1981 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year

1981 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
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The 1981 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 55th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland. ^[1]

Roll of honour

Major Winners
Award	Name of Winner
1981 English Greyhound Derby	Parkdown Jet [2] [3]
1981 Irish Greyhound Derby	Bold Work [4] [5]
1981 Scottish Greyhound Derby	Marbella Sky [6]
Greyhound Trainer of the Year	Joe Cobbold
Greyhound of the Year	Decoy Boom
Irish Greyhound of the Year	Parkdown Jet
Trainers Championship	Joe Cobbold

Summary

The National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC) released the annual returns, with totalisator turnover down 10%, at £72,950,373 and attendances down 10%, recorded at 4,943,396 from 5291 meetings. Attendances had decreased significantly for the second year running, although party due to 200 less meetings it was a worrying time for the industry. Track tote retention remained 17% and government tote tax 4%. ^[7]

Decoy Boom, a fawn bitch was voted Greyhound of the Year. ^[8] She won the BBC TV Trophy, GRA Stakes, Scottish Marathon, Stow Marathon and Longcross Cup. ^[9]

Tracks

Chesterton Greyhound Stadium and Maidstone joined the NGRC permit scheme. ^{[10] [9]} Two independents opened Brownhills and Skegness. ^[11]

News

Tim Hale and Derek Bowman replaced Racing Manager Harry Bridger at Leeds; the track owners Ladbrokes later announced the site would be used for industrial development in the near future. ^{[10] [9]}

Towards the end of the year the country suffered terrible weather and the majority of the horse racing fixtures were cancelled. This meant that extra afternoon race meetings were organised to help the betting shops. Extra fixtures were organised by Hackney, Bristol, Monmore, Cambridge, Romford and Crayford. This provided an opportunity for tracks to negotiate a better deal for the future to combat the drop in attendances blamed on the betting shops, however they failed to do so preferring to take short term cash benefits instead. ^{[10] [9] [12]}

The Greyhound Racing Association (GRA) announced that they had repaid two thirds of their debt. The business was doing well from its greyhound racing income which begged the question as to how the company allowed themselves to get into such debt in the first place. ^{[10] [9]}

Leading trainer Pat Mullins died in March after collapsing whilst working at his kennels in Manningtree. He had suffered a heart attack the previous year and had been warned by doctors to avoid stress. His wife Linda Mullins would take over the kennels. ^{[10] [9] [12]} The leading independent trainer Charlie Lister took out an NGRC licence and would soon gain some success, his first breakthrough was with Swift Band, who won the 1981 East Anglian Derby. ^[13]

Competitions

Marbella Sky won the Scottish Greyhound Derby at Shawfield Stadium, and later finished runner up in the Edinburgh Cup at Powderhall Stadium. The greyhound (still a puppy) faced an exciting future but was then stolen from the Wakefield kennels of his trainer Ray Andrews. He was never recovered. ^[14]

A new major event was inaugurated at Wembley called the Blue Riband and would replace the long running Wembley Spring Cup which had been one of the first major competitions in the greyhound racing calendar. The Grand National at White City went to Bobcol trained by Norah McEllistrim; the black dog had already won the Springbok crown the previous year. The hurdler went on to score a hat-trick when travelling to Powderhall and winning the Scottish Grand National. ^{[15] [16]}

Lauries Panther, a black and white dog, whelped in April, 1980 by Shamrock Sailor out of Lady Lucy, was owned by Laurie James and trained at Romford by Terry Duggan and appeared on the racing scene in the Bobby Jack Puppy Cup run at Wimbledon Stadium in November, followed by the Christmas Puppy Cup at Romford. He performed well and would be aimed at the Pall Mall Stakes the following year. ^{[15] [16] [17]}

Oran Jack twice broke the Irish national 550 yards record on his way to winning the Irish St Leger at Limerick. The fawn dog trained by husband and wife team Michael and Rose Grealish recorded 30.20 and 30.16 in the second round and semi finals respectively, before winning the final. ^[18]

Principal UK races

BBC TV Trophy, Perry Barr (Mar 18, 830m, £2,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Decoy Boom Joe Cobbold 54.27 7-4f 5 2nd Laugh Lines 54.31 16-1 3 3rd Pineapple Choice Paul Smith 54.67 4-1 4 4th Salina George Lang 54.87 3-1 2 5th Westmead Light Natalie Savva 54.88 7-2 1 6th Corboy Champion George Curtis 55.16 20-1 6

Grand National, White City (April 4 500m h, £4,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Bobcol Norah McEllistrim 1-2f 30.64 1 2nd Westmead Prince Natalie Savva 10-1 30.84 3 3rd Dine Out Paddy McEvoy 11-4 30.88 2 4th Breakaway Slave 50-1 31.18 6 5th Weston Whisky 10-1 31.30 5 6th Westlands Steve Gunner Smith 10-1 31.44 3

