A Look Back: Historic Greyhound Racing Moments in August

A Historical Look Back at August in Greyhound Racing

2020

August 1 – The long awaited announcement is made – Britain’s first greyhound track at Belle Vue in Manchester has officially closed – some 94 years and one week after its first meeting. Already under threat following the granting of planning permission, the track initially closed due to Covid in March, re-opened for two meetings in June, the last of which was on June 6. Read the announcement. 

Swift Loki, disqualified for deliberate interference in his first ever race, an A4 at Yarmouth, wins the £8,000 RPGTV Champion Hurdle Final at Central Park for trainer James Turner. In fact, he would race on another 111 occasions, on the flat and over hurdles, before retirement with a career ending injury.

Defending champion Lenson Bocko is installed as the 10/1 favourite for the Boylesports Irish Derby. Next best at an appropriate 12/1 is his kennelmate, unbeaten in his first dozen races, Newinn Taylor. He will be beaten in his next two before setting another four-timer including the final.

2019

Maurice Buckland, the former trainer who brought racing back to Perry Barr, dies following a lengthy illness. In a double blow for the Midlands, ex-Monmore trainer Peter Billingham also passed away. Also announced: the death of former Hove handler John Gammon.

2016

Some FOY 480 times: Hall Green: Quivers Manor-28.53, Monmore: Droopys Buick-27.76, Newcastle: Maum Legend-28.31, Nottingham: Newinn Shadow-28.34, Perry Barr: Charity Buster-28.11, Shawfield: Droopys Buick-28.63, Sheffield: Domino Storm-27.52, Sittingbourne: Ballymac Shirley-28.73, Swindon: Face The Blade-28.26, Towcester: Domino Storm-28.01, Wimbledon: Ballymac Matt-28.05.

2012

Derby finalist Westmead Adonis shatters a front leg in the final of the Kent Derby and has to be put to sleep.

2010

Droopys Oscar (4-1), Tudor Prince (6-1), Blonde Fletch (8-1), Slick Symphony (8-1), the first four in the ante post betting for the Puppy Classic finish 1st-2nd-4th and 6th in the final.

2008

The senior appointments for the new Greyhound Board of Great Britain are revealed. Maurice Watkins is to be the chairman. Best known as ‘Manchester United’s solicitor’ he is also a non exec director of the Rugby Football League. The new chief exec is Ian Taylor who held a similar position at London Irish Rugby Club and Sportscotland. The chairman of the regulatory board is vet Ian Reynolds who is non-exec chairman of the Meat Hygiene Service and deputy chairman of the Food Standards Agency.

Pop group Madness showed off T-shirts supporting the ‘Save Our Stow’ campaign to the 22,000 crowd at a concert in Newmarket.

2007

Walthamstow trainers: Gary Baggs, Seamus Cahill, John Coleman, Paul Garland, Dickie Hawkes, Kelly Mullins, Mick Puzey, Peter Rich, John Sherry, Graham Sharp, Mark Wallis.

2005

August 25 – Pelaw Grange stages its first meeting under NGRC rules.

2004

Droopys Scholes’ attempt at an English/Irish Derby double ends in the second round at Shelbourne Park. Scholes sustains a gracilis injury and finishes fourth.

Maxie Rumble is retired to stud after losing his battle with arthritis. The brindle won 30 opens during his career including the Prestige, Midland St Leger, Cesarewitch and Silver Collar.

2001

An EU ruling prevents tracks from re-claiming VAT on racecards which form part of admission fees. The decision will cost the industry around £600,000.

1999

Patsy Cusack and Arun Green join the training staff at Crayford. Tommy Wade will retain a contract following the recent death of his guvnor George Lang.

Catford racing manager Stuart Netting quits the sport. The 30-year-old, who at 20 had been the youngest racing manager ever appointed, describes his time in greyhound racing as:

“I have wasted 13 years of my life.”

GRA announces a £4m refurbishment of Portsmouth.

1998

Rye House stage opens after the England World Cup squad but are refused permission to name a race after England’s recently disgraced red-carded star David Beckham. The Beckham Special was to be contested by greyhounds who have previously had their cards marked.

