1928 June 23 A crowd of around 5,000 are at the first meeting at Brough Park. As written by the local newspaper “A numerous party of county and city sportsmen included several representatives of Newcastle City Council, to whom the architectual and floral features of the collosal stadium were a revelation. Its vast capacity combined with its elaborate appointments produced most encouraging results in the staging of the new sport” Racing Manager Captain S C Henderson has graded in more than 100 greyhounds and a six-race card, five runners in each, goes off without a hitch. The first race, the Lawson Stakes over 500 yards and worth £10 to the winner, goes to J W Levy’s Mavin. 21 of the night’s 30 runners are in the ownership of the stadium owners, GRA.
1959 June 24 The first triple dead heat ever o be caught on the photo-finish camera happened at Bradford Greenfield when Smokey Granville trip 1, Lollypop trap 2 and Rathboro Viceroy trap 5 are inseparable.
2002 A SKY interview with Frank Jackman, on behalf of the Union of Greyhound Owners is cancelled at the apparent insistence of GRA chairman Jarvis Astaire. BGRB chief executive Geoffrey Thomas later claims that he ordered the censorship. SKY then claim that they themselves chose to cancel the interview are were not swayed by any pressure.
1988 Sand Man (Friend Westy-Miss Gorgeous) has died at John Fitzpatrick’s kennel in Portlaoise. He was 15 years old when he died but had been serving until eight months before his death. The most important sire since Monalee Champion, Sand Man spent ten years at stud and was lightly used for the first two years. He sired 15 British and Irish classic winners including the winners of both country’s Derbies, Whisper Wishes and Dipmac, and the greatest marathon runner of them all Scurlogue Champ. In the year that he died, the diminutive white and black could be found in the pedigrees of all six English Derby finalists.
2002 Ballyskeagh announce that they are to close on July 5 because Northern Irish tracks cannot compete with their southern counterparts. Promoter Paddy Owens plans to put a case of unfair competition to the European Commission.
2004 Kiaran O’Brien leaves the job of Shawfield racing manager seven weeks after arriving in Glasgow. On his departure, O’Brien states that he was unable to work with promoter Billy King.
1971 There is a fracas at flapping track Rye House when racing manager Gerry Bailey withdraws a dog from an open race just before it was due to go on parade. The dog had previous been disqualified for fighting at the track under a different name and Bailey’s partner. Jack Carter spotted the deception when ink from the dog’s altered earmark was seen to rub off.
1968 June 28 The Ulster Derby final over 525 yards at Celtic Park and worth a record £1,250 to the winner provides a great line-up. It includes the previous year’s Irish Derby winner Russian Gun and the prolific Itsamint. But the races goes to Pat McCusker’s Drumsna Chestnut, who catches Russian Gun on the line to win by a short head. April Mirth is second, beaten another shot head with Isamint back in fourth.
2004 The BGRB agrees to give 100 per cent funding for all trainers for fitting air management systems to their vehicles or 50% towards the cost of air conditioning.
Springwood Mickey
1991 Springwood Mickey attracts a record crowd to Wishaw as he wins the Pitmans Derby. The son of Aragon Mill and Fontaine gets home with three lengths to spare in 27.83 for the 500 yards.
1934 June 30 Aldridges Sales, at Upper St Martins Lane, London, has a fine selection of greyhounds for sale, including Mahers Prospect, who in 1931 at odds of 20-1 beat Mick The Miller (1-3), in the semi-final of the Cesarewitch at West Ham.
1964 Fred Underhill, Secretary of the NGRC heads a deputation to the Home Office objecting most strongly to betting shops being allowed to remain open after 6.30pm. Neither the Home Office nor the Scottish Home Office will be granting a licence for the extension of closing hours to betting shops.
