1946 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year

1946 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
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The 1946 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 21st year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland. ^[1]

Roll of honour

Major Winners
Award	Name of Winner
1946 English Greyhound Derby	Mondays News [2] [3]
1946 Irish Greyhound Derby	Steve [4] [5]
1946 Scottish Greyhound Derby	Lattin Pearl [6]
1946 Welsh Greyhound Derby	Negro's Lad [7]

Summary

The greyhound racing industry experienced an extraordinary year in 1946, with all previous records in terms of attendances and totalisator turnover being broken. The year would be the pinnacle in the history of the sport and would never be matched again. Attendances were estimated to be around 75 million based on an annual totalisator turnover of £196,431,430. ^[8] The figure equates to £8 billion today (2018), using a historic inflation calculator, which indicates the significance of the industry at the time. Trading on greyhound racing shares at the stock exchange were centre stage business. ^[9]

The leading greyhound company, the Greyhound Racing Association (GRA) recorded record attendances and profits at all of their tracks. The largest tote turnover was at White City and reached £17,576,190. ^[8]

Competitions

Mondays News won the 1946 English Greyhound Derby, run under floodlights for the first time. ^{[10] [11] [12]} In the Derby Consolation Stakes, Quare Times won by four lengths from Bah's Choice in 28.82 seconds to improve on his own world record.

The Scottish Greyhound Derby and Welsh Greyhound Derby clashed, in the former Lattin Pearl defeated Grand Prix champion Magic Bohemian and in the latter, Negros Lad overcame a field including defending champion Shaggy Lass and 1945 English Greyhound Derby finalist Duffys Arrival. The time of 29.54 broke the track record. ^[13]

A week after the Scurry Gold Cup (won by Mischievous Manhattan) the Wembley Summer Cup paired the two fastest greyhounds in training Bah's Choice and Quare Times. Bah's Choice won the event from Shannon Shore, Magic Bohemian, Shaggy Lass and Negro's Lad in addition to Quare Times. The race attracted significant national attention and Major Percy Brown (Racing manager at White City) contacted the owners of the two greyhounds to arrange a return match between them, at White City, on August Bank Holiday Monday. Quare Times was handled by the 'Wizard of Burhill', Sidney Orton, while Bah's Choice was trained by Bob Burls at Wembley. Quare Times, was first from the traps and made no mistakes setting a new world record of 30.38 seconds for the 550 yards course. ^{[14] [15]}

In the Invitation Stakes run at Coventry on 9 August, Bah's Choice gained revenge beating Quare Times by five lengths, in a new track record with a time of 29.45 seconds. Sadly entered for the Birmingham Cup at Perry Barr in September, Bahs Choice broke a hock in his first round heat and was retired to stud. ^{[14] [15]} Shannon Shore gained some compensation for his Derby defeat after winning the Laurels, the January 1943 whelp would retire to stud after an unsuccessful attempt to retain his Golden Crest crown which went to Rimmells Black. ^[16] Stan Biss won the Oaks for the fifth time with Dumbles Maid, a brindle and white bitch that had turned in the traps and refused to chase just a few weeks previous. ^[17]

A strong entry for the St Leger saw Bohernagraga Boy win by just a short head from recent Oaks champion Dumbles Maid, Monday's News struggled with the longer distance and could only finish a disappointing fifth. History was made during the All England Cup, held at Brough Park when four of the entries were all four nations Derby winners. The English Greyhound Derby winner Mondays News, the Irish Greyhound Derby champion Lilac Lady, Welsh Greyhound Derby winner Negro's Lad and Scottish Greyhound Derby champion Lattin Pearl all competed. The hope that all four would progress to the final failed to materialise but two of them Monday's News and Lattin Pearl did make the final and duly finished first and second. ^{[14] [15] [18]}

Tracks

Just two known tracks were opened during 1946. ^[19] A proposed track application for Darnley between Barrhead and Thornliebank was rejected by Glasgow magistrates, on the grounds that it was too near houses and would cause traffic congestion. A company called the Darnley Greyhound Racing Track Ltd had already been formed in readiness. ^[14]

The Glasgow City assessor attempted to increase the valuations of the five greyhound stadiums in Glasgow, which was opposed by the tracks because they did not want to have to pay increased tax. Carntyne, owned by the Scottish Greyhound Racing Company was valued at £4,500 by the assessor but £3,700 by the track, which was followed by White City, White City Glasgow Ltd £6,700 (£4,000), Albion, Glasgow-Albion Racing Ltd £12,000 (£1,250), Firhill, Partick Thistle FC & Firhill Racing Company Ltd £3,000 (£2,500) and finally Shawfield, Shawfield Greyhound Racing Company Ltd £4,000 (£600). ^{[14] [15]}

