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Blue Riband (greyhounds)
The Blue Riband was a greyhound racing competition held annually at Wembley Stadium and Hall Green Stadium. It was inaugurated in 1981 as a replacement competition for the Wembley Spring Cup which finished in 1980. Following the end of the Wembley Greyhounds the race transferred to Greyhound Racing Association (GRA) sister track Hall Green in 1999. The race was discontinued by the GRA after the 2012 running despite being a category one race. Past winners Discontinued Venues & Distances *1981-1998 (Wembley 490m) *1999-2012 (Hall Green 480m) Sponsors *1994-1998 Wendy Fair Markets *2005-2009 William Hill *2010-2010 Stan James bookmakers *2011-2011 Betfair *2012-2012 Ladbrokes Ladbrokes Coral is a British gambling company founded in 1886. Its product offering includes sports betting, online casino, online poker, and online bingo. The business is split into two divisions, UK and International. UK operations are c ... References {{UK & Irish greyhound competitions ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Wembley Greyhounds
Wembley Greyhounds was the greyhound racing operation held at Wembley Stadium in London. History Origins After the 1924-25 British Empire Exhibition Wembley Stadium was in liquidation before eventually being purchased by Arthur Elvin. For the stadium to survive into the future it required much needed revenue and it was greyhound racing that provided it. Opening The first meeting was held on 10 December 1927 when 70,000 people witnessed the first ever winner called Spin claim the Empire Stakes over 525 yards. The Director of Racing and Racing Manager was Captain Arthur Brice, he was well known as the judge for the Waterloo Cup. Pre war history In 1928 the stadium introduced a major competition called the St Leger which became one of the most prominent classic races in the greyhound racing calendar ranking only lower than the English Greyhound Derby. The first ever running in 1928 was won by a local hound by the name of Burletta trained by Alf Mulliner. Over the following deca ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1987 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
The 1987 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 61st year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Roll of honour Summary The performances of Ballyregan Bob and Scurlogue Champ during the two previous years, combined with a strong UK economy resulted in a significant increase in greyhound racing popularity. The National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC) released the annual returns, with totalisator turnover up nearly 20% at £77,832,636 and attendances up over 5% recorded at 4,020,438 from 5255 meetings. Track tote remained at 17.5% and a further boost to the industry came when the government abolished tote tax on 29 March. Major changes took place within the Greyhound Racing Association (GRA), the company merged with Wembley Stadium owners Arena Holdings to form a new company. The new company retained the GRA name and is valued at £68.5 million. In March the company closed Slough Stadium and six months later in September they closed Harringay Stadium which had ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Walthamstow Stadium
Walthamstow Stadium was a greyhound racing track in the London Borough of Waltham Forest in east London.BBC News - Walthamstow race track to close' It was regarded as the leading greyhound racing stadium in Britain following the closure of White City in 1984. The stadium closed on 16 August 2008. Greyhound racing Crooked Billet In the early part of the 20th century the Myrtle Grove sports ground was built and used by the Walthamstow Grange Football Club from 1908. By 1929 the ground hosted greyhound racing for the first time and was known as the Crooked Billet Greyhound and whippet track (named after the nearby Crooked Billet public house). The track was an independent track, unaffiliated to a governing body. In 1931, William Chandler, a bookmaker by trade, decided to build on the existing independent track. Chandler also had shares in the Hackney Wick Stadium. Opening It cost Chandler £24,000 to buy the site and the Art Deco parapet entrance was built in 1932 with the c ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
John Coleman (greyhound Trainer)
John Joseph Coleman (born 1935) is an Irish born former greyhound trainer. He was twice British champion trainer and was chairman of the Professional Trainers' Association for over 25 years. Career Coleman came to Britain from Cork in 1959 and started working for John Bassett at Clapton Stadium. He then secured the lease of the Chantilly Kennels owned by Jimmy Clubb and took out a private trainers licence in May 1966. He was appointed as a contracted trainer to Romford Greyhound Stadium in 1968 and established a strong kennel of greyhounds and owners. His first big race success was Ace of Trumps who won the 1969 Scurry Gold Cup. In 1972 he switched from Romford to Wembley and was Champion Trainer in 1974. In 1982 he reached the final of the 1982 English Greyhound Derby for the first time. He remained at Wembley until 1989 before taking a position at the leading track Walthamstow. During the same year he finished runner-up in the 1989 English Greyhound Derby. Further final a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1993 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
The 1993 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 67th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Roll of honour Summary The National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC) released the annual returns, with totalisator turnover at £88,170,111 and attendances recorded at 3,859,498 from 6054 meetings. The Linda Mullins trained Heavenly Lady won the 1993 Greyhound of the Year after collecting 17 of the 21 votes available. The black bitch won 25 of her 49 races including the Golden Jacket, Cearns Memorial and TV Trophy. Ringa Hustle was voted Irish Greyhound of the Year after winning the 1993 English Greyhound Derby. John McGee won the Greyhound Trainer of the Year for the sixth successive year. The first ever British Greyhound Racing Fund budget of £840,000 was distributed as follows - £210,000 to drug testing, £248,000 to chromatography, £180,000 in track grants, £100,000 in prize money, £50,000 to a national inter track and £42,000 to the Retired Gr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Eastville Stadium
