1964 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year

1964 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
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The 1964 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 38th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland. ^[1]

Roll of honour

Major Winners
Award	Name of Winner
1964 English Greyhound Derby	Hack up Chieftain [2] [3]
1964 Irish Greyhound Derby	Wonder Valley [4] [5]
1964 Scottish Greyhound Derby	Hi Imperial [6]
1964 Welsh Greyhound Derby	Davo's Rink [7]
Greyhound Trainer of the Year	Harry Bamford
Greyhound of the Year	Lucky Hi There

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. ^{[8] [9]}

Despite the government reducing the totalisator tax to 5% from 10%, the industry saw a further fall in attendances. ^[10] The National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC) affiliated tracks saw 11,208,657 paying customers at 6011 meetings with tote turnover of £50,178,166. ^[11]

Tracks

The Greyhound Racing Association (GRA) acquired Catford Stadium. ^[12] 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. ^{[13] [14] [15]}

A new independent opened called the Boston Sports Stadium in New Hammond Beck Road but the worrying trend of tracks closing continued. Lythalls Lane Stadium in Coventry closed and was sold for redevelopment as a housing estate, with the prestigious Eclipse Stakes switching to Kings Heath Stadium in Birmingham. The owners of the Coventry track also owned the Brandon Speedway Stadium and had plans to bring greyhounds there. The other tracks to close were Blackpool Greyhound Stadium, Darnall Stadium and the independent Northampton track. ^{[13] [15] [14]}

Competitions

Cranog Bet won a second consecutive Oaks at Harringay Stadium which led to her being voted bitch of the year for the second year running. She won 18 of her 24 open races in 1964. ^[16]

The greyhound of the year award went to a black dog called Lucky Hi There, whelped in November 1961. He switched to the longer trip after appearing the year before in the Laurels final and the Gold Collar final in May, where it was soon apparent that his future lay in stayer's races. He duly performed superbly and won the Cambridgeshire, Orient Cup, Wimbledon Spring Cup, Wembley Gold Cup and Scottish St Leger. In his first classic of the year at Wembley he won the St Leger title and was well on the way to eventually going sixteen races before finally being beaten, just three short of Mick the Miller's record. During 1964 he won 27 of his 35 races. ^{[13] [15] [17] [18]}

News

Trainer George Waterman died which came as a shock to the industry. He had started the early part of the year impressively, by winning the Gold Collar, the Pall Mall Stakes, Cloth of Gold, Coronation Cup and Springbok. Wimbledon Stadium would appoint Nora Gleeson to fill the gap left at the Burhill kennel range. White City recruited trainer Randolph Singleton from sister track Belle Vue Stadium. ^{[13] [15]}

We'll See (the 1963 greyhound of the year) died on his way back to the GRA kennels at Northaw while in transit after heart failure; he had just won a heat of the Birmingham Cup. ^{[13] [15]}

Principal UK races

Grand National, White City (April 25 525y h, £500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Two Aces Jimmy Rimmer 10-11f 30.42 1 2nd Clerihan Reckless Wally Hancox 100-8 30.48 6 3rd Fairyfield Surprise G.Jackson 3-1 30.68 2 4th Oyster Haven 100-8 30.69 5 5th Prince Fodda Stan Martin 25-1 30.72 3 6th Rathaney Streak Joe Pickering 6-1 30.84 4

BBC Sportsview TV Trophy Powderhall (Apr 29, 880y, £1,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Hillstride Tom Perry 6-4f 51.37 2 2nd Pigalle Prince Peter Collett 2-1 51.53 3 3rd Miss Elegant Paddy Keane 10-1 52.17 4 4th Kilkeran Prince Glasgow 9-2 52.19 1 5th Buckwheat Reg Webb 8-1 52.35 5 6th Joystick Harry Bamford 7-2 52.47 6

Gold Collar, Catford (May 16, 570y, £1,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Mighty Wind George Waterman 33-1 33.36 2 2nd Misty Chieftain Adam Jackson 10-11f 33.37 1 3rd Clifden Orbit Tom Johnston Jr. 10-1 33.37 4 4th Ballymurn Chief Ernie Butler 5-1 33.53 3 5th Hillside Buck Gunner Smith 40-1 33.61 6 6th Lucky Hi There Jimmy Jowett 5-2 33.77 5

