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Juvenile (greyhounds)
The Juvenile is a greyhound racing competition held annually at Towcester Greyhound Stadium. Race history It was inaugurated in 1957 at Wimbledon Stadium and was known as the Greyhound Express Merit Puppy Trophy but in 1964 it was renamed the Juvenile. The event is an invitation competition for the best six greyhounds who still have a puppy status. In 2017 the race switched to Central Park Stadium in Sittingbourne following the closure of Wimbledon Stadium. The relocation of the competition to Central Park continued a family legacy for the Cearns family who had been connected with the race when it was first held in 1957. From 2018 the competition was held at Owlerton Stadium before switching to Towcester Greyhound Stadium Towcester Greyhound Stadium is a greyhound racing track located within Towcester Racecourse at Towcester in Northamptonshire, England. It has been the home of the English Greyhound Derby since 2021, having previously hosted the event from 20 ... in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Towcester Greyhound Stadium
Towcester Greyhound Stadium is a greyhound racing track located within Towcester Racecourse at Towcester in Northamptonshire, England. It has been the home of the English Greyhound Derby since 2021, having previously hosted the event from 2017 to 2018. Opening Towcester opened on 6 December 2014 becoming the first track in Britain to open since the 1995 openings of Harlow and Sittingbourne. The idea of a track inside the horse racing course was created by Lord Hesketh the racecourse owner and Chief Executive Kevin Ackerman. Former Walthamstow Racing Manager Chris Page, Deputy Racing Manager Andy Lisemore and Steve Cale were recruited to run the operation. Construction At a cost of £1.5 million the 420 metres circumference circuit was created by laying down 60,000 tonnes of soil so that the greyhound racing surface met the horse racing home straight at a level setting, resulting in a six-metre rise. The bends are very wide which assists the occasional eight dog race. The kenn ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1964 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
The 1964 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 38th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Roll of honour Summary The Dagenham Coup incident that took place at Dagenham Greyhound Stadium on 30 June 1964 took all the headlines and became one of the most infamous moments in greyhound racing history. Despite the government reducing the totalisator tax to 5% from 10%, the industry saw a further fall in attendances. The National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC) affiliated tracks saw 11,208,657 paying customers at 6011 meetings with tote turnover of £50,178,166. Tracks The Greyhound Racing Association (GRA) acquired Catford Stadium. Crayford & Bexleyheath Stadium owners Northumbrian and Crayford Trust Ltd joined the Totalisator Holdings group, owners of six other tracks. The Liverpool tracks of Seaforth Greyhound Stadium and White City Stadium (Liverpool) re-joined the NGRC set up after spells as independent tracks. A new independent opened called the Bosto ... [...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] |
1972 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
The 1972 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 46th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Roll of honour Summary The industry continued to suffer from multiple track closures, particularly those with a Greyhound Racing Association (GRA) link. The closures were a combination of the GRA Property Trust's intentions and reduced attendances blamed on competition from betting shops. The performances of Patricias Hope and Sherrys Prince brought enjoyment to the industry, during a turbulent period and both wrote themselves into the history books. The annual National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC) returns were released, with totalisator turnover at £54,401,529 and attendances recorded at 6,279,898 from 5592 meetings. Government tote tax was reduced from 5% to 4%. The National Greyhound Racing Club and National Greyhound Racing Society amalgamated to form one controlling body called the National Greyhound Racing Club Ltd. Tracks The last meeting was held a ... [...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] |
Tom Johnston (greyhound Trainer)
Thomas Johnston Jr. (1933–2001) was a British greyhound trainer. He was twice UK Champion trainer in 1963 and 1972. Profile Johnston's kennels were based at Stilliters Farm on Moulsoe Road in Cranfield, Bedfordshire. In 1963 he took over the kennels after moving from Scotland. His father Tom Johnston Sr. was the winning trainer of the 1928 English Greyhound Derby) and trained greyhounds on the coursing fields for Robert Jardine many years before oval track racing arrived to the United Kingdom. Racing career He was a leading trainer for over a decade during the 1960s and 1970s and won the Scottish Greyhound Derby in 1963 and 1964. He ran out of West Ham Stadium until 1969 before joining Wembley Stadium where he trained until his retirement. He trained Westpark Mustard Westpark Mustard was a white and black racing greyhound in the 1970s. By Newdown Heather out of April Merry she broke the British and European record of 19 consecutive victories held by Mick the Miller, when ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1971 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
