2012 Five trainers withdraw from the Betfair sponsored Trainers Championship meeting: Chris Allsop. Seamus Cahill, Charlie Lister, Nick Savva and Mark Wallis. Trainer Kelly Findlay initially jointed the boycott but refused to sign a prepared statement though she later withdraws due to a lack of runners. The plan is hatched at a GOBATA meeting at Towcester racecourse. In a statement, the trainers, plus other GOBATA members also threaten to boycott open racing between March12-17. The strike is called off after BGRF Fund chairman Tom Kelly intervenes .
1998 Larkhill Jo, destined to be one of the best stud dogs of his generation sires his first litter. There is only one pup, Alsucaan Grace, who is destined to run A6 at Milton Keynes. Two nights later Jo finishes lame (shoulder) when beaten at 4-9f in the Arc Final won by Ceekay (10-1).
2002 Top Jock is 5-1ante post favourite for the Grand National. He will finish runner-up to Ballyvorda Jock, available at 12-1 ante post.
1949 Clapton shareholder have to make do with a 33% dividend return for 1948 having earned 50% the previous year.
2002 Figures reveal that the 24Dogs news service, owned by GRA, lost £1.3m the previous year.
1998 The Pall Mall gets underway at Oxford. Champ Of Clare is the ante post favourite. Eventual winner Black Buster is available at 66-1.
2013 In a bizarre heat of the Springbok, only one runner, Uncle Blue, completes the course. Reduced to five runners, with only 30 runners contesting the first round, Hollyoak McCoy fell at the second hurdle followed by Fire Food Chilli at the third hurdle. Two of the remaining three runners became distracted leaving the Barr O’Sullivan runner to come home alone in 31.13, some 19 lengths slower than the night’s quickest winner Lenson Johnny.
2002 Two trainers with runners due to race at Nottingham, Tony Lucas and Hazel Kemp, were phoned by a hoaxer and advised that the meeting had been cancelled.
1970 There is a thrilling finish to the Coronation Stakes at Wembley. It goes to Tom Johnston’s Mannon Ranger with the distances: sh, hd, hd, 11/4, nk.
1985 Powderhall’s assistant racing manager Jimmy Nunn is to be the new racing manager at Sheffield.
2012 Former champion trainer Clemenson announces that he is to leave Hove at the end of March. He blames financial pressures for his decision. Wimbledon’s Norah McEllistrim is to take his place. Michael Peterson, with 120 greyhounds split between Oxford and Hall Green, announces he will close his kennel at the end of May.
1995 BOLA announce an inquiry into an ‘unnamed favourite’ betting coup at Swindon where the winners of three suspect races were returned at 5-2 and 3-1 (twice).
2002 The BGRB decide to prevent betting firms who trade from abroad – there is only one (Victor Chandler) from sponsoring any competitions. The Board had unofficially already black-balled Chandlers when dropping the Chandler sponsored Select Stakes from its TV schedule.
1997 Oxford GM Dan McCormick announces that the stadium have applied for planning permission to open a 4,000 square foot casino.
1958 Owner Father Matthew Twomey turned down a sum of £3,000 for Kilcaskin Kern (equivalent to £73K today). The dog rated the best in Ireland recently joined private trainer Tony Dennis.
1997 Trainer Shaun Neary was so upset when Walthamstow left his Treasured Manx out of the Stewards Cup that he pledged not to return the perpetual trophy won the dog the previous year.
2013 Coventry are to join the Racing Post Greyhound TV schedule with meetings on Wednesdays and Sunday, in addition to their Thursday, Friday and Saturday meetings. The track receive 150 entries for their first televised open race meeting. Meanwhile the Brandon track introduce two new distances of 450m and 859m.
1997 Whilst a guest of the RGT stand at Crufts, Annette Crosbie tells visitors: “30,000 greyhounds are registered each year . . .what about those that don’t make the grade”. The actress estimates that 300 greyhounds are put to sleep each week with the RGT’s David Poole conceding that his organisation only homes 13 per cent of those registered. In Ireland, just days earlier, two greyhounds are wash up onto a beach with concrete blocks tied around their necks.
1971 Liverpool star Emlyn Hughes joins the ownership ranks at Belle Vue when his Brown Gun joins Stan Mitchell.
1998 Harlow stages its first 769 metre graded race.
