The 1952 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 27th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.[1]
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1952 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year |
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More information Major Winners, Award ...
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The annual totalisator was £64,263,725, which indicated that the industry had stabilised following a few turbulent years.[8]
The year focused on the performances of two greyhounds, Endless Gossip and Magourna Reject. Despite the fact that Magourna Reject had failed to land a classic competition during the year, he drew the crowds everywhere he went and Endless Gossip was denied the chance to win the Triple Crown because the Scottish Greyhound Derby had been cancelled.[9]
Match racing was still popular even twenty years after the Mick the Miller era. One such match was between XPDNC (the Grand National champion against this year's favourite Lambourn Blackflash. Lambourn Blackflash won by five lengths and both competed in the Grand National at White City during May. The two rivals qualified for the final, but it was a 20-1 shot (Whistling Laddie) who upset the odds beating Lambourn Blackflash by one and a quarter lengths, XPDNC finished fifth in the first Grand National to contain six dogs.[10]
The National Intertrack Championship sponsored by the News of the World was won by Eastville after the Bristol track defeated Bradford 19–11. Endless Gossip travelled to Cardiff Arms Park after winning the 1952 English Greyhound Derby and added the Welsh Greyhound Derby final defeating a field including Magourna Reject, Ballylanigan Tanist and Drumman Rambler.[10][11]
Monachdy Girlie trained by Jimmy Jowett, won the Scurry Gold Cup and Endless Gossip then won the Laurels at Wimbledon Stadium which now offered £1,000 to the winner. Magourna Reject was switched to the longer distances but failed to win both the Cesarewitch and St Leger and looked destined to never win a classic race. Monachdy Girlie won a second classic after a dead heat in the Oaks[12]
The Grand Prix competition was not run due to insufficient entries.[13]
The Abbey Stadium in Swindon opened on 1 November. The stadium was opened by the Bristol Greyhound Racing Association, soon to change their name to Bristol Stadium Ltd and they also took control of affairs at Oxford Stadium, following the death of Managing Director Leslie Calcutt.[14]
Trainer Stan Biss died after suffering a stroke and failing to recover and the well-respected Managing Director of Catford Stadium, Frank Sutton also died. Sutton had introduced the British Breeders Produce Stakes. Laughing Lieutenant was the first stud dog to fly to Ireland for breeding purposes and trainer Jack Tallantire joined the New Cross Stadium training ranks.[10][9]
The National Greyhound Racing Club made the weighing of greyhounds before a race compulsory.[15]
Racing in Ireland was experiencing a boom as attendances flocked to see the racing. A greyhound called Rough Waters had spent 1951 flapping (racing on independent tracks), in Scotland before being aimed towards Shelbourne Park and the Irish Greyhound Derby. Owned by one of Ireland's leading bookmakers Jimmy Lalor and trained by his brother Henry, the brindle went on to win the Derby final.[4][16]
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More information Grand National, White City (May 9 525y h, £300), Pos ...
Grand National, White City (May 9 525y h, £300) |
Pos |
Name of Greyhound |
Trainer |
SP |
Time |
Trap |
1st |
Whistling Laddie | Stan Martin | 20-1 | 30.13 | 2 |
2nd |
Lambourn Blackflash | O Papps | 7-4f | 30.23 | 1 |
3rd |
Funny Prince | Les Parry | 100-6 | 30.25 | 6 |
4th |
Drumman Rambler | Olly Chetland | 3-1 | 30.29 | 4 |
5th |
XPDNC | Les Parry | 20-1 | 30.39 | 5 |
6th |
Cooleen Flyer | Tom Reilly | 2-1 | 30.57 | 3 |
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Gold Collar, Catford (May 31, 440y, £600) |
Pos |
Name of Greyhound |
Trainer |
SP |
Time |
Trap |
1st |
Hectic Birthday | Ronnie Melville | 10-1 | 25.41+ | 4 |
2nd |
Fitzsman | Leslie Reynolds | 8-1 | 25.65 | 6 |
3rd |
Fawn Wind | Jonathan Hopkins | 7-4f | 25.71 | 5 |
4th |
Denver Colonist | Pam Heasman | 3-1 | 25.93 | 3 |
5th |
Yew Berry | Stan Martin | 9-2 | 26.03 | 2 |
6th |
Carlane Briskie | Reg Holland | 4-1 | 26.17 | 1 |
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More information Welsh Derby, Arms Park (Jul 5, 525y £500), Pos ...
