1999 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year

1999 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
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The 1999 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 73rd year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland. ^[1]

Roll of honour

Major Winners
Award	Name of Winner
1999 English Greyhound Derby	Chart King [2] [3]
1999 Irish Greyhound Derby	Spring Time [4]
1999 Scottish Greyhound Derby	Chart King [5]
Greyhound Trainer of the Year	Linda Mullins
Greyhound of the Year	Chart King
Irish Dog and Bitch of the Year	Chart King / Spring Time
Trainers Championship	Linda Jones

Summary

The National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC) released the annual returns, with totalisator turnover at £80,268,946 and attendances recorded at 3,511,847. ^[6]

Chart King was voted Greyhound of the Year after winning the 1999 Scottish Greyhound Derby and 1999 English Greyhound Derby. He also picked up the Irish Greyhound of the Year award. ^[7] Chart King a brindle dog was owned and trained by brothers Karl and Ralph Hewitt from Lurgan in Northern Ireland. He also won the Easter Cup in a record-breaking 28.40 at Shelbourne Park. ^[8]

Linda Mullins won the Greyhound Trainer of the Year for the fourth successive year. ^{[7] [8]}

Sky Sports increased their TV coverage to show major events on Tuesday nights at Wimbledon including the Springbok and the Grand National, the latter now held at Wimbledon instead of Hall Green. They also wanted to show the Pall Mall Stakes at Oxford but the track was reluctant to switch the event to a Tuesday night so remained off the viewing schedule for the time being.

Tracks

Wisbech reopened under NGRC rules and appointed former Peterborough RM Mike Middle. The tracks owner Gary Meads had improved the facilities after the venue had been closed for seven years. ^[9] Canterbury closed its doors on 30 October and independent Workington ceased racing. ^[10] Peterborough was severely damaged by fire spread from an adjoining warehouse. Work started immediately on repairs and refurbishment but there was no racing for six months. ^{[7] [8]}

The Dundalk Race Company PLC and Dundealgan Greyhound Racing Company Limited merged to form Dundalk Racing (1999) Ltd. The Dundalk Ramparts Greyhound Stadium was earmarked for a major rebuild. ^[11]

News

Elsewhere the BS Group (owners of several tracks) purchased the Milton Keynes Bowl to add to their assets. Shelley Cobbold sent out the last runner from the Utopia kennels at Nottingham, the family association with greyhound racing (Joe Cobbold, the late Trevor Cobbold and Pam Cobbold) ended. In November Linda Jones gained a contract at the country's premier track Walthamstow. ^{[7] [8]}

Competitions

El Tenor dropped back down in distance in an attempt to defend his Grand National title and made the final but was unlucky to find trouble when going well. The race ended in a dead heat for Hello Buttons and Pottos Storm. Despite this defeat the target of 100 open race wins was in sight even though he had gone past five years of age. By the end of the year he was still competing and winning. ^{[7] [8] [1]}

A puppy by the name of Rapid Ranger had started his career with defeat in two graded races at Stainforth for trainer Mike Pomfrett, but was improving and scored a first open win at Nottingham. By autumn he would improve and owner Ray White purchased the brindle and sent him to Charlie Lister. ^{[7] [8] [1]}

A brindle dog called Palace Issue, trained by Linda Mullins started to perform superbly and quickly established himself as the leading stayer. He broke the track record at Romford during the Champion Stakes before winning the Group One Grand Prix at Walthamstow that included his rival Dilemmas Lad. A strong fancy for the first St Leger at Wimbledon, he had to settle for second behind Dilemmas Lad before successfully defending his Hunt Cup title at Reading. ^{[7] [8] [1]}

Gerald Watson travelled to England with his 1999 Irish Greyhound Derby champion Spring Time and outclassed her rivals when winning the Oaks at Wimbledon and Bubbly Prince won the Cesarewitch at Catford Stadium for the Bubbly Club making up for the previous year's disappointment. ^{[7] [8] [1]}

Principal UK races

Grand National, Wimbledon (Mar 30, 460m h, £7,500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Hello Buttons (dh) Linda Mullins 9-4cf 28.13 1 1st Pottos Storm (dh) David Mullins 9-4cf 28.13 4 3rd Kennyswell Smoke Tom Foster 8-1 28.31 6 4th Rum and Black Linda Mullins 14-1 28.39 5 5th Autumn Duster Tom Foster 33-1 28.55 2 6th El Tenor Linda Mullins 9-4cf 28.59 3 dh=dead heat

Regal Scottish Derby, Shawfield (May 1, 480m, £20,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Chart King Ralph Hewitt 4-5f 28.98 6 2nd Wath Serenade Andy Heyes 16-1 29.28 1 3rd Droopys Zidane Paul Young 8-1 29.40 2 4th Droopys Merson Nick Savva 6-4 29.56 5 5th Laughta Man Bill Mills 16-1 29.76 3 6th Slaneys Bomber John McGee Sr. 33-1 29.82 4

