# 1964 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year

The 1964 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 38th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

## Roll of honour

Major Winners :
| Award | Name of Winner |
| 1964 English Greyhound Derby | Hack up Chieftain |
| 1964 Irish Greyhound Derby | Wonder Valley |
| 1964 Scottish Greyhound Derby | Hi Imperial |
| 1964 Welsh Greyhound Derby | Davo's Rink |
| Greyhound Trainer of the Year | Harry Bamford |
| Greyhound of the Year | Lucky Hi There |

## Summary

The Dagenham Coup incident that took place at Dagenham Greyhound Stadium on 30 June 1964 took all the headlines and became one of the most infamous moments in greyhound racing history.
Despite the government reducing the totalisator tax to 5% from 10%, the industry saw a further fall in attendances. The National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC) affiliated tracks saw 11,208,657 paying customers at 6011 meetings with tote turnover of £50,178,166.

## Tracks

The Greyhound Racing Association (GRA) acquired Catford Stadium. Crayford & Bexleyheath Stadium owners Northumbrian and Crayford Trust Ltd joined the Totalisator Holdings group, owners of six other tracks. The Liverpool tracks of Seaforth Greyhound Stadium and White City Stadium (Liverpool) re-joined the NGRC set up after spells as independent tracks.
A new independent opened called the Boston Sports Stadium in New Hammond Beck Road but the worrying trend of tracks closing continued. Lythalls Lane Stadium in Coventry closed and was sold for redevelopment as a housing estate, with the prestigious Eclipse Stakes switching to Kings Heath Stadium in Birmingham. The owners of the Coventry track also owned the Brandon Speedway Stadium and had plans to bring greyhounds there. The other tracks to close were Blackpool Greyhound Stadium, Darnall Stadium and the independent Northampton track.

## Competitions

Cranog Bet won a second consecutive Oaks at Harringay Stadium which led to her being voted bitch of the year for the second year running. She won 18 of her 24 open races in 1964.
The greyhound of the year award went to a black dog called Lucky Hi There, whelped in November 1961. He switched to the longer trip after appearing the year before in the Laurels final and the Gold Collar final in May, where it was soon apparent that his future lay in stayer's races. He duly performed superbly and won the Cambridgeshire, Orient Cup, Wimbledon Spring Cup, Wembley Gold Cup and Scottish St Leger. In his first classic of the year at Wembley he won the St Leger title and was well on the way to eventually going sixteen races before finally being beaten, just three short of Mick the Miller's record. During 1964 he won 27 of his 35 races.

## News

Trainer George Waterman died which came as a shock to the industry. He had started the early part of the year impressively, by winning the Gold Collar, the Pall Mall Stakes, Cloth of Gold, Coronation Cup and Springbok. Wimbledon Stadium would appoint Nora Gleeson to fill the gap left at the Burhill kennel range. White City recruited trainer Randolph Singleton from sister track Belle Vue Stadium.
We'll See (the 1963 greyhound of the year) died on his way back to the GRA kennels at Northaw while in transit after heart failure; he had just won a heat of the Birmingham Cup.

