Floyd's greyhound racing memories from the month of October

Floyd looks back over Octobers past

1998 

Two years after being found guilty with offences of falsely registering litters in the name of his stud dog Chariot Supreme, Australian stud keeper Kevin Richards is facing further allegations. An Australian newspaper claims that as many as 20,000 offspring directly, or indirectly related to his stud dog Shining Chariot are also incorrectly registered. 

2000

The BGRB write to the Office of Fair Trading to complain over BAGS plans to offer extended five year contracts to tracks in place of the existing one year deals. BAGS are undaunted and announce a 29 per cent increase in greyhound fixtures including meetings every Sunday. 

2019

ARC announce that they have signed agreements to take over greyhound racing at former GRA tracks, Belle Vue and Perry Barr. 

1997

Romford has its entire racing circuit dug up, reshaped, widened and relaid with a new Swaffham hare - total cost £100,000.  

2005 

Kim Marlow is sacked by Romford after her kennel’s third positive drugs test. Her place is taken by Jim Reynolds. 

1999

In an amazing case, NGRC stewards made no order against anyone following the inquiry into the positive test for cocaine of Nicki Chambers' Smiffys Errand in an open at Nottingham. The stewards were told that the sample was contaminated with the drug but that it had not passed through the greyhound. 

2019 

Former BGRB welfare head Peter Laurie, now the deputy CEO of Battersea Dogs & Cats Home responds to an attack by GBGB director Peter Harnden following a recent campaign by the charity. On their website, they produced the following text alongside a picture of a greyhound: "Caboose is in need of new owners who will appreciate him and love him as a pet dog, as opposed to thinking of him as just another dog to make quick money at the track". Laurie states that “Battersea was both surprised and saddened to read Peter Harnden’s description of our charity as a ‘disgrace’ and the misguided accusations of “cynicism” and “dishonesty” in his 23 October opinion piece.... Any suggestion that Battersea has set out to create a campaign to discredit or damage the reputation of Greyhound racing is spurious and wide of the mark”.

However, he does concede: “We acknowledge that the rehoming profile for ex-racer Caboose was inappropriate and inconsistent with the language and style of profiles we usually use to promote our Greyhounds. It was quickly amended, and I am happy to apologise on behalf of Battersea for any offence it may have caused to anyone who read it.”

2007 

A life size cut-out of the late John Davidson is featured in presentation photos at a Crayford memorial meeting in his memory.

2015 

Two Tony Taylor-trained runners Castlelyons Cofi and Bizarro return a forecast of £1,361 in the Grand National semis. The six qualifiers from the semis returned, 6-1, 6-1, 12-1, 33-1, 50-1, 50-1 

1997

Former Sporting Life journalist Reg Potter dies aged 79. Prior to his retirement he had been the leading tipster at Wimbledon for the previous 17 years. 

2005

Cradley Sales are told that they are no longer required at Perry Barr. They will switch to Coventry.

1972

Southend racing manager Terry Evans produces, arguably, the worst graded race ever, in an S1 event. The winner started at 1-3f and won by 11 lengths. The last three home all went to traps at 100-1 and trailed the field; the last home being beaten a total of 27 lengths. 

1994

Hackney trainers: Adams, Bailey, Bergin, Brooks, Byrne, Clemenson, Connolly, Cottee, Davidson, Douglas, Fredericks, Griffin, Kaye, Kempster, Lanceman, Lawrence, Mavrias, March, Maxen, McSeveney, Newman, Pattinson, Pett, Pickett, Riches, Simpson, Spalding, Stone, Thompson, Vowles, Wearing, White R, G Williams, Woods, York. 

2018 

In a cost saving exercise, GBGB announce the scrapping of the role of Media and Communications Officer. Simon Banks leaves the organisation on the same day. 

1960

In a newspaper interview, Mick The Miller’s trainer Sidney Orton reveals his theory as to why greyhounds have become ‘softer’ or less competitive in the previous 30 years. According to the great man, the introduction of vaccines that have all but eliminated hard-pad and distemper had allowed weaker members of litters to survive, when once only the toughest and most resilient members of the litter made it to adulthood. 

2008

Former Wathamstow, Harringay and Portsmouth trainer Mick Puzey announces that he will not re-apply for a licence in 2009. A Stow handler for 23 years, he states that he cannot make ends meet by training at Harlow and Henlow.  

1965 

With provincial bookmakers refusing to join the winter afternoon greyhound service, due to the cost, the NGRS reduce the price from £50 (for the winter) to £20. 

2013

GBGB Chief Executive Barry Faulkner announces that Deloitte have been commissioned to produce a report showing ‘an independent analysis of the scale of greyhound racing’. The cost of the report is not revealed. 

2016

After 17 years as a board member of both the British Greyhound Racing Board and the Greyhound Board of Great Britain, and as chairman of the BGRB’s Welfare Committee, and trustee of the Greyhound Trust, John Haynes announce his retirement.  

1965 

Wembley punters began booing odds on favourite Strong Arm when he trapped last and trailed the field around the first two bends of a graded race. However, the booing died down as the dog raced through the field to win a by a neck. The racing press described dozens of  “shame faced punters collecting their winnings.” 

2018

Greyhound racing moves into a new era with Henlow’s first breakfast time meeting, first race 8.12am. 

2012 

The Racing Post’s ‘Mutley’ column blasts Nottingham for ‘grading’ the divisions of an Eclipse trialstake into the equivalent of a category one final. The toughest division features Holdem Spy, Hather George, Bridge Honcho and Ballymac Eske who duly sets a new 500m track record. 

1964  

Former Wembley grader Canadian Hi There wins the $15,000 first prize in the American Derby at Taunton.  The half brother to Lucky Hi There is trained from the kennels of Fred Trevellion, the former UK owner, famous for Trevs Perfection. 

2015

Nottingham, Sheffield, Kinsley and Swindon are added to the GBGB’s national injury database. Kinsley promoter John Curran said: “Contrary to the popular conception, the racecourse promoters have been sharing the data with the Greyhound Forum for many years, within the terms of a confidentiality agreement. This new system offers two significant improvements. Firstly, the data is available in real-time; it can be assessed as soon as it is filed by the track vets. Potentially, on the same day. This will allow an immediate response to any evolving problem. Under the old scheme it would take many months to compile and analyse the data. Secondly, the new system offers increased integrity since the track vets will be the only ones able to upload the data via a password protocol. That should prevent the critics claiming that information is being supressed by the racecourse promoters.”

2007 

Barnfield On Air (Pacific Mile-Always On Air) sets a new Coventry 480m track record of 28.85 when landing a heat of the Blue Square Cup. He goes on to finish unbeaten through the event landing the final from a quality field that includes Gymcrack winner Fear Haribo and future Irish Derby winner Shelbourne Aston. It was the fourth track record set by Sam Poots’ runner after Belle Vue (27.30-470m), Walthamstow (28.15-475m) and Hove (29.20-515m).