# 1998 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year

The 1998 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 72nd year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

## Roll of honour

Major Winners :
| Award | Name of Winner |
| 1998 English Greyhound Derby | Toms The Best |
| 1998 Irish Greyhound Derby | Eyeman |
| 1998 Scottish Greyhound Derby | Larkhill Jo |
| Greyhound Trainer of the Year | Linda Mullins |
| Greyhound of the Year | Toms The Best |
| Irish Dog and Bitch of the Year | Eyeman / April Surprise |
| Trainers Championship | Ernie Gaskin Sr. |

## Summary

The National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC) released the annual returns, with totalisator turnover at £78,981,066 and attendances recorded at 3,606,704.
Irish Greyhound Derby champion Toms The Best trained by Nick Savva was voted Greyhound of the Year after finishing runner-up in the Scottish Greyhound Derby at Shawfield Stadium and winning the 1998 English Greyhound Derby.
Linda Mullins won Greyhound Trainer of the Year for the third successive year.
The industry lost Wembley when it was announced that greyhound racing would no longer take place there. The last race was held on Friday 18 December. A twist of fate resulted in a no race on that final night after a hare failure, just like 71 years previous when on the opening night in 1927 the same happened.

## Tracks

Independent track Long Eaton in the hands of the receivers Grant Thompson suffered a catastrophic grandstand fire on Sunday 27 December. The receivers had hoped to sell it for £1.5 million to developers but the Erewash council had voted unanimously (44-0) that the track would remain a sporting venue. However that plan was scuppered after the fire which local police treated as suspicious. With no grandstand anyone interested in bringing back racing had pulled out of negotiations. Leading owner, Pat Chambers, had been involved in a scheme to buy the track in January.

## News

Wembley Racing Manager John Rowley left the sport whilst Peter Miller moved to Hove. Wembley trainers Ken Tester and Terry Atkins relocated to Catford before switching to Crayford and Oxford respectively, Patsy Cusack joined Crayford and Hazel Dickson joined Wimbledon, John Haynes kept a small kennel to open race, while Wally Ginzel and Pam Heasman would both soon retire.
The Sporting Life closed in May after a merger with the Racing Post; it was the end of an era for the newspaper that had served greyhound racing for decades and its editor Bob Betts. Subsequently the Racing Post sponsored a new festival of racing at Walthamstow.
Seven-time champion trainer John McGee Sr. returned to England after spending four years in Ireland. He leased the Halls Green Farm kennels in Roydon, Essex, where former Walthamstow stars were reared, after selling his Woodlands Kennels in County Kildare. His relationship with the NGRC remained fractious and they announced that they would not be licence him until he met the £30,000 legal bill accumulated from the failed high court ban back in 1994. After agreeing a payment he was given an attachment at Rye House. Meanwhile at Peterborough Racing Manager Mike Middle retired and was replaced by Con Baker.
Sheffield won the Supertrack (a competition between tracks); they beat the competition which included hosts Walthamstow by scoring 81 points; Walthamstow finished 2nd with 69 points with Henlow in third with 39.

## Competitions

The last Grand National at Hall Green was won by a greyhound called El Tenor trained by Linda Mullins and owned by Italian film producer Mario Lanfranchi. The brindle dog had won the Essex Vase in 1996 before being disqualified and being switched to hurdles and then won 9 from 13 before the Grand National. During the final El Tenor came from off the pace to catch and beat Quote That and Mullins saw a gap in the open race circuit over stayers hurdles. No other greyhound could compete with him over staying hurdles events and he won many open races throughout the year and passed Poor Sue's record of 69 open victories when picking up another victory at Nottingham in December.
In the Pall Mall Stakes at Oxford Stadium Droopys Eric took a length off Carmels Prince's eight year old track record beating Blue Murlen in the process. Later following a major car accident Droopys Eric was injured with a kennelmate dying and passenger Olive Tasker seriously injured. Eric was withdrawn from the semi-finals. On 17 March, Ernie Gaskin Sr. won his third trainer's championship when winning the event at Sittingbourne. The event was the closest in history because Gaskin and Brian Clemenson tied on points, meaning that on count back the number of winners would determine the champion. However they also had an equal number of winners, which resulted in the decision that second placings would count.
During the Golden Jacket final Bubbly Princess won but was then disqualified by the stewards, the connections were waiting at the podium when the announcement took place. Linda Jones and the Bubbly Club lost the £7,500 first prize but Mario Lanfranchi the owner of El Onda gave the trophy away after not being happy at winning by default.

