# 1981 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year

The 1981 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 55th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

## Roll of honour

Major Winners :
| Award | Name of Winner |
| 1981 English Greyhound Derby | Parkdown Jet |
| 1981 Irish Greyhound Derby | Bold Work |
| 1981 Scottish Greyhound Derby | Marbella Sky |
| Greyhound Trainer of the Year | Joe Cobbold |
| Greyhound of the Year | Decoy Boom |
| Irish Greyhound of the Year | Parkdown Jet |
| Trainers Championship | Joe Cobbold |

## Summary

The National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC) released the annual returns, with totalisator turnover down 10%, at £72,950,373 and attendances down 10%, recorded at 4,943,396 from 5291 meetings. Attendances had decreased significantly for the second year running, although party due to 200 less meetings it was a worrying time for the industry. Track tote retention remained 17% and government tote tax 4%.
Decoy Boom, a fawn bitch was voted Greyhound of the Year. She won the BBC TV Trophy, GRA Stakes, Scottish Marathon, Stow Marathon and Longcross Cup.

## Tracks

Chesterton Greyhound Stadium and Maidstone joined the NGRC permit scheme. Two independents opened Brownhills and Skegness.

## News

Tim Hale and Derek Bowman replaced Racing Manager Harry Bridger at Leeds; the track owners Ladbrokes later announced the site would be used for industrial development in the near future.
Towards the end of the year the country suffered terrible weather and the majority of the horse racing fixtures were cancelled. This meant that extra afternoon race meetings were organised to help the betting shops. Extra fixtures were organised by Hackney, Bristol, Monmore, Cambridge, Romford and Crayford. This provided an opportunity for tracks to negotiate a better deal for the future to combat the drop in attendances blamed on the betting shops, however they failed to do so preferring to take short term cash benefits instead.
The Greyhound Racing Association (GRA) announced that they had repaid two thirds of their debt. The business was doing well from its greyhound racing income which begged the question as to how the company allowed themselves to get into such debt in the first place.
Leading trainer Pat Mullins died in March after collapsing whilst working at his kennels in Manningtree. He had suffered a heart attack the previous year and had been warned by doctors to avoid stress. His wife Linda Mullins would take over the kennels. The leading independent trainer Charlie Lister took out an NGRC licence and would soon gain some success, his first breakthrough was with Swift Band, who won the 1981 East Anglian Derby.

## Competitions

Marbella Sky won the Scottish Greyhound Derby at Shawfield Stadium, and later finished runner up in the Edinburgh Cup at Powderhall Stadium. The greyhound (still a puppy) faced an exciting future but was then stolen from the Wakefield kennels of his trainer Ray Andrews. He was never recovered.
A new major event was inaugurated at Wembley called the Blue Riband and would replace the long running Wembley Spring Cup which had been one of the first major competitions in the greyhound racing calendar. The Grand National at White City went to Bobcol trained by Norah McEllistrim; the black dog had already won the Springbok crown the previous year. The hurdler went on to score a hat-trick when travelling to Powderhall and winning the Scottish Grand National.
Lauries Panther, a black and white dog, whelped in April, 1980 by Shamrock Sailor out of Lady Lucy, was owned by Laurie James and trained at Romford by Terry Duggan and appeared on the racing scene in the Bobby Jack Puppy Cup run at Wimbledon Stadium in November, followed by the Christmas Puppy Cup at Romford. He performed well and would be aimed at the Pall Mall Stakes the following year.
Oran Jack twice broke the Irish national 550 yards record on his way to winning the Irish St Leger at Limerick. The fawn dog trained by husband and wife team Michael and Rose Grealish recorded 30.20 and 30.16 in the second round and semi finals respectively, before winning the final.