Reading Masters, Reading (May 16, 465m, £20,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Torbal Piper Tony Meek 14-1 28.15 6 2nd Charlie the Layer Chris Lund 2-1jf 28.21 4 3rd Smiffys Errand Nikki Chambers 14-1 28.35 5 4th Clonbrin Best John McGee Sr. 2-1jf 28.38 1 5th Dower Leader Ernie Gaskin Sr. 5-1 28.54 3 6th Lung of Iron Sally Fenwick 4-1 28.76 2

Scurry Gold Cup, Catford (Jul 6, 385m, £2,500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Lissenaire Luke Charlie Lister 3-1jf 23.49 4 2nd Union Decree Ernie Gaskin Sr. 9-2 23.87 5 3rd Kilbarry Boy Mick Puzey 8-1 23.89 1 4th Farncombe Pat David Mullins 7-1 23.91 6 5th Lauragh Exile Terry Dartnall 3-1jf 24.29 3 6th Bewdley Breeze Ernie Gaskin Sr. 9-2 24.31 2

BT Gold Collar, Catford (Sep 18, 555m, £7,500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Rio Scorpio Daniel Riordan 12-1 34.83 6 2nd Dukes Again Mick Puzey 7-2 34.91 1 3rd Best Black Linda Jones 2-1 34.95 5 4th Dower Leader Ernie Gaskin Sr. 6-4f 34.99 3 5th Nice One Kim Mick Douglass 8-1 35.01 4 6th Little Me Norah McEllistrim 33-1 35.35 2

Evening Standard TV Trophy, Wimbledon (Sep 21, 868m, £6,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Hollinwood Poppy Mick Clarke 10-1 54.89 4 2nd Spenwood Wizard Ron Hough 4-1 54.96 1 3rd Spenwood Gem Ron Hough 4-1 54.97 2 4th Knappogue Oak Ken Bebbington 8-11f 55.07 5 5th Bubbly Prince Patsy Cusack 14-1 55.45 6 6th Careys Champion Tom Foster 50-1 56.01 3

Grand Prix, Walthamstow (Oct 9, 640m, £7,500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Palace Issue Linda Mullins 9-4f 40.32 6 2nd Tessas Dilemma Nick Savva 10-1 40.34 4 3rd Dilemmas Lad Nick Savva 4-1 40.46 5 4th Drumsna Cross Charlie Lister 5-1 40.58 2 5th Bossy Wade Linda Mullins 16-1 40.94 3 6th Dream Compadre Linda Mullins 5-2 41.04 1

Laurels, Belle Vue (Oct 26, 460m, £6,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Derbay Flyer Charlie Lister 10-11f 27.80 2 2nd Brickfield Bonus Patsy Byrne 3-1 27.82 5 3rd Terrydrum Flyer Jimmy Gibson 11-2 27.90 6 4th Shabbas Mate Adrian Kimpton 12-1 28.40 1 5th Wath Serenade Andy Heyes 8-1 28.44 4 6th Water Ranger June McCombe 33-1 28.60 3

St Leger, Wimbledon (Nov 9, 660m, £12,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Dilemmas Lad Nick Savva 5-1 40.56 1 2nd Palace Issue Linda Mullins 11-10f 40.74 3 3rd Knappogue Oak Ken Bebbington 2-1 40.76 6 4th Kennel Image Hazel Dickson 25-1 40.96 2 5th Sew Trader Arthur Hitch 6-1 41.16 5 6th Allegro Royale Ernie Gaskin Sr. 20-1 41.26 4

William Hill Oaks, Wimbledon (Nov 26, 480m, £6,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Spring Time Gerald Watson 4-9f 28.97 6 2nd Tarmon Tia Jackie Taylor 14-1 29.13 3 3rd Dower Beauty Peter Rich 5-1 29.35 1 4th Im Okay Barrie Draper 7-1 29.37 5 5th Farloe Twin Terry Dartnall 8-1 29.41 4 6th Honky Tonk Gal Linda Jones 16-1 29.42 2

Cesarewitch, Catford (Dec 4, 718m, £5,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Bubbly Prince Patsy Cusack 4-6f 45.90 5 2nd Phils Ann Marie Danny Smee 7-1 46.36 1 3rd Springville Sion Tom Lanceman 4-1 46.38 3 4th Deise Prince Roy Towner 7-1 46.64 2 5th Hopping Mick Dennis Bakewell 100-1 46.78 6 6th Freighduff Ball Ray Peacock 10-1 46.92 4

Principal Irish finals

Easter Cup Shelbourne (525y) Pos Name of Greyhound SP Time Trap 1st Chart King [12] 5-4f 28.40 TR 2 2nd Frisby Flashing 14-1 28.70 4 3rd Crossleigh Fudge 10-1 29.00 6 4th April Surprise 11-4 29.06 1 5th Pescasdor 14-1 29.36 3 6th Garvagh Tommy 5-1 29.50 5

