# 1973 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year

The 1973 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 47th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

## Roll of honour

Major Winners :
| Award | Name of Winner |
| 1973 English Greyhound Derby | Patricias Hope |
| 1973 Irish Greyhound Derby | Bashful Man |
| 1973 Scottish Greyhound Derby | Dashalong Chief |
| 1973 Welsh Greyhound Derby | Silly Rocket |
| Greyhound Trainer of the Year | Norman Oliver |
| Greyhound of the Year | Case Money |
| Irish Greyhound of the Year | Romping To Work |

## Summary

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.
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. He was later retired and returned to stud duties.

## Tracks

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. 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.
Bobby Jack Enterprises purchased independent track Mount Vernon Sports Stadium, in Glasgow and invested heavily to update the facility.

## News

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. 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.
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.
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.
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.

## Ireland

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 and doubled the Derby winner's prize to £10,000, which was won by Bashful Man.
Larry Kelly's Romping To Work was voted Irish Greyhound of the Year after winning both the Oaks and St Leger.

## Competitions

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.

## Principal UK races

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 | 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

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

Extended content :
The totalisator returns declared to the licensing authorities for the year 1973 are listed below.
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
Romford2,221,780
Manchester (Belle Vue)1,869,851
Edinburgh (Powderhall)1,698,031
Brighton & Hove1,692,463
Birmingham (Perry Barr, old)1,602,019
London (Clapton)1,550,556
Crayford & Bexleyheath1,453,917
Birmingham (Hall Green)1,401,377
Glasgow (Shawfield)1,319,470
Stadium
Turnover £
Newcastle (Brough Park)1,232,517
Southend-on-Sea1,144,460
Slough1,125,361
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 & Cheltenham743,425
Newcastle (Gosforth)656,175
Derby623,363
Cardiff (Arms Park)622,208
Rochester & Chatham621,252
Manchester (Salford)584,223
Stadium
Turnover £
Willenhall575,477
Poole496,294
Oxford486,343
Portsmouth482,106
Ramsgate (Dumpton Park)440,641
Rayleigh (Essex)385,933
Cradley Heath348,136
Middlesbrough303,901
Leicester (Blackbird Rd)286,578
Hull (Old Craven Park)282,638
Swindon226,598
Milton Keynes187,397
Preston177,742 :