1973 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year St Leger and Cesarewitch finalist Todos Ozzie
The 1973 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 47th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.[1]
Roll of honour [ edit ] Summary [ edit ] The annual National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC) returns were released, with totalisator turnover at £58,495,322 and attendances recorded at 6,101,704 from 5458 meetings.[8]
The 1972 Greyhound of the Year , Patricias Hope sealed a second English Greyhound Derby triumph. He became only the second greyhound in history, after Mick the Miller to claim a second title. The event was broadcast live on ITV 's World of Sport and he won £12,500, under new sponsors Spillers . John O'Connor had bought a share in the greyhound and trained him for the 1973 competition .[9] [10] He was later retired and returned to stud duties.[7]
Two more Greyhound Racing Association stadia closed under their Property Trust, White City Stadium (Liverpool) which had only been purchased by them in 1972, closed on 6 October 1973 and Reading closed on 10 November.[11] Portsmouth gained a reprieve because the GRA property bubble burst and greyhound racing became the only viable option again. The property boom would soon turn into a slump.[12]
Bobby Jack Enterprises purchased independent track Mount Vernon Sports Stadium , in Glasgow and invested heavily to update the facility.[13]
The Wembley kennels were demolished leaving some of the sport's most famous trainers without a base. Jack Harvey , Bob Burls and Jack Kinsley were all forced into early retirement.[12] Jimmy Jowett and Sid Mann, two other major training names also retired. Jowett was probably unsettled by the threat of closure hanging over Clapton and Mann, GRA's longest serving trainer had earned a full trainers licence back in 1930 at Hall Green . Gloucester stadium trainer Leslie Carpenter died aged 79, he had trained for over 40 years.[12] [14]
Jack Tetlow, the Wembley Racing Manager also retired after 40 year's service and Leicester Racing Manager George McKay died after a life in greyhound racing. Bob Rowe became the White City Racing Manager taking over from Charlie Birch.[12] [14]
Trainers Stan Gudgin and Ron Jeffrey moved to Slough and Portsmouth respectively following the closure of Reading. The NGRC announced plans to revamp licences, the current licences were private racecourse or dispersed full licence, owner trainer licence and C-licence, this was done in the hope that many of the 62 independent tracks would join the NGRC banner and 46 NGRC tracks at the time.[12] [14]
The last McWhirter drag hare in use (at Oxford ) was switched to an Outside Sumner, and a new world and national record for 525 yards was set at Brighton by Easy Investment who recorded 28.17. The end of year annual Duke of Edinburgh Cup was won by Wembley after a final victory of 64 to 56 over Hall Green and White City was used for a film called Steptoe and Son Ride Again .[12] [14]
Ireland [ edit ] The government legalised tote betting in Northern Ireland, a decision that came 45 years too late for Celtic Park (Belfast) who had started racing in 1927. The Irish Greyhound Derby sponsors PJ Carroll Ltd offered a single race prize of £1,200 for Dundalk International [4] and doubled the Derby winner's prize to £10,000, which was won by Bashful Man.[15] [16]
Larry Kelly's Romping To Work was voted Irish Greyhound of the Year after winning both the Oaks and St Leger .[17]
Competitions [ edit ] Patricias Hope stole all of the headlines but St Leger champion Ramdeen Stuart started his 1973 campaign by winning the Gold Collar at Catford Stadium . Case Money, a black dog trained by Ted Parker was voted Greyhound of the Year, he had won the 1973 St Leger and the Ben Truman Stakes, in addition to the Shelbourne 600 before arriving in the UK. This was a slightly strange decision based on the fact that Patricias Hope had emulated the achievement of Mick the Miller.[11] [18]