Welsh Derby, Arms Park (Jul 4, 525y £500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Davo's Rink Tom Baldwin 9-4 28.84 2 2nd Captain Pike Phil Rees Sr. 5-1 29.40 3 3rd Sallys Story Tony Dennis 1-1f 29.46 6 4th King Dick Phil Rees Sr. 100-6 29.62 5 5th Cahara Jet Joe De Mulder 7-1 29.74 4 6th Rito 100-8 29.90 1

Oaks, Harringay (Jul 4, 525y, £500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Cranog Bet Phil Rees Sr. 4-9f 29.02+ 2 2nd Surprise Bette Godwin 8-1 30.06 1 3rd Flying Sherry Ken Moody 8-1 30.09 6 4th Peace Sprite Jimmy Quinn 25-1 30.11 5 5th Lisheeghan Lady 5-1 30.15 4 6th Hi Cola Bill Kelly 20-1 30.25 3 +Equalled Track record [19]

Scurry Gold Cup, Clapton (Jul 18, 400y £1,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Salthill Sand John Bassett 100-6 22.72 6 2nd Lucky Land 100-8 23.46 2 3rd Ballinasloe Fred Bill Kelly 10-1 23.47 4 4th Cranog Bet Phil Rees Sr. 8-13f 24.05 1 5th Kans Jack Harvey 7-2 24.29 5 6th Light Headed Gordon Hodson 100-8 24.35 3

Laurels, Wimbledon (Aug 14, 500y, £1,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Conna Count Dennis Hannafin 100-7 28.08 1 2nd Pineapple Joe Dennis Hannafin 10-11f 28.18 3 3rd Kans Jack Harvey 5-2 28.20 5 4th Captain Pike Phil Rees Sr. 100-8 28.44 4 5th Ferns Con Mrs.J.Reeve 5-1 28.45 6 6th Outcast Roger 25-1 28.55 2

St Leger, Wembley (Aug 31, 700y, £1,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Lucky Hi There Jimmy Jowett 1-2f 39.90 4 2nd Slow Traveller Frank Conlon 8-1 40.10 3 3rd Shangris Captain A.M.Bennett 100-8 40.34 1 4th Failte Mal Bill Dash 5-1 40.42 5 5th Clifden Orbit Tom Johnston Jr. 7-1 40.43 2 N/R Automation Phil Rees Sr. 6

Scottish Greyhound Derby, Carntyne (Sep 5, 525y, £750) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Hi Imperial Tom Johnston Jr. 20-1 29.13 6 2nd Private Gun Tommy Kane 5-1 29.14 2 3rd Crazy Platinum Bessie Lewis 8-1 29.22 3 4th Lowfield King P.O'Loughlin 6-1 29.36 4 5th O'Leary Jim Hookway 4-7f 29.39 1 6th Scamp Boy Bessie Lewis 6-1 29.43 5

Cesarewitch, West Ham (Oct 2, 600y, £1,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Clifden Orbit [20] Tom Johnston Jr. 4-1 33.08 6 2nd Ring Roller Jack Kinsley 12-1 33.14 1 3rd Pineapple Joe Dennis Hannafin 10-1 33.34 3 4th Failte Mal Bill Dash 8-13f 33.62 4 5th Denises Pride Randy Singleton 20-1 33.65 2 6th Slow Traveller Frank Conlon 5-1 33.68 5

Principal Irish races

Produce Stakes, Clonmel (May 13, 525y £1,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer Time 1st Mothel Chief Paddy Dunphy 29.70 2nd Vales Corner 30.18 3rd Lucky Break 30.58 4th Greenane Flame 30.78 u Kileden Chief u Rattle the Jungle

St Leger, Limerick (Jul 11, 550y £1,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer Time 1st Brook Jockey P Boyce 31.66 2nd Kylepark Special 31.72 3rd Solo Jungle 32.00 4th Honey Fitz 32.16 u Lovely Fashion u November King

Laurels, Cork (Sep 12, 525y £1,250) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer Time 1st Tanyard Heather P Cashman 29.20 2nd Good Brandy 29.36 3rd Seagulls Ltd 29.76 4th Tanyard There 29.92 u Brindle John u Bimco

