1952 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
| 1952 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year | |
|---|---|
The 1952 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 27th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.[1]
Roll of honour[edit]
| Major Winners | |
|---|---|
| Award | Name of Winner |
| 1952 English Greyhound Derby | Endless Gossip[2][3] |
| 1952 Irish Greyhound Derby | Rough Waters [4][5] |
| 1952 Scottish Greyhound Derby | Not held [6] |
| 1952 Welsh Greyhound Derby | Endless Gossip[7] |
| Greyhound of the Year | Endless Gossip |
Summary[edit]
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]
Competitions[edit]
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]
Tracks[edit]
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]
News[edit]
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]
Ireland[edit]
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] [5]
Principal UK races[edit]
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Totalisator returns[edit]
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. Ringpress Books. pp. 93–95. ISBN 0-948955-36-8.
- ^ ""Sports in Brief." Times [London, England] 30 June 1952". The Times.
- ^ a b Comyn, John. 50 Years of Greyhound Racing in Ireland. Aherlow Publishers Ltd.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ Genders, Roy (1975). The Greyhound and Racing Greyhound, page 320. Page Brothers (Norwich). ISBN 0-85020-0474.
- ^ a b Particulars of Licensed tracks, table 1 Licensed Dog Racecourses. Licensing Authorities. 1952.
- ^ a b Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 07207-1106-1.
- ^ a b c 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.
- ^ "Remember When - September 1952". Greyhound Star.
- ^ "2,000 watch the greyhound racing - 3 November". The Evening Advertiser. 1952.
- ^ "Remember When - September 1952". Greyhound Star.
- ^ Fortune, Michael. Irish Greyhound Derby 1932-1981. Victory Irish Promotions Ltd.