# 1957 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year

The 1957 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 31st year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

## Roll of honour

Major Winners :
| Award | Name of Winner |
| 1957 English Greyhound Derby | Ford Spartan |
| 1957 Irish Greyhound Derby | Hopeful Cutlet |
| 1957 Scottish Greyhound Derby | Ballypatrick |
| 1957 Welsh Greyhound Derby | Go Doggie Go |
| Greyhound of the Year | Duet Leader |

## Summary

Marsh Barton Stadium in Exeter closed; many smaller independent tracks were susceptible to closure, mainly due to the fact that government taxing of tote profits outweighed the income from attendances. This was leaving many of them untenable. Regulated tracks under the National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC) banner were better off and remained successful, with annual tote turnover still around £55 million. The Greyhound Racing Association (GRA) continued to be the most successful greyhound company (as it had been every year since the introduction of racing in 1926). The Chairman Francis Gentle announced that net profits had increased to £119,000 but the sale of Harringay Arena had been agreed because it was operating at a loss. It was sold to the Home and Colonial Stores Ltd. Gentle remains Chairman of the company but relinquishes his role as Managing Director to be replaced by Laddie Lucas.
Ford Spartan won the 1957 English Greyhound Derby and Duet Leader was voted Greyhound of the Year.

## Competitions

Kilcaskin Kern won the Irish St Leger and then went through a hectic schedule, flown straight to London to join new trainer Tony Dennis. The fawn dog then qualified for the Cloth of Gold at Charlton with three quick trials on three successive days. The decision was justified after he won the title. He also won Grand Prix at Walthamstow Stadium later in the year.
Ford Spartan (the Derby champion) won Laurels at Wimbledon Stadium but was then surprisingly retired to stud after just fourteen months racing.
Duke of Alva won all his races in reaching the St Leger final at Wembley and recorded sub 40 second runs in each round, the final was televised live on the BBC.

## News

Scoutbush was sold for $4,500, shortly after his Cesarewitch victory, to stand at stud in the United States. Sir Arthur Elvin MBE died, he had saved Wembley Stadium and turned it into one of the most famous stadiums in the world. Without him it would have been demolished in 1926.
Elias Jolley stood trial, after the 80 year old general manager of White City Stadium (Nottingham) was accused of widespread rigging of tote odds and destroying evidence. It was agreed by the London Greyhound Tracks committee that any greyhound disqualified for fighting would lose any prize money and trophies but it would not affect the result in terms of betting.
Derby runner-up Highway Tim was stolen from the kennels of Rosalie Beba, one month after the Derby final but was recovered safely after the van carrying them crashed and the driver was arrested.

## Ireland

The unsuccessful ante post Irish Greyhound Derby favourite, Solar Prince, went on to win the Tipperary Cup and Callanan Cup before winning a White City invitation race featuring Kilcaskin Kern, Ballypatrick and Northern King, held on the Oaks final night.
Prairie Champion has his first race was on 10 October 1957, when he participated in the McCalmont Cup at Kilkenny. He won his heat by ten lengths in 29.80 seconds and then won the final. After recording 29.10 seconds in a 525 yards trial at Harold's Cross Stadium he was bought by Al Burnett, who was known for owning the Pigalle Club in London and renamed Pigalle Wonder.

