# 1963 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year

The 1963 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 37th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

## Roll of honour

Major Winners :
| Award | Name of Winner |
| 1963 English Greyhound Derby | Lucky Boy Boy |
| 1963 Irish Greyhound Derby | Drumahiskey Venture |
| 1963 Scottish Greyhound Derby | We'll See |
| 1963 Welsh Greyhound Derby | Fairys Chum |
| Greyhound Trainer of the Year | Tom Johnston Jr. |
| Greyhound of the Year | We'll See |

## Summary

The Greyhound Afternoon Service was established whereby tracks supplied afternoon racing for the larger bookmaking clients. However the track promoters made a request for a guaranteed payment for the off course rights from all bookmakers taking bets from their stadium. Negotiations would continually take place between the stadiums, the National Greyhound Racing Society (NGRS) and the bookmakers. The problems had been ongoing since the introduction of the Betting and Gaming Act 1960. Clapton Stadiums Ltd owners of Clapton Stadium, Slough and Reading scrapped evening starting times in an attempt to disrupt the betting in bookmaker's shops. Tracks racing during the afternoon had already implemented this procedure. A further development resulted in the tracks ending the annual £100,000 agreement with the off course bookmakers to provide forecast and tricast tote odds. The bookmakers announced that they will provide their own odds based on starting prices.
Figures released by the NGRS showed a further decline in attendances and totalisator turnover, the first six months of 1963 showed attendances at 5,827,064 with turnover at £24,910,749 from 61 member tracks.
We'll See was voted Greyhound of the Year at the Silver Greyhound Awards, in the Great Room at the Grosvenor House Hotel. The brindle dog beat Cranog Bet to the crown, the latter had to settle for being named bitch of the year.

## Tracks

News broke at the beginning of the year that London Stadiums Ltd had future plans to redevelop Wandsworth Stadium into a shopping centre. Racing came to an end at Somerton Park in Newport, Wales, Clydeholm in Clydebank, Banister Court Stadium in Southampton and Hanley Greyhound Stadium. Two tracks opened at the Taff's Well and Milton Keynes.

## News

Alfred Critchley died on 9 February. Clapton hosted Pinewood Studios as they shot scenes for a new film starring Rita Tushingham and Mike Sarne called A Place to Go.

## Competitions

The Merit Puppy Championship held at Wimbledon was renamed and rebranded with more prize money, it would be called the Juvenile. The Gold Collar at Catford Stadium was won by Music Guest from Lucky Boy Boy, Irish Greyhound Derby champion Shanes Legacy finished last in the final and apart from winning the 1,000 Guineas would not live up to the expectations of his owner since his purchase from Ireland in 1962.
The 1962 greyhound of the year Dromin Glory had a Welsh Greyhound Derby campaign to forget, he weighed in too heavy in a trial and therefore another needed to be organised at short notice. He arrived late for kennelling for the second attempt, missing the deadline and as a result was not allowed to compete in the first round.
Leeds defeated Brighton in the final of the News of the World National Intertrack Championship.

## Ireland

Irish Greyhound Derby finalists both won major events in Ireland, Melody Wonder won the national Sprint held at the Dunmore Stadium and Powerstown Proper won the Laurels at Cork Greyhound Stadium.
In addition to the 10% government tax on off-course bets the Irish government introduce a further tax of 2.5% on all bets on-course and off-course.