## Principal UK races

BBC TV Trophy, Perry Barr (Mar 18, 830m, £2,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Decoy Boom | Joe Cobbold | 54.27 | 7-4f | 5 |
| 2nd | Laugh Lines | | 54.31 | 16-1 | 3 |
| 3rd | Pineapple Choice | Paul Smith | 54.67 | 4-1 | 4 |
| 4th | Salina | George Lang | 54.87 | 3-1 | 2 |
| 5th | Westmead Light | Natalie Savva | 54.88 | 7-2 | 1 |
| 6th | Corboy Champion | George Curtis | 55.16 | 20-1 | 6 |
Grand National, White City (April 4 500m h, £4,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Bobcol | Norah McEllistrim | 1-2f | 30.64 | 1 |
| 2nd | Westmead Prince | Natalie Savva | 10-1 | 30.84 | 3 |
| 3rd | Dine Out | Paddy McEvoy | 11-4 | 30.88 | 2 |
| 4th | Breakaway Slave | | 50-1 | 31.18 | 6 |
| 5th | Weston Whisky | | 10-1 | 31.30 | 5 |
| 6th | Westlands Steve | Gunner Smith | 10-1 | 31.44 | 3 |
Laurels, Wimbledon (May 22, 460m, £5,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Echo Spark | Joe Cobbold | 5-1 | 27.84 | 6 |
| 2nd | Upland Tiger | George Curtis | 4-9f | 27.85 | 1 |
| 3rd | Over the River | Tom Reilly | 10-1 | 27.97 | 2 |
| 4th | Johnnys Brandy | | 66-1 | 28.31 | 4 |
| 5th | Lancia Q | Paddy McEvoy | 8-1 | 28.45 | 3 |
| 6th | Radio Skinomage | Jack Coker | 25-1 | 28.51 | 5 |
Scurry Gold Cup, Slough (Jul 18, 442m, £5,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Longcross Smokey | Phil Rees Jr. | 5-1 | 27.17 | 6 |
| 2nd | Emerald Freedom | Charlie Coyle | 9-2 | 27.21 | 1 |
| 3rd | Bright Tiger | Les Stiles | 10-1 | 27.29 | 2 |
| 4th | Lancia Q | Paddy McEvoy | 1-1f | 27.31 | 5 |
| 5th | Sawyers King | Arthur Hitch | 10-1 | 27.55 | 4 |
| 6th | Express Work | Hazel Walden | 33-1 | 27.79 | 3 |
Harp Lager Scottish Derby, Shawfield (Aug 8, 500m, £3,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Marbella Sky | Ray Andrews | 12-1 | 30.66 | 3 |
| 2nd | Dysart Ends | Stewart Loan | 20-1 | 30.88 | 2 |
| 3rd | Zippi Boy | Bill Gray | 7-2 | 30.92 | 4 |
| 4th | Heres Gay | Gordon Hodson | 5-2 | 30.98 | 1 |
| 5th | Solos Style | | 10-1 | 31.14 | 5 |
| 6th | Decoy Ranger | Joe Cobbold | 11-10f | 31.18 | 6 |
St Leger, Wembley (Aug 28, 655m, £6,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Fox Watch | Mrs Jill Holt | 5-2jf | 40.17 | 4 |
| 2nd | Alfa My Son | Leon Steed | 5-2jf | 40.27 | 6 |
| 3rd | Ballybeg Bob | David Oswald | 8-1 | 40.31 | 2 |
| 4th | Johnny Bristol | Peter Payne | 7-1 | 40.37 | 3 |
| 5th | Safe Landing | Tom Foster | 12-1 | 40.40 | 1 |
| 6th | Longcross Smokey | Phil Rees Jr. | 7-2 | 40.42 | 5 |
Gold Collar, Catford (Sep 19, 555m, £5,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Laughing Sam | Mrs Pat Goode | 4-1 | 35.50 | 6 |
| 2nd | Geekay Patch | G Kenny-Derby | 13-8f | 35.51 | 3 |
| 3rd | Crack On | | 50-1 | 35.77 | 2 |
| 4th | Sport Promoter | Linda Mullins | 4-1 | 35.80 | 5 |
| 5th | Ballybeg Bob | David Oswald | 3-1 | 35.83 | 4 |
| 6th | Rathduff Solara | Tony Dennis | 5-1 | 35.87 | 1 |
Cesarewitch, Belle Vue (Oct 3, 815m, £4,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Kinda Friendly | Ernie Gaskin Sr. | 7-4f | 52.68 | 6 |
| 2nd | McElm Pride | Miss S Phillips | 5-2 | 53.20 | 3 |
| 3rd | Nails United | Smith | 12-1 | 53.44 | 5 |
| 4th | Rolstone Rose | Mary Baber | 7-2 | 53.68 | 1 |
| 5th | Newlands Honour | | 33-1 | 53.72 | 4 |
| 6th | Rambling Bridie | Tony Jowett | 5-1 | 53.73 | 2 |
The Grand Prix, Walthamstow (Oct 17, 640m, £5,500) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Rathduff Solara | Tony Dennis | 2-1jf | 40.71 | 6 |
| 2nd | Relkcom | Johnny Faint | 2-1jf | 40.81 | 5 |
| 3rd | Emerald Freedom | Charlie Coyle | 5-1 | 40.82 | 1 |
| 4th | Ballybeg Bob | David Oswald | 9-2 | 41.22 | 2 |
| 5th | Korchnoi | Bill Horton | 6-1 | 41.24 | 3 |
| 6th | Burgess Gift | | 40-1 | 41.46 | 4 |
Oaks, Harringay (Oct 30, 475m, £3,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Thanet Princess | Dick Hawkes | 11-2 | 28.82 | 3 |
| 2nd | Toker Gannet | T Nicholls | 7-2 | 28.90 | 4 |
| 3rd | Sundridge Bet-U | Tony Dennis | 4-1 | 29.02 | 5 |
| 4th | Decoy Villa | Joe Cobbold | 15-8f | 29.08 | 1 |
| 5th | Oakfield Tracey | Rita Hayward | 16-1 | 29.48 | 6 |
| 6th | Sailor May | Eric Pateman | 4-1 | 30.02 | 2 |

