The 1979 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 53rd year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.[1]
Quick Facts
1979 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year |
---|
![Thumb](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8b/1979_English_Derby_champion_Sarahs_Bunny.jpg/250px-1979_English_Derby_champion_Sarahs_Bunny.jpg) Sarahs Bunny, 1979 English Derby winner |
|
Close
More information Major Winners, Award ...
Close
More information Trainers Championship, Crayford & Bexleyheath Stadium (24 March), Pos ...
Close
The National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC) released the annual returns, with totalisator turnover down, at £70,685,971 and attendances up, recorded at 6,585,491 from 5712 meetings.[8] White City remains the top earner with an average meeting tote turnover of £55,677, some £5,000 more than closest rival Walthamstow Stadium.
[9]
Desert Pilot, a white and brindle dog and Kilmagoura Mist, a brindle bitch, were voted joint Greyhound of the Year. Desert Pilot won the Select Stakes and Wembley Summer Cup, Kilmagoura Mist won the St Leger.[10] Sarahs Bunny, a kennelmate of Desert Pilot won the 1979 English Greyhound Derby.[2]
Three tracks closed, Rochester (4 October), Halifax and the Horton Road Stadium in Gloucester (6 July).[11]
The BGRF (British Greyhound Racing Federation) went into voluntary liquidation, the organisation body that had only been formed in 1977 between the NGRC and track promoters had been a disaster. Bizarrely despite the financial losses of the body a new replacement called the British Greyhound Racing Board was set up within months, with the aim to promote and elevate the greyhound racing industry, to improve the welfare and rules of racing.[12][13]
Leeds closed their track kennels and lost three top trainers in the process, Joe Kelly, Tommy Brown and Jim Brennan (better known for his spell at Sheffield). Kelly was recruited by Racing Manager Terry Meynell and moved into the kennels of the late Harry Bamford, who had died aged just 40 while Brown and Brennan retired. Contracted trainers replacing them at Leeds were Pete Beaumont, Jim Brown and Ray Andrews.[10][12] New Southend trainer Tom Lanceman also supplied runners for Ipswich, he was one of the first ever trainers to take up a dual attachment. Lanceman also trained the Grand National winner Topofthetide to a second successive win, the greyhound had won in 1978 for Tim Forster at odds on.[11][12][14]
Lacca Champion was retired after the Derby and Joe De Mulder, former trainer and father of Geoff De Mulder died.[10]
A newcomer called Sports Promoter reared by Pat and Linda Mullins broke the track record over 400 metres at Cambridge in his first race [15] and went on to win the Romford Puppy Cup and Sporting Life Juvenile.[12][14] The Olympic returned after an eight-year absence, the event was resurrected by Brighton.[11][16]
John Honeysett won a closely fought Trainers Championship at Crayford after defeating John Coleman by just two points. Both had three winners on the night, Honeysett (Sandpiper Folly, Langford Dan, Triple Aspect), Coleman (Noble Brigg, Head Prefect, Our Rufus).[17]
The Bord na gCon announced a massive 60% hike in prize money. The grand re-opening of Galway was on 25 May, with the modernisation costing over £500,000.[12]
More information Grand National, White City (April 7 500m h, £2,000), Pos ...
Grand National, White City (April 7 500m h, £2,000) |
Pos |
Name of Greyhound |
Trainer |
SP |
Time |
Trap |
1st |
Topothetide | Tom Lanceman | 6-4f | 31.60 | 1 |
2nd |
Killallen Jack | Phil Rees Jr. | 16-1 | 32.24 | 3 |
3rd |
Tax Band | Joe Pickering | 9-4 | 32.25 | 5 |
4th |
Cherryhill King | | 10-1 | 32.65 | 2 |
5th |
Oscar B | Norah McEllistrim | 5-1 | 32.69 | 6 |
6th |
Elton Smasher | Richard Griffin | 8-1 | 32.87 | 4 |
|
BBC TV Trophy, Hall Green (Apr 11, 815m, £1,750) |
Pos |
Name of Greyhound |
Trainer |
SP |
Time |
Trap |
1st |
Westown Blaze | Reg Young | 53.16 | 5-1 | 6 |
2nd |
Aglish Boss | Joe Cobbold | 53.40 | 20-1 | 2 |
3rd |
Welsh Cobbler | John Honeysett | 53.44 | 11-4 | 4 |
4th |
Westown Adam | Natalie Savva | 53.58 | 15-8f | 3 |
5th |
Olvera | | 53.74 | 5-1 | 1 |
6th |
Ellas Melody | Bertie Gaynor | 53.75 | 6-1 | 5 |
|
Close
More information Laurels, Wimbledon (May 18, 460m, £3,000), Pos ...
