# 1991 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year

The 1991 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 65th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

## Roll of honour

Major Winners :
| Award | Name of Winner |
| 1991 English Greyhound Derby | Ballinderry Ash |
| 1991 Irish Greyhound Derby | Ardfert Mick |
| 1991 Scottish Greyhound Derby | Phantom Flash |
| Greyhound Trainer of the Year | John McGee Sr. |
| Greyhound of the Year | Bobs Regan |
| Irish Greyhound of the Year | Ardfert Mick |
| Trainers Championship | Linda Mullins |

## Summary

The National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC) released the annual returns, with totalisator turnover at £97,311,283 and attendances recorded at 3,979,090 from 6051 meetings. Track tote deduction remained at 17.5%.
An industry discussion concluded that a greyhound's career longevity was reduced by two breeding factors. The first factor being the fact that breeding was predominantly conducted between the fastest middles distance stars and therefore increasing the average speed (bringing higher injury rates) and eliminating the stamina of stayers and marathon greyhounds. The second factor was the lack of coursing bloodlines, thereby reducing the durability traits. The physical difference between a 1930s and 1990s greyhound was significant and despite advancement in track preparation the track layouts remained the same.
Bobs Regan trained by Brian Timcke was voted Greyhound of the Year after winning the Golden Jacket, the Kent St Leger and the Regency. Ardfert Mick was voted Irish Greyhound of the Year after winning the 1991 Irish Greyhound Derby. John McGee won the Greyhound Trainer of the Year for the fourth successive year, a new record beating the three won by George Curtis and Phil Rees Sr. McGee notched over 200 winners during the year.
Ravage Again won his 29th successive race at Sunderland but then on 26 January at Powderhall at odds of 2-9 he stumbled out of the boxes and found trouble, failing to catch the winner Base Rate. The world record attempt was over and he was immediately retired.

## Tracks

A & S Leisure (owners of five casino restaurants) purchased Sheffield and spent £3 million on refurbishment. Ramsgate secured a BAGS contract with Mick Wheble installed as the new Group Racing Manager. Stuart Netting became Ramsgate Racing Manager in place of Jeff Jefcoate. Mildenhall Stadium started racing for the first time.
Brent Walker the owners of William Hill and Hackney Wick Stadium were in a precarious position in regard to gigantic debts, which brought an uncertain future for both. In a statement to a committee of MP's, BAGS representative Tom Kelly reveals that Hackney (and other tracks) are only paid a £900 broadcasting fee for a ten race BAGS meeting that produces a £2 million turnover (£200,000 per race) for BAGS. Tory MP David Sumberg says "This £900 bugs me, it is so small"; Kelly is unconcerned by the disparity and financial difficulties of tracks and responds by saying that "the tracks must be satisfied because they apply for contracts". Over the next decade tracks will close at an alarming rate, including Hackney six years later.

## Competitions

The Scottish Greyhound Derby increased prize money from £10,000 to £15,000 and was won by Phantom Flash trained by Nick Savva; the black dog had a great 1990 winning the Sussex Cup and Breeders Forum and was unlucky not to win the Irish Derby. He would later leave Savva to join trainer Patsy Byrne following a disagreement with owner Dave Hawley.
The Grand National final at Hall Green produced a memorable race after a dead heat by Ideal Man and Ballycarney Dell, the pair finished just ahead of Run On King and a promising hurdler called Kildare Slippy. Dempseys Whisper continued his good ways when becoming only the second greyhound to successfully defend the Grand Prix title at Walthamstow Stadium.

## News

Tom Smith the owner of Swaffham investigates some of the track trainers kennels and finds unlicensed handlers and greyhounds missing from the establishments that they are supposed to be kennelled at, which leads to the NGRC being called in to hold a series of inquiries.
Patsy Byrne joined Wimbledon as a trainer and sponsors the International while Maggie Lucas leaves Hackney for Romford. The Mullins family split camp as Linda Mullins’s son David takes out his first trainers licence at Sunderland. Sunderland had only returned to NGRC rules in 1990 were improving their profile by taking on Mullins and former top flapping man Ted Soppitt, in addition Harry Williams who was responsible for getting the new Sunderland of the ground started training again. There were two major trainer changes towards the latter part of the year both involving Walthamstow, Linda Mullins was recruited from Romford to increase Walthamstow's recent policy of bringing in leading open race trainers. As a consequence Walthamstow's top man Kenny Linzell left to join Romford after being unhappy with the new policy. Former English and Irish Derby winning trainer John Bassett died in March aged 81.
Wheres The Limo trained by Linda Mullins won 28 from 45 starts to be leading open race winner.
An ITV production called Gone to the Dogs filmed at Walthamstow and starring Jim Broadbent, Martin Clunes, Harry Enfield, Alison Steadman and Sheila Hancock is a success after viewing figures of nine million.