Tracks opened

Date	Stadium/Track	Location
5 June	Kilkenny Greyhound Stadium	Kilkenny
11 June	Melton Mowbray Greyhound Stadium	Melton Mowbray

News

1946 Irish Greyhound Derby winner Steve was withdrawn from the Aldridges sales despite bids in excess of £1,000. Owner Mrs. R.H.Dent refused to sell to connections who intended to flap (race on independent tracks) with him. Steve would have to continue his career in Ireland because English Racing Managers refused to allow him to race. This was because of a previous disqualification for fighting at Wembley during a trial. ^[15] Two other greyhounds failed to sell at Aldridges; Motts Regret went unsold despite a bid of 1,250 guineas and Col Skookum was taken off the bench despite a 1,450 guineas bid. ^[20]

Walthamstow Stadium owner William Chandler died and left equal shares to his children. Charles Chandler became managing director and Percy was responsible for the catering and restaurants. Victor Sr. and Jack were already bookmakers and Ronnie trained greyhounds in Ireland. ^[15]

In July the first case of a greyhound traveling by air took place when Warrington greyhound Clady Border, trained by Ken Newham went from Manchester Airport to Belfast, to take part in an event at Celtic Park in which he won. During the same year Fernane Sweeper was the first greyhound to fly the Atlantic. Wandsworth transported their racing greyhounds from the track kennels to the race track using a Scammell Mechanical Horse that pulled a trailer of 56 greyhounds in individual kennels to the race track. ^{[14] [15]}

Motts Regret, a brindle whelped in April 1944 by Trev's Dispatch out of Friar Tuck, had been bred and reared in the Cumberland Fells by Mr H.G. Nunn. During the year he won a number of open races and was entered for the English Greyhound Derby at White City without success. Later that year he went down with distemper and pneumonia at the GRA Hook Estate and Kennels in Northaw and it was thought he would die, but after a long convalescence would make it back to the track in 1947. ^[21] Lemon Flash (the 1946 McAlinden Cup winner) and Tim O'Linn died of distemper in Birmingham private kennels, the latter had recently cost his new owner £1,400.

Frederick Johnson a breeder from Tarporley in Cheshire, was refused a private trainers licence by the National Greyhound Racing Club, with his wife Mary they farmed sixty acres and bred the 'Rushton' greyhounds prefix. Johnson contemplated giving up greyhound racing after the decision but luckily decided against it. ^{[14] [15]}

Ballynennan Moon and Ballyhennessy Seal both on stud duties demanded £100 for a mating fee at the Burhill Kennels. ^[22]

A greyhound called Long Rally who set a track record in his first race at Darnall is subject to a record bid of 2,100 guineas but his owner refuses the offer because he had set a reserve of 2,250 guineas. ^[23]

Ireland

Kilkenny Greyhound Stadium opened on 5 June, the first winner was a greyhound called Rebel Gunner. ^[4] Dunmore Stadium, in Belfast which had suffered serious fire and bomb damage during the war underwent significant renovation. Two new stands were built, one acted as a reserved area and the other was unreserved. ^[4] The 1946 Irish Greyhound Derby was won by an English connection for the first time when Steve, owned by Mrs. R.H.Dent took the honours. Mrs. Dent had owned Wattle Bark, winner of the 1937 English Greyhound Derby.

Principal UK races

Grand National, White City (May 18 525y h, £300) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Barry From Limerick E Davidson 2-1 30.61 2 2nd Bright Board Michael Downey 7-2 30.64 1 3rd Niggers Toe Catford 13-8f 30.68 5 4th Cadet Captain Dal Hawkesley 5-1 30.92 4 N/R Baytown Blackbird Reg String Marsh

Gold Collar, Catford (Jun 1, 440y, £500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st King Silver Cornelius Crowley 9-4 25.88 2 2nd Mischievous Manhatton Paddy Fortune 4-1 25.96 6 3rd Mondays Son L Hague 5-4f 25.99 1 4th Kildrum Boy Michael Downey 8-1 26.02 5 5th Hoot of Selsdon Jerry Hannafin 20-1 26.10 3 N/R Alvaston Apollo Stan Martin

