2013 The Irish Sporting Press follows the lead of the defunct Irish Greyhound Weekly by going into tabloid format.
1997 Among the proposals being put to the BGRF for future funding is an injury compensatory plan for owners.
2015 Following his recent appointment at Towcester, after six years away from the industry, ex-Walthamstow RM Chris Page describes the biggest surprise since his return. The massive decline in wide runners. He says: “I have no idea as to why it has happened. Is it something to do with pups being more intensively schooled? To memory, there were a lot more totally green pups trialled at the Stow, and they were liable to run anywhere.”
1982 Henry Kibble’s brood Bright Parade wins her class at the Breeders Festival at Harringay just hours after her son Donnas Dixie had won the Gold Collar Final at Catford. Among the stud dogs paraded at the event are Special Account, Duke Of Hazard, Brief Candle and Lauries Panther.
2012 Dean Childs makes a flying start as a Hove trainer when his first two runners win at 5-4f and 7-2. Meanwhile Harlow’s Phil Simmonds in the latest arrival at Wimbledon.
1962 NGRS/NGRC track Rochdale are to return to independent racing. The decision comes as management admit that they “are in the shadow of the Manchester NGRC tracks” and the majority of their regulars are owner trainers. In addition to savings of NGRC licenses, they no longer need to pay 1% of their gate takings to the NGRS.
1986 The 40th running of the Easter Anglian Derby at Yarmouth, worth a record £7,500 to the winner (equates to £24,250 today), goes to Ken Linzell’s Short Answer (You Genius-JoJos Girl, Sep’84), the 2-1 second favourite, heads round the last bend and wins by two lengths in 28.35, the fastest in the competition.
1966 The USA is to get its 33rd greyhound track with the opening of South Dakota.
1994 Bill Cooke, the founder Chairman of the Federation of Greyhound Owners Association, is to be the new senior steward of the NGRC.
1970 Own Pride is retired to stud after finishing second in the Irish Derby Final behind Monalee Pride. A year earlier, the Ger Mckenna trained dog had landed the Derby/Leger double.
2015 With eight meetings gone, Ladbrokes are delighted with their experiment of broadcasting Irish greyhound meetings into their UK shops. Spokesman Richard Brankley said: “There is clearly a market for the product on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday evenings and the 10-race meetings from Cork, Mullingar and Youghal have been well received. They are betting to a market of around 131/132 per cent and we would expect that to come down as the market grows in confidence.”
2009 Among the Parade of Star’s at the 40th British Breeders Festival at Harlow were Fireheight Dan, Lenson Joker, Sonic Flight and Mega Delight.
2015 Crayford paddock steward Angie Fotheringham gives a demonstration of greyhound micropchipping to Irish control stewards. Crayford was used for the first trial of the procedure which was made mandatory in Britain in 2008.
1954 Brighton’s runners shortage means that four of their eight graded races only feature five runners. Unfortunately, three runners are then withdrawn from a single race leaving it as a two runner contest. It was a cracker though with a short head between the pair and the 4-11 favourite was beaten
1974 Westmead Valley (Carry On Oregon-Cricket Dance, Jul 71) completes a unique Slough double litter by landing the Scurry Gold Cup, just weeks after brother Delroney Leader had won the track’s major six-bend final, the Buckinghamshire Cup. In an advert in Greyhound Magazine, in September 1971, both dogs could have been bought for £100. Other eight week old pups being offered included the future champion brood Westmead Damson (dam of Westmead Power) – a snip at £70.
2010 Rayvin Giovanni is installed as the 4-9 ante post favourite for the forthcoming Romford Puppy Cup.
1962 Among the dogs standing at stud in Britain are Clonalvy Pride, cost 40gns (approx. £1,000 today) with Jack Harvey at the Wembley Stadium Kennels and Pigalle Wonder who costs 60gns (£1,500) who stands with Jimmy Jowett at Claverhambury.
1950 Mrs Mary Johnson announces that she has retired open racer Rushton News. The prolific open race winner spent most of the previous year in Ireland because his owner could not get an owner trainer licence. While there he twice broke the 500 yard track record at Cork. Mrs Johnson hopes that 16 month old Rushton Smutty, who she bought at six weeks old “will prove a suitable replacement.” Smutty goes on to win the Scottish Derby.
1962 Tom Pickett, headman to West Ham trainer Ken Appleton has been appointed as a private trainer for Lincolnshire based owner Herbert Barrett.
