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)