1937 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year

1937 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
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The 1937 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 12th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland. ^[1]

Roll of honour

Major Winners
Award	Name of Winner
1937 English Greyhound Derby [2]	Wattle Bark
1937 Irish Greyhound Derby [3]	Muinessa
1937 Scottish Greyhound Derby [4]	Jesmond Cutlet
1937 Welsh Greyhound Derby [5]	Genial Radiance

Summary

The industry showed no sign of a slow down, with attendances at UK tracks surpassing twenty million for the sixth year in succession. The leading company, the Greyhound Racing Association (GRA) increased profits again. The operating profit for 1937 was £241,000 (a substantial figure at the time) and attendances at GRA tracks increased slightly to 3,849,513. ^[6] The GRA also took a controlling interest in New Cross Stadium and boasted that they had the largest totalisator in the world at White City, with 634 issuing machines. ^[6] Wattle Bark won the 1937 English Greyhound Derby defeating 1936 star Shove Halfpenny into second place. ^{[2] [7] [8]}

Tracks

Just five known tracks opened but Crayford & Bexleyheath Stadium underwent a significant £50,000 renovation, with no provision made for speedway. ^[9]

Tracks opened

Date	Stadium/Track	Location
6 February	Bickington	Bickington, near Barnstaple, Devon
23 October	Holiday Park	Durham
26 August	Stanley Greyhound Stadium	Stanley, Durham
23 November	Redheugh Park [10]	Gateshead
unknown	Markets Field	Limerick

Competitions

London based trainers monopolised the main races and the names of Sidney Orton at Wimbledon, Jim Syder Sr. at Wembley, Stanley Biss at West Ham and the Hook kennels trainers Leslie Reynolds, Joe Harmon and Jack Harvey all became household names. ^{[11] [12]}

An attempt by Derby champion Fine Jubilee to win the Gold Collar failed as he was beaten three quarters in the final by Avion Ballerina. He had won his semi-final by breaking the track record, recording 25.42 and finishing eleven lengths clear of second placed Hetton Sea Eagle. Just six days later Oaks champion Genial Radiance now trained privately by J W Day was victorious in the Welsh Greyhound Derby. The Scurry Gold Cup was held in July with many of the Derby participants taking part at Clapton Stadium, in a very competitive final Hexham Bridge came out on top in a race that included Curleys Fancy II and Avion Ballerina. Hexham Bridge had remained unbeaten throughout the competition. ^{[9] [13]}

Jesmond Cutlet claimed the Scottish Greyhound Derby and Ballyhennessy Sandills won the Laurels. The two competitions clashed, as did the Oaks and St Leger in September; the calendar required better organisation. Brave Queen won the 1937 Oaks, a race that was a little shambolic following the withdrawal of three runners. ^{[9] [13]} A top class field assembled for the St Leger, a competition won by Grosvenor Bob, continuing a great year for trainer Jim Syder. Top of the Carlow Road and Maidens Delight finished fourth and fifth respectively in the final. Jesmond Cutlet completed a fine year by defeating great rival Grosvenor Bob in the Cesarewitch which was now held in December. ^{[14] [15] [16]}

The White City invitation race was held on 6 November and carried a winner's prize of £2,000, remarkably £750 more than the Derby itself. Laurels champion Ballyhennessy Sandills took the honours. The second prize offered was £1,000 and went to Wily Captain and the previous year's winner Safe Rock picked up £500 for finishing third. ^[9]

Ireland

Markets Field in Limerick finally opened to greyhound racing following a long delay. Clonmel Greyhound Stadium record holder Monarch Of All was sold for the record price of 350 guineas at the Harold's Cross Stadium sales. ^[3]

Muinessa won the 1937 Irish Greyhound Derby. ^{[17] [18]}

News

Romford Greyhound Stadium owner Archer Leggett initiated a bizarre idea to introduce cheetah racing to the UK. Twelve cheetahs arrived from Kenya in December 1936 courtesy of explorer Kenneth Gandar-Dower. After six months of quarantine the cheetahs were given time to acclimatise before Romford, Harringay and Staines were earmarked for the experiment with the cheetahs running for the first time on Saturday 11 December 1937 at Romford. The experiment failed, with just one further race held; the racing stopped because although the cheetahs were able to better the greyhound times they had to be let off first when racing greyhounds and when they raced against each other they became disinterested and stopped chasing the lure. ^{[19] [20]}

Fourteen year old George Curtis secured a job with Portsmouth Stadium trainer Bill Peters. ^[13]

Principal UK races

Grand National, White City (May 22, 525y h, £300) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Flying Wedge Stanley Biss 1-1f 30.61 4 2nd Border Mutton Paddy McEllistrim 4-1 30.64 5 3rd Lochiel Hero Les Parry 7-2 30.78 2 4th Markhams Brandy Paddy McEllistrim 8-1 30.94 3 5th Joyful Brandy Jerry Hannafin 6-1 31.18 1

Gold Collar, Catford (May 29, 400y, £500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Avion Ballerina Jerry Hannafin 6-1 25.87 1 2nd Fine Jubilee Marjorie Yate 4-11f 25.93 3 3rd Stormtrooper Arthur 'Doc' Callanan 50-1 26.41 5 4th Hetton Sea Eagle Jack Harvey 100-7 26.47 4 5th Beckbury Miracle Marjorie Yate 50-1 26.53 2 6th Hexham Bridge Bill Cowell 8-1 26.61 6