Principal UK races [ edit ] Grand National , White City (April 19 525y h, £600) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Killone Flash Randy Singleton 5-2 29.35 2 2nd Bingo Basher Noreen Collin 33-1 29.83 4 3rd Rest 11-2 30.09 6 4th Samnic Blue Noreen Collin 5-1 30.13 5 5th Graceful Fellow Peter Payne 6-4f 30.25 3 6th Orwell Reject Mrs.Dorin Clark 8-1 30.29 1
BBC TV Trophy , Wimbledon (Apr 18, 880y, £1,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Leading Pride George Curtis 51.16 2-1f 3 2nd Yellow Escort Norman Oliver 51.24 10-1 6 3rd Westpark Dainty Freddie Warrell 51.32 5-1 1 4th Balliniska Gun Arthur Hancock 51.34 9-2 2 5th Albany Ranger Eddie Moore 51.50 9-1 5 6th Westmead Pride Arnold Mobley 51.53 11-4 4
Gold Collar , Catford (May 12, 610y, £1,500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Ramdeen Stuart Norman Oliver 1-3f 35.04 1 2nd Baton Rouge Mick Hawkins 11-1 35.76 2 3rd The Gent Peter Isaac 25-1 36.02 3 4th Salt Seller Jenny March 7-1 36.12 4 5th Starline Lady Geoff De Mulder 5-1 36.60 6 6th Crazyville Hi Barney O'Connor 40-1 36.82 5
Oaks , Harringay (May 18, 525y, £1,500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Miss Ross Tom Johnston Jr. 8-1 28.63 2 2nd Softly David Kinchett 11-8f 29.35 5 3rd Snodzer 20-1 29.41 4 4th Ahaveen Hunter Peter Payne 9-4 29.51 1 5th Carry on Hasty Clare Orton 8-1 29.67 3 6th Tawny Spike Tom Johnston Jr. 4-1 dnf 6
The Grand Prix , Walthamstow (May 26, 700y, £1,250) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Pendys Mermaid Dave Geggus 11-8f 40.65 6 2nd Arbutus Flash 25-1 40.71 3 3rd Silver Mist Reg Young 7-2 40.75 1 4th Ashgrove Fun John Horsfall 5-1 40.95 2 5th Meadowbank Rose Tom Reilly 8-1 41.11 4 6th Ashgrove Tric 9-2 41.15 5
Scurry Gold Cup , Clapton (Jul 7, 400y £1,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Casa Miel Joe Pickering 7-2 22.83 4 2nd Brewery Hill Joe Pickering 12-1 22.89 5 3rd Cloons Airport 33-1 23.29 3 4th Royal Spitfire Mrs J Hawkins 3-1 23.67 1 5th Fiery Copper Geoff De Mulder 11-10f 23.68 2 6th They're Off Phil Rees Sr. 10-1 24.18 6
Skol Scottish Greyhound Derby , Shawfield (Jul 14, 525y, £2,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Dashalong Chief Adam Jackson 11-2 29.60 3 2nd Barbadus Harry Bamford 5-4f 29.64 4 3rd Cooladine Super Peter Harding 7-1 29.84 5 4th Hairy Legs Joe Pickering 8-1 29.90 6 5th Pit Lamp Norman Oliver 2-1 30.06 1 6th Deise Sparks Gordon Hodson 14-1 30.30 2
Welsh Derby , Arms Park (Jul 28, 525y £1,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Silly Rocket Bertie Gaynor 11-8f 29.56 6 2nd Say Little Colin McNally 3-1 29.64 3 3rd Delrony Leader Natalie Savva 5-1 29.66 2 4th Broadway Melody Harry Bamford 10-1 29.82 4 5th Hot Air Jack Simpson 8-1 29.92 1 6th Quick Work Adam Jackson 8-1 31.00 5
St Leger , Wembley (Sep 2, 700y, £2,500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Case Money Ted Parker 6-4jf 39.89 2 2nd Hot System Geoff De Mulder 5-1 40.15 1 3rd Poor Rudolf Randy Singleton 33-1 40.23 6 4th Pertinacious George Curtis 7-1 40.33 3 5th Shara Dee Noreen Collin 6-4jf 40.34 5 6th Todos Ozzie Sid Ryall 9-1 40.36 4
Laurels , Wimbledon (Sep 21, 500y, £3,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Black Banjo Barney O'Connor 5-2cf 27.93 4 2nd Dashalong Chief Adam Jackson 5-2cf 28.17 2 3rd Silly Rocket Bertie Gaynor 6-1 28.29 1 4th Sunny Gold Ted Dickson 6-1 28.35 5 5th Sunshine Times Tom Reilly 5-2cf 28.38 3 6th Lightning Silver 16-1 28.54 6
Cesarewitch , Belle Vue (Sep 29, 880y, £2,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Country Maiden [19] Frank Baldwin 5-2 52.46 5 2nd Westmead Mia Natalie Savva 9-4 52.52 3 3rd Mosey Angus John Gibbons 8-1 52.60 1 4th Balliniska Gun Arthur Hancock 10-1 52.64 4 5th Todos Ozzie Sid Ryall 7-4f 53.04 6 6th Prince Leo 33-1 53.88 2
Principal Irish finals [ edit ] Irish St Leger , Limerick (550y) Pos Name of Greyhound Trap SP Time/Dis 1st Romping To Work 1 31.04 2nd Ritas Choice 3 5-2 1½ 3rd Bashful Man 6 6-4f ¾ 4th Kilbracken Style 5 7-1 5th China Sea 4 18-1 6th Nankies Pet 2 20-1
