1945 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year

1945 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
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The 1945 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 20th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland. ^[1]

Roll of honour

Major Winners
Award	Name of Winner
1945 English Greyhound Derby	Ballyhennessy Seal
1945 Irish Greyhound Derby [2] [3]	Lilac Luck
1945 Scottish Greyhound Derby [4]	Mondays Son
1945 Welsh Greyhound Derby	Shaggy Lass

Summary

The Second World War came to an end in Europe on 8 May, leaving time for the industry to complete a full racing schedule. This included a return of the 1945 English Greyhound Derby that was won by Ballyhennessy Seal. ^{[5] [6]}

Attendances and totalisator turnover for NGRC tracks reached record highs, with over 50 million paying customers going through the turnstiles. It was also announced that the NGRC tracks had earned the government £120,000 for war charities during the duration. ^{[7] [8] [9] [10]} Annual totalisator turnover nearly doubled to 137,715,273 (a phenomenal sum in 1945). ^[11]

The leading greyhound company, the Greyhound Racing Association (GRA) recorded a record profit of £1,616,000 but £1,230,000 of that was allocated for the liability of excess profit tax and National Defence Contribution. ^[12] The annual report indicated that greyhound racing had served service and industrial workers with a form of relaxation and thereby creating a very substantial contribution to the war effort but warned that much improvement was required to its racetracks to replace damage from the past six years. ^[13]

Other tracks reported even worse deductions with the Daily Herald reporting that Wandsworth Stadium Ltd (the company that owned the track) was subject to over 97% government tax deductions. Sidney Parkes the owner of the company revealed that gross profit was £430,000 of which £420,000 was taken by the government in various taxes leaving just £10,000 net profit. He stated "What a money making proposition dog racing is to the Labour government." ^[14]

Tracks

Reg Perkins (a farming and transport businessman) and George Ellingworth (a garage owner) purchased Peterborough Greyhound Stadium and quickly began to improve facilities. ^{[7] [8] [9]}

Competitions

In addition to the Derby, Ballyhennessy Seal won the Gold Collar at Catford Stadium after a seven length final victory, he also won his heat and semi-final by eight lengths. Nicknamed The Seal, he headed for the Laurels at Wimbledon Stadium and after progressing through the competition with ease, it was reported that he was suffering from rheumatism in his hind legs and he was not responding to treatment. He was withdrawn and retired to stud. ^{[15] [16]}

The Grand Prix held its first ever running in November 1945; the event at Walthamstow Stadium would eventually become a classic race. Derby finalist Magic Bohemian won the event for Leslie Reynolds and another Derby finalist Celtic Chief also made the final. Coventry trainer George McKay experienced success with Robeen Printer after winning the St Leger. ^[17] The fawn bitch had arrived in England with a good reputation following a victory in the Irish Laurels and was bought for a record 1,650 guineas, for a bitch, by the Sanderson's, owners of Coventry stadium. ^{[7] [8] [9] [18] [19]}

Earlier in the year at Eastville Stadium, during the final of the Golden Crest, Shannon Shore had won by ten lengths in a new World Record for 500 yards of 28.76 sec. ^{[7] [8] [9]} The Welsh Derby was transferred from White City Stadium, Cardiff to Arms Park following the closure of the former in 1937. ^[20]

News

Arthur 'Doc' Callanan died at aged 51 after suffering from ill health in Dublin; his legacy was closely linked to the success of Mick the Miller and a new competition was named in his memory at Harold's Cross Stadium, called the Callanan Cup. ^[21] White City became the first track to install a photo finish camera. Magic Beau, a litter brother to the £2,500 acquisition Magic Bohemian, died in the Wembley kennels during December, the fawn and white dog had recently broken the Wembley 525 track record. ^{[7] [8] [9]}

Ireland

Shaggy Lad, at odds of 1-10f won the Irish Puppy Derby final defeating Quare Times by 10 lengths. The fawn dog became the first greyhound to break 28 seconds at Harold's Cross when breaking the track record in the semi-final by recording 27.96. He duly won the final in 27.98. ^{[22] [23]}

Principal UK races

Gold Collar, Catford (Jun 9, 440y) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Ballyhennessy Seal Stan Martin 9-4 25.45 3 2nd Restorer Sidney Orton 2-1f 26.01 1 3rd Celtic Chief William Mills 10-1 26.17 5 4th Tanimon Jerry Hannafin 9-4 26.19 2 5th Duffys Arrival George McKay 25-1 26.23 4 6th Tall Rally Eastville 50-1 26.55 6

