1985 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year

1985 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
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The 1985 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 59th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland. ^[1]

Roll of honour

Major Winners
Award	Name of Winner
1985 English Greyhound Derby	Pagan Swallow [2] [3]
1985 Irish Greyhound Derby	Tubbercurry Lad [4]
1985 Scottish Greyhound Derby	Smokey Pete [5]
Greyhound Trainer of the Year	Kenny Linzell
Greyhound of the Year	Ballyregan Bob
Irish Greyhound of the Year	Ballintubber One
Trainers Championship	Kenny Linzell

Summary

The closure of White City in 1984 had hit the industry hard but two greyhounds by the names of Ballyregan Bob and Scurlogue Champ began to popularize the sport once again. Ballyregan Bob won 21 consecutive races by the end of the year including the Olympic final, Test and Essex Vase final. Trainer George Curtis then chose wisely as to which events to go for in order to preserve the chance of breaking the world record which stood at 31. He was voted Greyhound of the Year. ^{[6] [7] [8] [9]}

Scurlogue Champ became a crowd favourite with his remarkable running style and became a household name when winning BBC Television Trophy on 22 May at Monmore and setting 13 new track records around the country. ^{[10] [8] [9]}

The National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC) released the annual returns, with totalisator turnover at £59,110,759 and attendances recorded at 3,786,216 from 4736 meetings. Track tote remained at 17.5% and government tote tax at 4%. ^[11]

Tracks

Southend closed after Boxing Day and Weymouth was redeveloped which ended the greyhound racing there. ^{[8] [9]} The Crayford & Bexleyheath Stadium raced until 18 May before the stadium was closed for major redevelopment by Ladbrokes. Work started on a new stadium on a different part of the site and would become known as Crayford Stadium. ^{[8] [9]}

Brough Park was sold again when former trainer Kevin Wilde headed a management team that leased the track. Kinsley was taken over by John Curran and Keith Morrell and Poole shut for four months during renovation. ^{[12] [13]}

Whitwood in Castleford raced for the first time under NGRC rules after switching from independent status. ^[8]

News

An Act of Parliament was passed in July allowing tracks to choose their own days of racing. NGRC secretary Fred Underhill had campaigned to change the laws governing race days and frequency of race days. ^{[8] [9]}

On 12 December Ballyregan Bob risked losing his winning run when taking part in the John Power Showdown at Wembley, a race that included Scurlogue Champ. The run at the time stood at 19 wins and he only needed one win to match the 1974 record set by Westpark Mustard. In an anticlimax Scurlogue Champ failed to finish after pulling up lame leaving Ballyregan Bob to equal the record and annihilate the field. A future BBC TV trophy winner Glenowen Queen trailed in 11¾ behind in second place. ^{[8] [9] [7]}

Competitions

Smokey Pete trained by Kenny Linzell won both the Scottish Greyhound Derby and Edinburgh Cup, during the latter he defeated kennelmate Ballintubber One by a short head. It is the third time the pair have finished 1-2 in a competition following the same in the Select Stakes and Circuit. ^[14]

Ireland

The Irish Greyhound Board produced figures showing increases in export sales including exporting to Spain. ^{[8] [9]} Tico, a black dog by The Stranger out of Derry Linda first ran at Clonmel on 8 July for his breeder Jimmy Morrissey of Carrick-on-Suir and won in impressive fashion by ten lengths, recording 29.86 seconds for the 525 yards course. A few weeks later he came into the charge of Slough trainer, Arthur Hitch. Tico cost his new owner, Alan Smee, £5,000 and had a few acclimatising runs at Wimbledon towards the end of the year. ^[12]

Principal UK races

Grand National, Hall Green (Mar 30, 474m h, £3,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Seamans Star Arthur Boyce 14-1 30.08 1 2nd Knight of Raft Norah McEllistrim 11-10f 30.12 5 3rd Scottie Hero Ted Dickson 5-2 30.18 4 4th Nursery Pet Tom Johnston Jr. 8-1 30.24 2 5th Kilburn Jack Ray Peacock 5-1 30.26 6 6th Jon The Smuggler Tom Foster 7-1 30.40 3

BBC TV Trophy, Monmore (May 22, 815m, £3,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Scurlogue Champ Ken Peckham 1-5f 51.64+ 5 2nd Saucy John Terry Dartnall 6-1 52.42 2 3rd Calmar 7-1 52.52 1 4th Glenfort Sam 25-1 52.62 4 5th Go Go Tiger 25-1 52.84 6 6th Glins Lad 20-1 53.22 3 +Track Record

Scurry Gold Cup, Slough (Jul 13, 442m, £5,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Daleys Gold Jerry Fisher 4-5f 27.23 6 2nd Glamour Hobo Charlie Lister 6-1 27.31 5 3rd Panama Jack Ted Dickson 50-1 27.32 4 4th Westmead Account Terry Atkins 16-1 27.56 3 5th Meadowbank Cue Ted Dickson 10-1 28.46 1 6th Rodeen Jet Charlie Coyle 2-1 28.58 2

Scottish Greyhound Derby, Shawfield (Aug 10, 500m, £5,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Smokey Pete Kenny Linzell 7-2 30.29 4 2nd Clod Hopper Kenny Linzell 10-1 30.73 2 3rd Fearless Champ Geoff De Mulder 1-2f 30.83 3 4th Honeygold Sand Bryce Wilson 33-1 30.97 6 5th Woodhill Smokey Paddy Milligan 8-1 31.45 1 6th Westmead Chase Natalie Savva 7-1 00.00 5

St Leger, Wembley (Aug 30, 655m, £8,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Jet Circle Ted Dickson 11-4 40.14 4 2nd Evening Light Carol Aymes 12-1 40.20 1 3rd Comment D Shaw 4-1 40.30 6 4th Special Bran Paddy Hancox 10-11f 40.36 2 5th Nursery Breeze Gordon Hodson 33-1 40.80 3 N/R Ballyregan Bob George Curtis Lame 5

