Remember When - 22 July 2025
Palace Issue’s 2000 Champion Stakes victory, Belle Vue’s gamble in 2001, and decades of unforgettable moments — we revisit greyhound racing’s rich timeline.
Highlights Through the Years
2000
Palace Issue (Deerpark Jim–Clear Issue), trained and bred by Linda Mullins, redeems his 1999 defeat in the Champion Stakes Final at Romford. After finishing 4th as 1/2F the year prior, he returns on 21 July 2000 to win the £10,000 final by a short head in 35.44 over 575m.
His 2000 campaign also includes:
- - 2020 St. Leger victory (after being 1999 runner-up)
- - Wins in the Regal Stayers Trophy (Sunderland), Peterborough Cesarewitch, Midland St. Leger, Walthamstow Grand Prix, Racing Post Festival Stayers, and Reading Hunt Cup
- - Crowned Greyhound of the Year.
2001
Belle Vue’s 75th Anniversary features a £7,500 marathon won by Irish-trained Metric Tiger, who opens at 25/1, closes at 7/2, and storms clear by six lengths over 875m.
1958
Perry Barr reintroduces hurdle racing for the first time since the war. Winner’s prize: £40.
1994
- Hickham Style wins a graded race at Bristol — the first win in 63 runners for trainer John Hicks.
- Grand National winner Randy Savage is disqualified for the second (and final) time.
- Kevin Heffernan becomes chairman of Bord na gCon.
- A drunken Walthamstow racegoer slumps across the hare rail during the final of the Circuit. The hare was already in motion.
- Henry Parsons retires from Crayford; replaced by nephew Eric.
2010
Irish greyhound supporters secure concessions from the Irish Government over a proposed Dog Breeding Establishment Bill, citing overlap with the 1958 Greyhound Industry Act.
More Notable Moments in Greyhound Racing History
2017: Perry Barr runs inter-track events with Hall Green ahead of the latter’s closure. Nick Wileman refuses to pay a £25,545 fine after chaining himself to a Sheffield fence in protest against the GBGB.
1986: Shawfield reduces its Scottish Derby to six runners for £1,000, while Ashfield ups the prize in their Derby to £4,000.
1967: Miss Taft wins the West Ham Half Mile by 19 lengths as 1/6f favourite.
2011: Hove trainer Tony Lucas is suspended after going missing from his Guildford base.
1997:
- Belle Vue boss John Gilburn moves bookies to the first bend amid unpaid voluntary payments.
- Larkhill Jo becomes the first UK dog to break 28 seconds for 480m with a 27.95 run at Monmore.
1951: British Rail finally allows kennelhands to travel with greyhounds in the guard’s van (with permission), ending years of conflict with the NGRC.
2008: Mildenhall is sold to stock car promoters.
1976:
- Kevin Barry becomes racing manager at Rochester.
- Salford Stadium closes on July 30 and is sold for housing.
1980: Ronnie Clark dies in a car crash returning dogs to kennels; both greyhounds also perish.
2002: Oxford trainer Paul Walden resigns after a dispute involving racing a grader twice in 48 hours. He accuses the office of discrimination despite a 17-for-160 win rate.
1961: Dennis Pines announces retirement and puts Norwich City track on the market — zoning open for housing or factory use.
1946: 15 injured during a riot at Harringay after a steward decision sparks outrage over a dog fight. Racing resumes quickly despite damage.
1947: GRA-bred G R Alberta, winner at White City pre-WWII, wins at Rochester aged nine.
2017 New GBGB Owners representative Paul Ephremsen announces a series of initiatives following the first meeting of his innovation committee https://greyhoundstar.uk/paul-ephremsen-innovation-panel-first-meeting/ .