National Produce Thurles (525y) Pos Name of Greyhound SP Time Trap 1st Borna Survivor [13] 9-2 29.15 2 2nd Airmount Rover 1-1f 29.25 6 3rd Ballingarry Joy 7-4 29.35 1 4th Lake Eagle Lad 29.51 5 5th Badge of Tigings 29.55 4 6th First Watch 00.00 3

Shelbourne 600 Shelbourne (600y) Pos Name of Greyhound SP Time Trap 1st Frisby Flashing [14] 12-1 32.83 2 2nd Boozing Buddy 4-1 33.05 5 3rd Millstream Lad 12-1 33.07 3 4th Kilmessan Jet 1-2f 33.09 6 5th Duffys Kestrel 16-1 33.11 1 6th Martinstown Gold 16-1 33.21 4

St Leger Limerick (550y) Pos Name of Greyhound SP Time Trap 1st Frisby Flashing [15] 1-1f 29.64 TR 4 2nd Soviet Merc 5-1 29.78 6 3rd Race First 7-2 30.20 2 4th Cable King 10-1 30.41 5 5th Aussie Prince 10-1 30.44 3 6th Bawnogue Pal 30.65 1

Oaks Shelbourne (525y) Pos Name of Greyhound SP Time Trap 1st Borna Survivor [16] 4-5f 28.67 2nd Metric Flower 28.86 3rd Craggy Island 29.16 u Peter Spice u Mantle Glory u Deenside Delight

Champion Stakes Shelbourne (550y) Pos Name of Greyhound SP Time Trap 1st Mr Bozz [17] 9-1 30.42 2nd Santa Paolo 30.45 3rd 4th 5th 6th

Puppy Derby Harolds Cross (525y) Pos Name of Greyhound SP Time Trap 1st Cool Performance [18] 2-1f 28.50 3 2nd Always Sorry 5-1 29.06 6 3rd Cill Dubh Amber 16-1 29.13 4 4th Aughduff Tim 11-4 29.34 5 5th Woodbroke Wine 3-1 29.41 2 6th Wellpad Hero 29.69 1

Laurels Cork (525y) Pos Name of Greyhound SP Time Trap 1st Lumber Boss (dead heat) [19] 5-1 29.42 6 1st Tigers Eye (dead-heat) 10-1 29.42 1 3rd Sandyhill Slip 3 4th Sineads Rocket 2 5th Rathroon Ranger 4 N/R Mr Pickwick 5

Totalisator returns

Extended content

The totalisator returns declared to the National Greyhound Racing Club for the year 1999 are listed below. [20] [21] Stadium Turnover £ London (Walthamstow) 12,656,388 London (Wimbledon) 9,173,828 Romford 7,282,198 Manchester (Belle Vue) 5,111,368 Brighton & Hove 4,939,600 Birmingham (Hall Green) 4,652,283 London (Catford) 3,585,163 Sheffield (Owlerton) 2,801,479 Birmingham (Perry Barr) 2,412,500 Sunderland 2,332,195 Crayford 2,300,663 Stadium Turnover £ Oxford 1,758,882 Peterborough 1,676,251 Wolverhampton (Monmore) 1,594,903 Glasgow (Shawfield) 1,590,526 Poole 1,511,642 Nottingham 1,460,253 Yarmouth 1,434,126 Newcastle (Brough Park) 1,412,960 Milton Keynes 1,411,222 Portsmouth 1,348,322 Reading 1,097,280 Stadium Turnover £ Swindon 967,235 Harlow 811,109 Sittingbourne 795,277 Doncaster (Stainforth) 370,248 Hull (New Craven Park) 310,024 Mildenhall 213,199 Swaffham 184,693 Henlow (Bedfordshire) 176,723 Rye House 168,215

References

1. Hobbs, Jonathan (2008). Greyhound Annual 2008. Raceform. ISBN   978-1-905153-534.
2. "1999". 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 2000.
7. Hobbs, Jonathan (2002). Greyhound Annual 2003. Raceform. ISBN   1-904317-07-3.
8. Hobbs, Jonathan (2004). Greyhound Annual 2005. Raceform. ISBN   1-904317-58-8.
9. "Remember When - February 1999". Greyhound Star. 18 February 2018.
10. "Kent's most memorable attractions that no longer exist". Kent Online. 21 June 2018.
11. "Dundalk greyhound track to close in two weeks time". Irish Independent. 3 November 2000.
12. "1999 Easter Cup Final". Irish Greyhound Data.
13. "1999 Produce Stakes". Greyhound Data.
14. "1999 Shelbourne 600 Final". Greyhound Data.
15. "1999 St Leger Result". Irish Greyhound Board.
16. "1999 Oaks Final". Greyhound Data.
17. "1999 Champion Stakes Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
18. "1999 Puppy Derby Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
19. "2000 Laurels Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
20. Totalisator returns of National Greyhound Racing Club Licensed tracks. National Greyhound Racing Club. 1999.
21. "99 The Facts and Figures". Vol. 18, no. 3. Greyhound Star. March 2000.