## Principal UK races

Grand National, White City (April 25 525y h, £500) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Two Aces | Jimmy Rimmer | 10-11f | 30.42 | 1 |
| 2nd | Clerihan Reckless | Wally Hancox | 100-8 | 30.48 | 6 |
| 3rd | Fairyfield Surprise | G.Jackson | 3-1 | 30.68 | 2 |
| 4th | Oyster Haven | | 100-8 | 30.69 | 5 |
| 5th | Prince Fodda | Stan Martin | 25-1 | 30.72 | 3 |
| 6th | Rathaney Streak | Joe Pickering | 6-1 | 30.84 | 4 |
BBC Sportsview TV Trophy Powderhall (Apr 29, 880y, £1,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Hillstride | Tom Perry | 6-4f | 51.37 | 2 |
| 2nd | Pigalle Prince | Peter Collett | 2-1 | 51.53 | 3 |
| 3rd | Miss Elegant | Paddy Keane | 10-1 | 52.17 | 4 |
| 4th | Kilkeran Prince | Glasgow | 9-2 | 52.19 | 1 |
| 5th | Buckwheat | Reg Webb | 8-1 | 52.35 | 5 |
| 6th | Joystick | Harry Bamford | 7-2 | 52.47 | 6 |
Gold Collar, Catford (May 16, 570y, £1,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Mighty Wind | George Waterman | 33-1 | 33.36 | 2 |
| 2nd | Misty Chieftain | Adam Jackson | 10-11f | 33.37 | 1 |
| 3rd | Clifden Orbit | Tom Johnston Jr. | 10-1 | 33.37 | 4 |
| 4th | Ballymurn Chief | Ernie Butler | 5-1 | 33.53 | 3 |
| 5th | Hillside Buck | Gunner Smith | 40-1 | 33.61 | 6 |
| 6th | Lucky Hi There | Jimmy Jowett | 5-2 | 33.77 | 5 |
Welsh Derby, Arms Park (Jul 4, 525y £500) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Davo's Rink | Tom Baldwin | 9-4 | 28.84 | 2 |
| 2nd | Captain Pike | Phil Rees Sr. | 5-1 | 29.40 | 3 |
| 3rd | Sallys Story | Tony Dennis | 1-1f | 29.46 | 6 |
| 4th | King Dick | Phil Rees Sr. | 100-6 | 29.62 | 5 |
| 5th | Cahara Jet | Joe De Mulder | 7-1 | 29.74 | 4 |
| 6th | Rito | | 100-8 | 29.90 | 1 |
Oaks, Harringay (Jul 4, 525y, £500) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Cranog Bet | Phil Rees Sr. | 4-9f | 29.02+ | 2 |
| 2nd | Surprise | Bette Godwin | 8-1 | 30.06 | 1 |
| 3rd | Flying Sherry | Ken Moody | 8-1 | 30.09 | 6 |
| 4th | Peace Sprite | Jimmy Quinn | 25-1 | 30.11 | 5 |
| 5th | Lisheeghan Lady | | 5-1 | 30.15 | 4 |
| 6th | Hi Cola | Bill Kelly | 20-1 | 30.25 | 3 |
Scurry Gold Cup, Clapton (Jul 18, 400y £1,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Salthill Sand | John Bassett | 100-6 | 22.72 | 6 |
| 2nd | Lucky Land | | 100-8 | 23.46 | 2 |
| 3rd | Ballinasloe Fred | Bill Kelly | 10-1 | 23.47 | 4 |
| 4th | Cranog Bet | Phil Rees Sr. | 8-13f | 24.05 | 1 |
| 5th | Kans | Jack Harvey | 7-2 | 24.29 | 5 |
| 6th | Light Headed | Gordon Hodson | 100-8 | 24.35 | 3 |
Laurels, Wimbledon (Aug 14, 500y, £1,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Conna Count | Dennis Hannafin | 100-7 | 28.08 | 1 |
| 2nd | Pineapple Joe | Dennis Hannafin | 10-11f | 28.18 | 3 |
| 3rd | Kans | Jack Harvey | 5-2 | 28.20 | 5 |
| 4th | Captain Pike | Phil Rees Sr. | 100-8 | 28.44 | 4 |
| 5th | Ferns Con | Mrs.J.Reeve | 5-1 | 28.45 | 6 |
| 6th | Outcast Roger | | 25-1 | 28.55 | 2 |
St Leger, Wembley (Aug 31, 700y, £1,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Lucky Hi There | Jimmy Jowett | 1-2f | 39.90 | 4 |
| 2nd | Slow Traveller | Frank Conlon | 8-1 | 40.10 | 3 |
| 3rd | Shangris Captain | A.M.Bennett | 100-8 | 40.34 | 1 |
| 4th | Failte Mal | Bill Dash | 5-1 | 40.42 | 5 |
| 5th | Clifden Orbit | Tom Johnston Jr. | 7-1 | 40.43 | 2 |
| N/R | Automation | Phil Rees Sr. | | | 6 |
Scottish Greyhound Derby, Carntyne (Sep 5, 525y, £750) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Hi Imperial | Tom Johnston Jr. | 20-1 | 29.13 | 6 |
| 2nd | Private Gun | Tommy Kane | 5-1 | 29.14 | 2 |
| 3rd | Crazy Platinum | Bessie Lewis | 8-1 | 29.22 | 3 |
| 4th | Lowfield King | P.O'Loughlin | 6-1 | 29.36 | 4 |
| 5th | O'Leary | Jim Hookway | 4-7f | 29.39 | 1 |
| 6th | Scamp Boy | Bessie Lewis | 6-1 | 29.43 | 5 |
Cesarewitch, West Ham (Oct 2, 600y, £1,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Clifden Orbit | Tom Johnston Jr. | 4-1 | 33.08 | 6 |
| 2nd | Ring Roller | Jack Kinsley | 12-1 | 33.14 | 1 |
| 3rd | Pineapple Joe | Dennis Hannafin | 10-1 | 33.34 | 3 |
| 4th | Failte Mal | Bill Dash | 8-13f | 33.62 | 4 |
| 5th | Denises Pride | Randy Singleton | 20-1 | 33.65 | 2 |
| 6th | Slow Traveller | Frank Conlon | 5-1 | 33.68 | 5 |

