# 1938 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year

The 1938 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 13th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

## Roll of honour

Major Winners :
| Award | Name of Winner |
| 1938 English Greyhound Derby | Lone Keel |
| 1938 Irish Greyhound Derby | Abbeylara |
| 1938 Scottish Greyhound Derby | Roeside Scottie |

## Summary

1938 in the United Kingdom was a place of tension due to the unrest in Europe and the ongoing negotiations between the Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain and Germany. However the public continued to embrace greyhound racing which was an affordable national pastime. Attendances at the National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC) licensed tracks topped 26 million with totalisator turnover recorded as £39,352,839. The track tote deduction was 6% and the government tote tax was an additional 6%.
The leading greyhound company, the Greyhound Racing Association (GRA) significantly increased profits once again. The operating profit for 1938 was £278,000 (a substantial figure at the time) and attendances at GRA tracks increased rose to 4,408,412. The GRA also invested heavily into their breeding facility on the company owned Fan Court Farm, on the Longcross Road in Chertsey, Surrey.
Lone Keel won the 1938 English Greyhound Derby, he was jointly owned by Staines Greyhound Stadium's owner Jack Walsh and William Hill (the founder of the betting company.
The All England Cup was introduced at Brough Park as the most significant event outside of London and the trophy was presented by Helen Percy, Duchess of Northumberland.
Glen Ranger won the Golden Crest, reached three major finals and broke multiple track records throughout the year.

## Tracks

Six known tracks were opened, three of which were in Scotland. Independent tracks were common north of the border with many choosing not to apply for NGRC status and remaining as small unlicensed tracks.

### Tracks opened

| Date | Stadium/Track | Location |
| 9 July | Denny Stadium | Denny |
| 14 September | Hartlepool Stadium | Hartlepool |
| 1 October | Coundon Greyhound Stadium | Coundon, County Durham |
| 3 November | Houghton Stadium | Houghton-le-Spring, County Durham |
| 21 December | Raploch Park | Larkhall |
| unknown date | North End Greyhound Stadium | Cowdenbeath |
| unknown date | Pontefract Greyhound Stadium | Pontefract |

## Competitions

Trainer Joe Harmon experienced considerable success with his pair of kennels brothers, Puppy Derby champion Junior Classic and Juvenile Classic and Trafalgar Cup champion Quarter Day. Junior Classic overcame a tough field in the Gold Collar, a competition that included 1937 English Greyhound Derby champion Wattle Bark, now trained by Leslie Reynolds and Scurry Gold Cup champion Hexham Bridge. One week earlier Juvenile Classic had jumped to glory in the Grand National.
Jesmond Cutlet made an unsuccessful attempt at defending his Scottish Greyhound Derby title, when well beaten by favourite Roe Side Scottie in July and during the same month Orlucks Best won the Scurry Gold Cup, one year after he finished runner up in the same event. Ballyhennessy Sandills retained his Laurels crown, a great achievement because the final consisted of Wattle Bark, Bealtaine and Roe Side Scottie. Quarter Day claimed the Oaks from Gretas Rosary.
Nine days later Gretas Rosary picked up the St Leger winner's prize at Wembley. The blue brindle and white bitch had a qualifying heat in between the two classic competition finals and also accounted for the Irish Greyhound Derby winner Abbeylara. Quarter Day then returned to White City, in November and won the valuable 'White City' invitation race.

## Ireland

Abbeylara stood out as the leading greyhound in Ireland, the brindle dog easily won the Irish Greyhound Derby and the St Leger. He also reached the English St Leger final.

## News

GRA trainer Eddie Wright moved from his Powderhall kennels to the Hook Estate and Kennels and a track attachment at Harringay and the GRA also moved Harry Buck from Belle Vue to White City.