### Principal Irish finals

Easter Cup Shelbourne (525y) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Time | Trainer |
| 1st | Murrays Mixture | 29.15 | Francie Murray |
| 2nd | |
| 3rd | |
| 4th | |
| 5th | |
| 6th | |
Purina National Produce Clonmel (525y £6,250) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Time | Trainer |
| 1st | Calandra Champ | 29.66 | Francie Murray |
| 2nd | Pure Hardship | 29.68 | |
| 3rd | |
| 4th | |
| 5th | |
| 6th | |
Shelbourne 600 Shelbourne (600y) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Time | Trainer |
| 1st | Macintosh Mentor | 33.78 | Mullen |
| 2nd | |
| 3rd | |
| 4th | |
| 5th | |
| 6th | |
Smithwicks St Leger Limerick (10 October, 550y, £7,500) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Time | Trap | Trainer |
| 1st | Oran Jack | 30.62 | 2 | Rose Grealish |
| 2nd | Sharps Express | 30.83 | 5 | Matt O'Donnell |
| 3rd | Murlens Blond | 31.04 | 1 | Paddy Keane |
| 4th | Caoilte | 31.18 | 3 | Simpson |
| u | Carless Sonny | | 4 | John Hayes |
| u | Killimy Ivy | | 6 | Matt O'Donnell |
Lyon Industrial Estates Oaks Shelbourne (525y £11,300) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Time | Trainer |
| 1st | Claremount May | 29.52 | Niall Maher |
| 2nd | Thornbrae Lass | 29.62 | |
| 3rd | Our Tallyho | 29.67 | |
| u | Joebe | | |
| u | Kasco Lady | | |
| u | Blue Rum | | Michael Byrne |
Champion Stakes Shelbourne (550y) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Time | Trainer |
| 1st | I'm Lovely | 32.02 | John Hayes |
| 2nd | |
| 3rd | |
| 4th | |
| 5th | |
| 6th | |
Cashman Laurels Cork (29 Aug, 525y £7,500) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Time | Trap | Trainer |
| 1st | Knockeen Master | 29.50 | 3 | Christy O'Callaghan |
| 2nd | Millbowe Sam | 29.60 | 2 | Murray |
| 3rd | Free To All | | 4 | Boyle |
| u | Kilmagoura Mist | | 1 | Hickey |
| u | Ahaveen Katie | | 5 | Curtin |
| u | Ocean Jerome | | 6 | Hayes |
Burmah Puppy Derby Harolds Cross (Sep, 525y) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Time | Trainer |
| 1st | Greenwood Robic | 29.82 | Tom Lynch |
| 2nd | Stradey Park | 30.10 | Cecil Todd |
| 3rd | Bright Pin | | |
| 4th | Oyster Cracker | | |
| u | Cooladine Super | | |
| u | Ballywilliam Star | | |

## Totalisator returns

Extended content :
The totalisator returns declared to the National Greyhound Racing Club for the year 1981 are listed below.
Stadium
Turnover £
London (Walthamstow)8,053,327
London (White City)7,880,545
London (Wimbledon)5,779,087
London (Harringay)4,070,119
Romford3,603,654
Brighton & Hove3,602,521
London (Catford)3,362,440
London (Wembley)3,108,983
Slough3,047,136
Manchester (Belle Vue)2,425,326
Birmingham (Hall Green)2,253,573
Crayford & Bexleyheath2,036,679
Edinburgh (Powderhall)1,972,105
Newcastle (Brough Park)1,444,716
Birmingham (Perry Barr, old)1,407,054
Sheffield (Owlerton)1,405,848
Stadium
Turnover £
Southend-on-Sea1,398,628
Glasgow (Shawfield)1,393,818
Leeds1,126,619
Wolverhampton (Monmore)1,109,007
London (Hackney)941,982
Yarmouth844,127
Ramsgate840,013
Gloucester & Cheltenham824,159
Portsmouth805,085
Derby751,876
Bristol696,632
Oxford518,221
Milton Keynes507,891
Newcastle (Gosforth)507,474
Nottingham490,251
Ipswich463,919
Stadium
Turnover £
Poole450,595
Reading423,842
Middlesbrough404,421
Hull (Old Craven Park)383,348
Cradley Heath375,280
Henlow (Bedfordshire)332,928
Leicester309,996
Cambridge307,163
Rye House300,976
Coventry274,602
Swindon260,091
Manchester (White City)225,933
Maidstone110,142
Chesterton94,243
Norton Canes20,000 :