litter brother) Touch Tackle, Derby winner Rio Quattro, Droopys Cain, Forest Twilight, Volcano and Leamaneigh Turbo.
1997 A Henlow trainer who threw a walking-out coat on the track, voiding a race, after his dog was knocked over has his licence revoked for five months.
2018 Litter brothers Zenas Zeus and Shoot The Bolt finish 1-2 in the 72nd British Breeders Two Year Old Produce Stakes at Swindon. The last time littermates finished 1-2 in the event was 12 years earlier when Westmead Joe beat sister Westmead Olivia – who is, incidentally, Zeus’s and Bolt’s great grand dam.
1984 A fire in the Belle Vue stewards box causes £30,000 worth of damage.
2015 Yarmouth are caught out when 680 Group-On customers descend on the last Saturday of the month. The track had printed 1,450 racecards but sold out. Promoter Simon Franklin said: “I am not complaining but it’s a bit ‘all of nothing’. We had all the tote machines operating and there were still queues, and the trainers were moaning about the queues in the snack bars and in the bars. While it is nice to get new people into the stadium to experience greyhound racing, the last thing that so many say is ‘had a great night, let us know when you have another Group-On deal.”
1968 Winter Hope, future winner of the Eclipse and Puppy Derby, makes 800gns (approx £16,300 today) at Shelbourne Sales.
2003 Wimbledon trainer Paul Garland lands a hefty gamble when Jaybee Dee is backed from 7-1 to 7-4f in A6. The winner gets home by one length and finds 22 spots on his previous outing. He is upgraded and wins again next time out in a slower time!
1964 Salthill Sands who had been bought for 540 guineas at Shelbourne sales in May, wins the £1,000 Scurry Gold Cup final at Clapton.