## Principal UK races

Grand National, White City (May 4 525y h, £300) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Tanyard Tulip | Jack Harvey | 2-1 | 29.85 | 5 |
| 2nd | Fodda Champion | Jimmy Jowett | 10-11f | 30.01 | 4 |
| 3rd | Johnnie Pops | | 10-1 | 30.65 | 1 |
| 4th | Harwin Boyerler | | 66-1 | 31.05 | 3 |
| 5th | Imperial Fawn | Dave Geggus | 5-1 | 31.61 | 2 |
| 6th | Overleigh Headline | | 33-1 | 00.00 | 6 |
Gold Collar, Catford (May 25, 440y, £500) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Silent Worship | John Bassett | 4-11f | 25.50 | 1 |
| 2nd | Ford Squire | Dennis Hannafin | 7-1 | 25.53 | 4 |
| 3rd | Parkland Hero | Miss G.Barrett | 25-1 | 25.77 | 5 |
| 4th | Fairy Lawn Champion | | 5-1 | 25.97 | 2 |
| 5th | Rail Guard | Bill Matthews | 25-1 | 26.13 | 3 |
| 6th | Chilly White | | 33-1 | 26.33 | 6 |
Welsh Derby, Arms Park (Jul 6, 525y £500) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Go Doggie Go | Jack Toseland | 5-4f | 29.38 | 3 |
| 2nd | Northern King | Jack Harvey | 5-2 | 29.46 | 6 |
| 3rd | Quare Fool | Harry Buck | 3-1 | 29.70 | 1 |
| 4th | Black Coak | Paddy McEvoy | 50-1 | 29.86 | 2 |
| 5th | The Grand Genius | | 7-1 | 29.90 | 4 |
| 6th | Sober Lane | | 25-1 | 29.94 | 5 |
Scottish Greyhound Derby, Carntyne (Jul 13, 525y, £250) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Ballypatrick | Cyril Beaumont | 7-1 | 29.53 | 2 |
| 2nd | Frisky Look | Jimmy Jowett | 2-5f | 29.55 | 4 |
| 3rd | Grange Son | | 16-1 | 29.87 | 1 |
| 4th | Parkside Paul | | 8-1 | 29.95 | 3 |
| 5th | Simmer Down Pal | Joe Booth | 5-1 | 30.19 | 5 |
Scurry Gold Cup, Clapton (Jul 27, 400y £600) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Lisbrook Chieftain | Reg Holland | 6-1 | 23.09 | 5 |
| 2nd | Prince Galtee | Jack Harvey | 4-1 | 23.41 | 3 |
| 3rd | Frisky Look | Jimmy Jowett | 7-2 | 23.51 | 1 |
| 4th | Dark Rose | W.G.Brown | 9-2 | 23.52 | 4 |
| 5th | Pointers Prince | Tom Smith | 5-2f | 23.53 | 6 |
| 6th | Customers Blazer | | 20-1 | 23.75 | 2 |
Laurels, Wimbledon (Aug 23, 500y, £1,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Ford Spartan | Dennis Hannafin | 2-7f | 27.89+ | 5 |
| 2nd | Clara Prince | Paddy McEvoy | 9-2 | 27.95 | 2 |
| 3rd | Bloom Again | J Taylor | 8-1 | 28.15 | 3 |
| 4th | Cleos Gossip | Bob Burls | 33-1 | 28.47 | 1 |
| 5th | Star of India | | 20-1 | 28.48 | 6 |
| 6th | Rail Guard | Bill Matthews | 100-1 | 28.62 | 4 |
St Leger, Wembley (Sep 9, 700y, £1,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Duke of Alva | Dicky Myles | 4-6f | 39.97 | 1 |
| 2nd | Highway Tim | Mrs.R.Beba | 9-4 | 40.25 | 6 |
| 3rd | Scoutbush | Bob Burls | 100-7 | 40.31 | 2 |
| 4th | Canuever | | 25-1 | 40.45 | 4 |
| 5th | Gurthrush Boy | Leslie Reynolds | 33-1 | 40.89 | 5 |
| 6th | Dark Rose | W.G.Brown | 9-1 | 41.01 | 3 |
The Grand Prix Walthamstow (Sep 24, 525y, £1,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Kilcaskin Kern | Tony Dennis | 8-11f | 29.25 | 3 |
| 2nd | Racing Don | Jim Syder Jr. | 4-1 | 29.69 | 6 |
| 3rd | Limafe | Dave Barker | 7-1 | 29.81 | 2 |
| 4th | Name the Peace | Tom Reilly | 6-1 | 29.93 | 4 |
| 5th | Flying Customer | | 25-1 | 30.09 | 5 |
| 6th | The Gifts Champion | Alf Forman | 100-7 | 30.17 | 1 |
Oaks, White City (Sep 28, 525y, £500) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Dark Rose | W G Brown | 4-6f | 29.02 | 2 |
| 2nd | Cute Customer | Ronnie Melville | 7-2 | 29.34 | 5 |
| 3rd | Ford Spectre | Dennis Hannafin | 7-1 | 29.37 | 1 |
| 4th | Kilcaskin Katherine | Johnny Bullock | 100-6 | 29.41 | 3 |
| 5th | Crosty Biddy | Alf Forman | 8-1 | 29.51 | 4 |
| 6th | Chester Grand | | 100-6 | 29.52 | 6 |
Cesarewitch, West Ham (Oct 11, 600y, £1,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Scoutbush | Bob Burls | 7-4f | 33.05 | 1 |
| 2nd | Highwood Sovereign | Leslie Reynolds | 13-2 | 33.17 | 2 |
| 3rd | Hurry Cleo (dh) | | 66-1 | 33.31 | 4 |
| 3rd | Clara Prince (dh) | Paddy McEvoy | 9-4 | 33.31 | 6 |
| 5th | Highway Tim | Mrs.R.Beba | 5-2 | 33.45 | 3 |
| 6th | Land of Song | Bob Burls | 7-1 | 33.59 | 5 |
dh=dead heat