# 1966 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year

The 1966 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 40th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

## Roll of honour

Major Winners :
| Award | Name of Winner |
| 1966 English Greyhound Derby | Faithful Hope |
| 1966 Irish Greyhound Derby | Always Proud |
| 1966 Scottish Greyhound Derby | Dusty Trail |
| 1966 Welsh Greyhound Derby | I'm Quickest |
| Greyhound of the Year | Dusty Trail |
| Greyhound Trainer of the Year | Paddy Milligan |
| Irish Greyhound of the Year | Hairdresser |

## Summary

The industry celebrated its 40th anniversary but the event was marred by the government extended betting tax to all greyhound tracks and attendances suffered because of the 1966 World Cup. Wembley however refused to cancel regular greyhound racing resulting in the World Cup match between Uruguay and France being played at White City Stadium.
Dusty Trail is voted Greyhound of the Year after winning the Scottish Greyhound Derby, Select Stakes, International at Wimbledon and Anglo Irish International at White City, in addition to finishing runner-up in the Welsh Derby and reaching the Laurels final.

## Competitions

The racing schedule suffered bad organisation, with the Welsh Greyhound Derby, Oaks and Scurry Gold Cup all clashing in July and the Scottish Greyhound Derby and St Leger clashing in September. The Regency at Brighton & Hove Greyhound Stadium changed status from a produce race for British Bred greyhounds to an open competition for all-comers.
Halfpenny King nearly won the triple crown of jumping; after winning the English Grand National and Scottish Grand National he headed for Arms Park but finished second.

## Tracks

After eighteen years of attempting to gain a licence to run under National Greyhound Racing Club rules without success the Cradley Heath track were finally given a licence. The management led by Fred Jeffcott (the breeder of Fine Jubilee) and Racing Manager Lionel Clemmow started NGRC racing for the first time in September. Charlton Stadium re-opened, it had closed in 1962 and it took possession of the Olympic and Cloth of Gold from Wandsworth Stadium which closed.
Slough Stadium was purchased by the Greyhound Racing Association (GRA) and the Clapton Stadium shareholders contemplated a bid from GRA which included two training sites with 180 acres and an interest in the West Ham Stadium site. The deal goes ahead later in the year but there were concerns regarding the fact that the GRA policy was now buying and selling property sites. Both Horsley Hill in South Shields and Gateshead closed.
Wisbech Greyhound Stadium owner Herbert Barrett purchased independent track King's Lynn Stadium and introduced greyhound racing there.

## News

The Greyhound Express received a phone call from an Irishman asking if the reward for missing Juvenile winner Hi Joe was still on offer (he had been stolen the previous year). His trainer Noreen Collin contacted owner Victor Chandler and he said that it had been reduced from £2,000 to £1,000. The man called again and a meeting was arranged in the Three Greyhounds pup in Soho, where it was agreed that the reward would be paid through a lawyer but the police had been alerted and Detective Peter Jarrott tracked the case to a wooden garage in Dunstable and Hi Joe was found with some pups. The garage belonged to Bartholomew Casey and he had raced Hi Joe on the Bletchley flapping track under the name of Super Black. The culprit was caught and sent to court, but were released due to a bizarre ancient law stating that if a stolen dog goes missing for more than six months you cannot be charged with theft. However Casey was charged with stealing the dog's coat.

## Ireland

Val's Prince gained revenge on Always Proud during the Guinness 600, winning by three lengths from his rival. Always Proud had defeated Val's Prince in the final of the Irish Greyhound Derby.
Clomoney Grand won two major events by taking the Easter Cup and Callanan Cup.
Ballybunion opened for racing on 18 May.

