1980 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
The 1980 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 54th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.[1]
Roll of honour [ ]
Summary [ ]
The National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC) released the annual returns, with totalisator turnover up 10%, at £81,290,642 but attendances down 15%, recorded at 5,484,781 from 5504 meetings. The increase in tote turnover indicated a significant increase in spend per head because attendances had decreased significantly. The decrease could partly be blamed on 200 less meetings but the fact that tracks charged a 17% tote retention would have been another factor. Regardless of blame it was the lowest attendance return on record, even less than the first full year of racing in 1927.[7]
Sport Promoter, a brindle dog was voted Greyhound of the Year .[8] He won Gold Collar at Catford Stadium and the Grand Prix at Walthamstow Stadium .[9]
Tracks [ ]
Nottingham Greyhound Stadium opened on 24 January.[10] [11]
Ladbrokes closed Willenhall for development and cut prize money at Perry Barr and Monmore .[10] Eastville Stadium suffered a major fire, and the majority of the south stand was destroyed causing more than £1 million worth of damage. Later in the year some consolation arrived in the form of a Bookmakers Afternoon Greyhound Service (BAGS) debut in November, and along with Hackney would become the backbone of the betting shop service.[11] Monmore also joined the BAGS, which is currently supplied by White City Manchester , Hackney , Wembley and Harringay .[12]
Bletchley in Milton Keynes under the new promotion of Reg Young rejoined the NGRC under the permit scheme and would become known as Milton Keynes Stadium instead of Bletchley. Maidstone and Long Eaton would leave the scheme and the Knott family sold their interest in Poole Stadium .[9] [10] [11]
News [ ]
An outbreak of Parvovirus killed hundreds of pups in the early part of the year.[9] The Greyhound Racing Association (GRA) continue to recover from their debt and repay creditors.[13] Arthur Hancock retired as a trainer at Brighton and was replaced by GRA trainer Derek Knight who had previously been at Shawfield .
Ireland [ ]
The Bord na gCon increase prize money by a further 25%. Knockrour Slave won the Irish Laurels for the second successive year and break the Cork Greyhound Stadium track record in the final recording 29.00 sec. [11]
Competitions [ ]
1979 Greyhound of the Year Desert Pilot reached the St Leger final at Wembley Greyhounds and performed well but lost out to Fair Reward trained by Bob Young with Decoy Sovereign runner up. Decoy Sovereign was trained by the Cobbold family Joe Cobbold and wife Doreen and had been bred by Brenda Baggs, wife of Gary Baggs who were helping the Cobbolds at the time. Decoy Sovereign easily won the Scottish Greyhound Derby final, the fawn dog defeated a good field. A greyhound called Rahan Ship has been ante post favourite for the Glasgow classic but had been withdrawn following the wrong form being printed in the racecard. The NGRC instigated an inquiry and some track officials lost their jobs before the dog returned to Ireland.[14] [9] [10] [11] [15]
Principal UK races [ ]
BBC TV Trophy , Wembley (Apr 2, 850m, £2,000)
Pos
Name of Greyhound
Trainer
SP
Time
Trap
1st
Tread Fast
Graham Sharp
53.20
12-1
2
2nd
Welsh Cobbler
John Honeysett
53.24
9-2
5
3rd
Flighty Frances
53.26
8-1
4
4th
Gloss
Bette Godwin
53.44
9-2
6
5th
Major Snoot
K Burgess
53.88
16-1
3
6th
Roystons Supreme
Adam Jackson
00.00
11-10f
1
Grand National , White City (April 5 500m h, £4,000)
Pos
Name of Greyhound
Trainer
SP
Time
Trap
1st
Gilt Edge Flyer
Eric Pateman
4-5f
30.22
1
2nd
Westlands Steve
Gunner Smith
10-1
30.92
4
3rd
Teenage Heather
David Kinchett
20-1
30.95
3
4th
Ballymena Moon
George Curtis
4-1
31.11
6
5th
Scintillas Rock
Frank Melville
16-1
31.63
5
6th
Right Arkle
Ted Dickson
4-1
00.00
2
Laurels , Wimbledon (May 16, 460m, £3,000)
Pos
Name of Greyhound
Trainer
SP
Time
Trap
1st
Flying Pursuit
John Gibbons
6-4f
27.89
4
2nd
Jon Barrie
Ray Andrews
8-1
28.07
5
3rd
Lift Coming
Dick Hawkes
5-2
28.25
6
4th
Dangerous Lad
Joe Pickering
7-2
28.45
1
5th
The Grand Devil
Phil Rees Jr.
14-1
28.55
2
6th
Super Countess
12-1
28.59
3
Scurry Gold Cup , Slough (Jul 19, 442m, £5,000)
Pos
Name of Greyhound
Trainer
SP
Time
Trap
1st
Willing Slave
Ted Dickson
2-1
27.11
1
2nd
Ballydonnell Ted
6-1
27.15
5
3rd
Able Worker
Nora Gleeson
7-1
27.59
3
4th
Lancia Q
Paddy McEvoy
7-1
27.63
2
5th
Alpine Mill
16-1
27.65
6
6th
Sunny Interval
Phil Rees Jr.
