1970 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year

1970 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
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The 1970 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 44th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland. ^[1]

Roll of honour

Major Winners
Award	Name of Winner
1970 English Greyhound Derby	John Silver [2] [3]
1970 Irish Greyhound Derby	Monalee Pride [4] [5]
1970 Scottish Greyhound Derby	Brilane Clipper [6]
1970 Welsh Greyhound Derby	Super Gamble [7]
Greyhound Trainer of the Year	Stan Mitchell
Greyhound of the Year	Moordyke Spot
Irish Greyhound of the Year	Mark Anthony

Summary

Tote turnover deductions were changed, with tracks being allowed to charge anything up to 12.5% in deductions. The annual National Greyhound Racing Club returns were released, with totalisator turnover at £55,556,351 and attendances recorded at 7,365,653 from 5585 meetings. ^[8] 1970 English Greyhound Derby finalist Moordyke Spot won the Oxfordshire Stakes, Playfield Cup, and ran undefeated through the Pall Mall Stakes, contributing to another winning streak of eight including the White City Championship. He was retired to stud in Galway at the end of the year and was named Greyhound of the Year. ^[9]

Tracks

The Totalisator and Greyhound Holdings (T.G.H) were showing interest in buying stadia. They already held Crayford & Bexleyheath Stadium, Elland Road Greyhound Stadium, Brough Park and Gosforth Greyhound Stadium and then purchased the Midland Greyhound Racing Co Ltd owned tracks of Monmore Green Stadium and Willenhall Greyhound Stadium. Only the Greyhound Racing Association owned more tracks. ^{[7] [10] [9]}

Hall Green Stadium underwent a major renovation when the club house was altered into a four tier restaurant costing £750,000. At the same time, the track kennels were replaced and the contract trainer system was brought in for the first time by the GRA, which would become a trend for most tracks in the near future. One of the contracted trainers was Geoff De Mulder, based from Meriden kennels. ^{[10] [9]} Another GRA track Powderhall modernised and new facilities included a 100 seated restaurant. There were changes too in the GRA trainer ranks with Peter Hawkesley moving to Harringay Stadium from West Ham Stadium to replace the retiring Wilf France. Hawkesley's head kennelhand Ted Parker was promoted to trainer at West Ham, who also appointed Colin West as another trainer. Self-service tote machines were also trialled by the company. ^{[10] [9]} Kings Heath Stadium was then purchased by the GRA Property Trust.

Perry Barr suffered major damage following a fire, the fire caused extensive damage but the main stand was rebuilt with a new restaurant and bar facilities and the track reopened soon after. ^[7]

Hendon Greyhound Stadium which was enlarged to hold 5,000 persons before Hackney & Hendon Greyhounds Ltd was subject to a reverse takeover by businessman George Walker, brother of boxing champion Billy Walker. This meant his private company bought a public company and the new merger resulted in a new company called Brent Walker. Plans for the UK's first stand-alone shopping centre would result in the track's closure in 1972. ^{[10] [9]}

White City Stadium (Nottingham) closed after its owner Ernest Jolley, resulting in a sequence of events that led to the sale of the stadium to property developers. ^[11]

News

Harry 'Bammy' Bamford and Ron Saunders had their first graded runners at Belle Vue Stadium and White City Stadium (Manchester) respectively. The Rayleigh Weir Stadium Racing Manager Thomas Stanley was unwell and handed the reins to Roy Vickery, a former Crayford General Manager. Hare coursing became illegal in Northern Ireland and Southend held the first ever televised race meeting in colour. ^{[10] [9]}

Owner-trainer Ernie Gaskin Sr. advertised a litter for sale, after his bitch Come on Dolores whelped to Newdown Heather (Newdown Heather was considered the best sire for many years). Four brothers – Bert, Len, John and Arthur White – bought four of the litter including a bitch called Dolores Rocket. The black bitch won the Puppy Oaks and Juvenile in 1970, both at Wimbledon, and looked set for a big 1971. ^[12] Dunstable GP Dr Dick Handley died, he was the founder of the Greyhound Breeders Forum. ^[13] Leading greyhound owner Noel Purvis also died. ^[14]

Competitions

The Scottish Greyhound Derby returned at Shawfield Stadium, the new home of the event. The Steel City Cup was introduced at Owlerton Stadium. Wimbledon Stadium allowed private trainers to compete in a competition with Wimbledon runners; this gesture was welcomed by the private trainers association due to the fact that not many open races were advertised in the calendar for them. The Duke of Edinburgh Cup national inter-track competition grand final between White City and Brighton, ended with a win for White City. ^{[10] [9]}