Laurels, Wimbledon (May 22, 460m, £5,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Echo Spark Joe Cobbold 5-1 27.84 6 2nd Upland Tiger George Curtis 4-9f 27.85 1 3rd Over the River Tom Reilly 10-1 27.97 2 4th Johnnys Brandy 66-1 28.31 4 5th Lancia Q Paddy McEvoy 8-1 28.45 3 6th Radio Skinomage Jack Coker 25-1 28.51 5

Scurry Gold Cup, Slough (Jul 18, 442m, £5,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Longcross Smokey Phil Rees Jr. 5-1 27.17 6 2nd Emerald Freedom Charlie Coyle 9-2 27.21 1 3rd Bright Tiger Les Stiles 10-1 27.29 2 4th Lancia Q Paddy McEvoy 1-1f 27.31 5 5th Sawyers King Arthur Hitch 10-1 27.55 4 6th Express Work Hazel Walden 33-1 27.79 3

Harp Lager Scottish Derby, Shawfield (Aug 8, 500m, £3,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Marbella Sky [19] Ray Andrews 12-1 30.66 3 2nd Dysart Ends Stewart Loan 20-1 30.88 2 3rd Zippi Boy Bill Gray 7-2 30.92 4 4th Heres Gay Gordon Hodson 5-2 30.98 1 5th Solos Style 10-1 31.14 5 6th Decoy Ranger Joe Cobbold 11-10f 31.18 6

St Leger, Wembley (Aug 28, 655m, £6,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Fox Watch Mrs Jill Holt 5-2jf 40.17 4 2nd Alfa My Son Leon Steed 5-2jf 40.27 6 3rd Ballybeg Bob David Oswald 8-1 40.31 2 4th Johnny Bristol Peter Payne 7-1 40.37 3 5th Safe Landing Tom Foster 12-1 40.40 1 6th Longcross Smokey Phil Rees Jr. 7-2 40.42 5

Gold Collar, Catford (Sep 19, 555m, £5,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Laughing Sam Mrs Pat Goode 4-1 35.50 6 2nd Geekay Patch G Kenny-Derby 13-8f 35.51 3 3rd Crack On 50-1 35.77 2 4th Sport Promoter Linda Mullins 4-1 35.80 5 5th Ballybeg Bob David Oswald 3-1 35.83 4 6th Rathduff Solara Tony Dennis 5-1 35.87 1

Cesarewitch, Belle Vue (Oct 3, 815m, £4,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Kinda Friendly Ernie Gaskin Sr. 7-4f 52.68 6 2nd McElm Pride Miss S Phillips 5-2 53.20 3 3rd Nails United Smith 12-1 53.44 5 4th Rolstone Rose Mary Baber 7-2 53.68 1 5th Newlands Honour 33-1 53.72 4 6th Rambling Bridie Tony Jowett 5-1 53.73 2

The Grand Prix, Walthamstow (Oct 17, 640m, £5,500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Rathduff Solara Tony Dennis 2-1jf 40.71 6 2nd Relkcom Johnny Faint 2-1jf 40.81 5 3rd Emerald Freedom Charlie Coyle 5-1 40.82 1 4th Ballybeg Bob David Oswald 9-2 41.22 2 5th Korchnoi Bill Horton 6-1 41.24 3 6th Burgess Gift 40-1 41.46 4

Oaks, Harringay (Oct 30, 475m, £3,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Thanet Princess Dick Hawkes 11-2 28.82 3 2nd Toker Gannet T Nicholls 7-2 28.90 4 3rd Sundridge Bet-U Tony Dennis 4-1 29.02 5 4th Decoy Villa Joe Cobbold 15-8f 29.08 1 5th Oakfield Tracey Rita Hayward 16-1 29.48 6 6th Sailor May Eric Pateman 4-1 30.02 2

Principal Irish finals

Easter Cup Shelbourne (525y) Pos Name of Greyhound Time Trap Trainer 1st Murrays Mixture 29.15 Francie Murray 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th

Purina National Produce Clonmel (525y £6,250) Pos Name of Greyhound Time Trap Trainer 1st Calandra Champ 29.66 Francie Murray 2nd Pure Hardship 29.68 3rd 4th 5th 6th

Shelbourne 600 Shelbourne (600y) Pos Name of Greyhound Time Trap Trainer 1st Macintosh Mentor 33.78 Mullen 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th