## Principal UK races

Grand National, White City (April 23 525y h, £500) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Halfpenny King | John Shevlin | 7-2 | 30.28 | 5 |
| 2nd | Husky Breeze | John Bassett | 6-4f | 30.38 | 1 |
| 3rd | Lough Chief | J.Ramsden | 4-1 | 30.44 | 2 |
| 4th | Feakles Wish | George Carrigill | 12-1 | 30.45 | 3 |
| 5th | Greenane Star | | 12-1 | 30.65 | 4 |
| 6th | Westpark Beech | Phil Rees Sr. | 4-1 | 30.75 | 6 |
BBC Sportsview TV Trophy, Walthamstow (Apr 28, 880y, £1,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Bedford | Bob Thompson | 20-1 | 52.46 | 4 |
| 2nd | Lucky Arrow II | Peter Collett | 11-2 | 52.66 | 5 |
| 3rd | Sonora | | 14-1 | 52.69 | 1 |
| 4th | Greenane Flash | Jimmy Quinn | 11-8f | 52.85 | 6 |
| 5th | Breachs Blizzard | Judy Pattinson | 13-2 | 52.97 | 2 |
| 6th | Miss Vanilla | | 5-2 | 53.09 | 3 |
Gold Collar, Catford (May 14, 570y, £1,500) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Dark Symphony | Peter Collett | 100-8 | 33.21 | 1 |
| 2nd | Scaragh Brae | John Bassett | 15-8f | 33.33 | 6 |
| 3rd | Major Triumph II | Adam Jackson | 16-1 | 33.65 | 5 |
| 4th | Wonder Settler | John Bassett | 3-1 | 34.13 | 4 |
| 5th | Shake the Key | Reg Webb | 2-1 | 34.53 | 2 |
| 6th | Mimi II | Ivy Regan | 12-1 | 34.65 | 3 |
The Grand Prix, Walthamstow (May 31, 500y, £500) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Westpark Bison | Barney O'Connor | 8-11f | 40.14 | 5 |
| 2nd | Bousy | Jim Singleton | 13-7 | 40.26 | 2 |
| 3rd | Park Nightingale | | 5-1 | 40.29 | 1 |
| 4th | Miss Taft | Bob Burls | 12-1 | 40.69 | 6 |
| 5th | Kenler Dandy | Barney O'Connor | 25-1 | 40.75 | 4 |
| 6th | Misery Me | Adam Jackson | 6-1 | 40.91 | 3 |
Welsh Derby, Arms Park (Jul 2, 525y £500) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | I'm Quickest | Randy Singleton | 3-1 | 29.59 | 1 |
| 2nd | Dusty Trail | Paddy Milligan | 4-1 | 29.87 | 3 |
| 3rd | Double Rock | Paddy Milligan | 12-1 | 30.47 | 5 |
| 4th | Harmony | Jim Irving | 20-1 | 30.63 | 6 |
| 5th | Handsome Teddy | John Perrin | 10-1 | 30.71 | 2 |
| 6th | Greenane Flash | Jimmy Quinn | 1-1f | 31.27 | 4 |
Oaks, Harringay (Jul 4, 525y, £1,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Merry Emblem | Matt Bruton | 7-4 | 29.58 | 6 |
| 2nd | Lucky Dawn | Nora Gleeson | 11-2 | 29.61 | 5 |
| 3rd | Greek Lady | Jimmy Quinn | 13-8f | 29.64 | 2 |
| 4th | Marjone | Mick O'Toole | 20-1 | 29.67 | 3 |
| 5th | Office Problem | Bill Kelly | 10-1 | 29.77 | 1 |
| 6th | Rebeccas Pet | Eric Adkins | 14-1 | 29.78 | 4 |
Scurry Gold Cup, Clapton (Jul 9, 400y £1,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Geddys Blaze | Stan Gudgin | 9-2 | 22.79 | 4 |
| 2nd | Near The Fire | Clare Orton | 4-1 | 22.93 | 6 |
| 3rd | Gaultier King | Randy Singleton | 7-1 | 23.13 | 5 |
| 4th | Beech Walk Rover | Adam Jackson | 10-1 | 23.16 | 3 |
| 5th | Fallen Rock | John Coleman | 9-2 | 23.26 | 2 |
| 6th | Stately Val | Brian Jay | 13-8f | 23.34 | 1 |
Laurels, Wimbledon (Aug 12, 500y, £1,500) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Super Fame | Nora Gleeson | 9-2 | 28.05 | 5 |
| 2nd | Handsome Teddy | John Perrin | 7-1 | 28.07 | 2 |
| 3rd | Geddys Blaze | Stan Gudgin | 8-1 | 28.29 | 3 |
| 4th | Dusty Trail | Paddy Milligan | 11-10f | 28.30 | 1 |
| 5th | Mr Model | Tom Reilly | 10-1 | 28.48 | 6 |
| 6th | Alley Rose | | 40-1 | 28.50 | 4 |
Scottish Greyhound Derby, Carntyne (Sep 3, 525y, £1,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Dusty Trail | Paddy Milligan | 4-5f | 28.59 | 1 |
| 2nd | Corville Gallant | Jimmy Quinn | 3-1 | 28.87 | 3 |
| 3rd | Heckler | Bessie Lewis | 8-1 | 29.43 | 4 |
| 4th | Im Quickest | Randy Singleton | 6-1 | 29.67 | 5 |
| 5th | Bawn Heather | Harry Ward | 12-1 | 29.68 | 2 |
| 6th | Lax Law | J.Doyle | 8-1 | 30.08 | 6 |
St Leger, Wembley (Sep 5, 700y, £1,500) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Summer Guest | Wilf France | 11-8f | 40.03 | 1 |
| 2nd | Peculiar Way | George Curtis | 12-1 | 40.13 | 6 |
| 3rd | Bousy | Jim Singleton | 10-1 | 40.25 | 2 |
| 4th | Breachs Blizzard | Judy Pattinson | 7-2 | 40.39 | 3 |
| 5th | Handsome Teddy | John Perrin | 9-4 | 40.47 | 4 |
| 6th | Rainbow Trout | John Brown | 12-1 | 40.55 | 5 |
Cesarewitch, West Ham (Oct 7, 600y, £1,500) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Rostown Victor | Tom Johnston Jr. | 66-1 | 34.06 | 6 |
| 2nd | Corville Gallant | Jimmy Quinn | 8-13f | 34.10 | 4 |
| 3rd | Petes Regent | Bob Burls | 11-4 | 34.16 | 1 |
| 4th | Bimco | Kevin O'Neill | 25-1 | 34.56 | 5 |
| 5th | Greenane Squire | | 10-1 | 34.92 | 3 |
| 6th | Fast Buffalo | | 14-1 | 34.93 | 2 |