## Principal Irish races

Produce Stakes, Clonmel (May 13, 525y £1,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | Time |
| 1st | Mothel Chief | Paddy Dunphy | 29.70 |
| 2nd | Vales Corner | | 30.18 |
| 3rd | Lucky Break | | 30.58 |
| 4th | Greenane Flame | | 30.78 |
| u | Kileden Chief | | |
| u | Rattle the Jungle | | |
St Leger, Limerick (Jul 11, 550y £1,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | Time |
| 1st | Brook Jockey | P Boyce | 31.66 |
| 2nd | Kylepark Special | | 31.72 |
| 3rd | Solo Jungle | | 32.00 |
| 4th | Honey Fitz | | 32.16 |
| u | Lovely Fashion | | |
| u | November King | | |
Laurels, Cork (Sep 12, 525y £1,250) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | Time |
| 1st | Tanyard Heather | P Cashman | 29.20 |
| 2nd | Good Brandy | | 29.36 |
| 3rd | Seagulls Ltd | | 29.76 |
| 4th | Tanyard There | | 29.92 |
| u | Brindle John | | |
| u | Bimco | | |
Oaks, Harold's Cross (Sep 18, 525y £1,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | Time |
| 1st | Knock Her | T O’Shaughnessy | 29.98 |
| 2nd | Have A Mink | | 30.10 |
| 3rd | Bally Minorca | | 30.11 |
| 4th | Venpact | | 30.35 |
| u | Weed Pest | | |
| u | Brandon View | | |
u=unplaced

## Totalisator returns

Extended content :
The totalisator returns declared to the licensing authorities for the year 1964 are listed below.
Stadium
Turnover £
London (White City)4,817,765
London (Harringay)3,157,901
London (Wimbledon)2,477,246
London (Walthamstow)2,367,934
London (Wembley)2,178,577
London (Clapton)1,757,020
London (Catford)1,704,894
Manchester (Belle Vue)1,699,762
London (West Ham)1,677,282
London (Wandsworth)1,552,680
London (Stamford Bridge)1,124,298
London (Hendon)1,121,676
London (New Cross)1,094,011
Romford1,078,854
Edinburgh (Powderhall)1,052,195
Manchester (White City)1,016,507
Birmingham (Perry Barr, old)980,477
Glasgow (Shawfield)904,791
London (Park Royal)896,739
Brighton & Hove841,553
Stadium
Turnover £
London (Hackney)823,797
Birmingham (Hall Green)766,837
Slough723,168
Glasgow (White City)713,322
Leeds (Elland Road)685,494
Crayford & Bexleyheath672,566
Southend-on-Sea652,600
Manchester (Salford)623,516
Newcastle (Brough Park)610,007
Bristol (Eastville)608,358
Wolverhampton (Monmore)589,489
Newcastle (Gosforth)543,663
Willenhall542,387
Cardiff (Arms Park)541,252
London (Dagenham)534,336
Ramsgate (Dumpton Park)496,702
Bradford (Greenfield)490,951
Sheffield (Owlerton)486,339
Reading (Oxford Road)484,672
Stadium
Turnover £
Birmingham (Kings Heath)463,246
Gloucester & Cheltenham424,472
Liverpool (White City)415,753
Glasgow (Carntyne)391,829
Derby372,172
Poole338,888
Oxford331,782
Rochester & Chatham314,635
Gateshead303,070
Middlesbrough287,248
Liverpool (Seaforth)285,094
Hull (Old Craven Park)243,075
Aberdeen239,323
Leicester (Blackbird Rd)234,056
Nottingham (White City)230,844
South Shields218,345
Portsmouth200,560
Preston198,701
Norwich (City)127,804 :