## Principal UK races

Daily Mirror/Sporting Life Grand National, Hall Green (Apr 3, 474m h, £5,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Ideal Man (dh) | John McGee Sr. | 3-1jf | 29.81 | 1 |
| 1st | Ballycarney Dell (dh) | Tony Gifkins | 14-1 | 29.81 | 3 |
| 3rd | Run on King | Linda Mullins | 7-2 | 29.83 | 2 |
| 4th | Kildare Slippy | Paddy Hancox | 7-2 | 29.86 | 4 |
| 5th | Herbie Lambug | Mick Puzey | 3-1jf | 29.98 | 6 |
| 6th | Gizmo Pasha | Linda Mullins | 9-1 | 30.38 | 5 |
BBC TV Trophy, Monmore (815m, £6,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time |
| 1st | Jennys Wish | Eric Jordan | 12-1 | 52.44 |
| 2nd | Catsrock Dan | George Lynds | 1-3f | 52.66 |
| 3rd | Colleague | G Corbett | | 52.72 |
| 4th | Sir Alva | Nick Savva | | 53.00 |
| 5th | Bobs Regan | Brian Timcke | | 53.01 |
| 6th | Poor Annie | Stan Kennett | | 53.04 |
Regal Scottish Derby, Shawfield (May 11, 500m, £15,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Phantom Flash | Patsy Byrne | 1-4f | 29.77 | 6 |
| 2nd | Ballycarney Dave | M Bell | 20-1 | 30.25 | 2 |
| 3rd | Woodhill Echo | Dawn Milligan | 7-1 | 30.47 | 5 |
| 4th | Strange Twist | Gordon Rooks | 33-1 | 30.53 | 4 |
| 5th | Hopeful Billy | Matt O'Sullivan | 33-1 | 30.54 | 3 |
| 6th | Sheer Elegance | J Mominimee | 10-1 | 30.55 | 1 |
David Richardson Scurry Cup, Catford (Jul 13, 385m, £6,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Portun Flier | Paddy Milligan | 2-1f | 23.43 | 4 |
| 2nd | Killouragh Katie | Paddy Milligan | 5-1 | 23.69 | 2 |
| 3rd | Bolt Home | Ernie Gaskin Sr. | 14-1 | 23.75 | 3 |
| 4th | Mandies Supreme | Derek Tidswell | 5-2 | 23.91 | 1 |
| 5th | Ritas Wish | John McGee Sr. | 12-1 | 24.97 | 5 |
| 6th | Pretty Supreme | | 7-1 | 25.15 | 6 |
John Humphreys Gold Collar, Catford (Sep 21, 555m, £7,500) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Appleby Lisa | Harry Dodds | 5-1 | 34.67 | 3 |
| 2nd | Pams Ace | Jim Reynolds | 14-1 | 34.77 | 1 |
| 3rd | Simple Trend | John McGee Sr. | 9-2 | 35.07 | 5 |
| 4th | Sail Over | Sam Sykes | 5-4f | 35.21 | 2 |
| 5th | Timmys Hobby | Chris Duggan | 8-1 | 35.22 | 4 |
| 6th | Springville Pam | John Coleman | 4-1 | 00.00 | 6 |
Websters Yorkshire Bitter Cesarewitch, Belle Vue (Sep 28, 853m, £5,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Wayzgoose | Dick Hawkes | 20-1 | 55.30 | 6 |
| 2nd | Red Arrow Lady | Nigel Saunders | 8-1 | 56.10 | 5 |
| 3rd | Bobs Regan | Brian Timcke | 5-4f | 56.18 | 1 |
| 4th | Easy Bimbo | Trevor Cobbold | 3-1 | 56.19 | 2 |
| 5th | Westbrook Penny | John Coulter | 14-1 | 56.27 | 4 |
| 6th | Carlsberg Champ | Barry Silkman | 5-1 | 56.49 | 3 |
Laurent-Perrier Grand Prix, Walthamstow (Oct 12, 640m, £7,500) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Dempseys Whisper | Patsy Byrne | 2-1f | 39.20 | 6 |
| 2nd | Appleby Lisa | Harry Dodds | 10-1 | 39.58 | 2 |
| 3rd | Coalbrook Suzie | Tony Meek | 40-1 | 39.68 | 3 |
| 4th | Parquet Pet | Arthur Hitch | 11-4 | 39.76 | 4 |
| 5th | Bracklyn Spark | Theo Mentzis | 7-2 | 39.86 | 1 |
| 6th | Cheeky Bubbles | Garry Irving | 9-2 | 39.89 | 5 |
Oaks, Wimbledon (Oct 26, 480m, £6,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Simple Trend | Ernie Gaskin Sr. | 2-1f | 29.06 | 1 |
| 2nd | Curraduff Jill | Vicky Holloway | 3-1 | 29.14 | 4 |
| 3rd | Westmead Surprise | Natalie Savva | 3-1 | 29.30 | 6 |
| 4th | Ballintee Lass | Philip Rees Jr. | 10-1 | 29.31 | 2 |
| 5th | Coalbrook Suzie | Tony Meek | 10-1 | 29.37 | 5 |
| 6th | Tubercurry Vixen | C Walker | 20-1 | 29.59 | 3 |
St Leger, Wembley (Nov 15, 655m, £10,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Temps Perdu | Albert Hill | 9-4jf | 40.18 | 1 |
| 2nd | Bobs Regan | Brian Timcke | 4-1 | 40.19 | 5 |
| 3rd | Nickel Coin | Rita Summers | 9-2 | 40.23 | 3 |
| 4th | Salisbury | Arthur Hitch | 20-1 | 40.51 | 2 |
| 5th | Fawn Pearl | Terry Kibble | 16-1 | 40.59 | 4 |
| 6th | Snow Shoes | John McGee Sr. | 9-4jf | 40.65 | 6 |
Laurels, Wimbledon (Dec 26, 460m, £7,500) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Glengar Ranger | Jimmy Fletcher | 6-4f | 27.47 | 4 |
| 2nd | Supporting Cast | John Faint | 3-1 | 28.23 | 2 |
| 3rd | Crossford Jumbo | John Copplestone | 20-1 | 28.26 | 3 |
| 4th | Hi Roger | Patsy Byrne | 9-4 | 28.40 | 6 |
| 5th | Drumgower Swank | Barry Silkman | 33-1 | 28.80 | 5 |
| 6th | Pennys Best | Pat Cusack | 6-1 | 29.18 | 1 |