Scottish Greyhound Derby, Carntyne (Jun 30, 525y, £250) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Monday's Son P Moore 5-2jf 29.19 6 2nd Benmadigan Brough Park 16-1 29.43 4 3rd Alvaston Lulu Belle Ken Newham 5-2jf 29.44 5 4th Joves Reminder Cornelius Crowley 3-1 29.60 3 5th Brilliant Leader P Moore 8-1 29.68 2 6th Blarney Bride Clapton 8-1 29.84 1

Scurry Gold Cup, Clapton (Jul 28, 400y £500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Country Life Paddy McEllistrim 10-1 23.50 3 2nd Wandering Lad George McKay 100-6 23.58 5 3rd Monday's Son P Moore 6-4f 23.62 2 4th Cockeyed Cutlet Jack Harvey 7-2 23.66 6 5th Netties Ranger Charles Cross 15-8 23.82 1 N/R Joves Reminder Cornelius Crowley

Welsh Derby, Arms Park (Jul 28, 525y, £200) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Shaggy Lass G.H.Vickery 4-5f 29.75 1 2nd Duffys Arrival George McKay 1-1 29.81 6 3rd Captured Den 25-1 29.85 5 4th Dearly Beloved 100-7 30.09 2 5th Bomb Damage 40-1 30.33 4 6th The Real McCoy Bill Doolan 100-7 30.73 3

Laurels, Wimbledon (Aug 25, 500y, £500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Burhill Moon Sidney Orton 1-3f 28.42 3 2nd Country Life Paddy McEllistrim 10-1 28.46 4 3rd Race Day Ivy Regan 100-6 28.78 6 4th Lookout Post Wembley 8-1 29.26 5 5th Wandering Lad George McKay 10-1 29.58 1 N/R Shannon Shore Leslie Reynolds

St Leger, Wembley (Sep 22, 700y, £500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Robeen Printer George McKay 2-5f 40.03 6 2nd Cherrys Equal Walthamstow 11-4 40.31 3 3rd Ryans Rofe 100-7 40.43 2 4th Girlie O'Connor 100-7 40.49 1 5th Mountjoy Square Newcastle 100-7 40.61 5 N/R Rushton Paul Jerry Hannafin

Oaks, White City (Oct 20, 525y) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Prancing Kitty Paddy Fortune 13-8 29.54 3 2nd Robeen Printer George McKay 11-8f 29.70 4 3rd Trevs Fashion Fred Trevillion 7-1 29.72 2 4th Swanky Ration 20-1 29.88 1 5th Cassas Spot Lights 5-1 30.04 5 N/R Lady Grosvenor

The Grand Prix Walthamstow (Nov 10, 525y) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Magic Bohemian Leslie Reynolds 10-11f 30.05 2 2nd Keel Hackie Jim Syder Sr. 6-1 30.37 4 3rd Overtime Paddy Fortune 10-1 30.53 3 4th Bradwell Cutlet Jack Harvey 7-1 30.69 1 5th Celtic Chief William Mills 12-1 30.85 5 6th Good as Gold II F Deathbridge 9-2 31.09 6

Cesarewitch, West Ham (Dec 29, 550y, £500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Hurry Kitty William Mills 5-4f 31.26 5 2nd Gala Flash C Lee 5-2 31.98 3 3rd Burhill Moon Sidney Orton 7-2 32.02 4 4th Kilcora Master 25-1 32.42 6 5th Prancing Kitty Paddy Fortune 8-1 32.46 1 6th Lights Conceited 50-1 32.78 2

