1959 Waterford owner-breeder John Mackey has a 131⁄2 month old puppy appropriately named No Midget (bk wd Ollys Quare Rebel-Judys Flare). He weights 100lb.
1987 Whitwood boss John Hyde decides to return his track to independent racing. The track spent just over 18 months as an NGRC track but Hyde blamed the cost of registrations and licences for his decision.
1940 One of the few English classic finals run off during World War II was the Gold Collar, over 440 yards at Catford. The final with a first prize of £350 – £150 down on the previous year – went to Mr V Joy’s 100-7 outsider, Cash Balance (Battle Fare-Lottery Lark). The Wembley trained runner won in 25.74.
1983 British bred champion Gigolo Diomedes (Linacre-Ramblers Meteor) dies of cancer of the spleen within weeks of going to stud. Bred and trained by Louis Soloman of Walthamstow, Diomedes (11-10f) finished second to Special Account in the 1981 Puppy Derby. But at 22 months old he beat Cooladine Super in the White City leg and then led home compatriots Special Account and Duke Of Hazard in 29.50 for a 1-2-3 at Shelbourne Park.
1973 June 30 In the last race at Brighton, a world record is set when Easy Investment (Brandon Jungle-Fallen Ribocco, Jun 70) records 28.17 for the 525 yards. The previous best for the trip was 28.26 set by Super Rory (Yellow Printer-Laharn Beauty, Oct 70) in the semi-finals of the 1972 English Derby.
1959 June 19 The Trigo Cup Final, worth £500 at Celtic Park is won easily by the brindled Bermudas Cloud (Prince of Bermuda-Seafield Biddy, Jun 57).
1964 Lucky Hi There (Hi There-Olives Bonny) produced a record breaking run to win the Gold Cup at Wembley. Jimmy Jowett’s dog, who formerly held the Limerick 525 yard clock, covered the 700 Wembley yards in 39.28.
1974 Derby final night at London White City saw betting on the Tote not seen since the good old says of 1946-47, when 2.4 million units were placed, of that total nearly 400,000 were on the final, won by Jimsun, trained at Hall Green by Geoff De Mulder.
1966 Wandsworth hold their last meeting. The track is to be demolished and become part of the new Arndale shopping centre. The original home of The Olympic now run at Brighton, the track had a circumference of 3831⁄2 yards, with standard distances over 440 and 650 yards and an outside Sumner hare. The winner of the very last race – a 650 flat – is J F Maynard’s There’s Robin (fd, Crazy Parachute-Garden Robin, Feb 62). The 4-1 chance trained by O’Shaughnessy won by seven lengths in 38.55.
1957 June 20 On BBC television Kellys Eye, a topical programme presented by Barbara Kelly, wife of Bernard Braden, talks to Ms G Eyton-Jarvis, secretary of the British Breeders Association, and Harvey Jones, Secretary of the Canine Defence League, to dispel public anxiety that thousands of greyhounds are shot at the end of their racing careers. The English Derby Final on June 29, broadcast live by the BBC, has two of the best commentators presenting the show, Peter O’Sullevan and Brian Johnstone.
1977 June 11 In heat 6 of the Western Two Year Old Produce Stakes over 470 metres at Bristol, there was controversy when a decision by the tracks stewards, was hotly debated. The drama started when Wimbledon trainer Paddy McEvoy’s 5-4 favourite, Silent Sam, was slow away and making for the rails at the first bend. He crashed into a metal post which holds three white nylon cords that are the inner running rail. Suffering from concussion the stricken dog staggered through the ropes, onto Bristol Rovers football pitch before he collapsed. Luckily the injuries were not serious and he made a full recovery. But more drama was to follow. McEvoy’s other runner, Jet Warfare, who decided to take a short cut at the third bend by diving through the three nylon ropes. He cut across the football pitch, and jumped back onto the track on the home straight behind Didya Surrender, the 5-2 second favourite and the other runners. The stewards disqualified Jet Warfare, and declared a no-race much to the annoyance of the punters, for the winner Didya Surrender had done nothing wrong, he had run his race the hare was not slowed – there was not outside interference! With Silent Sam injured, Jet Warfare disqualified, and with Wally Ginzel declining to re-run his Maggies Hope, the three remaining runners went forward to the second round.
1993 Canterbury grader Farncombe Lady won her first ever race – at five years and three months of age.
2000 Rye House trainer Roy Martin is warned off all tracks after being found guilty by the NGRC of running a ringer in place of Annamore Linda. The track is also fined £1,000.
1985 June 11 A huge crowd turn out at Brough Park, Newcastle, for the first race at the stadium of Ken Peckham’s phenomenon, Scurlogue Champ, in a £250 to the winner open. The July 82 black dog by Sand Man out of Old Rip, starts a very short 1-8 fav. The local bookies lay the other 4 runners at 8-1, 20-1, 50-1, 100-1, a good book of 108%. The big crowd gave a huge roar as the race started, and “Duke” (Scurlogue’s pet name) was well away laying second to the 8-1 second favourite Muskerry Prince, for the first four bends. He then swept into the lead at the fifth bend and turned on his power house finish to delight the crowd. Champ won by 11 lengths in a new track record of 52.62 the old record was 52.97. It was also Duke’s 14th win in a row.