## Totalisator returns

Extended content :
The totalisator returns declared to the licensing authorities for the year 1966 are listed below.
Stadium
Turnover £
London (White City)5,710,047
London (Harringay)3,769,431
London (Wimbledon)3,577,943
London (Walthamstow)3,021,339
London (Wembley)2,571,368
London (Catford)2,087,003
London (Clapton)1,961,728
Manchester (Belle Vue)1,885,789
London (West Ham)1,870,596
London (Hendon)1,402,975
London (New Cross)1,400,474
Edinburgh (Powderhall)1,313,721
Romford1,313,372
Birmingham (Perry Barr, old)1,259,139
London (Stamford Bridge)1,249,301
Manchester (White City)1,180,380
Brighton & Hove1,113,400
London (Hackney)1,069,414
Birmingham (Hall Green)1,064,660
Stadium
Turnover £
Glasgow (Shawfield)1,053,926
London (Park Royal)958,985
Glasgow (White City)894,246
Newcastle (Brough Park)874,990
Wolverhampton (Monmore)857,881
Slough807,796
Leeds (Elland Road)790,528
Sheffield (Owlerton)763,417
Southend-on-Sea727,345
Manchester (Salford)723,707
Bristol (Eastville)682,734
Newcastle (Gosforth)662,458
Willenhall662,304
Crayford & Bexleyheath659,831
Birmingham (Kings Heath)634,780
Gloucester & Cheltenham614,884
Cardiff (Arms Park)602,790
London (Charlton)598,470
Liverpool (White City)559,306
Stadium
Turnover £
Reading (Oxford Road)552,145
Bradford (Greenfield)542,376
Hull (Old Craven Park)542,376
Ramsgate (Dumpton Park)533,552
Glasgow (Carntyne)472,316
Derby466,274
Poole435,382
Rochester & Chatham402,941
Oxford385,945
Middlesbrough368,436
Nottingham (White City)320,029
Portsmouth317,176
Leicester (Blackbird Rd)306,339
Preston302,101
Aberdeen278,233
Rayleigh (Essex)200,829
Norwich (City)185,395 :