August History: A look back at what happened in greyhound racing

August look back into greyhound racing's past

2020 

Three days after the closure of Belle Vue was announced by ARC, Stadia UK’s CEO Clarke Osborne announces that Poole will not be re-opening. The track had not raced since March and had missed out on a betting shop contract following a significant reduction in their schedule by media provider ARC. Osborne states that he has “been unable to provide a viable behind closed doors product.”  

1999 

BGRB chairman Sir William Rous dies after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Although only in his post for 17 months, he was generally well respected by the sport’s grass roots for his attempt at making the BGRB more accessible. 

2009

David McDonald is the new joint GM for Romford and Hove. 

2017 

Following the recent closure of Hall Green, Perry Barr RM Martin Seal reports that the track’s kennel strength has been swollen to 370 with a waiting list for trials and handslips of around 150. 

1999 

Romford trainers: Linda Jones, Ken Linzell, Kim Marlow, David Mullins, Peter Payne, Peter Rich, Ernie Wiley. 

2007 

A major shake-up at GRA sees former GM John Gilburn, now head of marketing, and current GM Carl Hopkins, both leave the company in the space of 24 hours. Gilburn had been a major factor in the growth of GRA leading to racing manager Bob Rowe stating: “I must have known 200 general managers, good, bad and indifferent. John was out of the top draw in that role.” Within a week, Oxford boss Stephen Rawle is also on his way. 

1968 

GRA announce that they are to close the track kennels adjacent to West Ham and their Clapton range which is based at Claverhambury. Runners and trainers from both tracks will be transferred to the Hook Kennels at Northaw. 

2010 

Barnfield Haveit wins on his 110th outing and sets a new Harlow 415m track record. 

1967 

Oxford trainer Henry Kibble appealed twice to the NGRC over what he saw was unfair treatment by Oxford Stadium over a time finding case. The track had fined him £20. Kibble appealed over the size of the fine and the fact that the enquiry had been prejudiced against him. The NGRC dismissed both claims and ordered that Kibble forfeit the £20 inquiry fee .

2015 

Judicial Review becomes the first greyhound to break 28.00 at Perry Barr. Carol Weatherall’s dog takes 11 spots off the previous best jointly held by Taylors Sky, Blonde Dino and Sawpit Sensation. Paula Hendy’s Newinn This Way sets a new 660m record of 39.55. Meanwhile at Henlow, Jet Stream Sound (Premier Fantasy-Swift Ash) sets a new 550m record of 32.87. 

1967

Dogstown Fame, a 66 pound bitch owned by Patsy Browne of Kilkenny sets new figures for Enniscorthy's 525 yard hurdle course. As a brood, she was to throw Irish St Leger winner Time Up Please. 

2008 

English Derby winner Loyal Honcho is retired to stud after going lame with recurring shoulder and wrist injuries in the Irish Derby. 

2003 

Catford cancels its BAGS meeting as Britain experiences its first ever 100 degree temperature. 

1998 

The NGRC are to examine how former Wimbledon grader Home Colours ended up in Battersea Dogs Home. The dog only came to light when the new owners of the white and blude, who once contested the Derby, contacted the RGT interested if the dog was an ex-racer. The dog was originally picked up as a stray. Former handler Sam Sykes said: “If I had to keep tabs on every greyhound which left my kennel I would have time for nothing else. Of course I am interested in where they are placed but it really is impossible to keep up with.” Meanwhile the dog’s new owners, the Lane family from Mitcham, are offered a complimentary meal at the stadium by Wimbledon GM Mike Raper. 

1980 

The most valuable race on the independent circuit, the Ashfield Derby, sees its win prize money rise from £3,500 to £4,000. 

1971 

August 30-31 After the Bank Holiday 12-race meeting thieves break into Harringay's strongroom, which also holds the previous Friday's takings, and get away with £35,000. The well organised gang by-pass the Security Patrol with dogs, plus the alarm system, and burn through the strongroom door with an oxy-acetylene cutter. 

1988 

A Peterborough permit trainer is fined £500 and has his license taken away when it is discovered that he had trialled three year old racer Win A Lot at the track’s puppy schooling trials. 

1968 

Shelbourne Park announce plans to demolish the main grandstand, built in 1926, to make way for a new stand with accommodation for 3,000. Racing will not be affected, as they will switch headquarters to the stand on the popular side; together with a new kennel range. The cost is expected to be about £180,000. 

1982 

The relatively unknown Ardralla Victory is a 3-1 chance when he breaks the 440 metre track record in the final of the Norton Canes Plate. Maurice Buckland’s dog goes on to become a major figure in coursing breeding as the sire of Flag Star and grand sire of Newry Hill. 