## Principal UK races

Grand National, White City (April 27 525y h, £500) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Indoor Sport | Barney O'Connor | 4-5f | 29.98 | 6 |
| 2nd | Sabena's Prince | Les Parry | 8-1 | 30.28 | 1 |
| 3rd | Mood Indigo II | | 10-1 | 30.52 | 2 |
| 4th | Corsican Reward | Gordon Hodson | 5-1 | 30.55 | 5 |
| 5th | Forever Corville | Dennis Hannafin | 10-1 | 31.19 | 4 |
| 6th | Fairyfield Surprise | G.Jackson | 11-2 | 31.59 | 3 |
The Grand Prix Walthamstow (May 7, 500y, £500) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Monday's Ranger | Tom Reilly | 4-5f | 28.03 | 3 |
| 2nd | Adamstown Chief | | 100-8 | 28.31 | 2 |
| 3rd | Hi Longford | Tom Reilly | 13-2 | 28.43 | 1 |
| 4th | Toasted | | 25-1 | 28.51 | 4 |
| 5th | Killinarden Wonder | Tom Reilly | 11-4 | 28.67 | 6 |
| 6th | Nearly Blue | | 25-1 | 28.91 | 5 |
Gold Collar, Catford (May 18, 570y, £1,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Music Guest | Tom Johnston Jr. | 5-2 | 33.36 | 5 |
| 2nd | Lucky Boy Boy | John Bassett | 2-1f | 33.56 | 6 |
| 3rd | Brookville Genius | John Haynes | 20-1 | 33.80 | 3 |
| 4th | Boula Rattler | Alf Forman | 8-1 | 34.28 | 1 |
| 5th | Shannon Spirit | Phil Rees Sr. | 3-1 | 34.32 | 4 |
| 6th | Shanes Legacy | Tony Dennis | 6-1 | 34.96 | 2 |
Welsh Derby, Arms Park (Jul 6, 525y £500) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Fairys Chum | Bob Burls | 4-1 | 29.49 | 5 |
| 2nd | Crazy Peach | George Waterman | 20-1 | 29.61 | 6 |
| 3rd | Some Edition | Tom Reilly | 8-1 | 29.62 | 2 |
| 4th | Cahara Rover | Joe De Mulder | 4-5f | 29.66 | 4 |
| 5th | Fitzs Hall | Tom Reilly | 3-1 | 29.92 | 1 |
| 6th | Darn Hall | Bob Burls | 33-1 | 30.08 | 3 |
Oaks, Harringay (Jul 8, 525y, £500) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Cranog Bet | Phil Rees Sr. | 7-2 | 29.31 | 4 |
| 2nd | Witching Flare | Jim Singleton | 10-1 | 29.59 | 2 |
| 3rd | Hack It About | Jack Harvey | 13-8f | 29.67 | 5 |
| 4th | Right on Time | | 10-1 | 29.75 | 1 |
| 5th | Shady Mermaiden | Phil Rees Sr. | 4-1 | 29.99 | 3 |
| 6th | Beauties Dash | | 7-1 | 30.05 | 6 |
Scurry Gold Cup, Clapton (Jul 20, 400y £1,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Lucky Joan II | John Bassett | 3-1 | 22.70 | 2 |
| 2nd | Orange Grove II | Stan Gudgin | 25-1 | 23.04 | 3 |
| 3rd | Cranog Bet | Phil Rees Sr. | 5-2 | 23.10 | 1 |
| 4th | Misty King | Phil Rees Sr. | 100-8 | 23.38 | 6 |
| 5th | Larrys Model | Bill Kelly | 6-4f | 23.50 | 5 |
| 6th | Bulgaden Glory | Clare Orton | 6-1 | 23.68 | 4 |
Laurels, Wimbledon (Aug 17, 500y, £1,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Dalcassian Son | A.G.Hiscock | 7-2 | 28.08 | 2 |
| 2nd | Coup Leader | Clare Orton | 5-1 | 28.22 | 5 |
| 3rd | Badge of Flame | Jack Harvey | 100-8 | 28.28 | 3 |
| 4th | Lucky Hi There | Jimmy Jowett | 10-3 | 28.42 | 6 |
| 5th | Cranog Bet | Phil Rees Sr. | 9-2 | 28.52 | 4 |
| 6th | Dancing Point | (Clare Orton) | 11-4 | 28.53 | 1 |
St Leger, Wembley (Sep 2, 700y, £1,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Friendly Lass | Tony Dennis | 2-1 | 40.15 | 6 |
| 2nd | Massan | Jack Kinsley | 11-10f | 40.31 | 1 |
| 3rd | Crazy Peach | George Waterman | 8-1 | 40.87 | 3 |
| 4th | Strelka | Jim Irving | 5-1 | 41.27 | 4 |
| 5th | Prairie Kim | | 100-6 | 41.49 | 2 |
| N/R | Leinster Elm | Percy Stagg | | | 5 |
Scottish Greyhound Derby, Carntyne (Sep 7, 525y, £750) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | We'll See | Tom Johnston Jr. | 4-6f | 28.91 | 5 |
| 2nd | Fairys Chum | Bob Burls | 3-1 | 28.97 | 1 |
| 3rd | Free Hand | | 12-1 | 29.45 | 2 |
| 4th | Lowfield King | P.O'Loughlin | 4-1 | 29.93 | 4 |
| 5th | Super Car | Norman Oliver | 16-1 | 30.17 | 6 |
| 6th | Better Fame | | 20-1 | 30.49 | 3 |
Cesarewitch, West Ham (Oct 4, 600y, £1,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Jehu II | Gordon Hodson | 9-4 | 33.15 | 1 |
| 2nd | Music Guest | Tom Johnston Jr. | 8-1 | 33.35 | 5 |
| 3rd | Jamaica Inn | Paddy McEllistrim | 13-2 | 33.47 | 2 |
| 4th | Lucky Boy Boy | John Bassett | 6-4f | 33.67 | 3 |
| 5th | Melting Moments | Jimmy Clubb | 100-8 | 33.91 | 6 |
| 6th | Hi Over | Harry Bamford | 9-2 | 34.13 | 4 |

## Totalisator returns

Extended content :
The totalisator returns declared to the licensing authorities for the year 1963 are listed below.
Stadium
Turnover £
London (White City)5,078,429
London (Harringay)3,423,534
London (Wimbledon)2,616,204
London (Walthamstow)2,319,869
London (Wembley)2,064,260
London (Clapton)1,879,908
London (Catford)1,720,985
London (West Ham)1,640,886
Manchester (Belle Vue)1,619,512
London (Wandsworth)1,553,757
London (Stamford Bridge)1,225,670
London (New Cross)1,144,929
London (Hendon)1,133,813
London (Park Royal)1,113,066
Romford1,019,608
Manchester (White City)996,340
Edinburgh (Powderhall)992,423
London (Hackney)956,170
Glasgow (Shawfield)882,206
Stadium
Turnover £
Birmingham (Perry Barr, old)865,861
Brighton & Hove813,461
Slough753,619
Birmingham (Hall Green)725,000
Glasgow (White City)672,829
Leeds (Elland Road)671,758
Southend-on-Sea654,848
Crayford & Bexleyheath629,005
Manchester (Salford)588,576
London (Dagenham)584,491
Newcastle (Brough Park)580,551
Bristol (Eastville)553,955
Wolverhampton (Monmore)553,300
Newcastle (Gosforth)532,054
Bradford (Greenfield)483,010
Willenhall482,746
Sheffield (Owlerton)471,016
Ramsgate (Dumpton Park)467,721
Birmingham (Kings Heath)455,751
Stadium
Turnover £
Reading (Oxford Road)448,370
Cardiff (Arms Park)428,326
Gloucester & Cheltenham396,043
Glasgow (Carntyne)388,602
Derby324,845
Oxford280,837
Middlesbrough278,777
Gateshead270,199
Rochester & Chatham267,768
Hull (Old Craven Park)247,892
Aberdeen234,080
Nottingham (White City)224,319
Leicester (Blackbird Rd)219,574
Poole218,065
South Shields214,391
Preston198,362
Portsmouth150,685
Norwich (City)103,588 :