1997 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year

1997 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
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The 1997 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 71st year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland. ^[1]

Roll of honour

Major Winners
Award	Name of Winner
1997 English Greyhound Derby	Some Picture [2] [3]
1997 Irish Greyhound Derby	Toms The Best [4]
1997 Scottish Greyhound Derby	Some Picture [5]
Greyhound Trainer of the Year	Linda Mullins
Greyhound of the Year	Some Picture
Irish Dog and Bitch of the Year	Some Picture / Borna Best
Trainers Championship	Linda Mullins

Summary

The National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC) released the annual returns, with totalisator turnover at £73,754,098 and attendances recorded at 3,523,900 from 5412 meetings. ^[6]

Some Picture trained by Charlie Lister was voted Greyhound of the Year after winning the 1997 English Greyhound Derby and the 1997 Scottish Greyhound Derby ^{[7] [8]} in addition to reaching the 1997 Irish Greyhound Derby final. ^[4] The black dog was also voted the leading dog in Ireland and won the Irish Dog of the Year and only just missed out on a £100,000 bonus prize offered by sponsors Regal to any greyhound winning the Scottish, English and Irish Derby.

Linda Mullins won the Greyhound Trainer of the Year for the second successive year. ^[9]

Tracks

The year started badly when on 4 January the London Stadium closed its doors. The stadium had been rebuilt had huge cost and was now subject to rumours of fraud and malpractice. The reasons for administration was subject to investigation and even appeared on 'The Cook Report', a popular TV show hosted by Roger Cook. ^[9]

On 27 October Eastville Stadium owned by the BS Group was sold for development, plans were announced for a new Bristol greyhound stadium that never came to fruition. The BS Group management switched the entire operation, including trainers, racing office staff and bookmakers forty miles up the M4 to the newly acquired Swindon, bought from British Car Auctions who had owned the track since 1983, even the Bookmakers Afternoon Greyhound Service (BAGS) contract switched to Swindon. ^[9] Bristol trainers Terry Kibble, Ron Dix, Marjorie Millard and Peter Swadden all moved Swindon.

The racing ended at Dunmore Stadium in March 1997 and the last meeting attracted 3,000 patrons. ^[10]

News

Catford Racing Manager Jim Snowden left to be General Manager at Portsmouth replacing the retiring Bill Francis. Snowden was replaced by the Assistant Racing Manager Phil Donaldson. In Wimbledon the Merton council produced a feasibility study into putting a football stadium on Wimbledon Stadium which was dismissed by Wimbledon chairman Sam Hammam. A first season trainer called Seamus Cahill joined Catford.

Competitions

The BBC severed their ties with greyhound racing as they continued to cut their sporting programs. Sky stepped in and would show the TV Trophy for the first time which led to the bizarre scenario whereby the event was held twice; once in April (BBC) and then again in October (Sky). The relationship with Sky was closely guarded by the Greyhound Racing Association who gained the upper hand in negotiations for the industry. ^{[9] [1]}

Derby semi-finalist Toms The Best hit a great run of form in the summer winning the Midland Gold Cup at Monmore and the Sussex Cup at Hove before heading for the Irish Derby and claiming the competition for Nick Savva. ^[4]

Spring Rose continued to perform well, reaching the Grand Prix final at Walthamstow and St Leger final at Wembley but she was upstaged by Tralee Crazy. The white and black bitch trained by Nick Savva won both the Cesarewitch at Catford and the St Leger. ^{[9] [1]}

Sheffield (71 points) won the Red Mills Supertrack defeating Walthamstow (64) and Midlenhall (54) in the final. ^[11]

Principal UK races

Daily Mirror/Sporting Life Grand National, Hall Green (Mar 26, 474m h, £7,500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Tarn Bay Flash Pat McCombe 9-1 29.07 5 2nd Dynamic Display Barry O'Sullivan 8-1 29.17 1 3rd Scalp Ranger Sam Sykes 25-1 29.23 3 4th Wisley Wonder Lorraine King 1-1f 29.31 2 5th Glown Fox Tom Foster 11-4 29.49 4 6th Springwell Boost Nikki Chambers 5-1 29.97 6

