2007 Bookmakers Cashmans and Paddy Power both offer to pay out on Kryptonite who is hampered on the run-in of the Irish Derby Final by a KO’d dog jumping from the infield back onto the track. Kryptonite, who had been leading, was beaten a short head by brother Royal Treason.
2013 Hall Green are given permission to stage their 480m race over 472m due to the trap gantry snapping
1966 A new tax based on rateable values will see many tracks close their casinos. Set at three ranges between £500 and £50,000 per year, dependent on rateable values, the tax is taxed separately on the casinos attached to tracks. White City and Slough have already closed their gambling operations, others are expected to follow.
1957 Brighton trainer Claude Champion has his license withdrawn for six months by the NGRC for time finding. Local grader Whistle Happily found 71 spots and the local steward – unusually – directed the enquiry straight to the NGRC without holding a preliminary hearing. Such was the speed of the suspension that the trainer’s nine runners were withdrawn from the following day’s meeting, but because of a rule on disclosure prior to findings being published in the Calendar, no explanation was given.
2013 Phil Simmonds has a race named in his honour to celebrate his arrival at Romford and he has a runner in it. Sadly the 7-2 chance finishes fourth in the A6 contest. His name is Salad Dodger.
1985 “Rev” John B Rochford, the subject of many complaints from British owners following the sale of poor quality greyhounds, is jailed in Ireland for 12 months for fraud in relation to the purchase of a car.
2012 The Racing Post carries the following story under the headline ‘Holloway in TV Apology’. Following comments made by Ricky Holloway on Racing Post Greyhound TV on Saturday September 1, the following statement of apology was issued yesterday and read in full on last night’s show. ‘On Saturday 1st September during a discussion on Racing Post Greyhound Television, Mr Ricky Holloway, Chairman of the Greyhound Trainers Association, made serious allegations against four named directors of the British Greyhound Racing Fund. By implication, Mr. Holloway’s comments also reflected in a damaging way of the performance of the other ten directors of the Fund. Among other things, Mr Holloway alleged that the four named directors acted in a manner that gave advantage to greyhound tracks owned or operated by them to the disadvantage of other tracks seeking support from the BGRF capital grants fund. In fact, only three of the directors named by Mr. Holloway are track owners or operators. For the names directors to have gained advantage and/or acted in a way prejudicial to the integrity of the Fund, as Mr Holloway alleged, all or a substantial number of the other directors of the Fund would have had to have endorsed the alleged malpractices. Mr. Holloway has now withdrawn, without reservation, all of his allegations against the four names directors. Furthermore Mr. Holloway has withdrawn his allegations that the actions of the four named directors caused a well-known greyhound personality to give up track ownership. He also accepts that none of the Directors of the BGRF acted in any way improperly in their roles as as BGRF directors on the aforementioned or any other matters. Accordingly, Mr.Holloway unreservedly apologies for the distress his comments caused and for affecting the good reputation of the Fund and its directors.’ *18 days later the GBGB issue a statement confirming the Holloway will not be given the practitioner’s seat on its board of directors.
2013 GBGB Chief Executive Barry Faulkner announces that Deloitte have been
1957 Coursing Derby winner Fourth Of July went inside the old Kilkenny track record for the fourth time when landing the McCalmont Cup Final by six lengths in 29.60. In the heats the 1-6f had recorded 29.30 twice, six lengths inside Champion Prince’s previous best.
1936 A consignment of 10 GRA owned greyhounds set sail for South Africa to take part in an international event. They will be accompanied by trainer E Hiscock, who will provide “massage, grooming and daily exercise” Also loaded onto the Dunham Castle is food for the journey and stay – five hundredweight of specially baked bread, stored in air-tight sealed containers.
1975 British owners have a great Irish weekend when Lincolnshire based John Bullen sees Ballybeg Prim and Tantallons Flyer take 1-2 in the Irish Leger. One day earlier, trainer Ger McKenna had been thwarted by the Paddy Keane trained Elsinore Silver. Owned by Wolverhampton’s Henry Geary, Silver narrowly held off favourite Shamrock Sailor by a neck in the Harolds Cross decider.
2013 Agents CBRE announce an October 28 deadline for bids for Hall Green and Belle Vue. It is understood that the tracks are on the market for £2.3m and £2.4m though rumours suggest that deals have already been reached on both.
1965 Bord na gCon, who are based in Limerick, raise some eyebrows when offering a second grant in two years for improvements to the local track. The initial grant in 1963 was used for track lighting, the latest grant, £60,000 (equivalent to £1.06m) will be spent on a new glass fronted stand and restaurant.
2009 Rotar Wing (Droopys Scolari-Youraisemeup) is finally beaten in his sixth outing in Britain. The Dave Pruhs trained runner had equalled the Peterborough sprint record on debut and set new figures for Yarmouth’s 277 metres next time out. The first defeat is over Romford 225 meres. Wiser for the experience, he returns a week later and equals the track record.
1951 Mrs Frances Chandler appears to have a fantastic young prospect in Magourna Reject. The blue brindle won a semi final of the Trafalgar Cup by 14 lengths in 29.35 – easily the fastest time ever recorded by a puppy over Wembley’s 525 yards. He duly landed the final and returned the following year to win the St. Leger.
2013 Duleek Jess makes her debut at Henlow. She is a name change from her Irish registry – Scouser Git.
1997 Saturday October 4 is the night that Charlie Lister will want to forget. At Shelbourne Park, joint favourite Some Picture, under a sickness cloud for the week, finishes last (5-2jf) in the Irish Derby Final. Picture had been hoping to become the first dog to win the English and Irish Derbys, but the race goes to the English Derby consolation winner Toms The Best. Backed from 7-1 in the previous few days, Nick Savva’s 4-1 chance is led to the run-in by Vintage Prince before staying on by a length in 30.09. Just 58 minutes later, Lister’s Spring Rose (4-6f), unbeaten in 16 stayers races, and the course track record holder, fails to catch El Grand Senor in the Grand Prix Final at Walthamstow. **Plans for Walthamstow regulars to see Toms The Best run a solo trial midway through the follow Saturday’s meeting, in aid of the Injured Jockeys Fund, are vetoed by the NGRC. The NGRC’s Frank Melville states: “The rules state that trial meetings and race meetings must be separated, and I am governed by the rules. I don’t the reason for the rule. Perhaps it is so racegoers will not be confused or its to do with not being allowed to bet on trials.” The dog is then booked for a trial before the meeting starts. He records 28.47 – two spots inside the 475m record
1975 Romford announce that their track kennels at Ockendon are to close. The three remaining track trainers Hubert Gray, George Riley and Bob Thomson will lose their jobs following the arrival of new contract trainers Peter Payne and George Carr. John Brown recently left Ockendon and will continue to train from his own range along with the existing contract handlers Terry Duggan, Dave Oswald and Ken Usher.
1996 Romford trainers: Tony Dennis, Linda Jones, Ken Linzell, Maggie Lucas, Kim Marlow, David Mullins, Peter Payne, Peter Rich, Ernie Wiley.
2013 Coventry promoter Harry Findlay announces that the new Coventry jackpot over eight legs will pay out £100,000.
