The 1969 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 44th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and the 43rd year of greyhound racing in Ireland.
Roll of honour Major Winners Award Name of Winner1969 English Greyhound Derby Sand Star 1969 Irish Greyhound Derby Own Pride 1969 Scottish Greyhound Derby Not held 1969 Welsh Greyhound Derby Pallas Joy Greyhound Trainer of the Year Phil Rees Sr. Greyhound of the Year Cals PickIrish 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. 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. 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. 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. Corbiewood Stadium opened to greyhound racing.
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.
Competitions The 1,000 Guineas switched to Hendon Greyhound Stadium from the closed Park Royal Stadium. 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.
Yellow Printer continued to set special times and recorded 28.38 seconds when winning the Sir Billy Butlin Stakes at White City.
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.
News Pigalle Wonder died during the first days of January aged nearly thirteen. The National Greyhound Racing Club changed the rule whereby parties could be represented by legal counsel at steward's inquiries. 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.
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.
Portsmouth trainer Charlie Curtis, brother of George Curtis was killed in a car crash. The WGRF (World Greyhound Racing Federation) was formed.
Ireland The Irish Greyhound Board purchased Cork Greyhound Stadium for £127,500. 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. It was also the last Derby to be held at Harold's Cross Stadium.
Principal UK races
Grand National, White City (April 19 525y h, £500) PosName of GreyhoundTrainerSP TimeTrap 1st Tonys Friend Randy Singleton 1-1f 30.16 12nd Ballintore Tiger Norman Chambers 9-2 30.26 63rd Active Hit Nora Gleeson 4-1 30.68 54th Corral Prince Nora Gleeson 20-1 30.72 25th Colonels RibJoe Pickering 6-1 30.84 36th Swift Miller 33-1 31.00 4
Gold Collar, Catford (May 10, 570y, £1,500)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Surprising Fella Jack Smith 2-1f 33.40 52nd Ivy Hall Jewel Natalie Savva 8-1 33.44 43rd Cals Pick Jack Harvey 3-1 33.47 14th Pallas Joy Adam Jackson 5-1 33.77 35th PetrovitchJack Harvey 12-1 33.89 66th Thurles Trader Adam Jackson 3-1 34.05 2
The Grand Prix, Walthamstow (May 27, 600y, £500)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Chame Sparrow Barney O'Connor6-1 40.75 32nd Jack Stroller Jimmy Jowett 7-1 40.91 13rd Special Cognac David Pett 4-1 40.94 64th New Change Dave Geggus 5-4f 41.02 45th Mounteagle King Charlie Curtis 6-1 41.26 26th Drish Prairie 10-1 41.30 5
Welsh Derby, Arms Park (Jul 5, 525y £500)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Pallas Joy Adam Jackson 7-2 29.43 12nd Cash For Dan Ben Parsons 6-4f 29.67 23rd Fly Half Janet Tite 6-1 29.71 54th Narod Star Paddy Milligan 5-1 29.73 45th Desert Kuda Jim Irving 6-1 30.01 66th Ashgrove Glen Brian Jay 4-1 30.17 3
Oaks, Harringay (Jul 7, 525y, £1,000)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Shady Bracelet Peter Collett 7-4f 28.63 22nd Bredas Feathers K.Webb 8-1 28.67 63rd That Cailin Ray Wilkes 11-4 28.95 34th Hiver Tatty Jim Morgan 10-1 28.99 15th Farma Sally Phil Rees Sr. 5-2 29.05 56th Kattys Prairie Bette Godwin 50-1 29.53 4