### Principal Irish finals

Burmah Castrol Puppy Derby Harold's Cross (Oct 11, 525y, £7,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Polnoon Chief (Fraser Black) | 3-1 | 29.98 | 5 |
| 2nd | Early Potter (Michael Enright) | 4-1 | 30.05 | 4 |
| 3rd | Barneys Alarm (Mary Graham) | 2-1f | 30.19 | 6 |
| 4th | Jamie Icy Star (Aidan Tynan) | 16-1 | | 3 |
| 5th | Jamie Icy Wind (Aidan Tynan) | 20-1 | | 2 |
| 6th | Ballyard Champ (Michael Enright) | 7-2 | | 1 |

## Totalisator returns

Extended content :
The totalisator returns declared to the National Greyhound Racing Club for the year 1991 are listed below.
Stadium
Turnover £
London (Wimbledon)13,813,679
London (Walthamstow)13,398,416
Romford7,967,785
Brighton & Hove6,064,602
London (Catford)5,468,360
Birmingham (Hall Green)5,252,914
London (Wembley)4,578,369
Manchester (Belle Vue)4,514,485
Crayford3,393,219
Glasgow (Shawfield)3,067,291
Sunderland2,215,727
Oxford2,046,684
Edinburgh (Powderhall)1,834,272
Stadium
Turnover £
Sheffield (Owlerton)1,829,080
Newcastle (Brough Park)1,763,071
Birmingham (Perry Barr)1,725,914
Ramsgate1,669,956
Wolverhampton (Monmore)1,662,848
Yarmouth1,636,821
Portsmouth1,512,823
Canterbury1,478,918
Reading1,466,782
Peterborough1,095,297
Bristol923,143
Milton Keynes872,100
Rye House790,479
Stadium
Turnover £
Nottingham774,826
Swindon741,366
Henlow (Bedfordshire)662,899
London (Hackney)575,775
Hull (New Craven Park)528,909
Middlesbrough517,125
Swaffham476,184
Norton Canes467,527
Cradley Heath405,775
Mildenhall88,554
Wisbech30,000 :