Scottish Greyhound Derby, Carntyne (Jul 6, 525y, £500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Lattin Pearl M Gemmell 11-10f 29.53 3 2nd Magic Bohemian Leslie Reynolds 5-2 29.69 2 3rd Tom Bawn 33-1 29.72 4 4th Lone Hunter Ken Newham 12-1 29.88 5 5th Mondays Son L Hague 7-2 30.04 1 N/R Final Spar Alfred Spensley

Welsh Derby, Arms Park (Jul 6, 525y) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Negro's Lad Jack Toseland 8-1 29.54+ 5 2nd Lee Ripple Clapton 100-6 29.78 2 3rd Elbows Print John Skeaping 5-2 29.86 1 4th Duffys Arrival Michael Downey 7-1 29.94 4 5th Shaggy Lass G Vickery 10-11f 30.02 6 6th Sergeant Bullard Cardiff 50-1 30.34 3

+Track Record

Scurry Gold Cup, Clapton (Jul 27, 400y £500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Mischievous Manhatton Paddy Fortune 5-4f 23.40 1 2nd Rimmells Black Stanley Biss 4-1 23.44 4 3rd Missouri Fred Farey 3-1 23.92 2 4th Waldour Street Stanley Biss 100-7 24.24 6 5th Esk Sidney Orton 100-6 24.48 3 6th Just Glory Fred Trevillion 6-1 25.28 5

Laurels, Wimbledon (Aug 30, 500y, £500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Shannon Shore Leslie Reynolds 7-1 28.26 2 2nd Tan Gent Sidney Orton 9-2 28.32 3 3rd Missouri Clapton 100-7 28.38 5 4th Quare Times Sidney Orton 11-10f 28.42 4 5th Rimmells Black Stanley Biss 8-1 28.82 6 6th Plucky Hero Wilf France 11-4 28.98 1

Oaks, White City (Sep 14, 525y, £300) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Dumbles Maid Stanley Biss 13-8 29.42 5 2nd Mudinuri Stanley Biss 4-1 29.70 6 3rd Simone Michael Downey 11-10f 29.74 1 4th Willow Queen 50-1 29.92 2 5th Call Maggie Stan Gray 100-7 30.56 3 6th Lopham Sally 50-1 30.64 4

St Leger, Wembley (Oct 5, 700y, £500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Bohernagraga Boy Jim Syder Sr. 1-1f 39.92 4 2nd Dumbles Maid Stanley Biss 9-4 39.93 1 3rd Simone Michael Downey 100-8 40.17 5 4th Killoran Castle D.R.Hayes 6-1 40.18 6 5th Mondays News Fred Farey 5-1 40.26 3 N/R Call Maggie Stan Gray

Cesarewitch, West Ham (Oct 29, 600y, £500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Col Skookurn Sidney Orton 4-1 31.28 5 2nd Projective 7-2 31.29 2 3rd Bright Oak Jack Harvey 11-2 31.37 1 4th Fine Price 33-1 31.39 3 5th Bally Rambler G Smith 2-1f 31.61 4 6th Sporting Hero Paddy McEllistrim 9-2 31.65 6

The Grand Prix Walthamstow (Nov 9, 525y, £500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Tonycus Leslie Reynolds 6-1 30.19 2 2nd Dante II Wilf France 3-1 30.25 1 3rd Mondays News Fred Farey 10-11f 30.65 4 4th Eire Model Jonathan Hopkins 33-1 30.89 3 5th Tan Gent Sidney Orton 6-1 30.97 5 6th Rimmells Black Stanley Biss 100-7 31.01 6

