1969 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year

The 1969 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 43rd year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.^[1]

1969 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
← 1968 1970 →

Roll of honour

Major Winners
Award	Name of Winner
1969 English Greyhound Derby	Sand Star [2][3]
1969 Irish Greyhound Derby	Own Pride [4][5]
1969 Scottish Greyhound Derby	Not held [6]
1969 Welsh Greyhound Derby	Pallas Joy [7]
Greyhound Trainer of the Year	Phil Rees Sr.
Greyhound of the Year	Cals Pick
Irish Greyhound of the Year	Own Pride

Summary

The Greyhound Racing Association (GRA) granted an option to Stock Conversion and Investment Ltd, for the purchase of greyhound racing's premier track White City Stadium for redevelopment. The official line was that a new modern White City stadium would be built in the remaining four acres from the existing 16 acres. However reporter Neil Martin stated "this move must spell death to all sport there in time – and in my opinion greyhound racing too". Fellow reporter John Bower had a different view, in that it would create a wonderful new stadium, a view seemingly given substance by the GRA, who announced that the architects plans were already drawn up.^[8] The GRA then announced that New Cross Stadium had been sold for development and it was closed in April. The GRA Property Trust was culling tracks at an alarming rate within the industry.^{[7] [9]} They did however buy a large part of Wimbledon Stadium after a prolonged battle with developers attempting a takeover bid.

Tracks

The list of greyhound tracks closing continued to grow. Park Royal Stadium, owned by London Stadiums Ltd, literally closed overnight on 22 January.^[10] Greenfield Stadium, Bradford closed, becoming the third site in three months to shut down; the final meeting was held on 5 March after being bought by Morrison's for redevelopment as industrial units. Aberdeen closed and was converted to a supermarket and warehouses. Former NGRC track Rochdale also closed.^{[9] [10]} Corbiewood Stadium opened to greyhound racing.^[10]

Hackney Wick Stadium and Hendon Greyhound Stadium both received Bookmakers Afternoon Greyhound Service (BAGS) contracts replacing New Cross and Park Royal. New Cross trainers Charlie Smoothy and John Shevlin joined Clapton Stadium and West Ham Stadium respectively.^[9]

Competitions

The 1,000 Guineas switched to Hendon Greyhound Stadium from the closed Park Royal Stadium.^[11] Tony's Friend lifted the Grand National at White City, in addition to the Scottish Grand National and set up a sequence of fourteen consecutive wins before being beaten. Tony's Friend continued his winning ways, lifting the Grand National of the West at Gloucester & Cheltenham Stadium but he was a little lucky because the leader fell at the first hurdle; that leader was a new hurdler called Sherrys Prince.^{[10] [11]}

Yellow Printer continued to set special times and recorded 28.38 seconds when winning the Sir Billy Butlin Stakes at White City.^[11]

With little warning the Scottish Derby at Carntyne Stadium in Glasgow which was due to run on 30 August was cancelled, it would never be run at the track again.^[12][13]

News

Pigalle Wonder died during the first days of January aged nearly thirteen.^[14] The National Greyhound Racing Club changed the rule whereby parties could be represented by legal counsel at steward's inquiries.^[15] The Greyhound Express was published for the last time on 8 November. The Sporting Life would take over the sponsorship of the Juvenile from the Express.^[16]

Wembley trainer Ronnie Melville retired, which led to Tom Johnston Jr. switching from West Ham and Jim Singleton taking Johnston's vacated post at West Ham. The sports current top trainer John Bassett left Clapton to take break from greyhound racing. H.R.H the Prince Edward, Duke of Kent became a greyhound owner after acquiring Peaceful Glen who was put with Joe Pickering at White City.^{[9] [11]}

Portsmouth trainer Charlie Curtis, brother of George Curtis was killed in a car crash.^{[9] [11]} The WGRF (World Greyhound Racing Federation) was formed.