Sherrys Prince won the Grand National at White City. ^[15]

Ireland

The Irish Greyhound Board purchased Harold's Cross Stadium after speculation that it would be demolished for re-development. Irish greyhound owners threatened strikes after the Board held trap draws several days before the meeting. Owners wished to keep draws to half an hour before as in Northern Ireland. ^[4]

P.J.Carroll and Co, a cigarette company became the first sponsors of the Irish Greyhound Derby, won by Monalee Pride. ^[16]

Leading stud dog Printer's Prince dies. ^[17]

Principal UK races

Grand National, White City (April 18 525y h, £500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Sherrys Prince John Shevlin 4-6f 30.02 4 2nd Rothe Boro Jim Singleton 9-2 30.20 6 3rd Beautys Wonder Paddy McEvoy 8-1 30.21 3 4th Adamstown Valley Joe Pickering 8-1 30.29 1 5th Petronius Jack Harvey 25-1 30.32 2 6th Active Hit Nora Gleeson 9-1 30.38 5

BBC TV Trophy, White City Manchester (Apr 20, 880y, £1,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Hi Diddle Pam Heasman 10-1 51.95 6 2nd Panda Clare Orton 5-1 52.05 2 3rd Sovereign Ore John Perrin 11-8f 52.06 4 4th Cash For Dan Ben Parsons 9-2 52.16 1 5th Marys Pal Colin McNally 7-4 52.17 3 6th Parkwest Lady Phil Rees Sr. 12-1 52.33 5

Gold Collar, Catford (May 9, 570y, £1,500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Cameo Lawrence Jack Smith 8-1 33.84 5 2nd Pallas Joy Adam Jackson 12-1 34.24 6 3rd Al's Tiger Tom Smith 14-1 34.76 4 4th Barrack Street Dave Barker 8-11f 35.20 2 5th Moate Lane Tom Smith 11-2 35.52 1 6th Kilroe Betty Paddy McEvoy 11-2 00.00 3

Oaks, Harringay (May 18, 525y, £1,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Perth Pat Jim Morgan 13-8f 28.81 3 2nd Tibretta Les Parry 7-4 29.25 5 3rd The Marchioness Reg Young 14-1 29.37 4 4th Sister Kuda George Curtis 8-1 29.39 1 5th Farma Sally Phil Rees Sr. 3-1 29.53 2 N/R Blackoaks Lady Natalie Savva 6

The Grand Prix, Walthamstow (May 26, 700y, £750) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Baton Jack Durkin 9-4 40.39 3 2nd Meanus Donal Wilf France 2-1f 40.63 1 3rd Noble Harmony 16-1 40.79 4 4th Velvet John Arthur Hancock 3-1 40.87 6 5th New Change Dave Geggus 10-1 40.95 2 6th Beaverwood Bee 16-1 41.03 5

Welsh Derby, Arms Park (Jul 4, 525y £500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Super Gamble Paddy Coughlan 2-1jf 29.46 2 2nd Ardkeen Joy 5-1 29.58 1 3rd Waterloo Place Andy Agnew 2-1jf 29.74 4 4th Moss Tan H.Pett 6-1 29.86 5 5th Right O'Myross Paddy Coughlan 7-1 30.02 3 6th Legane Glory Ronnie Mills 8-1 30.10 6

Scurry Gold Cup, Clapton (Jul 11, 400y £1,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Don't Gambol Paddy McEvoy 3-1 22.48 1 2nd Ardnaculla Duke John Coleman 5-4f 22.72 6 3rd Gaultier Captain Randy Singleton 13-2 23.00 3 4th Little Glen 14-1 23.38 2 5th Tibretta Les Parry 9-2 23.52 4 6th Tails Up 16-1 23.70 5

Laurels, Wimbledon (Aug 7, 500y, £2,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Sole Aim David Geggus 6-4f 28.04 1 2nd Always A Monarch Eddie Moore 10-1 28.05 5 3rd The Other Green Jim Irving 7-4 28.11 2 4th Zebrano Gunner Smith 10-3 28.13 6 5th Clorinka Castle Dave Geggus 33-1 28.23 4 6th Corral Romeo Nora Gleeson 10-1 28.33 3

