2014 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year

2014 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
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The 2014 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 89th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Summary

Tracks

The most significant event of the year was the opening of a new track in the form of Towcester on 6 December 2014. Construction on the track had begun in March, backed by the Northamptonshire's racecourse owner Lord Hesketh. ^[1] Leading trainers joined the track including five times champion trainer Mark Wallis, 2011 champion trainer Chris Allsopp, Kevin Hutton and Matt Dartnall.

The GRA was once again in the news, led by Managing Director Clive Feltham they supported a planning application for housing on Wimbledon Stadium which was against greyhound racing at the track, the other planning application by Paschal Taggart included the facility for greyhound racing. ^{[2] [3]} The company then sold the freehold on Belle Vue and Hall Green but retained a fifteen-year lease agreement (with a five-year mutual break clause). Belle Vue was purchased by the Crown Oil Pension Fund for 2.6 million and Hall Green was bought by Euro Property Investments for more than 3 million.

Another company in the spotlight would be Clarke Osborne's Gaming International, who owned Stadia UK, as planning permission was granted for 66 new houses on part of the existing Swindon Stadium site with the plan was to use some of the funds to build a new stadium and then the old site would be demolished for 450 homes. ^[4] Coventry greyhound racing closed suddenly after owner Harry Findlay pulled out, independent racing would take place at the venue at a later date. ^[5]

Competitions

The blue riband races went to Salad Dodger, winner of the 2014 English Greyhound Derby and Laughil Blake triumphed in 2014 Irish Greyhound Derby. Following the Derby final there was a series of important announcements, the first came from William Hill who announced a huge sponsorship deal for the 2015 Derby. ^[6] The winner would receive a record breaking £250,000 prize and then Boylesports stated that they would back the Irish Derby for three years. In a closely fought battle at Sheffield, Paul Young claimed the trainer's championship after picking up three winners on the night with Jaytee China, Mollys Hope and Jaytee Lightning. ^[7]

Ballymac Eske, arguably the fastest dog in racing, returned to action at Sheffield impressing in the Three Steps to Victory, over three different distances which included a track record over 660 metres. ^[8] Laurels champion Mileheight Alba defeated Pinpoint Maxi in the final of the William Hill Classic ^[9] and Ballymac Vic gained a deserved big race victory in the Champions Stakes.

In December Peterborough won the SIS/BAGS track championship final, the event at Nottingham went down to the final race when Peterborough runner Bobs Belter took fifth place in a photo finish which resulted in a one-point win. ^[10]

Cornamaddy Jumbo winner of the Grand National, Springbok and Champion Hurdle was voted Greyhound of the Year and his trainer Mark Wallis lifted the Trainer of the Year award for the sixth time surpassing Linda Mullins. ^[11]

News

The GBGB allowed equal distribution of seeds in open races. Bob Rowe the GRA chief Racing Manager retired and received a special award for services to greyhound racing and the greatest Irish trainer of all time Ger McKenna died. ^[12] Harlow and former Oxford trainer Maurice Massey also died and Westmead Hawk who had been retired from stud duties died in May. ^[13]

A €2.8 million rise in funding for the Irish greyhound industry was assigned in the 2015 budget. This increase from €10.8m to €13.6m would be put to use by IGB chairman Phil Meaney ^[14] but soon after they announced that they would be closing Harolds Cross, due to financial cut backs, in the future. ^[15]

Roll of honour

Major Winners
Award	Name of Winner
2014 English Greyhound Derby	Salad Dodger
2014 Irish Greyhound Derby	Laughil Blake
Greyhound Trainer of the Year	Mark Wallis
Greyhound of the Year	Cornamaddy Jumbo
Irish Greyhound of the Year	Laughil Blake

Ladbrokes Trainers Championship, Sheffield (25 March) Pos Name of Trainer Points 1st Paul Young 47 2nd Charlie Lister OBE 43 3rd Seamus Cahill 43 4th Mark Wallis 37 5th Barrie Draper 36 6th Chris Allsopp 18

BAGS/SIS Track Championship, Nottingham (23 December) Pos Track Points 1st Peterborough 55 2nd Monmore 54 3rd Hove 47 4th Newcastle 45 5th Sittingbourne 41 6th Sheffield 37

Principal UK finals

Ladbrokes Golden Jacket, Crayford (22 February, 714m, £17,500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer 1st Hometown Honey 6 4-6f 45.45 Mark Wallis 2nd Shanless Becky 5 3-1 45.48 Brendan Cullen 3rd Midway Nick 1 5-1 45.41 Simon Cull 4th Boltatwelldigger 3 10-1 45.96 Wayne Wrighting 5th Sidarian Jaguar 4 8-1 46.16 Ricky Holloway N/R Lenson Pele 2 o/c Tony Collett

Racing Post Scottish Derby, Shawfield (12 April, 480m, £17,500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer 1st Holdem Spy 6 2-1f 28.87 Carol Weatherall 2nd Mind The Net 5 5-2 28.90 Pat Buckley 3rd Toolatetosell 2 20-1 29.23 Heather Dimmock 4th Calzaghe Jack 4 6-1 29.29 Ted Soppitt 5th Metro Jack 1 7-2 00.00 Peter Cronin 6th Jaytee Lightning 3 4-1 00.00 Paul Young