Ireland

The Irish Greyhound Board purchased Cork Greyhound Stadium for £127,500.^[4] Sand Star won the English Greyhound Derby but lost out to Own Pride for the Irish Greyhound of the Year, the latter had won the Irish Greyhound Derby.^[17] It was also the last Derby to be held at Harold's Cross Stadium.^[18]

Principal UK races

Grand National, White City (April 19 525y h, £500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Tonys Friend Randy Singleton 1-1f 30.16 1 2nd Ballintore Tiger Norman Chambers 9-2 30.26 6 3rd Active Hit Nora Gleeson 4-1 30.68 5 4th Corral Prince Nora Gleeson 20-1 30.72 2 5th Colonels Rib Joe Pickering 6-1 30.84 3 6th Swift Miller 33-1 31.00 4

Gold Collar, Catford (May 10, 570y, £1,500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Surprising Fella Jack Smith 2-1f 33.40 5 2nd Ivy Hall Jewel Natalie Savva 8-1 33.44 4 3rd Cals Pick Jack Harvey 3-1 33.47 1 4th Pallas Joy Adam Jackson 5-1 33.77 3 5th Petrovitch Jack Harvey 12-1 33.89 6 6th Thurles Trader Adam Jackson 3-1 34.05 2

The Grand Prix, Walthamstow (May 27, 600y, £500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Chame Sparrow Barney O'Connor 6-1 40.75 3 2nd Jack Stroller Jimmy Jowett 7-1 40.91 1 3rd Special Cognac David Pett 4-1 40.94 6 4th New Change Dave Geggus 5-4f 41.02 4 5th Mounteagle King Charlie Curtis 6-1 41.26 2 6th Drish Prairie 10-1 41.30 5

Welsh Derby, Arms Park (Jul 5, 525y £500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Pallas Joy Adam Jackson 7-2 29.43 1 2nd Cash For Dan Ben Parsons 6-4f 29.67 2 3rd Fly Half Janet Tite 6-1 29.71 5 4th Narod Star Paddy Milligan 5-1 29.73 4 5th Desert Kuda Jim Irving 6-1 30.01 6 6th Ashgrove Glen Brian Jay 4-1 30.17 3

Oaks, Harringay (Jul 7, 525y, £1,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Shady Bracelet Peter Collett 7-4f 28.63 2 2nd Bredas Feathers K.Webb 8-1 28.67 6 3rd That Cailin Ray Wilkes 11-4 28.95 3 4th Hiver Tatty Jim Morgan 10-1 28.99 1 5th Farma Sally Phil Rees Sr. 5-2 29.05 5 6th Kattys Prairie Bette Godwin 50-1 29.53 4

Scurry Gold Cup, Clapton (Jul 12, 400y £1,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Ace of Trumps John Coleman 1-1f 22.85 2 2nd Lovely Morning Noreen Collin 10-1 23.11 1 3rd Cheeky Boy John Coleman 4-1 23.71 4 4th Tarmons Buffalo 16-1 23.79 5 5th Pears There Dave Barker 10-3 23.85 6 6th Trews 12-1 00.00 3

Laurels, Wimbledon (Aug 8, 500y, £1,500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Ardine Flame Jack Kinsley 8-1 27.96 2 2nd Beaverwood Wind Stan Martin 6-4f 27.99 4 3rd Munster Rabbit Nora Gleeson 4-1 28.17 3 4th Tullyallen Clare Orton 4-1 28.19 1 5th Bushane Queen Mrs.B.Martin 14-1 28.23 5 6th Pallas Joy Adam Jackson 9-2 28.63 6

St Leger, Wembley (Aug 25, 700y, £1,500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Crefogue Dancer Bob Burls 8-1 39.65 1 2nd Booked Six Alan Fearn 20-1 39.89 5 3rd Greenane Gem Bessie Lewis 4-9f 39.95 2 4th Take off Outcast Jimmy Jowett 16-1 39.97 4 5th Jack Stroller Jimmy Jowett 8-1 40.00 6 6th Monalee Peter Tom Johnston Jr. 7-1 40.02 3

Cesarewitch, West Ham (Oct 3, 600y, £1,500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Cals Pick [19] Jack Harvey 6-4jf 32.98 2 2nd Mad Ville Bob Burls 25-1 33.12 6 3rd Greenane Gem Bessie Lewis 6-4jf 33.15 4 4th Marton Tim Tom Baldwin 9-2 33.39 5 5th Handsome Sun Jimmy Jowett 9-2 33.55 1 6th Burnpark Bill 100-1 33.67 3

BBC TV Trophy, White City (Oct 16, 880y, £1,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Cash For Dan Ben Parsons 5-4f 49.44+ 1 2nd Jack Stroller Jimmy Jowett 3-1 49.86 3 3rd Pleasant Fly J Cook 10-1 50.38 2 4th Sovereign Ore John Perrin 10-1 50.94 6 5th Nualas Image 33-1 50.95 4 6th Greenane Gem Bessie Lewis 3-1 51.19 5

