1960 Engineers from London Electricity Board invite representatives from greyhound tracks to see the latest advances in under soil heating. They are confident that the latest system, which has been undergoing trials at Everton’s football ground, will overcome previous teething problems.
1928 The NGRC licence their first female greyhound trainer, Miss Eleanor Ings, a private trainer from Hampshire. The first female track trainer, Miss M Barnes, is appointed at Brighton in 1931. (The Jockey Club will not allow a female racehorse trainer until forced to do so by a High Court ruling in 1965)
2006 Stow trainer John Mullins hands in his notice. He is replaced by Seamus Cahill. Meanwhile Paul Sallis joined the training strength at Hall Green. pic STEVE NASH
1936 At Exeter’s Kenton Coursing Club meeting, ravished by wind and rain only one stake is decided, the rest being divided. The Courtenay Stakes for all aged goes to Mr L Budd’s Mundy Playful (Bright Answer-Mundy Playtoy) who had too much in hand over his rival Dark Sophie. The trophy was presented by the Earl of Devon, the nineteen year old president of the club.
1992 Essex police conclude that they have no evidence of a criminal act having taken place following their enquiries into the notorious Romfordgate scandal which led to the sacking of two trainers and racing manager Jim Simpson.
2006 Brough Park general manager Dave Maykels quits to become boss of Leicester racecourse.
1977 Lakeview Prince wins a grade race Maidstone and returns at 5-1 on the book. But with only one 20p win ticket on the tote, the dividend is £34.02 – or odds of 169-1.
1964 Track records as they stood on January 1 – West Ham 525yds; Coolkill Chieftain (28.65), Stamford Bridge 500yds; Oregon Prince (27.15), Harringay 525yds; Pigalle Wonder (29.03), Wembley 525yds ; Pigalle Wonder (28.78), White City 525 yard; Pigalle Wonder (28.44), Wimbledon 500 yds: Clonalvy Pride (27.66 – though they also list Mile Bush Pride’s trial of 27.61)
2018 GBGB owners director Paul Ephremsen resigns for ‘two reason’. “the ‘significant challenges’ within his business combined with the hours involved in his role within GBGB and criticism from within the board who “have not appreciated some of the blogs and columns I have written in the last few months.”
1961 Leading Irish star Skips Choice is sold to Dr Mario Bellotti and is to join Leslie Reynolds. In 1960 the dog had won the Irish National Sprint, Rogers Trophy and Shelbourne Leger. He also set track records for 525 yards at Dundalk and Harolds Cross.
1946 The 1945 Cesarewitch, held over because of mechanical trouble, is held at West Ham. The two week delay is a blessing in disguise for two of the finalists. Gala Flash (toe injury) and Prancing Kitty (lame) could not have taken part on the original date, but are fully recovered and take their place in the final. Alas, they both finish well behind all-the-way winner Hurry Kitty. The 5-4 favourite wins by nine lengths in 31.26 for the 550 yards trip.
1962 A 21 year old trainer sends out his first open racers since taking over Jimmy Clubb’s range in Dartford. He is John Haynes, former head man to Phil Rees. Sadly it is not a dream debut, the 8-1 chance finishes last.
1978 Figures show that the 1977 attendances were up for the third time in four years to 6,585,491 at Britain’s 48 NGRC tracks – an average of 1,126 people at each meeting. White City has the highest tote turnover at £7.4m followed by Walthamstow (£6.7m) and Wimbledon (£5.6m).
2018 A new era is created when Henlow broadcasts its first meeting into UK betting shops. There is also a new schedule for RPGRV, they lose the popular ‘Romford Fridays’ but amongst the gains are Nottingham on Monday and Sheffield on Tuesdays. Poole is shown for the first time.
1958 Wembley bookmakers were proved right when dismissing Madalena as a ‘no hoper’ in a Wembley open. The 20 month old pup actually led, but was soon collared and finished last. How confident were the Wembley layers? She returned at 400-1.
2016 Greyhound racing is reeling following the death of the great Irish trainer Matt O’Donnell aged 82. Based in Killenaule, Matt won the Irish Derby with The Other Toss (which he also bred), Ardfert Mick, and Batties Rocket. He won the English Derby with Farloe Melody and no less than seven Irish Legers. The kennel also landed the event in 2012 with Skywalker Puma winning for wife Frances and daughter Jennifer would be successful in 2022 with another home bred, Born Warrior.