William Hill Classic, Sunderland (9 July, 450m, £25,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer 1st Mileheight Alba 1 7-2 26.79 Pat Rosney 2nd Southern Mesut 3 5-1 26.96 Charlie Lister OBE 3rd Toolatetosell 2 8-1 27.09 Heather Dimmock 4th Pinpoint Maxi 6 1-2f 27.24 Kelly Macari 5th Bush Standard 4 33-1 27.42 Pat Rosney N/R Bubbly Rocket 5 Paul Young

William Hill Grand Prix, Sunderland (9 July, 640m, £15,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer 1st Farley Rio 3 4-1 39.40 Kevin Boon 2nd Bubbly Gold 1 1-2f 39.62 Paul Young 3rd Viking Jack 5 14-1 39.67 Jim Hayton 4th Ayamzamodel 2 25-1 39.69 Mark Wallis 5th Dinzeo 4 25-1 39.76 Harry Crapper 6th Adageo Bob 6 6-1 39.77 Mark Wallis

Roto Roof Windows TV Trophy, Sheffield (6 August, 915m, £8,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer 1st King Kane 4 1-1f 55.58 TR Diane Henry 2nd Burgess Borna 3 11-2 56.18 John Mullins 3rd Old Refrain 1 9-4 56.36 Chris Allsopp 4th Supreme Rossi 2 33-1 56.37 Stuart Buckland 5th Fearsome Liberty 5 14-1 56.55 Charlie Lister 6th Swift Vanessa 6 6-1 DNF Russ Warren

Totepool 69th East Anglian Derby, Yarmouth (17 September, 462m, £15,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer 1st Swift Keith 6 9-4f 27.81 John Mullins 2nd Domino Storm 5 10-1 27.87 Mark Wallis 3rd Southern Mesut 2 3-1 27.92 Charlie Lister 4th Rio Quattro 1 7-2 27.94 Daniel Riordan 5th Forest Gavin 4 12-1 27.95 Kevin Hutton 6th Sidaz Jack 3 3-1 28.13 Charlie Lister

Chelsea Glass Grand National, Sittingbourne (19 October, 480mH, £8,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer 1st Cornamaddy Jumbo 6 1-1f 29.48 Mark Wallis 2nd Lenson Razldazl 2 7-1 29.52 Ricky Holloway 3rd Mash Mad Snowy 5 3-1 29.53 Seamus Cahill 4th Westmead Bertie 1 14-1 29.74 Nick Savva 5th Newin Hawk 3 11-2 29.79 Ricky Holloway 6th Alittlelesslip 4 10-1 29.94 Bernie Doyle

William Hill St Leger, Wimbledon (11 November, 687m, £25,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer 1st Roxholme Dream 2 7-4f 41.68 Hayley Keightley 2nd Millwards Teddy 4 9-2 41.91 Dean Childs 3rd Killieford Khali 3 25-1 42.10 Charlie Lister OBE 4th Farley Chicken 5 8-1 42.29 Liz McNair 5th Chicago 1 3-1 42.32 Seamus Cahill 6th King Kane 6 4-1 42.46 Diane Henry

ECC Timber Oaks, Belle Vue (10 December, 470m, £15,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer 1st Cashen Maureen 5 4-6f 27.99 Mark Wallis 2nd Bromwich Sue 3 14-1 28.26 Lynn Cook 3rd Jaytee Osprey 1 5-1 28.31 Paul Young 4th Greenwell Lark 6 5-1 28.60 Pat Flaherty 5th Evanta Evita 4 4-1 28.68 Mark Wallis 6th Alma Chic 2 33-1 28.93 Alec Stone

ECC Timber Laurels, Belle Vue (10 December, 470m, £6,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer 1st Jordans Brianna 5 5-1 28.28 Charlie Lister OBE 2nd Bubbly Rocket 4 4-1 28.73 Paul Young 3rd Southern Mesut 2 4-1 28.84 Charlie Lister OBE 4th Invitation Shaw 3 6-1 29.05 Kevin Hutton 5th Blue Moment 6 7-1 29.06 Mark Wallis 6th Pinpoint Maxi 1 13-8f 00.00 Kelly Macari

Principal Irish finals

Dandelion Bar & Nightclub Easter Cup, Shelbourne (12 April, 550y, €25,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer 1st Skywalker Farloe 5 2-1 29.63 Frances O’Donnell 2nd Tyrur Sugar Ray 1 5-4f 29.68 PJ Fahy 3rd Skywalker Legend 3 20-1 29.93 Frances O’Donnell 4th Insane Spartacus 6 25-1 29.96 Paul Corrigan 5th Tyrur Arthur 2 7-1 30.07 PJ Fahy 6th Cabra Buck 4 4-1 30.31 Graham Holland