+Track record

Principal Irish races

Easter Cup, Shelbourne Park (April £500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Move Gas Ger McKenna 30.29 2 2nd Clover Kid 30.37 6 3rd Durhava Pride 30.65 u Stylish Shane 1

Produce Stakes, Clonmel (May 8, 525y £1,250) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Right O'Myross Dave Cashman 2-1 29.90 1 2nd Santanita 30.06 5 3rd Bright Lad 6-4f 30.07 3 4th Westpark Toots 2 5th Westpark Barney 4 6th Dutch Navy 6

u=unplaced

Totalisator returns

Extended content

The totalisator returns declared to the licensing authorities for the year 1969 are listed below.[20] Stadium Turnover £ London (White City) 6,262,275 London (Harringay) 3,791,781 London (Wimbledon) 3,753,989 London (Walthamstow) 3,614,786 Manchester Belle Vue & White City (combined) 3,567,438 London (Wembley) 2,898,167 London (Catford) 2,410,758 London (Clapton) 2,086,386 London (West Ham) 1,783,769 Romford 1,565,343 Edinburgh (Powderhall) 1,459,866 London (Charlton) 1,305,612 Birmingham (Perry Barr, old) 1,281,355 Birmingham (Hall Green) 1,201,411 Brighton & Hove 1,192,961 Newcastle (Brough Park) 1,026,060 Crayford & Bexleyheath 1,012,336 Stadium Turnover £ Glasgow (Shawfield) 951,943 Slough 923,081 Leeds (Elland Road) 896,288 Wolverhampton (Monmore) 863,174 London (Hackney) 817,962 London (Hendon) 788,350 Bristol (Eastville) 777,245 Sheffield (Owlerton) 766,191 Manchester (Salford) 743,039 Glasgow (White City) 731,118 Newcastle (Gosforth) 722,407 Southend-on-Sea 714,966 Willenhall 680,384 Gloucester & Cheltenham 625,050 Birmingham (Kings Heath) 614,372 Cardiff (Arms Park) 584,626 Liverpool (White City) 562,582 Poole 537,658 Stadium Turnover £ Derby 515,838 Reading (Oxford Road) 505,508 Ramsgate (Dumpton Park) 498,214 Cradley Heath 475,464 Rochester & Chatham 462,710 Oxford 438,583 Portsmouth 378,884 Glasgow (Carntyne) 373,656 Leicester (Blackbird Rd) 331,752 Middlesbrough 329,729 Rayleigh (Essex) 302,316 Nottingham (White City) 293,816 Hull (Old Craven Park) 284,061 Preston 263,299 Norwich (City) 216,637 Swindon 214,433 Wakefield 206,070

References

1. Fry, Paul (1995). The Official NGRC Greyhound Racing Yearbook. Ringpress Books. ISBN 186054-010-4.
2. Dack, Barrie (1990). Greyhound Derby, the first 60 years, pages 129/130/131/132. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-36-8.
3. "1969". Greyhound Data.
4. Comyn, John. 50 Years of Greyhound Racing in Ireland. Aherlow Publishers Ltd.
5. Fortune, Michael. Irish Greyhound Derby 1932-1981. Victory Irish Promotions Ltd.
6. Hobbs, Jonathan (2007). Greyhound Annual 2008, pages 153-154. Raceform. ISBN 978-1-905153-53-4.
7. Genders, Roy (1975). The Greyhound and Racing Greyhound, page 320. Page Brothers (Norwich). ISBN 0-85020-0474.
8. "GRA grants option to Stock Conversion and Investment Ltd". The Greyhound Magazine. 1969.
9. Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 07207-1106-1.
10. Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-15-5.
11. Genders, Roy (1990). NGRC book of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 0-7207-1804-X.
12. Barnes, Julia (1991). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File, Vol Two. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-61-9.
13. Barnes/Sellers, Julia/John (1992). Ladbrokes Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-22-8.
14. "Hall of Fame". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
15. ""New Greyhound Inquiry Rules." Times, 3 Dec. 1969, p. 15". Times Digital Archive.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
16. ""New Greyhound Inquiry Rules." Times, 3 Dec. 1969, p. 15". Times Digital Archive.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
17. Dick, Barrie (1990). Greyhound Derby, the first 60 years, pages 129/130/131/132. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-36-8.
18. Fortune, Michael. The 75 Years History of the Irish Greyhound Derby. Irish Greyhound Review. ISSN 0332-3536.
19. "Remember When - October 1969". Greyhound Star. 28 October 2018.
20. Particulars of Licensed tracks, table 1 Licensed Dog Racecourses. Licensing Authorities. 1969.