1965 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year

1965 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
←  1964 1966  →

The 1965 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 39th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland. ^[1]

Roll of honour

Major Winners
Award	Name of Winner
1965 English Greyhound Derby	Hack up Chieftain [2] [3]
1965 Irish Greyhound Derby	Ballyowen Chief [4] [5]
1965 Scottish Greyhound Derby	Clonmannon Flash [6]
1965 Welsh Greyhound Derby	Harmony [7]
Greyhound Trainer of the Year	Jim Hookway & John Bassett
Greyhound of the Year	Clonmannon Flash [8]
Irish Greyhound of the Year	Ballyowen Chief

Summary

The industry experienced a small rise in attendances and totalisator turnover for the first time since 1946. The National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC) affiliated tracks saw 11,213,730 paying customers at 5972 meetings with tote turnover of £58,480,219. ^[9] However the possibility of future increases was unlikely because there was competition from television, which had found its way into many of Britain's households, bingo halls (a recent gambling rival) which was now established and dance halls pulled in the younger generation. In addition many companies that owned tracks had evaluated that selling them for redevelopment brought large short term financial gain, especially in major cities. ^{[10] [11]}

Tracks

Staines Greyhound Stadium was demolished, five years after closing and the Mexborough greyhound track called the Dog Daisy Stadium, which was situated on the corner of Sedgefield Way and Harlington Road also shut. ^[12] Seaforth Greyhound Stadium closed on 31 December. Romford Stadium Ltd sold their controlling interest in the Dagenham Greyhound Stadium track for £185,000 stating that government restrictions on fixtures forced both tracks to race on the same day which impacted attendances. Incidentally The Dagenham Coup court case continued. ^{[13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19]}

News

On 25 January Juvenile champion Hi Joe trained by Noreen Collin and owned by bookmaker Victor Chandler Sr. was stolen from his Epping kennels. Initial hopes were that he could be recovered quickly to allow him to line up for the English Greyhound Derby but as the weeks passed he had not been recovered. ^{[10] [11]}

John Sutton became the Managing Director of the Greyhound Racing Association ^[7] and the GRA extended its board by adding Major Percy Brown, John Cearns (son of WJ Cearns) and Charles Chandler Jr. to the directors. They then sold the Kingsfurze breeding establishment at Naas in County Kildare, the seven acre grounds had been breeding greyhounds for over 17 years. ^[20] This was followed by the sale of Upper Childown Farm and Fan Court Farm grounds in Longcross near Chertsey. The two properties were used as a nursery and rearing establishment by the GRA. Further cutbacks by the GRA included the sacking of two advertising executives and five trainers from the Hook Estate and Kennels. Harry Buck, Dick Clark, Albert Jonas, Eric Hiscock and Jack Cooper all left while the remaining ten Hook Kennels trainers would cover the three tracks of White City Greyhounds, Harringay Stadium and Stamford Bridge Greyhounds. ^{[10] [11]} The Chairman and Directors were rewarded for their work by gaining a significant rise, doubling their salaries, which was deferred until 1966. ^[21]

Track Chromatography (a drug testing unit) was first used at Walthamstow in their purpose built lab. ^[22] Leading owner, the 70 year old shipping magnate Noel Purvis retired after forty years owning greyhounds, he rated Mile Bush Pride as his greatest greyhound. ^{[10] [11]}

Ireland

Des Hanrahan became Chairman of the Bord na gCon and actively sought to buy any Irish tracks in danger of being sold to developers. ^[4]

At the seaside resort of Ballybunion in County Kerry, Matt Sullivan finally received a licence to open Ballybunion Greyhound Stadium despite having to go to court against the Bord na gCon, who had reservations that it was too close to the Kingdom Greyhound Stadium in Tralee. ^[4]

A litter whelped in February 1965, at the kennels of Leo Stack at Duagh, County Kerry, would become one of the greatest litters in the history of track racing. The litter, of five dogs and four bitches, was by Crazy Parachute out of Supreme Witch and included Forward Flash (a black dog), Forward King (a fawn dog), Spectre II and Tric-Trac (two black dogs) and Gezira (a fawn bitch). ^{[10] [11] [23]}

Competitions

The Grand Prix at Walthamstow Stadium is cancelled for the second year in succession due to problems over filling the event. Walthamstow had applied for a change to 700 yards at late notice but it is refused by the NGRC. They will however apply for a longer distance the following year and be successful. Conna Count, a white and brindle dog became the fourth greyhound to successfully defend the Laurels at Wimbledon Stadium for a new increased prize of £1,500. ^{[24] [25]}