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Scurry Gold Cup, Clapton (Jul 26, 400y £500) |
Pos |
Name of Greyhound |
Trainer |
SP |
Time |
Trap |
1st |
Monachdy Girlie | Jimmy Jowett | 4-1 | 23.08 | 5 |
2nd |
Tams Taigle | Ronnie Melville | 9-2 | 23.36 | 6 |
3rd |
Carlane Briskie | Reg Holland | 9-2 | 23.52 | 1 |
4th |
Kilcool Griston | | 33-1 | 23.60 | 3 |
5th |
Minorcas Hope | Frank Conlon | 11-8f | 23.90 | 2 |
6th |
Marazion Michael | Paddy Fortune | 7-1 | 24.14 | 4 |
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More information Laurels, Wimbledon (Aug 22, 500y, £1,000), Pos ...
Laurels, Wimbledon (Aug 22, 500y, £1,000) |
Pos |
Name of Greyhound |
Trainer |
SP |
Time |
Trap |
1st |
Endless Gossip | Leslie Reynolds | 2-11f | 27.96 | 1 |
2nd |
Ballylanigan Tanist | Leslie Reynolds | 6-1 | 28.10 | 4 |
3rd |
Midnight Charlotte | Stan Martin | 33-1 | 28.20 | 2 |
4th |
Denver Colonist | Pam Heasman | 20-1 | 28.38 | 6 |
5th |
Happy Luck | | 33-1 | 28.54 | 3 |
N/R |
Magic Blackbird | | | | |
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St Leger, Wembley (Sep 8, 700y, £1,000) |
Pos |
Name of Greyhound |
Trainer |
SP |
Time |
Trap |
1st |
Funny Worker | Bob Burls | 6-1 | 40.50 | 6 |
2nd |
Malanna Mace | Henry Parsons | 7-1 | 40.66 | 4 |
3rd |
Shaggy Swank | Tom Lightfoot | 50-1 | 40.88 | 5 |
4th |
Magourna Reject | Noreen Collin | 8-11f | 40.90 | 3 |
5th |
Mad Miller | Leslie Reynolds | 7-2 | 40.91 | 1 |
6th |
Mansion Bell | J.W.Bell | 25-1 | 41.17 | 2 |
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More information Oaks, White City (Sep 27, 525y, £500), Pos ...
Oaks, White City (Sep 27, 525y, £500) |
Pos |
Name of Greyhound |
Trainer |
SP |
Time |
Trap |
1st |
Flos Pet* | Paddy Fortune | 8-1 | 29.60 | 1 |
1st |
Monachdy Girlie* | Jimmy Jowett | 10-1 | 29.60 | 4 |
3rd |
Lovely Birthday | Jack Harvey | 11-4 | 29.62 | 2 |
4th |
Shaggy Shale | | 100-8 | 29.68 | 3 |
5th |
Ballinasloe Mona | Jack Harvey | 10-11f | 29.69 | 5 |
6th |
Queen of the Roses II | | 100-1 | 29.79 | 6 |
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Cesarewitch, West Ham (Oct 17, 600y, £600) |
Pos |
Name of Greyhound |
Trainer |
SP |
Time |
Trap |
1st |
Shaggy Swank | Tom Lightfoot | 5-1 | 34.03 | 2 |
2nd |
Magourna Reject | Noreen Collin | 8-11f | 34.23 | 6 |
3rd |
Mansion Bell | J.W.Bell | 11-2 | 34.43 | 5 |
4th |
Outcast Surprise | | 20-1 | 34.69 | 3 |
5th |
Mellow Mystery | Bert Heyes | 11-2 | 34.81 | 4 |
6th |
Smart Prince | | 10-1 | 35.35 | 1 |
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More information Extended content, Stadium ...