Welsh Derby, White City (Cardiff) (Jun 5, 525y, £115) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Genial Radiance J W Day 5-1 30.15 5 2nd Wily Captain Joe Harmon 1-1f 30.27 3 3rd Little Puddin Basin Stanley Biss 20-1 30.39 6 4th Howling Rupert Stanley Biss 20-1 30.63 2 5th Wise Client II Jim Syder Sr. 20-1 30.95 4 6th Welcome Ways Leslie Reynolds 20-1 30.99 1

Scurry Gold Cup, Clapton (Jul 24, 400y) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Hexham Bridge Bill Cowell 3-1 23.37 4 2nd Orlucks Best Charlie Ashley 7-4f 23.61 6 3rd Curleys Fancy II Jerry Hannafin 100-6 23.77 2 4th Avion Ballerino Jerry Hannafin 5-2 24.17 3 5th Hetton Sea Eagle Jack Harvey 7-1 24.21 5 6th Last Hop Harry Woolner 25-1 24.29 1

Scottish Greyhound Derby, Carntyne (Aug 14, 525y, £200) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Jesmond Cutlet Dal Hawkesley 9-4jf 29.83 6 2nd Kinauld Demonstrator Eddie Wright 10-1 29.89 4 3rd Bright Dan Patrick McKinney 9-4jf 30.29 5 4th Hasty Reward 10-1 30.45 1 5th Man Happy Jim Syder Sr. 4-1 30.61 3 6th Diamond Glory Ronnie Melville 7-1 30.77 2

Laurels, Wimbledon (Aug 20, 500y, £600) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Ballyhennessy Sandills Sidney Orton 4-5f 28.25 4 2nd Bealtaine Joe Harmon 5-1 28.28 2 3rd Wise Carey Joe Harmon 10-1 28.48 5 4th Wily Captain Joe Harmon 20-1 28.49 1 5th Brave Don Leslie Reynolds 50-1 28.99 3 6th Fine Jubilee Marjorie Yate 3-1 29.07 6

Oaks, White City (Sep 11, 525y, £300) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Brave Queen Stanley Biss 4-9f 29.62 2 2nd Beckbury Moth Marjorie Yate 9-4 29.78 4 3rd Mallerts Orphan Bowles 100-8 30.10 5 N/R Hetties Biddy Leslie Reynolds N/R My Beauty Sid Mann N/R Nautch Girl Leslie Reynolds

St Leger, Wembley (Sep 20, 700y, £500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Grosvenor Bob Jim Syder Sr. 1-2f 41.13 4 2nd Sheehan Joe Harmon 7-2 41.19 1 3rd Grosvenor Edwin Jim Syder Sr. 10-1 41.22 3 4th Top of the Carlow Road Sidney Orton 7-1 41.46 2 5th Maidens Delight Jim Syder Sr. 20-1 41.50 6 6th Golden Staff Johnny Bullock 25-1 41.54 5

The White City White City (Nov 6, 500y, £2,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Ballyhennessy Sandills Sidney Orton 9-4jf 28.39 1 2nd Wily Captain Joe Harmon 9-4jf 28.59 6 3rd Safe Rock Fred Wilson 33-1 28.67 2 4th Junior Classic Joe Harmon 6-1 28.91 5 5th Fine Jubilee Marjorie Yate 3-1 29.07 4

Cesarewitch, West Ham (Dec 18, 600y, £600) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Jesmond Cutlet Dal Hawkesley 11-4 34.56 5 2nd Grosvenor Bob Jim Syder Sr. 5-2f 34.88 1 3rd On the Strait Sidney Orton 11-4 35.04 6 4th Kinauld Demonstrator Eddie Wright 25-1 35.52 2 5th Wise Carey Joe Harmon 25-1 36.24 4 6th Neville the Devil Leslie Reynolds 3-1 36.40 3

References

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3. Comyn, John. 50 Years of Greyhound Racing in Ireland. Aherlow Publishers Ltd.
4. Hobbs, Jonathan (2007). Greyhound Annual 2008, pages 153-154. Raceform. ISBN   978-1-905153-53-4.
5. Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing, pages 129-130. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN   07207-1106-1.
6. ""Greyhound Racing Association Trust." Times, 1 Feb. 1938". The Times . February 1938. p. 20.
7. "OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT. "Greyhound Racing." Times [London, England] 28 June 1937". The Times .
8. "1937". Greyhound Data.
9. Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN   07207-1106-1.
10. "Greyhound Star (Remember When November)". Greyhound Star. 16 November 2016.
11. Tarter, P Howard (1949). Greyhound Racing Encyclopedia. Fleet Publishing Company Ltd.
12. Genders, Roy (1975). The Greyhound and Racing Greyhound. Page Brothers (Norwich). ISBN   0-85020-0474.
13. Genders, Roy (1990). NGRC book of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN   0-7207-1804-X.
14. Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. ISBN   0-948955-15-5.
15. Barnes, Julia (1991). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File, Vol Two. Ringpress Books. ISBN   0-948955-61-9.
16. Barnes/Sellers, Julia/John (1992). Ladbrokes Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. ISBN   0-948955-22-8.
17. Fortune, Michael. Irish Greyhound Derby 1932-1981. Victory Irish Promotions Ltd.
18. Fortune, Michael. "The 75 Years History of the Irish Greyhound Derby". Irish Greyhound Review. ISSN   0332-3536.
19. "K. C. Gandar Dower. "Racing Cheetahs." Times [London, England] 11 Dec. 1937". Times [London, England] 15 Oct. 1927: 6. The Times Digital Archive.
20. ""Cheetah Versus Greyhound." Times [London, England] 13 Dec. 1937". The Times .