Totalisator Returns

Extended content

The totalisator returns declared to the licensing authorities for the year 1945 are listed below. Tracks that did not have a totalisator in operation are not listed. [11] Stadium Turnover £ London (White City) 13,479,412 London (Wembley) 7,976,384 London (Harringay) 7,935,367 London (Wimbledon) 5,815,527 London (Walthamstow) 5,366,513 London (Clapton) 3,918,648 London (Stamford Bridge) 3,680,966 London (Catford) 3,617,372 London (Wandsworth) 3,286,551 Birmingham (Perry Barr, old) 3,266,682 Glasgow (Shawfield) 2,919,380 Manchester (Belle Vue) 2,884,864 London (Park Royal) 2,534,168 London (New Cross) 2,468,997 London (Hackney) 1,968,866 Birmingham (Hall Green) 1,914,697 Bradford (Greenfield) 1,902,256 Brighton & Hove 1,793,940 Coventry (Lythalls Lane) 1,708,153 Glasgow (White City) 1,705,239 London (Hendon) 1,695,935 Bristol (Eastville) 1,676,874 Newcastle (Brough Park) 1,665,313 Manchester (Salford) 1,648,322 Sheffield (Owlerton) 1,641,206 Glasgow (Albion) 1,613,415 Leicester (Blackbird Rd) 1,605,8307 Edinburgh (Powderhall) 1,578,156 Glasgow (Carntyne) 1,554,073 Crayford & Bexleyheath 1,307,377 Sheffield (Darnall) 1,302,954 London (Dagenham) 1,295,066 London (Charlton) 1,279,410 Stadium Turnover £ Nottingham (White City) 1,235,825 Wolverhampton (Monmore) 1,220,595 Gateshead 1,218,313 Newcastle (Gosforth) 1,117,734 Cardiff (Arms Park) 1,116,602 Liverpool (Stanley) 1,112,331 Birmingham (Kings Heath) 1,045,019 Blackpool (St Anne's) 1,004,572 Liverpool (Seaforth) 951,523 Romford 951,011 Reading (Oxford Road) 915,195 Norwich (Boundary Park) 911,831 Gloucester & Cheltenham 908,002 Manchester (White City) 891,503 Southampton 880,980 Slough 854,889 Hull (Old Craven Park) 841,469 Leeds (Elland Road) 841,100 Plymouth 838,453 Sunderland 812,291 Bradford (City) 812,065 Rochester & Chatham 811,044 Newcastle (White City) 753,953 Portsmouth 744,735 Liverpool (White City) 726,440 Ashington (Co Durham) 705,074 South Shields 651,274 Stanley (Co Durham) 596,337 Stoke-on-Trent (Hanley) 585,560 Exeter (County Ground) 543,842 Stoke-on-Trent (Cobridge) 539,623 Norwich (City) 534,157 Bristol (Knowle) 526,342 Stadium Turnover £ Middlesbrough 480,284 Newport 469,850 Glasgow (Firhill) 468,398 Ipswich 460,562 London (West Ham) 454,336 Exeter (Marsh Barton) 432,925 Bolton 429,744 Warrington 403,406 Preston 394,118 Rochdale 370,605 Houghton-le-Spring 368,138 Sheffield (Hyde Park) 364,626 West Hartlepool 343,441 Long Eaton 301,800 Easington (Co Durham) 227,019 Luton 224,505 London (Southall) 219,994 Oxford 214,138 London (Stratford) 200,194 Coundon (Co Durham) 161,175 Falkirk (Brockville Park) 128,649 Aldershot 104,129 Rotherham 92,421 Leeds (Parkside) 83,345 Doncaster (Spotbrough) 76,193 Kingskerswell (Devon) 55,138 Wombwell (South Yorks) 40,715 Thornton (Fife) 32,710 Worksop 25,922 Stockport (Hazel Grove) 21,669 Castleford (Whitwood) 20,124 Summary Area Turnover London £ 69,452,094 Rest of England £ 55,876,707 Wales £ 1,586,452 Scotland £ 10,800,020 Total £ 137,715,273

References

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5. Dack, Barrie (1990). Greyhound Derby, the first 60 years. Ringpress Books. pp. 80–81. ISBN   0-948955-36-8.
6. ""Sports in Brief." Times [London, England] 2 July 1945". The Times .
7. Genders, Roy (1975). The Greyhound and Racing Greyhound. Page Brothers (Norwich). ISBN   0-85020-0474.
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10. Tarter, P Howard (1949). Greyhound Racing Encyclopedia. Fleet Publishing Company Ltd.
11. Particulars of Licensed tracks, table 1 Licensed Dog Racecourses. Licensing Authorities. 1945.
12. ""Greyhound Racing Association." Times, 11 Apr. 1945, p. 10". The Times . 11 April 1945. p. 10.
13. ""Greyhound Racing Association." Times, 2 May 1946, p. 9". The Times . 2 May 1946. p. 9.
14. "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 1946) November edition". Greyhound Star.
15. "Hall of Fame, Ballyhennessy Seal". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
16. "Ballyhennessy Seal". Greyhound Data.
17. "Robeen Printer". Greyhound Data.
18. Hobbs, Jonathan (2002). Greyhound Annual 2003. Raceform. ISBN   1-904317-07-3.
19. Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. ISBN   0-948955-15-5.
20. "Cardiff History". Tumblr.
21. Tanner, Michael (2004). The Legend of Mick the Miller: Sporting Icon of the Depression. Newbury: Highdown. ISBN   978-1-904317-67-8.
22. "Shaggy Dog's Record". Belfast Telegraph. 18 October 1945. p. 4 – via British Newspaper Archives.
23. "Shaggy Lad wins Puppy Derby". Northern Whig. 20 October 1945. p. 4 – via British Newspaper Archives.