BBC TV Trophy, Hall Green (Apr 9, 815m, £6,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Thornfield Pride Yvonne Morris 12-1 52.17 5 2nd Elbony Rose Nick Savva 1-1f 52.18 2 3rd Handy Score Ernie Gaskin Sr. 8-1 52.19 4 4th Wise Beauty Patsy Byrne 4-1 52.33 1 5th Musical Treat Brian Clemenson 10-1 52.49 3 6th Frisby Fanfare Harry Crapper 5-1 52.99 6

Regal Scottish Derby, Shawfield (Apr 26, 480m, £20,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Some Picture [12] Charlie Lister 1-1f 29.02 5 2nd Elderberry Chick Pat Ryan 4-1 29.36 3 3rd Endon Tiger Charlie Lister 4-1 29.37 4 4th Quick Tune Gordon Hodson 8-1 29.49 6 5th Airmount Jeff Charlie Lister 3-1 29.57 2 6th Donnas Dancer Mrs S J Douglas 25-1 29.61 1

Reading Masters, Reading (May 11, 465m, £20,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Night Trooper Nikki Adams 6-1 27.86 3 2nd Blackwater Storm A E Lindsay 14-1 28.42 2 3rd Blue Murlen Mick Smith 4-9f 28.45 4 4th Final Climber Tony Meek 25-1 28.51 5 5th Droopys Eric Henry Tasker 6-1 28.59 1 6th Smart Dog Brian Clemenson 14-1 30.99 6

B.T Global Finance Scurry Gold Cup, Catford (Jul 12, 385m, £2,500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Shoreham Beach Diane Stinchcombe 10-1 23.78 5 2nd Black Gem Charm Phil Rees Jr. 4-1 23.82 2 3rd Small Fortune John Coleman 5-1 23.83 6 4th Pavilion Rock Sam Sykes 11-8f 23.95 1 5th Stows Val Linda Mullins 11-4 24.07 3 6th Official Figure Graham Holland 28-1 24.27 4

BT Global Finance Syntegra Gold Collar, Catford (Sep 20, 555m, £7,500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Lenson Billy Norah McEllistrim 1-2f 35.02 3 2nd Homeside Knight Tom Gates 6-1 35.10 4 3rd Slow Jo John Coleman 6-1 35.26 6 4th Charpaidon Sam Sykes 20-1 35.30 2 5th Derrinasafa Dan Alf Ellis 16-1 35.31 1 6th Alastairs Effort Terry Atkins 12-1 35.41 5

Laurent-Perrier Grand Prix, Walthamstow (Oct 4, 640m, £7,500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st El Grand Senor Linda Mullins 12-1 39.38 2 2nd Spring Rose Charlie Lister 4-6f 39.56 5 3rd Slaney Ash Pam Cross 8-1 39.62 3 4th Lydpal Frankie Tony Meek 4-1 39.78 1 5th Wandering One Derek Knight 8-1 39.84 6 6th Lisnakill Lodge John Faint 20-1 40.14 4

Ike Morris Laurels, Wimbledon (Oct 10, 460m, £7,500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st El Premier Linda Mullins 4-7f 27.36 6 2nd Black Gem Charm Phil Rees Jr. 8-1 27.62 3 3rd Pingo Seamus Cahill 6-1 27.76 4 4th Run Freddie Tommy Foster 25-1 27.92 2 5th Coilltes Choice Macmorough Mulkerrin 20-1 28.00 5 6th Big Mistake John Coleman 4-1 28.30 1

Evening Standard TV Trophy, Wimbledon (Oct 28, 815m, £6,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Moanrue Slippy Kelly Rockman 51.35 5-1 6 2nd Maid of Seskin Brian Clemenson 51.38 5-1 1 3rd Lady Flyaway Brian Clemenson 51.54 2-1jf 5 4th Tralee Crazy Nick Savva 51.58 2-1jf 3 5th Marys Gem Mark Lavender 51.82 14-1 4 6th Denise Dream Ernie Gaskin Sr. 51.90 20-1 2