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The totalisator returns declared to the licensing authorities for the year 1952 are listed below. Tracks that did not have a totalisator in operation are not listed.[8]
Stadium |
Turnover £ |
London (White City) | 4,955,981 |
London (Harringay) | 3,352,649 |
London (Wembley) | 2,918,149 |
London (Wimbledon) | 2,752,199 |
London (Walthamstow) | 2,543,822 |
London (Wandsworth) | 1,836,266 |
London (Stamford Bridge) | 1,750,349 |
London (Clapton) | 1,741,183 |
London (Park Royal) | 1,717,716 |
Manchester (Belle Vue) | 1,717,283 |
London (West Ham) | 1,675,649 |
London (Catford) | 1,603,783 |
London (Hackney) | 1,280,383 |
London (New Cross) | 1,259,516 |
London (Hendon) | 1,073,466 |
Manchester (White City) | 973,583 |
Brighton & Hove | 908,716 |
London (Charlton) | 870,316 |
Glasgow (Shawfield) | 861,266 |
Romford | 857,950 |
Edinburgh (Powderhall) | 811,050 |
Newcastle (Brough Park) | 790,050 |
Birmingham (Perry Barr, old) | 753,116 |
Birmingham (Hall Green) | 752,100 |
Crayford & Bexleyheath | 722,900 |
Manchester (Salford) | 720,283 |
London (Dagenham) | 703,200 |
Cardiff (Arms Park) | 659,033 |
Newcastle (Gosforth) | 633,350 |
Sheffield (Owlerton) | 629,333 |
Glasgow (White City) | 615,366 |
Wolverhampton (Monmore) | 602,633 |
Bristol (Eastville) | 563,466 |
Gateshead | 548,183 |
Coventry (Lythalls Lane) | 530,016 |
Southend-on-Sea | 529,033 |
Bradford (Greenfield) | 528,000 |
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Stadium |
Turnover £ |
Southampton | 522,383 |
Liverpool (Seaforth) | 492,766 |
Glasgow (Albion) | 476,300 |
Leeds (Elland Road) | 475,433 |
Glasgow (Carntyne) | 467,565 |
Slough | 465,800 |
Sheffield (Darnall) | 442,166 |
Willenhall | 434,366 |
Ramsgate (Dumpton Park) | 412,967 |
Blackpool (St Anne's) | 397,733 |
Liverpool (White City) | 397,417 |
Birmingham (Kings Heath) | 386,650 |
Bolton | 372,733 |
South Shields | 362,667 |
Middlesbrough | 362,067 |
Leicester (Blackbird Rd) | 357,483 |
Reading (Oxford Road) | 353,983 |
Liverpool (Stanley) | 346,283 |
Ashington (Co Durham) | 330,967 |
Chester | 320,033 |
Rochester & Chatham | 319,850 |
Bradford (City) | 298,483 |
Gloucester & Cheltenham | 294,533 |
Derby | 291,783 |
Hull (Old Craven Park) | 289,467 |
Plymouth | 283,600 |
Portsmouth | 269,683 |
Preston | 256,900 |
Aberdeen | 248,000 |
Nottingham (White City) | 247,733 |
Blackburn | 245,483 |
West Hartlepool | 229,717 |
Sheffield (Hyde Park) | 228,317 |
Newport | 223,650 |
Exeter (County Ground) | 218,783 |
Stanley (Co Durham) | 214,217 |
Glasgow (Firhill) | 213,267 |
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Stadium |
Turnover £ |
Warrington | 204,950 |
Oxford | 194,783 |
Stoke-on-Trent (Cobridge) | 183,583 |
Keighley | 181,300 |
Sunderland | 179,717 |
Yarmouth | 179,233 |
Stoke-on-Trent (Hanley) | 176,000 |
Norwich (City) | 168,067 |
Norwich (Boundary Park) | 165,683 |
Bristol (Knowle) | 165,433 |
Luton | 161,600 |
Cradley Heath | 149,150 |
Houghton-le-Spring | 148,467 |
Rochdale | 126,300 |
London (Southall) | 126,117 |
St Helens | 125,217 |
Ipswich | 122,167 |
Wallyford (East Lothian) | 110,617 |
Peterborough | 109,283 |
London (Harlington Corner) | 100,217 |
Stockport (Hazel Grove) | 95,200 |
Stockton-on-Tees (Belle Vue) | 93,033 |
Rayleigh (Essex) | 89,867 |
Easington (Co Durham) | 85,333 |
Wigan (Poolstock) | 71,350 |
Long Eaton | 69,167 |
Wakefield | 60,600 |
Wigan (Woodhouse) | 60,050 |
Spennymoor (Co Durham) | 57,683 |
Doncaster (Spotbrough) | 55,517 |
Durham City | 48,233 |
Northampton | 41,117 |
Workington | 38,883 |
Aycliffe (Co Durham) | 10,833 |
Irvine (Townhead) | 6,650 |
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Fry, Paul (1995). The Official NGRC Greyhound Racing Yearbook. Ringpress Books. ISBN 186054-010-4.
Dack, Barrie (1990). Greyhound Derby, the first 60 years. Ringpress Books. pp. 93–95. ISBN 0-948955-36-8.
Comyn, John. 50 Years of Greyhound Racing in Ireland. Aherlow Publishers Ltd.
Fortune, Michael. Irish Greyhound Derby 1932-1981. Victory Irish Promotions Ltd.
Genders, Roy (1975). The Greyhound and Racing Greyhound, page 320. Page Brothers (Norwich). ISBN 0-85020-0474.
Particulars of Licensed tracks, table 1 Licensed Dog Racecourses. Licensing Authorities. 1952.
Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 07207-1106-1.
Genders, Roy (1990). NGRC book of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 0-7207-1804-X.
Barnes, Julia (1991). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File, Vol Two. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-61-9.
Barnes/Sellers, Julia/John (1992). Ladbrokes Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-22-8.
"2,000 watch the greyhound racing - 3 November". The Evening Advertiser. 1952.
Fortune, Michael. Irish Greyhound Derby 1932-1981. Victory Irish Promotions Ltd.