Scurry Gold Cup, Clapton (Jul 12, 400y £1,000)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Ace of Trumps John Coleman 1-1f 22.85 22nd Lovely Morning Noreen Collin 10-1 23.11 13rd Cheeky Boy John Coleman 4-1 23.71 44th Tarmons Buffalo 16-1 23.79 55th Pears There Dave Barker 10-3 23.85 66th Trews 12-1 00.00 3
Laurels, Wimbledon (Aug 8, 500y, £1,500)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Ardine Flame Jack Kinsley 8-1 27.96 22nd Beaverwood Wind Stan Martin 6-4f 27.99 43rd Munster Rabbit Nora Gleeson 4-1 28.17 34th Tullyallen Clare Orton 4-1 28.19 15th Bushane Queen Mrs.B.Martin 14-1 28.23 56th Pallas Joy Adam Jackson 9-2 28.63 6
St Leger, Wembley (Aug 25, 700y, £1,500)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Crefogue Dancer Bob Burls 8-1 39.65 12nd Booked Six Alan Fearn 20-1 39.89 53rd Greenane Gem Bessie Lewis 4-9f 39.95 24th Take off Outcast Jimmy Jowett 16-1 39.97 45th Jack Stroller Jimmy Jowett 8-1 40.00 66th Monalee Peter Tom Johnston Jr. 7-1 40.02 3
Cesarewitch, West Ham (Oct 3, 600y, £1,500)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Cals Pick Jack Harvey 6-4jf 32.98 22nd Mad Ville Bob Burls 25-1 33.12 63rd Greenane Gem Bessie Lewis 6-4jf 33.15 44th Marton Tim Tom Baldwin 9-2 33.39 55th Handsome Sun Jimmy Jowett 9-2 33.55 16th Burnpark Bill 100-1 33.67 3
BBC TV Trophy, White City (Oct 16, 880y, £1,000)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Cash For Dan Ben Parsons 5-4f 49.44+ 12nd Jack Stroller Jimmy Jowett 3-1 49.86 33rd Pleasant Fly J Cook 10-1 50.38 24th Sovereign Ore John Perrin 10-1 50.94 65th Nualas Image 33-1 50.95 46th Greenane Gem Bessie Lewis 3-1 51.19 5
+Track record
Principal Irish races
Easter Cup, Shelbourne Park (April £500)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Move Gas Ger McKenna 30.29 22nd Clover Kid 30.3763rd Durhava Pride 30.65u Stylish Shane 1
Produce Stakes, Clonmel (May 8, 525y £1,250)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Right O'Myross Dave Cashman 2-1 29.90 12nd Santanita 30.06 53rd Bright Lad 6-4f 30.07 34th Westpark Toots 25th Westpark Barney 46th Dutch Navy 6
u=unplaced
Totalisator returns
The totalisator returns declared to the licensing authorities for the year 1969 are listed below.
StadiumTurnover £London (White City) 6,262,275London (Harringay) 3,791,781London (Wimbledon) 3,753,989London (Walthamstow) 3,614,786Manchester Belle Vue & White City (combined) 3,567,438London (Wembley) 2,898,167London (Catford) 2,410,758London (Clapton) 2,086,386London (West Ham) 1,783,769Romford 1,565,343Edinburgh (Powderhall) 1,459,866London (Charlton) 1,305,612Birmingham (Perry Barr, old)1,281,355Birmingham (Hall Green) 1,201,411Brighton & Hove 1,192,961Newcastle (Brough Park) 1,026,060Crayford & Bexleyheath 1,012,336
StadiumTurnover £Glasgow (Shawfield) 951,943Slough 923,081Leeds (Elland Road) 896,288Wolverhampton (Monmore)863,174London (Hackney) 817,962London (Hendon) 788,350Bristol (Eastville) 777,245Sheffield (Owlerton) 766,191Manchester (Salford) 743,039Glasgow (White City) 731,118Newcastle (Gosforth)722,407Southend-on-Sea 714,966Willenhall 680,384Gloucester & Cheltenham 625,050Birmingham (Kings Heath) 614,372Cardiff (Arms Park) 584,626Liverpool (White City) 562,582Poole537,658
StadiumTurnover £Derby515,838Reading (Oxford Road)505,508Ramsgate (Dumpton Park) 498,214Cradley Heath 475,464Rochester & Chatham 462,710Oxford438,583Portsmouth 378,884Glasgow (Carntyne) 373,656Leicester (Blackbird Rd) 331,752Middlesbrough 329,729Rayleigh (Essex) 302,316Nottingham (White City)293,816Hull (Old Craven Park) 284,061Preston 263,299Norwich (City) 216,637Swindon 214,433Wakefield 206,070
References