2007 Crayford hurdler Pishiobury Yum returned to racing after a 15 month lay-off following an apparent career ending gracillis muscle injury. The John Davidson trained dog, now five years and five months old, won an H1 followed by an open in his first two races back. Sadly, he broke down again two races later.
2018 We are only 15 days into the new year when Mildenhall announces its closure for ‘financial reasons’. Badly hit by the loss of trainers in the media rights battle, the track had only been racing once a week and its most recent meeting only fielded 49 runners.
1960 The January issue of the NGRC Calendar reveal that GRA’s group of local stewards are a fairly ‘select’ lot. The company’s four London tracks employ, a baronet, four lieutenant-colonels, three majors, a lieutenant-commander and a squadron leader. Though the highest ranking GRA employee of them all is the Powderhall steward Commander R Hunter-Blair.
1961 Aldridges auctioneer Frank Rowe tells the press a tale of an ‘English innocent’ who recently went to Ireland to buy his first greyhound. On his return, he noticed that the dog had only one eye. He phoned the breeder in disgust. “Here that dog you sold me has only got one eye” he yelled at the Irishman. “Now is that so, and how many eyes do you have?” replied the Irishman. “”Two of course” came the indignant reply. The response was: “Well, you bought the dog!”
1964 The following article was penned by journalist Harry Lloyd in December 1964, when some of the original witnesses of Britain’s first ever greyhound meeting were still around to tell the tale.
“The starter’s flag hanging limply at his side on a warm July evening at Gorton, Manchester, 38 years ago had hardly any significance for the small crowd who had come to watch Britain’s first greyhound meeting.
But the flag that was suddenly raised heralded not only the fact that the sport of greyhound racing was about to be born.
It was Belle Vue who staged that historic meeting on July 24, 1926. About 1,700 curious spectators, mostly coursing enthusiasts, saw the sport launched in this country.
From its early – and humble – beginnings, with one gaunt grandstand and a 500yds course, Belle Vue has progressed to a fine stadium with glass-fronted restaurant, under-soil heating and spectator comfort envied by every other sport.
It was Bill Johnson who sent the battery-driven hare bouncing on its way for that first race. And it was only last year that Bill retired after a lifetime and thousands of miles of hare-driving.
As Bill sent the hare towards the starting boxes – it was often held up by the many cats which h infested the track at that time – the starter’s eyes never left the white-painted mark on the hare rail three yards before the trap.
As it reached this mark he would press down a handle and the traps would fly open.
Eric Hiscock, successful Harringey trainer, was one of the first handlers at the Northern track.
Said Eric, now 58, “There were six of us in those days. We charged the owners a guinea a week to keep their dogs – the odd shilling for veterinary care. We had about 30 dogs each, and a couple of kennel boys slept in with them.’
It was Brigadier-General A C Critchley, perhaps the most famous name in greyhound racing, who said to Eric one day: ‘I want you to take some dogs to South Africa.’ And Eric duly obliged.
The clear-voiced trainer from Oare, Marlborough – the birthplace of some famous greyhound trainers in the heart of horse-racing territory – stayed at the northern circuit for 10 years before coming to London.
“But after the war, when I left the RAF I was asked to return to Manchester as kennel manager. I stayed another six years before returning to London to have my own kennel. But I liked Manchester and the people up there. They were always so very friendly.”
The bookmakers thronged to the track in those early days.
One bookmaker who attended the first meeting was Andrew Seddon. He liked what he saw and came back with the tools of his trade at the second meeting and has been there ever since.
Belle Vue, as they are now, were full of ideas. They put on complete meetings for hurdlers, and staged a miniature Grand National with wood and cardboard ‘mock’ walls, water jump, and a 4ft high privet hedge.
Greyhound racing has come a long way since the days of the dipping flag and Heath Robinson contraption which brought the scuttling hare to a standstill.
The original photo of Mistley winning the first ever greyhound race in Britain was destroyed during World War II though thankfully copies had been made, including the one from which this reproduction is made. Mistley’s race was the first on a six race card, including one hurdle event. There were 37 meetings staged at Belle Vue during that first summer season of racing. In the photo, note the judges box on the inside of the track and the eight runner traps. In January 1928, the rules of racing were amended to ban eight dog races.