7-4f
27.69
4
Scottish Greyhound Derby , Shawfield (Aug 9, 500m, £3,000)
Pos
Name of Greyhound
Trainer
SP
Time
Trap
1st
Decoy Sovereign
Joe Cobbold
4-1
30.68
5
2nd
Coolarota
Ray Andrews
10-1
31.16
3
3rd
Jon Barrie
Ray Andrews
5-4f
31.32
2
4th
Corleish Ron
10-1
31.38
4
5th
Barley Field
Joe Kelly
5-2
31.62
1
6th
Town View Evert
Ray Andrews
7-1
31.66
6
St Leger , Wembley (655m, £10,000)
Pos
Name of Greyhound
Trainer
SP
Time
Trap
1st
Fair Reward
Bob Young
5-2
40.46
2
2nd
Decoy Sovereign
Joe Cobbold
8-1
40.58
6
3rd
Desert Pilot
Geoff De Mulder
4-5f
40.61
1
4th
Donore Speech
18-1
40.71
3
5th
Sport Promoter
Pat Mullins
6-1
40.81
4
6th
Owners Guide
Tony Jowett
100-1
40.91
5
Gold Collar , Catford (Sep 20, 555m, £5,000)
Pos
Name of Greyhound
Trainer
SP
Time
Trap
1st
Sport Promoter
Pat Mullins
8-15f
35.06
5
2nd
Owners Guide
Tony Jowett
8-1
35.22
6
3rd
Tivoli Town
John Cox
4-1
35.34
2
4th
Cormacruiser
7-1
35.46
1
5th
Fly Muffin
25-1
35.68
4
6th
Westmead Echo
16-1
35.78
3
Cesarewitch , Belle Vue (Oct 4, 815m, £3,500)
Pos
Name of Greyhound
Trainer
SP
Time
Trap
1st
Linkside Liquor
Gordon Bailey
3-1
51.22
2
2nd
Visiting Time
2-1f
51.25
3
3rd
Tread Fast
Graham Sharp
3-1
51.28
4
4th
Roystons Supreme
Adam Jackson
14-1
51.34
5
5th
Petite Silver
25-1
51.62
6
6th
Caesars Daughter
J Williamson
3-1
51.76
1
The Grand Prix , Walthamstow (Oct 18, 640m, £5,500)
Pos
Name of Greyhound
Trainer
SP
Time
Trap
1st
Sport Promoter
Pat Mullins
2-1jf
40.17
4
2nd
North Rain
Geoff De Mulder
11-4
40.25
5
3rd
Boys Town
Pat Mullins
6-1
40.33
6
4th
Honeygar Kid
Ray Andrews
66-1
40.63
2
5th
Knockerlay Star
Adam Jackson
2-1jf
40.69
3
6th
Johns Luck
Norah McEllistrim
20-1
41.25
1
Oaks , Harringay (Oct 31, 475m, £1,750)
Pos
Name of Greyhound
Trainer
SP
Time
Trap
1st
Devilish Dolores
Ernie Gaskin Sr.
20-1
28.72
4
2nd
Pacey
Miss R Sperry
5-2
28.78
6
3rd
The Mill Queen
Tom Foster
9-4f
28.79
5
4th
Thanet Princess
Tom Foster
14-1
29.01
2
5th
Roystons Damsel
Adam Jackson
11-4
29.05
1
6th
Day Dream
Wally Ginzel
7-2
29.17
3
Totalisator returns [ ]
Extended content
The totalisator returns declared to the National Greyhound Racing Club for the year 1980 are listed below.[16]
Stadium
Turnover £
London (White City)
8,601,270
London (Walthamstow)
8,410,073
London (Wimbledon)
6,337,216
London (Harringay)
4,379,421
Romford
4,030,569
London (Catford)
3,950,040
Brighton & Hove
3,648,558
Slough
3,409,122
London (Wembley)
3,302,233
Manchester (Belle Vue)
3,006,025
Birmingham (Hall Green)
2,544,020
Crayford & Bexleyheath
2,387,655
Edinburgh (Powderhall)
2,270,729
Newcastle (Brough Park)
1,752,892
Southend-on-Sea
1,733,398
Stadium
Turnover £
Glasgow (Shawfield)
1,667,392
Birmingham (Perry Barr, old)
1,663,977
Sheffield (Owlerton)
1,526,712
Leeds (Elland Road)
1,526,303
Wolverhampton (Monmore)
1,346,299
Gloucester & Cheltenham
970,347
London (Hackney)
940,260
Yarmouth
924,764
Derby
912,433
Ramsgate
886,521
Portsmouth
872,621
Bristol (Eastville)
829,729
Newcastle (Gosforth)
621,531
Nottingham
565,828
Reading
531,223
Stadium
Turnover £
Poole
530,080
Milton Keynes
516,666
Middlesbrough
468,621
Ipswich
466,779
Hull (Old Craven Park)
438,720
Coventry
424,723
Cradley Heath
414,698
Rye House
359,551
Manchester (White City)
344,927
Henlow (Bedfordshire)
344,528
Leicester
343,122
Oxford
340,863
Swindon
306,970
Norton Canes
60,000
References [ ]
^ 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 170/171/172 . Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-36-8 .
