2012 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year

2012 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
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The 2012 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 87th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Summary

During May, the GRA announced a bank debt of £49 million under their parent company Risk Capital Partners, Risk had borrowed the money from the IBRC (Irish Bank Resolution Corporation) to buy GRA. The on-going profits of all five tracks only serviced the interest on the debt and it then emerged that a partner in the original GRA takeover with Risk was a company called Galliard Homes. This came to light after plans were drawn up by them to build houses on Wimbledon and Oxford Stadium to reduce the debt. The entire scenario was effectively a disaster for the greyhound industry with the leading greyhound track operator showing intent to end their role in the sport. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

Oxford Stadium closed on 29 December, a move regarded as an attempt by the GRA to force the local council into passing future planning submissions. ^{[4] [5]}

Paschal Taggart owner of Shelbourne Park revealed plans to buy Wimbledon and redevelop it into a super stadium at a cost of £30 million. This was followed by an announcement from GRA Managing Director Clive Feltham supporting rival plans to end greyhound racing there and let AFC Wimbledon rebuild a football stadium with associated housing. ^{[3] [6] [7]}

Tracks

Norah McEllistrim left Wimbledon for Hove, the McEllistrim ties with Wimbledon dated back to 1929. Brighton had been seeking a replacement for three-time winner of the Trainers Championship Brian Clemenson who had announced his retirement. ^[8] In addition to McEllistrim, the track would also recruit Dean Childs and Paul Garland. John Mullins returned to Yarmouth and Paul Sallis moved from Hall Green to Monmore.

The GRA released the Grand National out of their control allowing Sittingbourne to host it. A bid by the well-known professional gambler and owner Harry Findlay to re-open Coventry finally went ahead after being licensed by the Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Kevin Boothby took over sole control of Henlow Stadium following Bob Morton's departure.

Clonmel and Tralee earned contributions from the Irish Greyhound Board. Mystery surrounded the closure of independent track Westhoughton Greyhound Track near Bolton, just months before it was due to reopen following a £100,000 facelift. The stadium had undergone £30,000 improvements the previous year and a 20-year lease had been secured by a new owner, but work came to a halt and the site closed. ^[9]

Competitions

The blue riband events, the 2012 English Greyhound Derby and 2012 Irish Greyhound Derby were won by Blonde Snapper and Skywalker Puma respectively; both went on to win the accolade greyhound of the year. Nick Savva claimed a surprise Trainers Championship success at Perry Barr; it was the fourth time he had secured the championship. ^[10]

The youngster Farloe Warhawk impressed during the Laurels winning the event unbeaten before being rested for the winter. The black dog also won the Puppy Derby in August pipping kennelmate Ballymac Eske. ^[11]

News

The new Racing Post TV channel (RPGTV) started in February when it featured the heats of the Golden Jacket at Crayford Stadium. ^[12] The channel had been set up in the partnership of Hills, Ladbrokes, Coral, bet365 and Betfair. ^[13]

Champion sprinter Jimmy Lollie was retired to stud in June after finishing lame at Hove. ^[14] Mark Wallis sealed a fourth trainers title.

Roll of honour

Major Winners
Award	Name of Winner
2012 English Greyhound Derby	Blonde Snapper
2012 Irish Greyhound Derby	Skywalker Puma
Greyhound Trainer of the Year	Mark Wallis
Greyhound of the Year	Blonde Snapper
Irish Dog and Bitch of the Year	Skywalker Puma/Milldean Tally

Betfair Trainers Championship, Perry Barr (21 Mar) Pos Name of Trainer Points 1st Nick Savva 41 2nd Charlie Lister OBE 38 3rd Chris Allsopp 37 4th Seamus Cahill 31 4th Dean Childs 31 6th Mark Wallis 30

BAGS/SIS Track Championship, Perry Barr (23 Dec) [15] Pos Track Points 1st Newcastle 79 2nd Peterborough 49 3rd Hove 48 4th Belle Vue 45 5th Monmore 35 6th Swindon 23

Principal UK finals

Ladbrokes Golden Jacket, Crayford (18 Feb, 714m, £15,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Blue Bee Matt Dartnall 7-2 45.95 1 2nd Blackrose Monarch Eric Cantillon 4-1 45.99 2 3rd Farley Zach Kim Billingham 11-4 46.07 4 4th Lottes Girl Heather Dimmock 5-1 46.08 3 5th Wise Signal Frank Gray 5-2f 46.16 6 6th Springwood Bob Barry O’Sullivan 20-1 46.62 5

Bettor.com Scottish Derby, Shawfield (14 Apr, 480m, £25,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Barefoot Allstar Paul Hennessy 7-4f 28.76 2 2nd Mill Bling Bling Kelly Macari 3-1 28.84 3 3rd Bowtime Sykes Julie Bateson 7-1 29.08 6 4th Mill Pegasus Kelly Macari 4-1 29.22 1 5th Tudor Prince Harry Williams 5-1 29.24 4 6th Droopys Cristian Elaine Parker 10-1 00.00 5

