# 1959 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year

The 1959 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 33rd year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

## Roll of honour

Major Winners :
| Award | Name of Winner |
| 1959 English Greyhound Derby | Mile Bush Pride |
| 1959 Irish Greyhound Derby | Sir Frederick |
| 1959 Scottish Greyhound Derby | Mile Bush Pride |
| 1959 Welsh Greyhound Derby | Mile Bush Pride |
| Greyhound of the Year | Mile Bush Pride |

## Summary

Mile Bush Pride was voted Greyhound of the Year after becoming only the second greyhound, after Trev's Perfection to win the Triple Crown which consisted of the English Greyhound Derby, Scottish Greyhound Derby and Welsh Greyhound Derby. Trained by Jack Harvey for owner Noel Purvis, a shipping magnate, the brindle greyhound also won the Pall Mall, Select Stakes and Cesarewitch in 1959.

## Competitions

Irish Greyhound Derby champion Colonel Perry moved kennels from John Bassett to Tom Baldwin and finished a disappointing fourth in the final of the Gold Collar behind Dunstown Warrior. After his English Greyhound Derby success, Mile Bush Pride ran out an eleven and a quarter winner of the Welsh Derby, in 28.80 seconds, eclipsing the previous track record by over five lengths. Mile Bush Pride then achieved the Triple Crown by winning the Scottish Derby in 29.41, beating the defending champion Just Fame by eight lengths.
During 1959 Pigalle Wonder won the Anglo-Irish International, the Wood Lane Stakes and successfully defended his Edinburgh Cup title.

## News

Charlie Birch became the new Racing Manager at White City and the Oaks moved to sister track Harringay Stadium. At the pre-Derby final luncheon at the Dorchester Hotel, Mrs Frances Chandler called for two changes to the sport. First the standardisation of starting traps and secondly the setting up of a greyhound national stud. The National Greyhound Racing Society considered changing the tote deductions at all National Greyhound Racing Club affiliated tracks. The current deduction stands at 16%, of which 10% goes to the government.
It was announced at the London veterinary conference that a vaccine had been found to counteract canine hepatitis. Now both distemper and hepatitis can be controlled.

## Ireland

A new track in Ireland opened in the form of Lifford, which was a former schooling track. The venue just south of the Northern Irish border in County Donegal was opened by James Magee. His sons Cathal and Sheamus would help run the track for many years. A track bookmakers strike over the cost of admissions to their staff resulted in racing being halted at many Irish venues.
One of the most prominent sires of all time, The Grand Champion died aged 9½. He had sired many champions including Mile Bush Pride and Palms Printer.