## Principal UK races

Worthington Creamflow Bitter Grand National, Hall Green (Apr 7, 474m h, £7,500) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | El Tenor | Linda Mullins | 11-10f | 29.20 | 5 |
| 2nd | Quote That | David Mullins | 8-1 | 29.22 | 2 |
| 3rd | Why Brian | Terry O'Sullivan | 9-2 | 29.24 | 1 |
| 4th | Chums Choice | Robinson | 12-1 | 29.36 | 6 |
| 5th | Kevs Express | Tom Foster | 14-1 | 29.76 | 3 |
| 6th | Stradeen Ranger | Gary Baggs | 4-1 | 29.94 | 4 |
Regal Scottish Derby, Shawfield (Apr 18, 480m, £20,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Larkhill Jo | Nick Savva | 5-4f | 29.01 | 5 |
| 2nd | Toms The Best | Nick Savva | 5-2 | 29.07 | 6 |
| 3rd | Droopys Deniro | Charlie Lister | 20-1 | 29.15 | 4 |
| 4th | Jonssen | John McGee Sr. | 5-1 | 29.29 | 3 |
| 5th | Treasury Tag | Francie Murray | 6-1 | 29.43 | 1 |
| 6th | Mi Sateen | John McGee Sr. | 6-1 | 29.58 | 2 |
Reading Masters, Reading (May 3, 465m, £20,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | You Will Call | Jo Burridge | 5-1 | 27.90 | 3 |
| 2nd | Fawn Boy | Nikki Adams | 6-1 | 27.93 | 5 |
| 3rd | Spoonbill Snowey | Michael Bacon | 6-4f | 28.07 | 6 |
| 4th | Enchanted Wood | Roy Towner | 20-1 | 28.11 | 2 |
| 5th | Ceekay | Linda Mullins | 7-2 | 28.19 | 4 |
| 6th | Frisco Sir | Ray Peacock | 8-1 | 28.29 | 1 |
Worthington Creamflow Bitter Scurry Gold Cup, Catford (Jul 11, 385m, £2,500) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Im Frankie | Mick Puzey | 9-1 | 24.40 | 3 |
| 2nd | Leaders Highway | Geoff De Mulder | 4-1 | 24.48 | 4 |
| 3rd | Union Decree | Ernie Gaskin Sr. | 4-9f | 24.50 | 1 |
| 4th | Lenson Gold | Norah McEllistrim | 10-1 | 24.76 | 2 |
| 5th | Kilderry Mover | John Coxon | 25-1 | 25.00 | 5 |
| 6th | Hello Buttons | Linda Mullins | 8-1 | 25.02 | 6 |
Syntegra Gold Collar, Catford (Sep 19, 555m, £7,500) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Pure Patches | Dinky Luckhurst | 11-10f | 34.68 | 5 |
| 2nd | El Hombre | Linda Mullins | 2-1 | 34.86 | 1 |
| 3rd | Homeside Knight | Tom Gates | 14-1 | 35.26 | 2 |
| 4th | El Franco | Linda Mullins | 14-1 | 35.42 | 4 |
| 5th | Bubbly Lad | Linda Jones | 10-1 | 35.60 | 6 |
| 6th | Dalcash Sile | Tony Taylor | 7-1 | 35.62 | 3 |
Laurent-Perrier Grand Prix, Walthamstow (Oct 3, 640m, £7,500) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Dans Sport | Charlie Lister | 6-1 | 39.79 | 6 |
| 2nd | Honest Lord | Lee Gifkins | 2-5f | 39.85 | 1 |
| 3rd | Scart Eight | Gary Baggs | 25-1 | 39.95 | 4 |
| 4th | Farloe Bonus | Charlie Lister | 4-1 | 40.09 | 5 |
| 5th | Farloe Bramble | Terry Dartnall | 16-1 | 40.49 | 3 |
| N/R | Lydpal Frankie | Tony Meek | | | |
William Hill Laurels, Belle Vue (Oct 17, 460m, £6,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Ardant Jimmy | Sandra Ralph | 10-1 | 28.05 | 4 |
| 2nd | Ceekay | Linda Mullins | 7-4 | 28.13 | 1 |
| 3rd | Ballygalda Mike | John Walton | 16-1 | 28.15 | 2 |
