1977 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year

1977 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
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The 1977 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 51st year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland. ^[1]

Roll of honour

Major Winners
Award	Name of Winner
1977 English Greyhound Derby	Balliniska Band [2] [3]
1977 Irish Greyhound Derby	Linda's Champion [4] [5]
1977 Scottish Greyhound Derby	Amber Sky [6]
1977 Welsh Greyhound Derby	Instant Gambler [7]
Greyhound Trainer of the Year	Ted Dickson
Greyhound of the Year	Balliniska Band
Irish Greyhound of the Year	Lindas Champion
Trainers Championship	Geoff De Mulder & Natalie Savva

Summary

The National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC) released the annual returns, with totalisator turnover up, at £70,685,971 and attendances up, recorded at 6,685,491 from 5847 meetings. ^[8]

Balliniska Band, a white and black dog trained by Eddie Moore was voted the Greyhound of the Year after winning the 1977 English Greyhound Derby. ^{[2] [9]}

Tracks

The Welsh Rugby Union required extended terracing at the National Stadium, which resulted in Cardiff City Council announcing a revamp of Cardiff Arms Park that did not include greyhound racing. The last Welsh Greyhound Derby was held on 9 July and the last meeting on 30 July. Instant Gambler won the last Derby and Lillyput Queen, owned by Cardiff butcher Malcolm Davies and trained by Freddie Goodman, won the last race to be held at the track. Cardiff City Council had taken less than ten minutes to reject a plan to switch greyhound racing to nearby Maindy Stadium. Only three flapping (unlicensed) independent tracks remained in Wales at Swansea, Bedwellty and Ystrad Mynach. ^{[7] [10] [11]} Harry George secretary of Greyhound Company Cardiff failed in a bid for Oxford Stadium following Cardiff's closure and Denis Diffley a London businessman also failed in a 21 year lease bid leaving Oxford close to permanent closure.

Coatbridge reopened and in the East of England a new consortium headed by Tom Stanley and Billy Davis took over Ipswich Stadium. ^[10]

Walthamstow Stadium's future was put in doubt, Charles Chandler Sr. had died the previous year, ^[12] which resulted in Charles Chandler Jr. becoming Chairman and Percy Chandler becoming Managing Director. Victor Chandler Jr. had owned 20% stake in the track since 1974 but wanted to sell his share due to the fact that his side of the family was concerned with the bookmaking business. The Greyhound Racing Association (GRA) also held a third share in the track ^[13] but had to sell to alleviate their debts in January. ^[14] Suddenly it became apparent that an interested party could acquire a 52% stake in the track and have the controlling interest, it led to a clambering from major players looking to buy Walthamstow. Corals and Ladbrokes both expressed an interest but the Chandler family rallied round, Charles Jr., Percy and Frances (wife of Charles Sr.) spent over £400,000 to withstand the attempts from Corals and Ladbrokes and buy the track outright. Meanwhile another bookmaking firm Hills discussed the possibility of taking over GRA and its £18.4 million debt. ^{[7] [10] [11]}

Competitions

A new competition was created called the Trainers Championship; this involved a series of races during one race meeting, between the top six trainers from the previous year. The selection criteria consisted of the leading open race winning trainers and in the inaugural event at Brough Park there was a tie between Natalie Savva and Geoff De Mulder. ^[15]

News

The GRA heavily in debt were forced to sell their 23% stake in Coral Leisure to alleviate the debt. ^[16]

Allied Breweries with their Skol and Britvic labels became major race sponsors. Eastville Stadium staged speedway with the bikes using the actual greyhound circuit to race on, it was then re-laid each time. Crayford staged their first meeting on sand, the cost and difficulty of obtaining the peat being the main reason for the switch to sand. ^{[7] [10] [11]} Hurdler Try it Blackie, retired after 46 open race wins and 129 races, trained by Frank Melville he was bought for just 48 guineas at Hackney sales. The black dog had reached the 1975 Grand National final. ^[17]

Hall Green Racing Manager Jeff Jefcoate left the GRA for Northern Sports and the Ramsgate track also introduced a new race called The Thanet Gold Cup and a new tote system called Digico. Former Manchester United footballer Charlie Mitten was appointed Assistant Racing Manager at White City. Scurry Gold Cup finalist Fiano was killed in a vehicle accident on the way back to the Hook Estate and Kennels after the race. ^{[7] [11]}

Trainer John Bassett retired from training for a second time to concentrate on breeding and rearing. John Gibbons persuaded Lewisham council to lease him space where the old New Cross Kennels used to exist. The site which was a mass of rubble was cleared by Gibbons and his team to make way for kennels and a schooling track. Trainer Peter Hawkesley passed away aged only 51. ^{[7] [11]}