Totalisator Returns

Extended content

The totalisator returns declared to the licensing authorities for the year 1946 are listed below. Tracks that did not have a totalisator in operation are not listed. Attendances peaked during the year, at around 70 million and totalisator turnover surpassed £196 million reaching £196,431,430. [8] Stadium Turnover £ London (White City) 17,576,190 London (Harringay) 11,046,994 London (Wembley) 10,905,145 London (Wimbledon) 9,086,557 London (Walthamstow) 7,355,147 London (Clapton) 5,802,609 London (Stamford Bridge) 5,749,592 London (Catford) 5,397,432 London (West Ham) 5,362,519 London (Wandsworth) 4,650,421 London (Park Royal) 4,310,543 Glasgow (Shawfield) 4,305,390 Manchester (Belle Vue) 3,840,902 Birmingham (Perry Barr, old) 3,527,283 London (New Cross) 3,095,736 London (Hackney) 3,081,734 Bradford (Greenfield) 2,659,145 Edinburgh (Powderhall) 2,542,000 Coventry (Lythalls Lane) 2,477,328 Brighton & Hove 2,455,699 Sheffield (Owlerton) 2,447,609 Glasgow (White City) 2,394,340 London (Hendon) 2,302,255 Birmingham (Hall Green) 2,238,042 Crayford & Bexleyheath 2,148,611 Newcastle (Brough Park) 2,104,702 Manchester (Salford) 2,101,998 Glasgow (Carntyne) 2,074,785 Bristol (Eastville) 2,064,358 London (Charlton) 2,038,891 Glasgow (Albion) 2,037,304 Liverpool (Seaforth) 1,990,410 Sheffield (Darnall) 1,987,266 Manchester (White City) 1,878,980 Liverpool (Stanley) 1,814,431 Blackpool (St Anne's) 1,793,345 Southampton 1,729,291 Liverpool (White City) 1,726,194 Gateshead 1,695,911 Newcastle (Gosforth) 1,644,257 Leicester (Blackbird Rd) 1,605,830 Nottingham (White City) 1,549,732 Stadium Turnover £ Wolverhampton (Monmore) 1,537,935 Slough 1,495,881 South Shields 1,416,567 Romford 1,406,909 Bradford (City) 1,371,466 Reading (Oxford Road) 1,371,280 Cardiff (Arms Park) 1,365,551 Rochester & Chatham 1,282,828 Birmingham (Kings Heath) 1,227,928 Sunderland 1,213,311 Southend-on-Sea 1,209,997 Leeds (Elland Road) 1,167,103 Portsmouth 1,108,662 Newcastle (White City) 1,106,242 Hull (Old Craven Park) 1,090,993 Norwich (Boundary Park) 1,080,438 Stoke-on-Trent (Hanley) 1,055,630 Gloucester & Cheltenham 1,054,899 Oxford 1,044,320 Plymouth 1,020,472 Chester 893,297 Glasgow (Firhill) 880,368 Ashington (Co Durham) 872,132 Preston 866,144 Liverpool (Breck Park) 863,354 Derby 858,056 Stoke-on-Trent (Cobridge) 806,889 Exeter (County Ground) 801,036 London (Stratford) 776,990 Stanley (Co Durham) 750,765 Norwich (City) 750,553 Bristol (Knowle) 736,909 West Hartlepool 709,963 Bolton 666,751 Middlesbrough 656,386 Long Eaton 638,438 Sheffield (Hyde Park) 625,084 Ipswich 594,645 Warrington 570,718 Rochdale 566,976 Newport 537,334 Blackburn 529,773 Stadium Turnover £ Exeter (Marsh Barton) 516,285 Willenhall 491,794 Stockport (Hazel Grove) 469,889 Aberdeen 452,160 Houghton-le-Spring 445,222 Ayr (Tams Brig) 350,427 Easington (Co Durham) 317,923 Wallyford (East Lothian) 312,573 Luton 308,810 London (Southall) 300,049 Wigan (Poolstock) 288,964 Falkirk (Brockville Park) 218,962 London (Harlington Corner) 206,468 Leeds (Parkside) 200,587 Northampton 193,859 Coundon (Co Durham) 189,456 St Helens 182,523 Kilmarnock 168,564 Ramsgate (Dumpton Park) 168,502 Ramsgate (Newington) 168,502 Workington 155,316 Rotherham 150,428 Oldham 145,712 Wishaw (North Lanarks) 140,967 Kingskerswell (Devon) 135,304 Edinburgh (Stenhouse) 127,549 Glasgow (Mount Vernon) 123,451 Aldershot 99,709 Glasgow (Coatbridge) 83,773 Doncaster (Spotbrough) 76,241 Motherwell (Clyde Valley) 70,732 Barry 64,791 Wombwell (South Yorks) 64,255 Wakefield 51,799 Irvine (Caledonian) 47,041 Aberdare 36,028 Worksop 30,326 Thornton (Fife) 27,342 Castleford (Whitwood) 26,959 Belmont (Co Durham) 23,181 Yarmouth 12,392 Summary Country No of tracks (with tote) Turnover England 101 £ 178,607,332 Wales 3 £ 1,466,370 Scotland 18 £ 16,357,728 Total 122 £ 196,431,430

References

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