Laurels, Wimbledon (May 18, 460m, £3,000) |
Pos |
Name of Greyhound |
Trainer |
SP |
Time |
Trap |
1st |
Another Spatter [18] | Joe Pickering | 7-2 | 27.75 | 3 |
2nd |
Pigeon Flyer | Tom Reilly | 7-1 | 27.93 | 1 |
3rd |
Across the Miles | R Young | 10-1 | 28.09 | 6 |
4th |
Sampsons Pal | Pat Mullins | 9-4f | 28.33 | 2 |
5th |
Young Toby | Eric Pateman | 4-1 | 28.41 | 4 |
6th |
Its Stylish | | 4-1 | 28.42 | 5 |
|
Scurry Gold Cup, Slough (Jul 21, 442m, £3,000) |
Pos |
Name of Greyhound |
Trainer |
SP |
Time |
Trap |
1st |
Northway Point | George Morrow | 20-1 | 27.20 | 6 |
2nd |
The Grand Devil | Phil Rees Jr. | 9-4 | 27.46 | 1 |
3rd |
Knockrour Brandy | Freda Greenacre | 7-2 | 27.49 | 4 |
4th |
Teddy Boy | | 33-1 | 27.61 | 5 |
5th |
Johns Luck | John Coleman | 4-1 | 27.69 | 2 |
6th |
Saucy Buck | Ted Dickson | 1-1f | 27.77 | 3 |
|
Close
More information Scottish Greyhound Derby, Shawfield (Aug 11, 500m, £3,000), Pos ...
Scottish Greyhound Derby, Shawfield (Aug 11, 500m, £3,000) |
Pos |
Name of Greyhound |
Trainer |
SP |
Time |
Trap |
1st |
Greenville Boy | Pat Mullins | 6-4f | 30.49 | 1 |
2nd |
Dually Lad | G Barnett | 3-1 | 30.59 | 3 |
3rd |
Blissful Hero | Bertie Gaynor | 4-1 | 30.65 | 5 |
4th |
Black Haven | | 7-1 | 30.85 | 2 |
5th |
Backdeed Man | | 4-1 | 30.93 | 6 |
6th |
Miss Olivia | Graham Mann | 8-1 | 31.05 | 4 |
|
St Leger, Wembley (Sep 3, 655m, £10,000) |
Pos |
Name of Greyhound |
Trainer |
SP |
Time |
Trap |
1st |
Kilmagoura Mist | Tom Johnston Jr. | 9-2 | 40.04 | 1 |
2nd |
Black Earl | Ted Dickson | 2-1f | 40.05 | 4 |
3rd |
Owners Guide | Tony Jowett | 25-1 | 40.31 | 6 |
4th |
Columns Corner | John Gibbons | 7-2 | 40.67 | 5 |
5th |
Frame That | Ted Dickson | 14-1 | 40.85 | 3 |
6th |
Dangerous Lad | Joe Pickering | 9-4 | 00.00 | 2 |
|
Close
More information Gold Collar, Catford (Sep 22, 555m, £5,000), Pos ...
Gold Collar, Catford (Sep 22, 555m, £5,000) |
Pos |
Name of Greyhound |
Trainer |
SP |
Time |
Trap |
1st |
Gayflash [19] | Paddy Milligan | 7-2 | 35.08 | 5 |
2nd |
Corduroy | John Honeysett | 4-1 | 35.54 | 1 |
3rd |
Quest for Gold | | 12-1 | 35.60 | 2 |
4th |
Im A Smasher | Norah McEllistrim | 10-1 | 35.86 | 4 |
5th |
Taranaki | Peter Rich | 7-2 | 36.16 | 6 |
6th |
Dangerous Lad | Joe Pickering | 7-4f | 00.00 | 3 |
|
The Grand Prix, Walthamstow (Sep 29, 640m, £5,500) |
Pos |
Name of Greyhound |
Trainer |
SP |
Time |
Trap |
1st |
Frame That | Ted Dickson | 11-2 | 39.57 | 1 |
2nd |
Roystons Supreme | Adam Jackson | 11-2 | 39.69 | 5 |
3rd |
Brainy Prince | Geoff De Mulder | 2-1 | 39.71 | 2 |
4th |
Black Earl | Ray Iremonger | 15-8f | 39.79 | 4 |
5th |
Strange Dame | Phil Rees Jr. | 8-1 | 39.85 | 6 |
6th |
Seagulls | Gunner Smith | 16-1 | 39.99 | 3 |
|
|
Close
More information Cesarewitch, Belle Vue (Oct 6, 815m, £3,000), Pos ...