Totalisator returns [ edit ] Extended content
The totalisator returns declared to the licensing authorities for the year 1973 are listed below.[20]
Stadium Turnover £ London (White City) 6,608,770 London (Walthamstow) 4,924,310 London (Wimbledon) 4,484,868 London (Harringay) 3,800,868 London (Wembley) 2,842,073 London (Catford) 2,612,018 Romford 2,221,780 Manchester (Belle Vue) 1,869,851 Edinburgh (Powderhall) 1,698,031 Brighton & Hove 1,692,463 Birmingham (Perry Barr, old) 1,602,019 London (Clapton) 1,550,556 Crayford & Bexleyheath 1,453,917 Birmingham (Hall Green) 1,401,377 Glasgow (Shawfield) 1,319,470
Stadium Turnover £ Newcastle (Brough Park) 1,232,517 Southend-on-Sea 1,144,460 Slough 1,125,361 Leeds (Elland Road) 1,074,820 London (Hackney) 1,006,172 Sheffield (Owlerton) 928,476 Manchester (White City) 870,705 Wolverhampton (Monmore) 775,271 Bristol (Eastville) 753,344 Gloucester & Cheltenham 743,425 Newcastle (Gosforth) 656,175 Derby 623,363 Cardiff (Arms Park) 622,208 Rochester & Chatham 621,252 Manchester (Salford) 584,223
Stadium Turnover £ Willenhall 575,477 Poole 496,294 Oxford 486,343 Portsmouth 482,106 Ramsgate (Dumpton Park) 440,641 Rayleigh (Essex) 385,933 Cradley Heath 348,136 Middlesbrough 303,901 Leicester (Blackbird Rd) 286,578 Hull (Old Craven Park) 282,638 Swindon 226,598 Milton Keynes 187,397 Preston 177,742
References [ edit ] ^ 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 143/144/145/146/147 . Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-36-8 . ^ "1973" . Greyhound Data. ^ a b Comyn, John. 50 Years of Greyhound Racing in Ireland . Aherlow Publishers Ltd. ^ Fortune, Michael. Irish Greyhound Derby 1932-1981 . Victory Irish Promotions Ltd. ^ Hobbs, Jonathan (2007). Greyhound Annual 2008, pages 153-154 . Raceform. ISBN 978-1-905153-53-4 . ^ a b Genders, Roy (1975). The Greyhound and Racing Greyhound . Page Brothers (Norwich). ISBN 0-85020-0474 . ^ NGRC calendar . National Greyhound Racing Club. January 1974. ^ "Hall of Fame" . Greyhound Board of Great Britain. ^ Dick, Barrie (1990). Greyhound Derby, the first 60 years, pages 143/144/145/146/147 . Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-36-8 . ^ a b Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File . Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-15-5 . ^ a b c d e f Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing . Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 07207-1106-1 . ^ Barnes/Sellers, Julia/John (1992). Ladbrokes Greyhound Fact File . Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-22-8 . ^ a b c d Genders, Roy (1990). NGRC book of Greyhound Racing . Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 0-7207-1804-X . ^ Fortune, Michael. Irish Greyhound Derby 1932-1981 . Victory Irish Promotions Ltd. ^ Fortune, Michael. The 75 Years History of the Irish Greyhound Derby . Irish Greyhound Review. ISSN 0332-3536 . ^ "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 1973) October edition". Greyhound Star . 2012. ^ Barnes, Julia (1991). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File, Vol Two . Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-61-9 . ^ "Remember When - September 1973" . Greyhound Star. 2 September 2018. ^ Particulars of Licensed tracks, table 1 Licensed Dog Racecourses . Licensing Authorities. 1973.
UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Years
Years
UK & Irish greyhound competitions
English competitions
Current competitions Former competitions
Irish competitions
Current competitions
Former competitions
Current greyhound stadiums in Great Britain licensed by the Greyhound Board of Great Britain
Licensed stadiums
English greyhound tracks
Unlicensed tracks (independent / flapping)
Greyhound stadiums in Ireland
Current (Republic of Ireland) Current (Northern Ireland) Former (Republic of Ireland) Former (Northern Ireland)
Scottish greyhound tracks
Unlicensed tracks (independent/flapping)
Welsh greyhound tracks
Unlicensed tracks (independent/flapping)