2019 

In a manifesto statement, the Labour party display blinding ignorance of the the work of GBGB, its recording process and its governance of the greyhound industry. The document states: “The lack of transparency around what happens to greyhounds after they are no longer fit for racing means that we anecdotally hear of many cases where healthy animals are needlessly destroyed. We must ensure all retired animals are properly cared for. 41. Issue best practice on responsible ownership and develop statutory minimum standards for racing and welfare.42. Introduce better mechanisms to trace ownership and implement a centralised database to record what happens to greyhounds after they are no longer fit to race.” GBGB’s Mark Bird (politely) responds: "As an organisation committed to accountability and transparency, we published annual injury and retirement data which is externally verified.  This is shared with Ministers at Defra but we would also be happy to meet with members of the Shadow Cabinet to explain how we are achieving our vision of being a welfare-centric sport.” 

1999 

Sheffield announcer Dave Hackett was somewhat dismissive of BAGS runner Strong Tom and promised to run two laps of the track if the 10-1 chance won. Urged on by the combined will power of the Sheffield crowd – and most of Hackett’s colleagues, Tom did the biz. The nutrionally advantaged Hackett the Racket allegedly completed the lap shortly after Strong Tom’s retirement.

1979 

Tick ‘N Tot, a 19-month-old pup, failed to reach his £5,000 reserve at Shelbourne Sales after clocking 29.39 in his trial. The son of Oaks winner Fur Collar later showed the form was no fluke when winning the Cambridgeshire at White City. 

1985 

Walthamtstow trainer Barney O’Connor celebrates his 68th birthday with retirement. He describes Dunmore King as the best dog he ever trained and Ballinderry Moth as the best bitch he ever put a lead on. Mick Puzey will take his place at the Stow. 

2006 

Sittingbourne announce a deal with Betfair to stage 10 Sunday meetings to be screened live on Eurosport. 

1993 

Kevin Wilde’s plan to buy Sunderland appears to have been thwarted with Lloyd Milligan increases his share in the track to two-thirds when buying out fellow director Peter Stephenson. 

1984 

GRA announce that they are seeking planning permission to put a shopping centre on part of the grounds at Wimbledon. 

2001 

Swindon general manager Tony Killingbeck departs for a role as stadium controller at Brough Park. 

1978 

Breeders Forum members are given a demonstration of ear marking by vet Bruce Prole. The NGRC have told breeders that they intend to impose ear-marking on British bred pups for the first time. 

1998 

Trips to the ’98 Topgun in Australia are being advertised. The longer trip – 18 nights – includes flights and rooms at the Hilton Hotels in Melbourne and Sydney – costs £1,150 with tour guide Terry Corden. 

2011 

Taranis Rex (Droopys Vieri-Blackstone Kate), impressive winner of the Gymcrack, has his eleventh and final race in supporting race to the Grand National final. He is exactly two years old. Nick Colton’s black and white suffers a calf injury from which he never recovers. 

1969 

Bookie Dougie Tyler produces his ante post prices for the St Leger. It is headed by 3-1 chance Cash For Dan. Eventual winner Crefogue Dancer is a 33-1 chance. 

1988 

The Irish Coursing Club announces that it will introduce dope testing at its major coursing meetings from the start of the new season. They also plan to introduce new procedures to prevent hares being used more than once at a meeting. 

2018 

One of the nicest stories of the year concerns Mo Twenty One, who is bought by Gary Wiltshire in memory of Mo Done, recently deceased wife of bookmaker Fred Done. The plan was that Mo would run at Belle Vue in aid of a Manchester cancer charity. However, the Done family soon fell in love with the pretty little white bitch who only raced seven times before leaving Pat Rosney’s range for a retirement in Fred Done’s mansion. 

2005 

Charlie Lister thinks his kennel is cursed after Killeigh Grand’s career is ended by a gracilis injury. It follows successive fatal injuries to Droopys Best and Fear By Design. 

1994 

Jackies Phantom, a former grader at Walthamstow, landed the Irish National Sprint in 23.31 for Dunmore’s 435 yards. The dog was switched to Matt O’Donnell after Ernie Gaskin advised that the dog would benefit from Ireland’s shorter pre-race kennelling times. 

1967 

More and more tracks are switching from sand to grass surfaces. Bristol are the latest NGRC track to announce plans to do so, independent Bletchley have just completed the circuit. However, dog owners at independent Chesterfield threaten to boycott the track in promoter Albert Mowbray continues with his plan to swap to sand. 

1985 

Comings and goings: Racing Manager Gary Woodward hands in his notice at Coventry… Stan Kennett arrives as the new trainer at Hackney… Operations Director John Sutton decides to leave Brighton… Peter Shotton returns as General Manager. 

2011 

The draw for the first round of the Irish Derby takes place just two days before the first runners go to traps. Razldazl Jayfkay, who had been ante post favourite for the English Derby at 6-1, also heads the market for the Irish equivalent at 10-1.