Cesarewitch, Belle Vue (Oct 6, 815m, £3,000) |
Pos |
Name of Greyhound |
Trainer |
SP |
Time |
Trap |
1st |
Roystons Supreme | Adam Jackson | 7-4 | 51.47 | 2 |
2nd |
Cloutie Comment | George Curtis | 7-1 | 51.53 | 4 |
3rd |
Karnos Lady | | 11-8f | 51.77 | 1 |
4th |
Portland Dusty | Frank Melville | 20-1 | 51.89 | 5 |
5th |
Lynns Pride | | 7-1 | 51.99 | 6 |
6th |
Corelish Ron | Brian Jay | 16-1 | 52.00 | 3 |
|
Oaks, Harringay (Nov 2, 475m, £1,750) |
Pos |
Name of Greyhound |
Trainer |
SP |
Time |
Trap |
1st |
Sunny Interval | Phil Rees Jr. | 12-1 | 28.77 | 4 |
2nd |
Kilmagoura Mist | Tom Johnston Jr. | 11-4 | 28.80 | 3 |
3rd |
Kings Lace | | 10-1 | 28.86 | 2 |
4th |
Masslock Lady | George Curtis | 10-1 | 28.89 | 5 |
5th |
Certain Style | Terry Keith | 2-1f | 29.01 | 6 |
6th |
Trinas Baby | Edna Wearing | 11-4 | 29.07 | 1 |
|
|
Close
More information Extended content, Stadium ...
Extended content |
The totalisator returns declared to the licensing authorities for the year 1979 are listed below.[20]
Stadium |
Turnover £ |
London (White City) | 7,905,509 |
London (Walthamstow) | 7,630,996 |
London (Wimbledon) | 5,848,415 |
London (Harringay) | 4,120,864 |
Romford | 3,722,154 |
London (Catford) | 3,411,092 |
London (Wembley) | 3,323,693 |
Brighton & Hove | 3,116,599 |
Slough | 2,891,961 |
Manchester (Belle Vue) | 2,838,682 |
Birmingham (Hall Green) | 2,453,519 |
Edinburgh (Powderhall) | 2,143,634 |
Crayford & Bexleyheath | 2,083,446 |
Birmingham (Perry Barr, old) | 1,798,197 |
Southend-on-Sea | 1,735,488 |
Newcastle (Brough Park) | 1,693,168 |
|
Stadium |
Turnover £ |
Glasgow (Shawfield) | 1,587,686 |
Sheffield (Owlerton) | 1,536,270 |
Leeds (Elland Road) | 1,468,622 |
Wolverhampton (Monmore) | 1,169,108 |
Bristol (Eastville) | 981,641 |
London (Hackney) | 959,881 |
Gloucester & Cheltenham | 932,580 |
Derby | 908,209 |
Yarmouth | 874,426 |
Ramsgate | 752,516 |
Portsmouth | 731,711 |
Newcastle (Gosforth) | 709,980 |
Rochester & Chatham | 673,251 |
Oxford | 533,299 |
Poole | 522,825 |
Reading | 508,507 |
|
Stadium |
Turnover £ |
Coventry | 499,405 |
Willenhall | 497,531 |
Middlesbrough | 476,980 |
Milton Keynes | 472,971 |
Ipswich | 420,570 |
Hull (Old Craven Park) | 396,472 |
Manchester (White City) | 369,691 |
Leicester | 344,470 |
Cradley Heath | 304,187 |
Swindon | 288,765 |
Rye House | 269,309 |
Henlow (Bedfordshire) | 253,537 |
Cambridge | 131,990 |
Norton Canes | 100,000 |
Long Eaton | 91,115 |
|
|
Close
Fry, Paul (1995). The Official NGRC Greyhound Racing Yearbook. Ringpress Books. ISBN 186054-010-4.
Dack, Barrie (1990). Greyhound Derby, the first 60 years, pages 165/166/167/168/169. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-36-8.
Fortune, Michael. The 75 Years History of the Irish Greyhound Derby 1932-2006. Irish Greyhound Review. ISSN 0332-3536.
Fortune, Michael. Irish Greyhound Derby 1932-1981. Victory Irish Promotions Ltd.
"Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 1979) March 2010 edition". Greyhound Star.
NGRC calendar. National Greyhound Racing Club. January 1980.
Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 07207-1106-1.
Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-15-5.
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.
"Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 1979) March 2010 edition". Greyhound Star.
Particulars of Licensed tracks, table 1 Licensed Dog Racecourses. Licensing Authorities. 1979.