Gold Collar, Catford (Sep 21, 555m, £5,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Black Whirl Tom Gates 5-1 34.99 5 2nd Websters Flyer C Smith 4-1 35.01 6 3rd Gun Man John Honeysett 10-11f 35.04 1 4th Rathkenny Lassie Miss M Coleman 6-1 35.16 4 5th Nursery Breeze Gordon Hodson 33-1 35.22 3 6th Glens Opinion John Honeysett 13-2 35.34 2

Cesarewitch, Belle Vue (Sep 28, 815m, £3,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Scurlogue Champ George Drake 1-3f 54.62 6 2nd Saucy John Terry Dartnall 20-1 55.10 1 3rd Warflo Kenny Linzell 10-1 55.16 4 4th Moordyke Nicky Geoff De Mulder 9-2 55.38 3 5th Churchtown Pearl Carol Evans 12-1 55.66 2 6th Mobile Bank Ernie Gaskin Sr. 16-1 56.10 5

The Grand Prix, Walthamstow (Oct 12, 640m, £5,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Slaneyside Gold John Sherry 5-1 40.00 5 2nd Johns Dilemma Graham Sharp 12-1 40.30 6 3rd Track Man Adam Jackson 7-4f 40.32 2 4th Lata Kenny Linzell 4-1 40.62 3 5th Correct Number Phil Rees Jr. 12-1 41.06 4 6th Jet Circle Ted Dickson 7-2 41.28 1

Oaks, Harringay (Oct 25, 475m, £7,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Spiral Super George Curtis 10-11f 28.57 6 2nd Micks Susie Mick Puzey 11-2 28.60 3 3rd Ballyhaden Queen Stan Gudgin 9-2 28.68 5 4th Mrs Cherry Derek Knight 11-2 28.76 1 5th Sailing Maid Paddy Coughlan 14-1 28.96 2 6th Chocolate Satin Adam Jackson 10-1 29.00 4

Laurels, Wimbledon (Dec 28, 460m, £5,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Ballygroman Jim Ernie Gaskin Sr. 7-4f 27.68 2 2nd Keeper Tom Gary Baggs 9-4 27.82 5 3rd Lulus Hero Gunner Smith 6-1 27.88 1 4th Glamour Hobo Charlie Lister 10-1 27.92 4 5th Dusty Fag Kenny Linzell 6-1 28.10 3 6th Barbaran Mary Harding 8-1 28.20 6

John Power Showdown, Wembley (Dec 12, 710m, £12,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Ballyregan Bob George Curtis 4-9f 42.63+ 4 2nd Glenowen Queen (dh) Dick Hawkes 25-1 43.57 1 2nd Track Man (dh) Adam Jackson 12-1 43.57 3 4th Scurlogue Champ Ken Peckham 9-4 dnf 6 +Track Record dh = dead-heat

Totalisator returns

Extended content

The totalisator returns declared to the National Greyhound Racing Club for the year 1985 are listed below. [15] [16] Stadium Turnover £ London (Walthamstow) 8,879,808 London (Wimbledon) 6,009,555 Romford 4,123,093 Brighton & Hove 3,836,130 London (Harringay) 3,369,474 London (Wembley) 3,213,646 London (Catford) 3,174,234 Slough 2,999,195 Manchester (Belle Vue) 2,251,949 Birmingham (Hall Green) 2,103,220 Edinburgh (Powderhall) 1,789,572 Sheffield (Owlerton) 1,313,964 Newcastle (Brough Park) 1,307,285 Stadium Turnover £ Wolverhampton (Monmore) 1,181,028 Glasgow (Shawfield) 1,127,828 Ramsgate 981,338 Yarmouth 907,618 Portsmouth 897,416 Maidstone 785,448 London (Hackney) 709,702 Milton Keynes 615,645 Bristol 556,442 Oxford 496,808 Derby 487,403 Reading 471,947 Hull (Old Craven Park) 393,365 Stadium Turnover £ Crayford & Bexleyheath 385,900 Rye House 384,760 Poole 380,668 Henlow (Bedfordshire) 373,900 Cradley Heath 338,210 Swindon 318,277 Nottingham 265,707 Peterborough 255,363 Norton Canes 246,346 Middlesbrough 235,697 Coventry 229,767 Ipswich 222,118 Castleford 23,223

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 185/186/187/188. Ringpress Books. ISBN   0-948955-36-8.
3. "1985". Greyhound Data.
4. Fortune, Michael. The 75 Years History of the Irish Greyhound Derby 1932-2006. Irish Greyhound Review. ISSN   0332-3536.
5. Hobbs, Jonathan (2007). Greyhound Annual 2008, pages 153-154. Raceform. ISBN   978-1-905153-53-4.
6. "Ballyregan Bob profile". Greyhound Data.
7. "Hall of Fame - Ballyregan Bob". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
8. Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. ISBN   0-948955-15-5.
9. Genders, Roy (1990). NGRC book of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN   0-7207-1804-X.
10. "Hall of Fame - Scurlogue Champ". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
11. NGRC calendar. National Greyhound Racing Club. January 1986.
12. Barnes, Julia (1991). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File, Vol Two. Ringpress Books. ISBN   0-948955-61-9.
13. Barnes/Sellers, Julia/John (1992). Ladbrokes Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. ISBN   0-948955-22-8.
14. "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When) September edition". Greyhound Star. 2015.
15. Totalisator returns of National Greyhound Racing Club Licensed tracks. National Greyhound Racing Club. 1985.
16. "NGRC Tote Figures". No. 2115. Greyhound Owner. 29 January 1987.