Eastville Stadium, also known as Bristol Stadium and Bristol Stadium – Eastville, was a stadium in Eastville, a northern suburb of the English city of Bristol. Constructed in 1897, it was the home of Bristol Rovers F.C., the Bristol Bulldogs speedway team and was also a greyhound racing venue. During 1986 it was also the home of the short-lived Bristol Bombers American football team. Football History Rovers played their home games at Eastville (nicknamed "The Ville") until forced to leave by financial difficulties in 1986. Rovers then spent a decade at Twerton Park in Bath before returning to the city to play at the Memorial Stadium where they remain to this day. The record attendance was 39,462. Bristol Rovers have never played in the top flight of English football. The highest level of football which Eastville Stadium hosted was in the Football League Second Division. Built near to a gas holder, the constant smell of town gas in the air gave rise to the name used for ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1992 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
The 1992 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 66th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Roll of honour Summary The industry finally received a levy of sorts. On 10 March Tory chancellor Norman Lamont announced a reduction in betting tax and asked the bookmakers for a voluntary arrangement whereby a fund could be directed to the greyhound racing industry. He had given a clear signal that he expected bookmakers to pay the industry and the British Greyhound Racing Fund was born. This fund relied on the voluntary payments of bookmakers and the big three firms Ladbrokes, William Hill and Corals paid and encouraged smaller bookmakers to participate. The positive was the fact that bookmakers had agreed but the negative was the fact that the payment equated to 0.25%. The proposed payment resulted in the Greyhound Board refusing to agree with a fund that was controlled by the bookmakers. However they would eventually give in and accepted the £1.2 million, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1991 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
The 1991 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 65th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Roll of honour Summary The National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC) released the annual returns, with totalisator turnover at £97,311,283 and attendances recorded at 3,979,090 from 6051 meetings. Track tote deduction remained at 17.5%. An industry discussion concluded that a greyhound's career longevity was reduced by two breeding factors. The first factor being the fact that breeding was predominantly conducted between the fastest middles distance stars and therefore increasing the average speed (bringing higher injury rates) and eliminating the stamina of stayers and marathon greyhounds. The second factor was the lack of coursing bloodlines, thereby reducing the durability traits. The physical difference between a 1930s and 1990s greyhound was significant and despite advancement in track preparation the track layouts remained the same. Bobs Regan trained by Bri ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Milton Keynes Greyhound Stadium
Milton Keynes Greyhound Stadium was a greyhound racing and speedway stadium, in Milton Keynes located on the Groveway in Ashland. Origins & opening The stadium opened as an independent track on 25 July 1963 and was called the Groveway Greyhound Stadium. The name Groveway came from the Grove Way road that passed the stadium on the north side joining the small town of Bletchley with the village of Simpson. The track had been built four years before the birth of a large new town called Milton Keynes (named after one of the 15 villages) in a planned 34 square mile area. Milton Keynes proceeded to grow at speed eventually becoming the size of city. History Racing took place on Tuesday at 8pm and Saturday at 7.30pm and the circumference was 410 yards with an 'Inside Sumner' hare. Facilities included licensed bars, a refreshment bar and a children's playground. The promoter and Racing Manager Robert Beckett organised annual events called the Groveway Autumn Cup, Groveway Derby and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nick Savva
Nicolas Savva known as Nick Savva is a greyhound trainer and breeder. He is a four times winner of the English Greyhound Derby and is regarded as Britain's most successful breeder, along with his late wife Natalie Savva (1935–2019) who also held the kennels training licence at one time. Early life Savva was born in 1934 in Cyprus and left the island country for London where he gained work in an engineering factory and then a restaurant. He started attending race meetings at Harringay Stadium in 1952 and started a dressmaking business. He met Natalie Drew in 1957 and they married in 1961 before selling his dressmaking business and buying a kennels. Career Nick and Natalie started training and breeding greyhounds and became increasingly successful. Many of the greyhounds bred at their Westmead Kennels base were given a name with the Westmead prefix and in 1972 the kennel gained their first major success with Westmead Lane after winning the Cesarewitch (greyhounds), Cesarewitch. N ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1990 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
The 1990 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 64th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Roll of honour Summary The greyhound betting levy bill was heard for a second time before parliament. The first had been read in 1989. Extracts from the reading were described by Alan Meale (MP for Mansfield) - "The purpose of the Bill is straightforward; it is to amend the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act 1963 to enable payment of a levy to the greyhound industry from moneys already deducted from punters for that purpose by the bookmakers in off-course betting establishments. There is a great need for this legislation. Greyhound racing is the second most supported spectator sport in Britain. As census figures show, more than 5 million people support the sport by going along to tracks every week. They attend 83 tracks, 48 of which are independent and 35 of which are registered with the National Greyhound Racing Club. The membership of that club and of the indep ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kingsmead Stadium
Kingsmead Stadium was a greyhound racing and motorcycle speedway track and Association football ground in Canterbury. It was host to Canterbury City F.C. and the Canterbury Crusaders speedway team. The stadium closed in 1999 and was demolished, making way for a residential development. Origins The stadium was built on top of a rubbish dump site sandwiched between the Great Stour which flowed to the north and south of the stadium. Access was on the west side of the Kingsmead Road. It opened for football on 30 August 1958 and was also used by Canterbury City F.C., it also doubled up as an athletics track. Speedway On 18 May 1968 the speedway track opened for business with the Canterbury Crusaders taking on the Belle Vue Colts. In 1977, the speedway promoters Johnnie Hoskins and Wally Mawdsley had to go to court in order to keep the track open after complaints of noise from local residents. However, the team was forced to disband on 31 October 1987 when the Canterbury Council re ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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