Clonmannon Flash, the Jim Hookway trained greyhound won the Scottish Greyhound Derby, Northern Flat, Edinburgh Cup, Pall Mall Stakes, Gimcrack and Stewards' Cup. ^{[24] [25]} He subsequently received the accolade of Greyhound of the Year at the end of year awards held at the Dorchester Hotel. ^[8]

Principal UK races

Grand National, White City (April 24 525y h, £500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Im Crazy Randy Singleton 11-4 29.60 4 2nd Killouragh Course Adam Jackson 8-1 30.24 1 3rd Gladstone Mark Jim Singleton 9-1 30.30 6 4th Tact Nora Gleeson 9-1 30.32 5 5th Bolshoi Prince Phil Rees Sr. 2-1f 30.56 2 6th Chantillys Fawn Lace Jimmy Clubb 4-1 30.64 3

BBC Sportsview TV Trophy Wimbledon (Apr 28, 880y, £1,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Lucky Hi There Jimmy Jowett 13-8f 51.35 2 2nd Conna Jester Tony Dennis 100-7 51.41 5 3rd What About This S Brennan 11-2 51.44 3 4th Boothroyden Flash Harry Bamford 3-1 51.50 1 5th Fatal Result 8-1 51.82 6 6th Boothroyden Larry Harry Bamford 4-1 51.83 4

Gold Collar, Catford (May 15, 570y, £1,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Friday Morning Ron Chamberlain 11-10f 33.73 6 2nd Clifden Orbit Tom Johnston Jr. 5-1 34.17 3 3rd Automation Phil Rees Sr. 3-1 34.23 5 4th Lucky Monforte John Bassett 11-2 34.39 1 5th Speed Rue R.Dalton 9-2 34.75 4 N/R Mercedes Star Paddy Keane 2

Welsh Derby, Arms Park (Jul 3, 525y £500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Harmony Jim Irving 3-1 29.43 1 2nd Creggan Bush Reg Webb 6-4f 29.59 6 3rd Bernies Fire 7-1 29.73 5 4th Tact Nora Gleeson 12-1 29.99 2 5th Cons Prince Lionel Maxen 14-1 30.15 3 6th Venture Again Dave Geggus 5-2 30.18 4

Oaks, Harringay (Jul 5, 525y, £1,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Marjone Mick O'Toole 4-1 29.37 6 2nd Geddys Empress Bill Kelly 2-7f 29.53 1 3rd Shancloon Lady Stan Gudgin 8-1 29.54 3 4th Carols Champion Johnny Bullock 20-1 29.78 4 5th Miss Taft Bob Burls 20-1 29.80 5 6th Extra Smart 50-1 30.20 2

Scurry Gold Cup, Clapton (Jul 17, 400y £1,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st After You John Bassett 7-1 22.47 1 2nd Cassildo (dead-heat) Ron Chamberlain 5-1 22.87 2 2nd Faithful Hope (dead-heat) Paddy Keane 5-2jf 22.87 3 4th Orphan Swan Paddy McEvoy 9-2 23.07 6 5th Bank Note Paddy Power 14-1 23.55 5 6th Ballinasloe Fred Bill Kelly 5-2jf 23.69 4

Laurels, Wimbledon (Aug 13, 500y, £1,500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Conna Count Paddy McEvoy 11-2 28.13 4 2nd Venture Again Dave Geggus 1-1f 28.23 5 3rd Charlie Caesar Stan Martin 7-1 28.27 1 4th Chittering Clapton Adam Jackson 5-1 28.35 2 5th Lucky Private 20-1 28.36 3 6th Sapphire Prince Jimmy Fletcher 4-1 28.37 6

Scottish Greyhound Derby, Carntyne (Sep 4, 525y, £1,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Clonmannon Flash [26] Jim Hookway 2-1f 29.00 6 2nd O'Leary Jim Hookway 6-1 29.12 5 3rd Olivers Leader 8-1 29.15 3 4th Kilbeg Kuda John Bassett 6-1 29.16 4 5th Flash Solar Stan Mitchell 4-1 29.24 1 6th Chittering Clapton Adam Jackson 5-2 29.25 2

St Leger, Wembley (Sep 6, 700y, £1,250) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Greenane Flash Jimmy Quinn 2-1 40.13 6 2nd Claudyne John Brown 13-8f 40.21 1 3rd Suir View II Tom Johnston Jr. 5-1 40.31 4 4th Joystick Harry Bamford 20-1 40.41 5 5th Ringulator Jimmy Jowett 9-2 40.49 2 6th Adamstown Toast 10-1 40.65 3