| 4th | Quick Stop | Tony Lythgoe | 25-1 | 28.23 | 3 |
| 5th | Tippins Garden | June McCombe | 12-1 | 28.25 | 5 |
| 6th | Spoonbill Snowey | Michael Bacon | 5-4f | 28.43 | 6 |
Evening Standard TV Trophy, Wimbledon (Oct 13, 868m, £6,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Note Book | Gary Adam | 3-1 | 54.75 | 6 |
| 2nd | Thornfield Bob | Brian Murfin | 5-1 | 55.01 | 5 |
| 3rd | Spenwood Wizard | Ron Hough | 4-1 | 55.15 | 1 |
| 4th | Impulsive Girl | Chris Emmerson | 7-4f | 55.31 | 3 |
| 5th | Spenwood Gem | Ron Hough | 5-1 | 55.43 | 2 |
| 6th | Annamore Blue | Ernie Wiley | 33-1 | 55.81 | 4 |
Wendy Fair St Leger, Wembley (Nov 6, 655m, £12,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Droopys Pacino | Tony Bullen | 4-1 | 39.67 | 3 |
| 2nd | Lady Flyaway | Brian Clemenson | 14-1 | 39.91 | 2 |
| 3rd | Hi Bob | David Pruhs | 10-1 | 39.92 | 6 |
| 4th | Guest In Time | Brian Clemenson | 7-2 | 39.95 | 5 |
| 5th | Let Me Run | Brian Clemenson | 7-2 | 40.17 | 4 |
| 6th | Lydpal Frankie | Tony Meek | 4-5f | 40.20 | 1 |
Thoroughbred Investments Oaks, Wimbledon (Nov 12, 480m, £6,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Sarah Dee | Nick Savva | 6-4f | 28.82 | 4 |
| 2nd | Droopys Maeve | Henry Tasker | 5-2 | 28.86 | 5 |
| 3rd | Velvet Return | Charlie Lister | 5-2 | 29.12 | 6 |
| 4th | Seskin Judy | Angie Kibble | 3-1 | 29.13 | 1 |
| 5th | Westmead Gigi | Nick Savva | 10-1 | 29.27 | 2 |
| 6th | Pure Penny | Jason Foster | 12-1 | 29.91 | 3 |
William Hill Cesarewitch, Catford (Dec 5, 718m, £5,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Fourth Ace | Barry Wileman | 9-4 | 47.01 | 1 |
| 2nd | Droopys Paul (dh) | Linda Mullins | 1-2f | 47.11 | 2 |
| 2nd | El Onda (dh) | Linda Mullins | 9-2 | 47.11 | 4 |
| 4th | Catch Mona | Brian Clemenson | 10-1 | 47.61 | 3 |
| N/R | Piercestown Gift | Mick Bailey | | | |
| N/R | Magpie Miss | Ernie Gaskin Sr. | | | |

## Totalisator returns

Extended content :
The totalisator returns declared to the National Greyhound Racing Club for the year 1998 are listed below.
Stadium
Turnover £
London (Walthamstow)11,944,657
London (Wimbledon)8,455,306
Romford7,326,179
Manchester (Belle Vue)4,925,733
Birmingham (Hall Green)4,738,521
Brighton & Hove4,738,292
London (Catford)3,376,356
Sheffield (Owlerton)2,894,945
Peterborough2,891,227
Birmingham (Perry Barr)2,553,614
Crayford2,478,003
Stadium
Turnover £
Sunderland2,131,724
Poole1,750,882
Wolverhampton (Monmore)1,651,061
Glasgow (Shawfield)1,647,828
London (Wembley)1,538,480
Oxford1,526,708
Milton Keynes1,503,990
Nottingham1,472,640
Portsmouth1,328,722
Yarmouth1,310,523
Newcastle (Brough Park)1,204,602
Stadium
Turnover £
Reading1,114,281
Swindon819,064
Harlow784,315
Sittingbourne701,967
Canterbury637,481
Hull (New Craven Park)483,231
Doncaster (Stainforth)306,486
Rye House196,420
Mildenhall191,172
Swaffham189,398
Henlow (Bedfordshire)171,158 :