William Hill Classic, Sunderland (12 Jul, 450m, £25,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Loughteen Blanco Seamus Cahill 5-1 26.95 3 2nd Wells Honour Craig Dawson 2-1 27.30 6 3rd Droopys Loner Dean Childs 7-4f 27.46 2 4th Blue Artisan Harry Williams 4-1 27.51 1 5th Holycross Prince John Mullins 25-1 27.60 4 6th Mill Bling Bling Kelly Macari 4-1 27.63 5

William Hill Grand Prix, Sunderland (12 Jul, 640m, £15,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Swabys Princess Paul Young 6-1 40.49 3 2nd Dixies Air Mark Wallis 3-1 40.50 4 3rd Swift Reagan Mark Wallis 4-1 40.63 6 4th Derrane Jake Jimmy Wright 1-1f 40.64 1 5th Pond Shefelia Harry Williams 7-1 40.70 2 6th Ballintine Molly Mark Wallis 16-1 40.72 5

Cearnsport Grand National, Sittingbourne (21 Aug, 480mH, £7,500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Baran Bally Hi Derek Knight 3-1 29.53 4 2nd Faithful Ranger Arun Green 20-1 29.92 5 3rd Olivers Twist Lisa Stephenson 7-4jf 30.27 2 4th Clonkeen Theo Jason Foster 10-1 30.41 3 5th Mullpark Too Barry O'Sullivan 25-1 30.52 1 6th Lenson Teddy Tony Collett 7-4jf 30.70 6

Ladbrokes East Anglian Derby, Yarmouth (20 Sep, 462m, £15,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Bubbly Phoenix Paul Young 4-5f 27.36 5 2nd Taylors Sky Charlie Lister OBE 9-4 27.42 1 3rd Millwards Matt Paul Young 6-1 27.46 6 4th Pennys Midas Ray Pleasants 16-1 27.73 2 5th Fifis Legend Chris Allsopp 9-1 28.00 3 6th Guinness Dusty Seamus Cahill 40-1 28.17 4

Ladbrokes TV Trophy, Monmore (25 Oct, 835m, £8,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Blonde Reagan Mark Wallis 9-4 51.98 6 2nd Storm Pockets Jason Foster 1-1f 52.04 2 3rd Aero Gaga Paul Young 7-2 52.52 3 4th Pantone Ava David Mullins 8-1 52.60 5 5th Lottes Girl Heather Dimmock 7-1 52.68 4 N/R Tynwald Tom Terry Munslow Lame 1

Ladbrokes Laurels, Belle Vue (13 Nov, 470m, £6,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Farloe Warhawk Barrie Draper 4-5f 28.26 2 2nd Longwood Fantasy Colin Callow 6-1 28.29 4 3rd Taranis Rex Kevin Hutton 16-1 28.30 1 4th Alien Planet Stuart Mason 3-1 28.36 3 5th Fridays Daryl Julie Bateson 12-1 28.54 6 6th Boher Chieftain Charlie Lister OBE 10-1 28.86 5

William Hill St Leger, Wimbledon (22 Nov, 687m, £15,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Blonde Reagan Mark Wallis 5-2f 41.87 5 2nd Ballyard Buddy Stuart Mason 11-4 41.98 4 3rd Droopys Xavier Claude Gardiner 20-1 42.00 3 4th Peggys Style Chris Allsopp 3-1 42.04 6 5th Musical Gaga Dean Childs 9-1 42.29 1 6th Blonde Fletch Mark Wallis 4-1 42.43 2

William Hill Oaks, Wimbledon (20 Dec, 480m, £15,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Droopys Hope Liz McNair 2-1 28.83 6 2nd Skate On Liz McNair 7-1 28.98 5 3rd Forest Mollie Kevin Hutton 25-1 29.10 2 4th Droopys Loner Dean Childs 11-8f 29.11 1 5th Lemon Velvet Adrian McPherson 4-1 29.21 4 N/R Aero Scramble Dean Childs o/c 3

Principal Irish finals

College Causeway/Killahan Phanter Easter Cup, Shelbourne (14 Apr, 550y, €25,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Tyrur Big Mike Conor Fahy 2-1f 29.73 1 2nd Razldazl George Dolores Ruth 5-2 29.77 2 3rd Kingo Dolores Ruth 12-1 29.81 3 4th Razldazl Will Dolores Ruth 9-2 29.93 6 5th Pablo Supreme Owen McKenna 4-1 30.05 4 6th Tyrur Willyjoe Conor Fahy 6-1 30.17 5