Ireland

Dunmore Stadium was on the verge of closure due to continuing troubles in Northern Ireland, but was saved when a local consortium stepped in. The group including Jim Delargy and bookmaker Sean Graham acquired a majority shareholding in the Belfast Celtic Football & Athletic Company which also owned Celtic Park greyhounds. Investment at Dunmore was initiated with immediate effect and prize money was doubled and new kennels were built. Their attention was then turned to Celtic Park for the same reason. ^[7]

The Irish Derby trial stakes which were held all over Ireland, had failed to date to produce an ultimate winner of the Irish Greyhound Derby but in 1977 the Kilkenny trial stakes winner Lindas Champion won the 1977 Irish Greyhound Derby. He had entered the stake for just £5 and duly gained a free entry to the competition by winning the Kilkenny heat. ^[18]

The McKenna family training empire continued to build after Gay McKenna's daughter Paula married Fraser Black. ^[7]

Nine tracks in Ireland are closed for five weeks following a strike by staff over pay. ^[19]

Principal UK races

BBC TV Trophy, Walthamstow (Mar 23, 820m, £1,500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Montreen Harry Bamford 13-2 52.40 1 2nd Bonzo George Curtis 7-1 52.52 4 3rd Sindys Flame John Honeysett 2-5f 52.56 6 4th Fountain Valley 16-1 52.76 5 5th Dear Charmer Ken Reynolds 66-1 53.00 2 6th Tell You What 20-1 53.20 3

Grand National, White City (April 9 500m h, £1,500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Salerno John Coleman 5-4f 30.65 2 2nd Out All Night Joe Pickering 10-1 30.79 3 3rd Hes A Dear Tom Foster 6-4 30.82 6 4th Maythorn View Randy Singleton 5-1 30.98 4 5th Lisfinny Boy 10-1 31.06 1 6th Meanus Dandy Joe Pickering 33-1 00.00 5

Scurry Gold Cup, Slough (April 16, 434m, £2,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Wired To Moon George Curtis 4-1 26.63 3 2nd Cahurmore Speech Len White 7-4f 26.73 2 3rd Xmas Holiday Phil Rees Sr. 11-4 26.77 1 4th Lesleys Charm Ted Dickson 10-1 27.05 6 5th Cameo Marshall 20-1 27.17 5 6th Fiano Adam Jackson 10-1 27.49 4

Laurels, Wimbledon (May 20, 460m, £3,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Greenfield Fox Ted Dickson 4-5f 27.41 5 2nd Linacre Ted Dickson 7-1 27.53 6 3rd Mutts Silver Phil Rees Sr. 7-4 27.59 2 4th Gaily Noble John Coleman 12-1 27.99 4 5th Willys Express R.Clegg 33-1 28.17 3 6th Kilcolman Stuart Barbara Tompkins 16-1 28.33 1

Welsh Derby, Arms Park (Jul 9, 500m £1,200) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Instant Gambler Barbara Tompkins 1-1f 30.01 2 2nd Linacre Ted Dickson 6-4 30.33 5 3rd Corrigeen Roger Geoff De Mulder 10-1 30.43 1 4th Remote Control Geoff De Mulder 10-1 30.53 4 5th Vals Son 20-1 30.77 3 6th Tilbrook Wind Barbara Tompkins 25-1 30.83 6

Scottish Greyhound Derby, Shawfield (Aug 6, 480m, £3,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Amber Sky Peter Beaumont 6-4f 29.08 2 2nd Skilful Boy 7-1 29.12 4 3rd Derrygrath Charm 10-1 29.28 5 4th Westmead Special Natalie Savva 2-1 29.36 1 5th Kilcolman Stuart Barbara Tompkins 4-1 29.44 3

St Leger, Wembley (Sep 5, 655m, £5,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Stormy Spirit Joe Pickering 10-1 40.22 1 2nd Westmead Melody Natalie Savva 8-1 40.30 4 3rd Westpark Kale Phil Rees Sr. 11-8f 40.38 6 4th Huberts Consort Tom Reilly 2-1 40.44 2 5th City Salesman Tom Foster 16-1 40.64 5 6th Spats Phil Rees Sr. 9-1 00.00 3

Gold Collar, Catford (Sep 24, 555m, £2,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Westmead Power Natalie Savva 11-4 34.98 1 2nd El Cavalier Ted Griffin 9-4 35.30 6 3rd Coolmona Nell Phil Rees Sr. 8-1 35.36 3 4th Black Legend Ted Dickson 7-4f 35.54 5 5th Findon Venture George Carr 16-1 35.60 2 6th Attila John Honeysett 7-1 35.68 4