^ "1980" . Greyhound Data.
^ 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.
^ Hobbs, Jonathan (2007). Greyhound Annual 2008, pages 153-154 . Raceform. ISBN 978-1-905153-53-4 .
^ NGRC calendar . National Greyhound Racing Club. January 1981.
^ "Sport Promoter profile" . Greyhound Data.
^ a b c d Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing . Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 07207-1106-1 .
^ a b c d Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File . Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-15-5 .
^ a b c d e Genders, Roy (1990). NGRC book of Greyhound Racing . Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 0-7207-1804-X .
^ "Remember When - September 1980" . Greyhound Star.
^ " "Further payment for GRA creditors." Times, 2 Feb. 1980, p. 20" . Times Digital Archives.[permanent dead link ]
^ 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 .
^ Totalisator returns of National Greyhound Racing Club Licensed tracks . National Greyhound Racing Club. 1980.
UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Years
Years
UK & Irish greyhound competitions
English competitions
Current competitions
Former competitions
Scottish 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
Brighton & Hove
Central Park
Crayford
Doncaster
Harlow
Henlow
Kinsley
Monmore Green
Newcastle
Nottingham
Oxford
Pelaw Grange
Perry Barr
Romford
Sheffield
Suffolk Downs
Sunderland
Swindon
Towcester
Yarmouth
English greyhound tracks
Unlicensed tracks (independent / flapping)
Greyhound stadiums in Ireland
Current (Republic of Ireland) Current (Northern Ireland) Former (Republic of Ireland)
Ardfert
Arklow
Ballina
Ballybunion
Blackrock
Bray
Bundoran
Clones
Cork (Show Grounds)
Cork (Western Road)
Dublin (Chapelizod)
Dublin (Harold's Cross)
Dublin (Santry)
Dundalk (Ramparts)
Kilkee
Kilrush
Lifford
Limerick (Markets Field)
Navan
Newbridge (St Conleth's Park)
Sligo
Former (Northern Ireland)
Scottish greyhound tracks
Licensed tracks
Aberdeen (Holburn)
Dundee (Dens Park)
Edinburgh (Marine Gardens)
Edinburgh (Powderhall)
Edinburgh (Stenhouse)
Falkirk (Brockville Park)
Falkirk (Diamond)
Glasgow (Albion)
Glasgow (Carntyne)
Glasgow (Firhill)
Glasgow (Shawfield)
Glasgow (White City)
Unlicensed tracks (independent/flapping)
Aberdeen (Regent Park)
Armadale (Bathgate Road)
Armadale (Volunteer Park)
Auchinleck
Ayr (Voluntary Park)
Ayr (Tams Brig)
Barrhead
Berwick
Blantyre
Carfin
Corbiewood
Cowdenbeath (Central Park)
Cowdenbeath (North End Park)
Crossgates
Denny
Dumbarton
Dundee (Tannadice Park)
Dunfermline (East End Park)
Dunfermline (Milesmark)
Edinburgh (Royal Gymnasium)
Falkirk (Firs Park)
Galston
Glasgow (Ashfield)
Glasgow (Clydeholm)
Glasgow (Coatbridge)
Glasgow (Mount Vernon)
Glasgow (Nelson)
Greenock (Cappielow)
Gretna (Halcrow)
Gretna (Raydale Park)
Hawick (Albert Park)
Hawick (Target Hill)
Irvine (Caledonian)
Irvine (Townhead)
Kilmarnock
Kirkcaldy
Larkhall
Linlithgow
Methil
Motherwell (Clyde Valley)
Motherwell (Milton Street)
Paisley
Shotts (Gasworks)
Stevenston
Stirling (Forthbank Park)
Thornton
Tranent
Wallyford
Wishaw
Welsh greyhound tracks
Licensed tracks
Caerphilly (Virginia Park)
Cardiff Arms Park
Cardiff (White City)
Newport
Swansea (White City)
Unlicensed tracks (independent/flapping)
Aberdare
Barry
Bedwellty
Bridgend
Glais
Johnston
Maesteg
Merthyr Tydfil
Milford Haven
Pontypool Road
Pontypridd (Hawthorn)
Pontypridd (Taff Vale Park)
Porth
Skewen
Swansea (Fforestfach)
Taff's Well
Tredegar (Jesmond Dene)
Tredegar (Recreation Ground)
Ystrad Mynach (Valley)