Connolly's Red Mills Produce, Clonmel (6 May, 525y, €20,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Power of God Pat Curtin 7-2 28.65 2 2nd Ballybough Hawke Murt Leahy 8-1 28.82 1 3rd Airforce Zulu Paul Hennessy 6-1 29.00 4 4th Paradise Martini Pat Buckley 5-4f 29.01 3 5th Camas Owen McKenna 3-1 29.08 6 6th Cashen Mafuma Chris Houilhan 5-1 29.15 5

Bettor.com Northern Irish Derby, Drumbo Park (23 June, 550y, €25,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Captain Scolari Ger Holian 4-1 29.67 5 2nd Ruthless Man John McGee Sr. 7-2 29.83 2 3rd Star Head Brian Macklin 3-1 30.07 1 4th Devilacare Tony McCloskey 6-1 30.23 4 5th Lolos Joe Ronnie Craven 2-1f 30.39 3 N/R Royal Patrol Ollie Bray 6

Sporting Press Oaks, Shelbourne (23 Jun, 525y, €25,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Milldean Tally John O'Flynn 9-4 28.75 1 2nd Cabra Millie Graham Holland 6-4f 28.95 3 3rd Rockburst Delta Graham Holland 7-1 29.31 4 4th Tantallons Kay Domnik Rennicks 5-1 29.43 2 5th Solo Star John McGee Sr. 12-1 29.67 6 6th Millbank Lola Padraig Hickey 3-1 32.07 5

Townviewfoods.com Champion Stakes, Shelbourne (21 Jul, 550y, €20,000) [16] Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Droopys Jet Fraser Black 5-2jf 29.46 1 2nd Ballymac Vic Liam Dowling 5-2jf 29.66 3 3rd Tibetan Skies Owen McKenna 9-1 29.70 5 4th Sparta Maestro Philip Gough 3-1 29.90 6 5th Razldazl Bugatti Dolores Ruth 4-1 29.98 4 6th Razldazl Black Dolores Ruth 33-1 30.30 2

HX Bookmakers Puppy Derby, Harolds Cross (5 Oct, 525y, €25,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Razldazl Luke Dolores Ruth 5-2 28.52 5 2nd Isabels Boy Gary Silcock 3-1 28.96 2 3rd Ballyhill Sub Plunkett Matthews 2-1f 28.98 1 4th Barefoot Printer Joe Carey 7-1 29.06 4 5th Castlelyons Cofi Eddie Fitzgerald 5-2 29.22 6 6th Glenardan Liam Kirley 14-1 29.34 3

Connolly's Red Mills Laurels, Cork (20 Oct, 525y, €30,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Knockglass Billy Graham Holland 2-1f 28.30 1 2nd Razldazl Rioga Dolores Ruth 3-1 28.90 6 3rd Boherna House Richard Wheeler 3-1 28.98 4 4th Confident Rankin Owen McKenna 7-2 29.26 3 5th Allen Master Marie Gilbert 7-1 29.34 2 6th Tinas Nova Sean Muldoon 14-1 29.46 5

Kerry Agribusiness Irish St Leger, Limerick (23 Nov, 550y, €25,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Cashen Mafuma Chris Houlihan 8-1 29.57 4 2nd Priceless Sky Paul Hennessy 4-6f 29.58 1 3rd Skywalker Puma Frances O'Donnell 6-4 29.72 3 4th Tibetan Skies Owen McKenna 9-2 29.79 5 5th Head For Fame Tommy Bolton 20-1 30.24 6 6th Kingo Dolores Ruth 8-1 30.52 2

References

1. Winch, Jessica (9 October 2012). "Expired £49m loan unleashes doubts over dog-race group". The Telegraph. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
2. "Greyhound stadiums – gone to the dogs?". Property Weekly.
3. "Statement of Mr Paschal Taggart" (PDF). Merton Council.
4. "MP Andrew Smith attacks Oxford Stadium owners for making profit before it was closed and deemed no longer "viable"". Oxford Mail.
5. "Oxford City Council plan to seize back control of Oxford Stadium from GRA Acquisition". Oxford Mail.
6. "AFC Wimbledon stadium will be 'the end of greyhound racing', but the sport will fight Plough Lane plans". Wimbledon Guardian.
7. "Greyhound racing in peril as Khan backs AFC Wimbledon plans". The Guardian.
8. "Clemenson quits". Racing Post. 2012.
9. "Bolton's last greyhound racing track in Westhoughton will be demolished". Bolton News.
10. "Review of 2012". Mark Wallis Greyhounds.
11. "Laurels 2012/". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 18 November 2018. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
12. "Monday 27th February 2012". Mark Wallis Greyhounds.
13. "Remember When - November 2011". Greyhound Star. 2012.
14. "Jimmy Lollie". Greyhound Data.
15. "BAGS Championship". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
16. "Champion Stakes". Irish Greyhound Board.