Oaks, Harold's Cross (Sep 18, 525y £1,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer Time 1st Knock Her T O’Shaughnessy 29.98 2nd Have A Mink 30.10 3rd Bally Minorca 30.11 4th Venpact 30.35 u Weed Pest u Brandon View

u=unplaced

Totalisator returns

Extended content

The totalisator returns declared to the licensing authorities for the year 1964 are listed below. [21] [22] Stadium Turnover £ London (White City) 4,817,765 London (Harringay) 3,157,901 London (Wimbledon) 2,477,246 London (Walthamstow) 2,367,934 London (Wembley) 2,178,577 London (Clapton) 1,757,020 London (Catford) 1,704,894 Manchester (Belle Vue) 1,699,762 London (West Ham) 1,677,282 London (Wandsworth) 1,552,680 London (Stamford Bridge) 1,124,298 London (Hendon) 1,121,676 London (New Cross) 1,094,011 Romford 1,078,854 Edinburgh (Powderhall) 1,052,195 Manchester (White City) 1,016,507 Birmingham (Perry Barr, old) 980,477 Glasgow (Shawfield) 904,791 London (Park Royal) 896,739 Brighton & Hove 841,553 Stadium Turnover £ London (Hackney) 823,797 Birmingham (Hall Green) 766,837 Slough 723,168 Glasgow (White City) 713,322 Leeds (Elland Road) 685,494 Crayford & Bexleyheath 672,566 Southend-on-Sea 652,600 Manchester (Salford) 623,516 Newcastle (Brough Park) 610,007 Bristol (Eastville) 608,358 Wolverhampton (Monmore) 589,489 Newcastle (Gosforth) 543,663 Willenhall 542,387 Cardiff (Arms Park) 541,252 London (Dagenham) 534,336 Ramsgate (Dumpton Park) 496,702 Bradford (Greenfield) 490,951 Sheffield (Owlerton) 486,339 Reading (Oxford Road) 484,672 Stadium Turnover £ Birmingham (Kings Heath) 463,246 Gloucester & Cheltenham 424,472 Liverpool (White City) 415,753 Glasgow (Carntyne) 391,829 Derby 372,172 Poole 338,888 Oxford 331,782 Rochester & Chatham 314,635 Gateshead 303,070 Middlesbrough 287,248 Liverpool (Seaforth) 285,094 Hull (Old Craven Park) 243,075 Aberdeen 239,323 Leicester (Blackbird Rd) 234,056 Nottingham (White City) 230,844 South Shields 218,345 Portsmouth 200,560 Preston 198,701 Norwich (City) 127,804

References

1. Fry, Paul (1995). The Official NGRC Greyhound Racing Yearbook. Ringpress Books. ISBN   186054-010-4.
2. Dack, Barrie (1990). Greyhound Derby, the first 60 years, pages 119/120. Ringpress Books. ISBN   0-948955-36-8.
3. "1964". Greyhound Data.
4. Comyn, John. 50 Years of Greyhound Racing in Ireland. Aherlow Publishers Ltd.
5. Fortune, Michael. Irish Greyhound Derby 1932-1981. Victory Irish Promotions Ltd.
6. Hobbs, Jonathan (2007). Greyhound Annual 2008, pages 153-154. Raceform. ISBN   978-1-905153-53-4.
7. Genders, Roy (1975). The Greyhound and Racing Greyhound, page 320. Page Brothers (Norwich). ISBN   0-85020-0474.
8. "British bookies may limit dog racing bets, 2 July". Montreal Gazette. 1964.
9. "Great Britain:Operation Sandpaper". Time magazine.com. 10 July 1964.
10. ""Greyhound Attendances Cut By Betting Shops." Times, 17 July 1964, p. 22". The Times. Times Digital Archives. 17 July 1964. p. 22.
11. Particulars of Licensed tracks, table 1 Licensed Dog Racecourses. Licensing Authorities. 1964.
12. ""G.R.A. Offer For Catford." Times, 3 Apr. 1964, p. 17". The Times. Times Digital Archives. 3 April 1964. p. 17.
13. Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN   07207-1106-1.
14. Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. ISBN   0-948955-15-5.
15. Genders, Roy (1990). NGRC book of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN   0-7207-1804-X.
16. "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When) February edition". Greyhound Star. 2016.
17. Barnes, Julia (1991). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File, Vol Two. Ringpress Books. ISBN   0-948955-61-9.
18. Barnes/Sellers, Julia/John (1992). Ladbrokes Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. ISBN   0-948955-22-8.
19. "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When) July edition". Greyhound Star. 2012.
20. "Remember When - October 1964". Greyhound Star. 28 October 2018.
21. Particulars of Licensed tracks, table 1 Licensed Dog Racecourses. Licensing Authorities. 1964.
22. "Belle Vue sets the pace". No. 981. Greyhound Owner and Breeder. 21 January 1965.