## Principal UK races

Grand National, White City (May 21, 525y h, £300) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Juvenile Classic | Joe Harmon | 2-1 | 30.35 | 5 |
| 2nd | Bay Moon | Joe Harmon | 8-1 | 30.47 | 2 |
| 3rd | Grakle | Paddy McEllistrim | 8-1 | 30.87 | 3 |
| 4th | Mount Pottinger | Jerry Hannafin | 25-1 | 31.03 | 4 |
| 5th | Lenins Ring | Joe Harmon | 4-7f | 31.19 | 1 |
Gold Collar, Catford (May 28, 400y, £600) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Junior Classic | Joe Harmon | 11-8f | 25.77 | 6 |
| 2nd | Demotic Mack | Charles Cross | 100-7 | 25.87 | 2 |
| 3rd | Sandfield Girl | Archie Whitcher | 6-1 | 26.19 | 3 |
| 4th | Hexham Bridge | Bill Cowell | 5-1 | 26.51 | 1 |
| 5th | Golden Alexander | Jimmy Campbell | 6-1 | 26.59 | 5 |
| 6th | Wattle Bark | Leslie Reynolds | 7-2 | 26.69 | 4 |
Scottish Greyhound Derby, Carntyne (Jul 9, 525y, £240) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Roeside Scottie | Michael Downey | 1-1f | 29.53 | 6 |
| 2nd | Whispering Symphony | Michael Downey | 7-2 | 29.54 | 2 |
| 3rd | Jesmond Cutlet | Dal Hawkesley | 6-1 | 29.86 | 3 |
| 4th | Kinauld Demonstrator | Eddie Wright | 14-1 | 30.02 | 4 |
| 5th | Model Hope | J.W Day | 10-1 | 30.18 | 5 |
| 6th | Yarridge Heights | Bill Cowell | 10-1 | 30.34 | 1 |
Scurry Gold Cup, Clapton (Jul 23, 400y, £500) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Orlucks Best | Charlie Ashley | 11-8f | 23.24 | 6 |
| 2nd | Demotic Mack | Charles Cross | 4-1 | 23.40 | 5 |
| 3rd | Kilcora Willie | Charlie Ashley | 8-1 | 23.44 | 4 |
| 4th | Westley Bridge | Jack Harvey | 100-7 | 23.68 | 2 |
| 5th | Ballyhennessy Sandills | Sidney Orton | 11-4 | 23.72 | 3 |
| 6th | Found At Last | Jack Power | 100-7 | 23.96 | 1 |
Laurels, Wimbledon (Aug 12, 500y, £700) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Ballyhennessy Sandills | Sidney Orton | 11-8f | 28.50 | 6 |
| 2nd | Wattle Bark | Leslie Reynolds | 7-2 | 28.78 | 1 |
| 3rd | Glen Ranger | Les Parry | 9-4 | 28.82 | 5 |
| 4th | Bealtaine | Joe Harmon | 100-6 | 28.88 | 3 |
| 5th | Roe Side Scottie | Michael Downey | 20-1 | 28.96 | 2 |
| 6th | Woodstock Swift | Joe Harmon | 25-1 | 29.36 | 4 |
Oaks, White City (Sep 10, 525y, £300) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Quarter Day | Joe Harmon | 4-5f | 29.49 | 5 |
| 2nd | Gretas Rosary | Eddie Wright | 11-4 | 29.93 | 2 |
| 3rd | Dogberry Davate | E Harfield | 100-8 | 30.49 | 3 |
| 4th | Sally Maid | A Rees | 6-1 | 30.57 | 1 |
| 5th | Oak Cutlet | Marshall | 8-1 | 30.61 | 4 |
| 6th | Grey Ribbon | Tom Lightfoot | 33-1 | 31.25 | 6 |
St Leger, Wembley (Sep 19, 700y, £500) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Gretas Rosary | Eddie Wright | 7-4jf | 40.82 | 4 |
| 2nd | Gayhunter | A Jack | 7-2 | 40.98 | 2 |
| 3rd | Keeries Pride | Patrick McKinney | 100-8 | 41.22 | 5 |
| 4th | Catherine of Waterhall | Bill Cowell | 100-8 | 41.23 | 6 |
| 5th | Neville the Devil | Leslie Reynolds | 10-1 | 41.43 | 3 |
| 6th | Abbeylara | Tom Black | 7-4jf | 41.59 | 1 |
The White City White City (Nov 5, 525y, £2,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Quarter Day | Joe Harmon | 2-1f | 29.58 | 5 |
| 2nd | Jesmond Cutlet | Dal Hawkesley | 100-7 | 29.98 | 3 |
| 3rd | Roeside Scottie | Michael Downey | 7-1 | 30.46 | 6 |
| 4th | Glen Ranger | Les Parry | 3-1 | 30.48 | 2 |
| 5th | Cinderella of Waterhall | Bill Cowell | 10-1 | 30.56 | 4 |
| 6th | Ballyjoker | Sidney Orton | 11-4 | 30.60 | 1 |
Cesarewitch, West Ham (Dec 12, 600y, £500) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Ballyjoker | Sidney Orton | 3-1 | 34.02 | 1 |
| 2nd d/h | Barryreel | Joe Harmon | 8-1 | 34.34 | 2 |
| 2nd d/h | Colonel of Waterhall | Leslie Carpenter | 6-1 | 34.34 | 3 |
| 4th | Glen Ranger | Les Parry | 1-1f | 34.42 | 4 |
| 5th | Great Record | Eddie Wright | 10-1 | 34.44 | 5 |
| 6th | Neville the Devil | Leslie Reynolds | 33-1 | 35.00 | 6 |
Key d/h = dead heat

## Totalisator Returns

Extended content :
| Country | No of tracks (with tote) | Turnover |
| England | 81 | £ 33,545,716 |
| Wales | 2 | £ 304,077 |
| Scotland | 9 | £ 2,189,090 |
| Total | 92 | £ 36,038,883 |