1997

Springwood Mickey, or Fair Boot to use his registered name, dies in Ireland. He is rated by many as the best dog ever to race the independent circuit.

1994

Greenane Squire, the track record holder for the English Derby trip dies en route to Ireland where he is to contest the Irish Derby. No cause is ever found though a dispute breaks out over the dog’s ownership when the husbands of owners Mesdames Wenman and Jefford claim that Sean Bourke had bought a half share in the dog but hadn’t paid it in full. This was strenuously disputed by Bourke who claimed he had merely paid a returnable deposit. Squire had actually sired one litter prior to his death and two of those progeny went on to win minor opens. In the same week as Squire’s demise, Henry Tasker’s Derby quarter finalist and potential brood Ballinderry Sue (I’m Slippy-Ballinderry Sand) breaks her neck after falling in a gallop.

1988

Britain’s newest independent track at Bideford in Devon closes after failing to attract sufficient support.

1987

Wembley Stadium Ltd announce a takeover of the GRA group. The cost is around £70m.

Bolton's Independent Derby, worth £8,000 to the winner, is the biggest prize on the circuit, and has attracted a strong entry, with the event being oversubscribed.

1986

Trainer John Cox was fined £1,000 and suspended for six weeks after weighing in a dog using a collar fortified with lead. Weighed minus the collar, the dog Best Buster registered point four of a kilo less (approx one pound). With or without the collar, the greyhound is still within its weight requirements. It was allowed to compete in the Wembley graded race but finished fourth. Cox resigned his Wembley position.

1976

August 13 – Paddy McEllistrim dies. One of the greatest ever trainers, he was one of the first to join Wimbledon when it opened in May 1928, and in July of that year he won his first classic when Cruseline Boy won the Scurry Gold Cup at Clapton. The next year he won the St Leger at Wembley with Loughnagare and provided the runner-up Sonny Hale. After that many more big race wins were to follow. He was a trainer at Wimbledon until 1974 when he handed over his kennels to his daughter Norah.

Inept NGRC senior steward Richard Stanley resigns in disgrace. It is only two months since his speech at the industry’s Golden Jubilee celebrations at the Dorchester Hotel in which he said:

“One day we will have a more enlightened government that will allow betting shops to open in the evening. Racing must get more revenue and we must get more revenue for off-course betting.” Stanley is to be replaced by Major General James Majury.

1973

Bashful Man, trained by Ger McKenna, won the Dundalk International, a fortnight after becoming the only dog ever to break 29.00 in the Irish Derby final. The son of Myross Again and Ballyflake clocked 28.82 at Shelbourne and 29.70 at Dundalk. Behind him in the invitation race were Dark Mercury, Black Banjo, Silly Rocket, Dashalong Chief and Itsawitch.

Enteritis was rife. Among the casualties is open racer Pile Driver, some 48 hours after winning the Bristol Produce Stakes.

1971

GRA’s attempt to introduce eight dog racing at Belle Vue is failing badly. At one recent meeting the track’s tote retention on the ‘Double F’ pool was a mere £60.

1969

There are three ‘McKennas’ in the Irish Derby Final. Kilbelin Grand and Finolas Yarn are handled by Gay McKenna; Own Pride is trained by cousin Ger. There was only a short head between Own Pride (29.40) and Finolas Yarn in the fastest semi and the form was franked in the £2,000 decider on August 9. Monalee Gambler led to halfway before Own Pride went clear to win in an excellent 29.20, a fifth Derby winner for his trainer. Kilbelin Grand, who never featured, died two days after the final from apparent heart failure.

Portsmouth open a memorial fund for popular local trainer Charlie Curtis (George’s brother) who was killed in a car accident while returning from an open race at Crayford. Within 24 hours, the fund stands at £600. Within a week, a memorial meeting at Crayford had raised a further £820. The proceeds are bumped up by the purchase of two donated pups in an auction by bookies Tony Morris and John Humphreys. They both donate their pups to a raffle to be held at the next meeting which raised a further £280. Portsmouth also make plans for a memorial meeting whereby all proceeds, the complimentary turnstile will be closed for the night, will go to Charlie’s widow and three daughters. The final figure raised was £3,300 (roughly £77,000 at today’s rates).