Con & Anne Kirby Memorial Stakes, Limerick (26 April, 525y, €80,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer 1st Boylesports Hero 6 5-4f 28.31 Brendan Matthews 2nd Crokers Champ 3 9-2 28.55 Peter Cronin 3rd Vans Viking 4 7-2 28.73 Graham Holland 4th Pennys Deanridge 1 16-1 28.76 Rosemary Price 5th Ivy Hill Prince 2 9-2 28.77 Pat Curtin 6th Green Prince 5 4-1 29.05 Liam Dowling

B.I.F National Produce, Clonmel (8 June, 525y, €30,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer 1st Boylesports Hero 6 5-4f 28.35 Brendan Matthews 2nd Midtown Raffa 3 4-1 28.45 Maurice O’Connor 3rd Slick Satellite 4 8-1 28.63 Pat Buckley 4th Emils Banjo 1 2-1 28.66 Mike Bandurak 5th Laughil Blake 5 5-2 28.73 Michael O’Donovan 6th Razldazl Danann 2 10-1 28.80 Dolores Ruth

Sporting Press Oaks, Shelbourne (21 June, 525y, €25,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer 1st Velvet All Jam 4 2-1 28.42 Mike Buckley 2nd Always With Me 1 5-1 28.47 Joe Mcilhone 3rd Borna Gem 2 6-4f 28.79 Ruairi Dwan 4th Cantkeepmein 6 8-1 29.03 John McGee Sr. 5th Ridgedale Look 5 12-1 29.21 Declan Sexton 6th Brenval Star 3 6-1 29.28 Graham Holland

Hamilton Architects Champion Stakes, Shelbourne (26 July, 550y, €20,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer 1st Ballymac Vic 5 9-4f 29.97 Liam Dowling 2nd Tyrur Nathan 6 7-1 30.00 PJ Fahy 3rd Tyrur Sugar Ray 2 4-1 30.04 PJ Fahy 4th Indigo Jack 3 4-1 30.09 Darragh Morrissey 5th Deanridge Pennys 4 6-1 30.14 Rosemary Price 6th Vimmerby 1 3-1 30.20 John Kavanagh

Dublin Coach Puppy Derby, Harolds Cross (17 October, 525y, €22,500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer 1st Quietly 2 7-1 28.74 Ian Reilly 2nd Farloe Blitz 4 4-5f 28.84 Owen McKenna 3rd Dolcino Flyer 5 6-1 29.05 Pat Buckley 4th Blonde Nipper 6 5-1 29.16 Fraser Black 5th Coolavanny List 3 28-1 29.23 Matt Dartnall 6th Minglers Trio 1 11-2 29.58 James Moore

Connolly's Red Mills Laurels, Cork (18 October, 525y, €30,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer 1st Vimmerby 4 3-1 28.56 John Kavanagh 2nd Sidarian Blaze 2 6-4f 28.84 Graham Holland 3rd Nellies Flyer 6 8-1 29.08 John Kiely 4th Farloe Calvin 1 7-2 29.10 Owen McKenna 5th Vans Viking 3 7-2 29.17 Graham Holland 6th Champagne Jackie 5 9-1 29.28 Darragh Morrissey

Kerry Agribusiness Irish St Leger, Limerick (22 November, 550y, €25,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer 1st Paradise Silva 2 6-4f 29.50 Pat Buckley 2nd Ballyana Foxtrot 6 3-1 29.67 James Roche 3rd Vulturi 1 5-2 29.92 Liam Dowling 4th Burgess Oscar 5 6-1 29.93 Sheila Spillane/JJ Fennelly 5th Castleivy Crash 3 5-1 30.14 Denis P O’Malley 6th Borna Central 4 10-1 30.24 Michael Dwan

References

1. "Towcester opens greyhound track in £15m redevelopment". BBC Sport. 9 December 2014.
2. "AFC Wimbledon stadium will be 'the end of greyhound racing', but the sport will fight Plough Lane plans". Wimbledon Guardian.
3. "Greyhound racing in peril as Khan backs AFC Wimbledon plans". The Guardian.
4. Humphreys, Chris (11 November 2016). "Work starts on new £5m stadium for Swindon". Swindon Advertiser. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
5. "End for Coventry greyhound racing after governing body blocks rescue bid". Coventry Telegraph.
6. "William Hill announce Greyhound Derby prize money restructure". Greyhound Star.
7. "Top trainers fight for title". Romford Recorder.
8. "2014 Three Steps result". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
9. "2014 Result". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 2018-07-19. Retrieved 2017-11-19.
10. "BAGS/SIS Track Championship Success". Greyhound Star. 6 January 2015.
11. "Cornamaddy Jumbo is Greyhound of the Year". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
12. "Maestro Ger McKenna defined a generation". Irish Independent.
13. "Death of double Derby winner Westmead Hawk". Racing Post . Archived from the original on 2014-05-28. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
14. "Horses and greyhounds allocated € 74m in Budget 2016". Irish Times.
15. "Harold's Cross Greyhound Stadium to be sold". Irish Independent. 21 October 2014.