## Principal UK races

Grand National, White City (May 2 525y h, £300) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Prince Poppit | Dennis Hannafin | 3-1 | 30.10 | 1 |
| 2nd | Looks A Leader | Reg Bosley | 5-1 | 30.11 | 6 |
| 3rd | Khaffra | F.J.Hedley | 5-2f | 30.19 | 3 |
| 4th | Sammy Light | Jim Syder Jr. | 20-1 | 30.31 | 2 |
| 5th | Tangled Fate | George Waterman | 3-1 | 30.37 | 5 |
| 6th | Foolish Customer | Jimmy Purnell | 6-1 | 30.47 | 4 |
BBC Sportsview Trophy West Ham (May 6, 700y, £1,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Dont Divulge | Leslie Reynolds | 5-1 | 38.72 | 5 |
| 2nd | Dunmore Rocco | Dennis Hannafin | 1-1f | 38.86 | 4 |
| 3rd | Society Wonder | Jim Syder Jr. | 13-2 | 39.02 | 3 |
| 4th | Sailaway Rebel | Joe Pickering | 100-8 | 39.22 | 1 |
| 5th | Polar Airways | | 33-1 | 39.42 | 2 |
| 6th | Mink Muff | Joe De Mulder | 11-4 | 39.70 | 6 |
Gold Collar, Catford (May 23, 440y, £500) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Dunstown Warrior | Tom Reilly | 11-4 | 25.77 | 5 |
| 2nd | The Glen Abbey | Joe Pickering | 8-1 | 26.09 | 6 |
| 3rd | Marazion Minister | Stan Martin | 100-7 | 26.21 | 3 |
| 4th | Colonel Perry | Tom Baldwin | 15-2 | 26.41 | 1 |
| 5th | Armour Prince | Jack Harvey | 9-4f | 26.57 | 4 |
| 6th | Granite Glittering | Tony Dennis | 3-1 | 26.73 | 2 |
Welsh Derby, Arms Park (Jul 4, 525y £500) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Mile Bush Pride | Jack Harvey | 8-11f | 28.80+ | 2 |
| 2nd | Killahalla | Len Bane | 100-8 | 29.78 | 1 |
| 3rd | Prince of Speed | Jimmy Jowett | 100-6 | 29.86 | 3 |
| 4th | Snub Nose | Jimmy Purnell | 5-1 | 29.98 | 6 |
| 5th | No Wonder | Bob Burls | 7-2 | 30.14 | 5 |
| 6th | Glittering Paver | Wilf France | 33-1 | 30.36 | 4 |
Oaks, Harringay (Jul 6, 525y, £500) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Gurteen Scamp | George Waterman | 11-2 | 29.90 | 4 |
| 2nd | Simonette | Les Brown | 8-1 | 30.16 | 6 |
| 3rd | Fancy Cinema | Lewis Hiscock | 100-7 | 30.18 | 5 |
| 4th | Glittering Millie | Tim Forster | 5-1 | 30.24 | 3 |
| 5th | Naughty Judy | Jim Syder Jr. | 10-3 | 30.36 | 1 |
| 6th | Bridgetown Girl | Barney O'Connor | 5-4f | 00.00 | 2 |
Scottish Greyhound Derby, Carntyne (Jul 11, 525y, £500) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Mile Bush Pride | Jack Harvey | 2-7f | 29.41 | 3 |
| 2nd | Just Fame | Tom Johnston Sr. | 9-2 | 30.05 | 4 |
| 3rd | Mile From Curraglas | Alan Lake | 10-1 | 30.13 | 5 |
| 4th | Imperial Town | Joe Booth | 33-1 | 30.21 | 2 |
| 5th | Lynmoor | Joe Booth | 33-1 | 30.41 | 1 |
| N/R | Ollys Quare Breeze | | | | |
Scurry Gold Cup, Clapton (Jul 25, 400y £600) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Gorey Airways | Jimmy Jowett | 9-4 | 22.95 | 4 |
| 2nd | Imperial Bar | Dennis Hannafin | 5-1 | 23.17 | 6 |
| 3rd | Westland Cleo | Paddy Keane | 7-1 | 23.41 | 3 |
| 4th | Supreme King | Tom Smith | 7-4f | 23.45 | 1 |
| 5th | Wild Look | Stan Martin | 8-1 | 23.55 | 2 |
| 6th | Comrade | Reg String Marsh | 100-7 | 23.69 | 5 |
Laurels, Wimbledon (Aug 21, 500y, £1,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Mighty Hassan | Jack Harvey | 5-1 | 28.01 | 1 |
| 2nd | Tailors Cheerful | Tom Reilly | 5-1 | 28.19 | 3 |
| 3rd | Davy Crickett | Bob Burls | 66-1 | 28.25 | 2 |
| 4th | Mile Bush Pride | Jack Harvey | 10-11f | 28.33 | 5 |
| 5th | Derry Waltz | Stan Martin | 50-1 | 28.89 | 4 |
| 6th | Leighlin Champion | Barney O'Connor | 4-1 | 00.00 | 6 |
St Leger, Wembley (Sep 7, 700y, £1,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Wincot Clifford | Jack Toseland | 5-4f | 40.25 | 1 |
| 2nd | Princess Jester | Jack Harvey | 11-4 | 40.27 | 3 |
| 3rd | Snub Nose | Jimmy Purnell | 8-1 | 40.51 | 2 |
| 4th | Crazy Paving | Charles Payne | 6-1 | 40.57 | 5 |
| 5th | Pierrot | Ronnie Melville | 3-1 | 40.73 | 6 |
| 6th | Money Trebles | Bob Burls | 66-1 | 40.85 | 4 |
Cesarewitch, West Ham (Oct 9, 600y, £1,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Mile Bush Pride | Jack Harvey | 2-7f | 32.66 | 1 |
| 2nd | Just Fame | Tom Johnston Sr. | 100-8 | 33.26 | 5 |
| 3rd | Dunmore Rocco | Dennis Hannafin | 6-1 | 33.46 | 4 |
| 4th | De Luxe | W Taylor | 100-8 | 33.58 | 2 |
| 5th | Princess Jester | Jack Harvey | 100-6 | 33.62 | 6 |
| 6th | Pierrot | Ronnie Melville | 50-1 | 33.68 | 3 |