Cesarewitch, West Ham (Oct 8, 600y, £1,500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Lucky Montforte John Bassett 5-1 33.00 1 2nd Faithful Hope Paddy Keane 4-5f 33.04 3 3rd Greenane Flame Jack Harvey 16-1 33.44 5 4th Lucky Arrow II Peter Collett 7-1 33.46 4 5th Motor Now Tom Johnston Jr. 5-2 33.54 2 6th Clifden Orbit Tom Johnston Jr. 16-1 33.74 6

Totalisator returns

Extended content

The totalisator returns declared to the licensing authorities for the year 1965 are listed below. [27] [28] Stadium Turnover £ London (White City) 5,415,369 London (Harringay) 3,496,197 London (Wimbledon) 3,150,990 London (Walthamstow) 2,913,718 London (Wembley) 2,505,145 London (Catford) 2,030,731 London (Clapton) 1,965,500 London (West Ham) 1,854,887 Manchester (Belle Vue) 1,834,078 London (Wandsworth) 1,778,071 London (New Cross) 1,372,102 London (Hendon) 1,347,031 Romford 1,282,457 London (Stamford Bridge) 1,275,368 Birmingham (Perry Barr, old) 1,219,632 Edinburgh (Powderhall) 1,193,969 Manchester (White City) 1,146,295 London (Hackney) 1,081,582 Glasgow (Shawfield) 1,080,310 Stadium Turnover £ Brighton & Hove 991,959 London (Park Royal) 950,507 Birmingham (Hall Green) 923,625 Glasgow (White City) 887,241 Slough 819,895 Leeds (Elland Road) 757,118 Sheffield (Owlerton) 732,336 Southend-on-Sea 722,286 Manchester (Salford) 715,087 Newcastle (Brough Park) 707,159 Wolverhampton (Monmore) 705,836 Bristol (Eastville) 680,701 Crayford & Bexleyheath 673,742 Willenhall 648,176 Newcastle (Gosforth) 619,462 Cardiff (Arms Park) 576,908 Birmingham (Kings Heath) 567,888 Reading (Oxford Road) 549,249 Bradford (Greenfield) 539,608 Stadium Turnover £ Gloucester & Cheltenham 535,785 Ramsgate (Dumpton Park) 522,651 Liverpool (White City) 498,134 Glasgow (Carntyne) 465,557 Derby 460,975 Poole 419,305 Rochester & Chatham 385,533 Oxford 362,050 Gateshead 342,751 Middlesbrough 328,571 Liverpool (Seaforth) 295,851 Leicester (Blackbird Rd) 291,283 Hull (Old Craven Park) 290,437 Nottingham (White City) 289,003 Portsmouth 286,792 Aberdeen 278,707 Preston 253,309 South Shields 202,255 Norwich (City) 159,055

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 121/122/123. Ringpress Books. ISBN   0-948955-36-8.
3. "1965". 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. "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When) November edition". Greyhound Star. 2013.
9. Particulars of Licensed tracks, table 1 Licensed Dog Racecourses. Licensing Authorities. 1965.
10. Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN   07207-1106-1.
11. Genders, Roy (1990). NGRC book of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN   0-7207-1804-X.
12. Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. ISBN   0-948955-15-5.
13. ""Four On Greyhound Plot Charge." Times [London, England] 4 Nov. 1965". The Times .
14. ""No Reason To Stand Out." Times [London, England] 10 Nov. 1965". The Times .
15. ""Bookmakers In Claim Against Stadium." Times [London, England] 16 Nov. 1965". The Times .
16. ""Court Told Of 10,000-1 Odds." Times [London, England] 17 Nov. 1965". The Times .
17. ""Adjournment In Greyhound Bets Case." Times [London, England] 9 Dec. 1965". The Times .
18. ""Bookmakers Appeal Over Bets Coup." Times [London, England] 18 Jan. 1966". The Times .
19. ""Costs For Men In Greyhound Case." Times [London, England] 20 Jan. 1966". The Times .
20. "Greyhound Star (Remember When - January 1965)". Greyhound Star. 26 January 2019.
21. ""Greyhound board to defer rise." Times, 9 Aug. 1966, p. 13". Times Digital Archives.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
22. "Remember When - October 1965". Greyhound Star. 13 October 2018.
23. "Offspring of Supreme Witch". Greyhound Data.
24. Barnes, Julia (1991). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File, Vol Two. Ringpress Books. ISBN   0-948955-61-9.
25. Barnes/Sellers, Julia/John (1992). Ladbrokes Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. ISBN   0-948955-22-8.
26. "REMEMBER WHEN: SEPTEMBER". Greyhound Star. September 2019.
27. Particulars of Licensed tracks, table 1 Licensed Dog Racecourses. Licensing Authorities. 1965.
28. "Dog totes show way". No. 1033. Greyhound Owner and Breeder. 20 January 1966.