Cesarewitch, Belle Vue (Oct 8, 815m, £2,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Montrean Harry Bamford 4-6f 51.64 1 2nd Langford Dacoit George Curtis 7-2 51.65 4 3rd Westpark Kale John Coleman 7-2 51.73 6 4th Hard Fact 20-1 51.76 2 5th Westmead Fun Natalie Savva 14-1 52.00 5 6th Westown Adam Natalie Savva 6-1 52.03 3

The Grand Prix, Walthamstow (Oct 22, 640m, £2,500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Paradise Spectre Pat Mullins 6-4f 40.19 4 2nd Stormy Spirit Joe Pickering 3-1 40.25 1 3rd Lyons King Edna Wearing 40-1 40.41 6 4th Westmead Melody Natalie Savva 25-1 40.45 3 5th Huberts Consort Tom Reilly 7-2 40.46 2 6th Miss Kilkenny Bill Bookle 4-1 00.00 5

Oaks, Harringay (Nov 4, 475m, £1,750) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Switch Off Jim Singleton 6-4f 28.69 4 2nd Westmead Myra John Horsfall 5-1 28.91 6 3rd What Now Janet Dickenson 13-8 28.91 1 4th Coolmona Nell Phil Rees Sr. 12-1 28.94 2 5th Portland Dusty Frank Melville 20-1 29.06 3 6th House Party Geoff De Mulder 6-1 29.16 5

Totalisator returns

Extended content

The totalisator returns declared to the licensing authorities for the year 1977 are listed below. [20] Stadium Turnover £ London (White City) 7,472,853 London (Walthamstow) 6,780,327 London (Wimbledon) 5,602,232 London (Harringay) 3,225,666 London (Catford) 2,988,407 London (Wembley) 2,963,407 Romford 2,872,758 Manchester (Belle Vue) 2,365,431 Slough 2,340,980 Brighton & Hove 2,289,829 Edinburgh (Powderhall) 2,175,997 Birmingham (Hall Green) 2,136,622 Crayford & Bexleyheath 1,935,220 Birmingham (Perry Barr, old) 1,815,654 Southend-on-Sea 1,586,078 Newcastle (Brough Park) 1,513,384 Stadium Turnover £ Leeds (Elland Road) 1,475,951 Glasgow (Shawfield) 1,413,503 Sheffield (Owlerton) 1,355,543 Wolverhampton (Monmore) 1,235,879 Manchester (White City) 1,163,666 London (Hackney) 995,338 Bristol (Eastville) 933,605 Derby 840,983 Gloucester & Cheltenham 809,077 Rochester & Chatham 797,707 Yarmouth 770,844 Newcastle (Gosforth) 766,361 Willenhall 615,635 Ramsgate (Dumpton Park) 582,505 Portsmouth 577,220 Poole 465,464 Stadium Turnover £ Reading 435,864 Cardiff (Arms Park) 431,519 Hull (Old Craven Park) 415,318 Oxford 392,313 Middlesbrough 383,173 Milton Keynes 372,997 Leicester (Blackbird Rd) 331,615 Cradley Heath 326,623 Preston 265,118 Rye House 259,851 Swindon 250,998 London (Watford) 249,247 Ipswich 245,209 Henlow (Bedfordshire) 205,000 Norton Canes 205,000 Halifax 52,000

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 157/158/159/160. Ringpress Books. ISBN   0-948955-36-8.
3. "1977". 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 (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN   07207-1106-1.
8. NGRC calendar. National Greyhound Racing Club. January 1978.
9. Barnes, Julia (1991). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File, Vol Two. Ringpress Books. ISBN   0-948955-61-9.
10. Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. ISBN   0-948955-15-5.
11. Genders, Roy (1990). NGRC book of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN   0-7207-1804-X.
12. ""Obituary." Times, 2 Aug. 1976, p. 14". Times Digital Archives.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
13. ""Walthamstow Stadium." Times, 3 Sept. 1974, p. 19". The Times. Times Digital Archives. 3 September 1974. p. 19.
14. "GRA sells shares - 5 January". Aberdeen Press and Journal. 1977.
15. Barnes/Sellers, Julia/John (1992). Ladbrokes Greyhound Fact File, pages 142-143. Ringpress Books. ISBN   0-948955-22-8.
16. Maughan, Ray (7 May 1977). "Maughan, Ray. "GRA sells its stake in Coral to repay loan." Times, 7 May 1977, p. 21". The Times. Times Digital Archives. p. 21.
17. "Greyhound Star (Remember When - January 1977)". Greyhound Star. 20 January 2019.
18. Fortune, Michael. Irish Greyhound Derby 1932–1981. Victory Irish Promotions Ltd.
19. "Greyhound Star (Remember When - May 1977)". Greyhound Star. 5 May 2019.
20. Particulars of Licensed tracks, table 1 Licensed Dog Racecourses. Licensing Authorities. 1977.