Smithwicks St Leger Limerick (10 October, 550y, £7,500) Pos Name of Greyhound Time Trap Trainer 1st Oran Jack 30.62 2 Rose Grealish 2nd Sharps Express 30.83 5 Matt O'Donnell 3rd Murlens Blond 31.04 1 Paddy Keane 4th Caoilte 31.18 3 Simpson u Carless Sonny 4 John Hayes u Killimy Ivy 6 Matt O'Donnell

Lyon Industrial Estates Oaks Shelbourne (525y £11,300) Pos Name of Greyhound Time Trap Trainer 1st Claremount May 29.52 Niall Maher 2nd Thornbrae Lass 29.62 3rd Our Tallyho 29.67 u Joebe u Kasco Lady u Blue Rum Michael Byrne

Champion Stakes Shelbourne (550y) Pos Name of Greyhound Time Trap Trainer 1st I'm Lovely 32.02 John Hayes 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th

Cashman Laurels Cork (29 Aug, 525y £7,500) Pos Name of Greyhound Time Trap Trainer 1st Knockeen Master 29.50 3 Christy O'Callaghan 2nd Millbowe Sam 29.60 2 Murray 3rd Free To All 4 Boyle u Kilmagoura Mist 1 Hickey u Ahaveen Katie 5 Curtin u Ocean Jerome 6 Hayes

Burmah Puppy Derby Harolds Cross (Sep, 525y) Pos Name of Greyhound Time Trap Trainer 1st Greenwood Robic 29.82 Tom Lynch 2nd Stradey Park 30.10 Cecil Todd 3rd Bright Pin 4th Oyster Cracker u Cooladine Super u Ballywilliam Star

Totalisator returns

Extended content

The totalisator returns declared to the National Greyhound Racing Club for the year 1981 are listed below. [20] Stadium Turnover £ London (Walthamstow) 8,053,327 London (White City) 7,880,545 London (Wimbledon) 5,779,087 London (Harringay) 4,070,119 Romford 3,603,654 Brighton & Hove 3,602,521 London (Catford) 3,362,440 London (Wembley) 3,108,983 Slough 3,047,136 Manchester (Belle Vue) 2,425,326 Birmingham (Hall Green) 2,253,573 Crayford & Bexleyheath 2,036,679 Edinburgh (Powderhall) 1,972,105 Newcastle (Brough Park) 1,444,716 Birmingham (Perry Barr, old) 1,407,054 Sheffield (Owlerton) 1,405,848 Stadium Turnover £ Southend-on-Sea 1,398,628 Glasgow (Shawfield) 1,393,818 Leeds 1,126,619 Wolverhampton (Monmore) 1,109,007 London (Hackney) 941,982 Yarmouth 844,127 Ramsgate 840,013 Gloucester & Cheltenham 824,159 Portsmouth 805,085 Derby 751,876 Bristol 696,632 Oxford 518,221 Milton Keynes 507,891 Newcastle (Gosforth) 507,474 Nottingham 490,251 Ipswich 463,919 Stadium Turnover £ Poole 450,595 Reading 423,842 Middlesbrough 404,421 Hull (Old Craven Park) 383,348 Cradley Heath 375,280 Henlow (Bedfordshire) 332,928 Leicester 309,996 Cambridge 307,163 Rye House 300,976 Coventry 274,602 Swindon 260,091 Manchester (White City) 225,933 Maidstone 110,142 Chesterton 94,243 Norton Canes 20,000

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 172/173/174/175. Ringpress Books. ISBN   0-948955-36-8.
3. "1981". Greyhound Data.
4. Fortune, Michael. The 75 Years History of the Irish Greyhound Derby 1932-2006. Irish Greyhound Review. ISSN   0332-3536.
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. NGRC calendar. National Greyhound Racing Club. January 1982.
8. "Decoy Boom profile". Greyhound Data.
9. Genders, Roy (1990). NGRC book of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN   0-7207-1804-X.
10. Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. ISBN   0-948955-15-5.
11. "Remember When - June 1981". Greyhound Star. 24 June 2018.
12. Barnes, Julia (1991). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File, Vol Two. Ringpress Books. ISBN   0-948955-61-9.
13. "Remember When - September 1981". Greyhound Star. 9 September 2018.
14. "Remember When - August 1981". Greyhound Star. 2018.
15. Barnes/Sellers, Julia/John (1992). Ladbrokes Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. ISBN   0-948955-22-8.
16. Hobbs, Jonathan (2002). Greyhound Annual 2003. Raceform. ISBN   1-904317-07-3.
17. "Lauries Panther profile". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
18. "Irish Greyhound Review". Vol. 4. Victory Irish Promotions Ltd. 1982. p. 87.
19. "Remember When - August 1981". Greyhound Star. 2018.
20. Totalisator returns of National Greyhound Racing Club Licensed tracks. National Greyhound Racing Club. 1981.