The 1971 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 45th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Roll of honour Summary The annual National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC) returns were released, with totalisator turnover at £56,188,971 and attendances recorded at 7,119,398 from 5808 meetings. Dolores Rocket was Greyhound of the Year after winning the English Greyhound Derby at White City and St Leger at Wembley. Her performances shone through during a difficult year that saw the closure of four tracks. The tracks were Kings Heath Stadium, which had only just recently been purchased by the Greyhound Racing Association (GRA) under their GRA Property Trust, Charlton Stadium (also GRA), the City Stadium, Norwich and Houghton Stadium in Durham. Tracks Hendon was the first track to declare decimal dividends and Milton Keynes (known as Bletchley or the Groveway) switched from independent status to full NGRC status. Competitions Following the closure of Charlto ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dolores Rocket
Dolores Rocket was a famous racing greyhound during the 1970s. She is regarded as being one of the leading racing greyhounds in history and won the sports ultimate prize, the English Greyhound Derby. Mating Ernie Gaskin's brood bitch Come on Dolores was sent to Jack Mullan in Ireland to be mated with Ireland's leading sire at the time, Newdown Heather, which led to their subsequent litter being registered as Irish bred, despite the fact that they were actually whelped in the UK. It is even possible that the litter were sired by Monalee Champion because she was put with him three days later under the presumption that the first mating was unsuccessful. The Irish Coursing Club however had already processed the original paperwork. Come on Dolores (in whelp) returned to England and Gaskin sold her to Bert, Len, John and Arthur White (four decorating brothers from Brookwood in Surrey) for £375. Gaskin had sold her due to recent death of his father (also Ernest Gaskin). Rearing Come on ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1970 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
The 1970 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 44th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Roll of honour Summary Tote turnover deductions were changed, with tracks being allowed to charge anything up to 12.5% in deductions. The annual National Greyhound Racing Club returns were released, with totalisator turnover at £55,556,351 and attendances recorded at 7,365,653 from 5585 meetings. 1970 English Greyhound Derby finalist Moordyke Spot won the Oxfordshire Stakes, Playfield Cup, and ran undefeated through the Pall Mall Stakes, contributing to another winning streak of eight including the White City Championship. He was retired to stud in Galway at the end of the year and was named Greyhound of the Year. Tracks The Totalisator and Greyhound Holdings (T.G.H) were showing interest in buying stadia. They already held Crayford & Bexleyheath Stadium, Elland Road Greyhound Stadium, Brough Park and Gosforth Greyhound Stadium and then purchased the Midl ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1969 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
The 1969 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 43rd year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Roll of honour Summary The Greyhound Racing Association (GRA) granted an option to Stock Conversion and Investment Ltd, for the purchase of greyhound racing's premier track White City Stadium for redevelopment. The official line was that a new modern White City stadium would be built in the remaining four acres from the existing 16 acres. However reporter Neil Martin stated "this move must spell death to all sport there in time – and in my opinion greyhound racing too". Fellow reporter John Bower had a different view, in that it would create a wonderful new stadium, a view seemingly given substance by the GRA, who announced that the architects plans were already drawn up. The GRA then announced that New Cross Stadium had been sold for development and it was closed in April. The GRA Property Trust was culling tracks at an alarming rate within the industry. They ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Catford Stadium
Catford Stadium was a historic greyhound racing stadium in Catford, a suburb of London. Origins Charles Benstead and Frank Sutton founded the stadium on Southern Railway land between two commuter lines in 1932. The entrance was on Adenmore Road, West of Doggett Road. Greyhound Racing Opening The inaugural meeting was held on Saturday 30 July 1932 and consisted of a seven card race of events comprising four or five runners. Mick the Miller was paraded around the track prior to the fourth race. The first racing manager was Lt. Col. A J Vernon and there were no less than eighty bookmakers. A kennel complex was constructed at Layham's Farm, Keston, near Biggin Hill and six trainers were appointed. The track was described as a tight 369 yard circumference circuit and the hare was an 'Outside Breco Silent' before being switched to a more conventional 'Outside McKee'. Buses originally dropped patrons off just outside the main gates and by the entrance gates were tote facilities a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1968 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
The 1968 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 42nd year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Roll of honour Summary A greyhound called Yellow Printer arrived on the racing scene and was regarded as the fastest greyhound for many years. The fawn dog was voted Greyhound of the year and won the Irish Greyhound Derby, in addition to setting a new world record over 525 yards of 28.30 seconds at White City Greyhounds. Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh was presented with greyhound called Camira Flash, to become the sports most prominent greyhound owner. The fawn and white greyhound was given to him at a charity meeting at Harringay Stadium just over a month before the Derby started, with the condition that all prize money earned would go to the Duke Of Edinburgh Awards Scheme. The greyhound went on to win the 1968 English Greyhound Derby. Tracks The Greyhound Racing Association (GRA) closed the operation at Stamford Bridge on 1 August, which left a gap on t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