Wendy Fair St Leger, Wembley (Nov 14, 655m, £12,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Tralee Crazy Nick Savva 4-1 39.41 5 2nd Lydpal Frankie Tony Meek 6-1 39.61 3 3rd Faultless Fred Gloria Stringer 20-1 40.05 2 4th Mystery Player Sam Sykes 33-1 40.19 6 5th Spring Rose Charlie Lister 1-2f 40.31 4 6th Weeford Carol John Lambe 50-1 40.33 1

William Hill Cesarewitch, Catford (Dec 6, 718m, £6,500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Tralee Crazy Nick Savva 1-2f 45.69 4 2nd Dunmurry Flight Ernie Gaskin Sr. 10-1 46.15 5 3rd Musical Treat Brian Clemenson 10-1 46.27 1 4th Elderberry Flyer Pat Ryan 16-1 46.31 6 5th Hasty Bit Paul Young 50-1 46.55 2 6th Baby Grand Norah McEllistrim 4-1 46.59 3

Thoroughbred Investments Oaks, Wimbledon (Dec 13, 480m, £6,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Flashy Get Ernie Gaskin Sr. 14-1 28.75 1 2nd Seskin Judy Angie Kibble 10-1 28.87 2 3rd Cashen Sleeper John McGee Jr. 20-1 28.99 6 4th Frankion Jacky Linda Jones 1-1f 29.01 5 5th Be Bopa Lola Phil Rees Jr. 6-1 29.17 3 N/R Terrydrum Kate Charlie Lister

Totalisator returns

Extended content

The totalisator returns declared to the National Greyhound Racing Club for the year 1997 are listed below. [13] [14] Stadium Turnover £ London (Walthamstow) 11,493,136 London (Wimbledon) 8,081,088 Romford 6,515,458 Brighton & Hove 4,640,284 Birmingham (Hall Green) 4,471,132 Manchester (Belle Vue) 4,388,067 London (Catford) 3,661,680 Sheffield (Owlerton) 2,553,582 Birmingham (Perry Barr) 2,483,949 Crayford 2,446,291 Peterborough 2,203,740 Sunderland 1,982,214 Stadium Turnover £ London (Wembley) 1,867,544 Milton Keynes 1,713,564 Wolverhampton (Monmore) 1,677,520 Glasgow (Shawfield) 1,618,461 Portsmouth 1,357,318 Newcastle (Brough Park) 1,311,308 Yarmouth 1,297,701 Nottingham 1,237,500 Reading 1,166,274 Oxford 1,114,841 Harlow 733,471 Canterbury 707,236 Stadium Turnover £ Bristol 677,226 Poole 515,781 Swindon 508,826 Hull (New Craven Park) 490,250 Swaffham 199,447 Mildenhall 186,876 Henlow (Bedfordshire) 165,358 Doncaster (Stainforth) 123,975 Sittingbourne 85,000 Rye House 78,000

References

1. Hobbs, Jonathan (2008). Greyhound Annual 2008. Raceform. ISBN   978-1-905153-534.
2. "1997". Greyhound Data.
3. Hobbs, Jonathan (2007). Greyhound Annual 2008, page 91. Raceform. ISBN   978-1-905153-53-4.
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. NGRC calendar. National Greyhound Racing Club. January 1998.
7. "1997". Greyhound Data.
8. National Greyhound Racing Club Calendar, July 1997 edition. National Greyhound Racing Club.
9. Hobbs, Jonathan (2002). Greyhound Annual 2003. Raceform. ISBN   1-904317-07-3.
10. "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When) March edition". Greyhound Star. 1997.
11. "Sheffield Superteam". Vol. 16, no. 1. Greyhound Star. January 1998.
12. "Greyhound Star (Remember When - April)". Greyhound Star.
13. Totalisator returns of National Greyhound Racing Club Licensed tracks. National Greyhound Racing Club. 1997.
14. "17.4% Rise in Attendance". Greyhound Star. March 1998.