St Leger, Wembley (Aug 24, 700y, £1,500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Spotted Rory Paddy McEllistrim 2-1f 40.28 2 2nd Moordyke Monalee Noreen Collin 9-4 40.44 4 3rd Swift Silver Arthur Hancock 11-2 40.60 6 4th Bushane Queen Mrs.B.Martin 14-1 41.16 5 5th Peace Blue Boy Stan Mitchell 20-1 41.56 3 6th Monalee Peter Tom Johnston Jr. 9-4 DNF 1

Scottish Greyhound Derby, Shawfield (Aug 29, 525y, £1,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Brilane Clipper Joe Kelly 9-4f 29.06 6 2nd Bright Lad 6-1 29.12 1 3rd Afore You Go Bessie Lewis 7-2 29.24 5 4th Gleneagle Comedy Jim Hookway 7-2 29.26 3 5th Gormanstown Yank Harry Ward 7-1 29.74 4 6th Moordyke Darkie Eddie Moore 10-1 29.86 2

Cesarewitch, West Ham (Oct 2, 600y, £1,500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Gleneagle Comedy Jim Hookway 10-1 33.25 5 2nd Brilane Clipper Joe Kelly 6-4f 33.45 6 3rd Rising Shane 7-1 33.53 1 4th John Silver Geoff De Mulder 9-4 33.61 4 5th Alvys Pride Harry Ward 5-1 33.67 3 6th Quail's Glory Ted Parker 6-1 33.85 2

Totalisator returns

Extended content

The totalisator returns declared to the licensing authorities for the year 1970 are listed below. [18] Stadium Turnover £ London (White City) 5,956,107 London (Harringay) 3,582,928 London (Walthamstow) 3,548,800 London (Wimbledon) 3,387,354 London (Wembley) 2,653,804 London (Catford) 2,382,295 Manchester (Belle Vue) 2,216,509 London (Clapton) 1,905,805 London (West Ham) 1,643,729 Romford 1,566,886 Edinburgh (Powderhall) 1,456,149 Manchester (White City) 1,368,935 London (Charlton) 1,236,216 Birmingham (Hall Green) 1,186,077 Brighton & Hove 1,156,613 Birmingham (Perry Barr, old) 1,049,165 Newcastle (Brough Park) 1,030,374 Crayford & Bexleyheath 971,739 Stadium Turnover £ Glasgow (Shawfield) 939,471 Slough 900,620 Leeds (Elland Road) 867,796 Wolverhampton (Monmore) 799,686 Southend-on-Sea 753,620 Sheffield (Owlerton) 742,695 Glasgow (White City) 655,701 Bristol (Eastville) 651,986 London (Hackney) 647,320 Willenhall 622,020 Manchester (Salford) 618,529 Newcastle (Gosforth) 617,960 London (Hendon) 608,290 Gloucester & Cheltenham 590,615 Liverpool (White City) 540,426 Cardiff (Arms Park) 492,054 Derby 469,214 Birmingham (Kings Heath) 461,214 Stadium Turnover £ Ramsgate (Dumpton Park) 443,161 Reading (Oxford Road) 439,599 Poole 437,938 Rochester & Chatham 436,003 Cradley Heath 396,066 Oxford 385,504 Portsmouth 315,081 Glasgow (Carntyne) 311,978 Leicester (Blackbird Rd) 298,807 Middlesbrough 298,445 Rayleigh (Essex) 280,445 Hull (Old Craven Park) 262,486 Preston 262,360 Swindon 199,692 Wakefield 196,670 Norwich (City) 181,398 Nottingham (White City) 131,687

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 133/134/135/136. Ringpress Books. ISBN   0-948955-36-8.
3. "1971". 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. NGRC calendar. National Greyhound Racing Club. January 1971.
9. Genders, Roy (1990). NGRC book of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN   0-7207-1804-X.
10. Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN   07207-1106-1.
11. "Remember When - September 1970". Greyhound Star.
12. "Hall of Fame". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
13. "Remember When - October 1970". Greyhound Star.
14. "Remember When - November 2019". Greyhound Star.
15. Barnes/Sellers, Julia/John (1992). Ladbrokes Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. ISBN   0-948955-22-8.
16. Fortune, Michael. Irish Greyhound Derby 1932–1981. Victory Irish Promotions Ltd.
17. "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 1970) April edition". Greyhound Star. 2012.
18. Particulars of Licensed tracks, table 1 Licensed Dog Racecourses. Licensing Authorities. 1970.