# 1956 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year

The 1956 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 30th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

## Roll of honour

Major Winners :
| Award | Name of Winner |
| 1956 English Greyhound Derby | Dunmore King |
| 1956 Irish Greyhound Derby | Keep Moving |
| 1956 Scottish Greyhound Derby | Quick Surprise |
| 1956 Welsh Greyhound Derby | Not held |

## Summary

Attendances and Totalisator turnover had stabilised, with the latter resulting in a turnover of around £55 million. The Churches' Council on gambling quoted a figure of £119 million but that figure was for total gambling spend within the industry. One problem for the industry was the fact that the biggest names Spanish Battleship, Rushton Mac and Pauls Fun had all retired leaving the search for a new star.

## Competitions

No single greyhound was able to secure more than one classic race success, the main Derby titles went to Dunmore King and Keep Moving. The 1956 English Greyhound Derby runner-up Duet Leader won the Laurels at Wimbledon Stadium and the Derby final third Gulf of Darien, reached the St Leger final at Wembley and the Cesarewitch at West Ham Stadium. The Welsh Greyhound Derby failed to take place again.
Shipping magnate Noel Purvis, who owned two of the 1956 Derby finalists gained consolation when Belingas Customer won the Scurry Gold Cup over 400 yards, a distance better suited to the greyhound than the Derby distance.

## Ireland

The main interest in Ireland was in regard to Prince of Bermuda, the brindle dog owned by Ned Buckley was considered to be the fastest greyhound in training at the time but had disappointed in the 1956 Irish Greyhound Derby final. A match race was organised between Prince of Bermuda, Northern King and Duet Leader at White City which ended with the Irish hound coming out best, he was subsequently retired to stud.

## Principal UK races

Grand National, White City (May 5 525y h, £300) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Blue Sand | Ken Appleton | 15-8f | 29.70 | 4 |
| 2nd | Merry April | Dennis Hannafin | 4-1 | 30.34 | 3 |
| 3rd | Jumping Pole | Reg Bosley | 11-4 | 30.62 | 5 |
| 4th | Vintners Cup | Jim Syder Jr. | 6-1 | 30.66 | 6 |
| 5th | Tanyard Tulip | Jack Harvey | 6-1 | 30.72 | 1 |
| 6th | Vented Cask | | 33-1 | 30.96 | 2 |
Gold Collar, Catford (May 26, 440y, £500) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Ponsford | Noreen Collin | 10-1 | 25.69 | 1 |
| 2nd | Rusty Chain | Ron Chamberlain | 8-11f | 25.72 | 2 |
| 3rd | Howardstown Tonic | Hackney | 8-1 | 25.75 | 5 |
| 4th | Tax Diablo | Jim Syder Jr. | 6-1 | 25.78 | 3 |
| 5th | Record Tass | | 7-2 | 26.10 | 4 |
| N/R | No Pay | | | | |
Scottish Greyhound Derby, Carntyne (Jul 14, 525y, £500) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Quick Surprise | Pat Mullins | 1-1f | 29.44 | 5 |
| 2nd | Fodda Champion | Harry Bidwell | 3-1 | 29.50 | 3 |
| 3rd | Rushton Spot | Frank Johnson | 3-1 | 29.58 | 2 |
| 4th | The Burr | | 7-1 | 29.62 | 1 |
| 5th | Grange Son | | 12-1 | 29.66 | 4 |
Scurry Gold Cup, Clapton (Jul 28, 400y £600) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Belingas Customer | Ronnie Melville | 10-3 | 22.82 | 4 |
| 2nd | Claremount John | Paddy McEvoy | 5-2f | 23.02 | 2 |
| 3rd | Cree Starlight | | 6-1 | 23.16 | 1 |
| 4th | Crostys Bell | Paddy McEvoy | 10-3 | 23.17 | 3 |
| 5th | Maghernagaw Flier | Sidney Orton | 8-1 | 23.31 | 5 |
| 6th | Westcourt Freedom | | 6-1 | 23.47 | 6 |
Laurels, Wimbledon (Aug 24, 500y, £1,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Duet Leader | Tom Reilly | 1-1f | 28.13 | 1 |
| 2nd | Cleos Gossip | Bob Burls | 5-2 | 28.19 | 6 |
| 3rd | Cool Magourna | | 10-1 | 28.33 | 3 |
| 4th | Claremount John | Paddy McEvoy | 5-1 | 28.51 | 5 |
| 5th | Rosevale Paddy | | 7-1 | 28.61 | 2 |
| 6th | Secret Armour | Tom Reilly | 10-1 | 28.75 | 4 |
St Leger, Wembley (Sep 10, 700y, £1,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Jakfigaralt | Joe Booth | 7-2 | 40.50 | 6 |
| 2nd | Gulf of Darien | Jack Harvey | 5-4f | 40.68 | 4 |
| 3rd | Black Envoy | Joe Booth | 3-1 | 40.70 | 3 |
| 4th | Whats Yat | Leslie Reynolds | 8-1 | 40.92 | 1 |
| 5th | Grandbally Shaun | Jack Harvey | 10-1 | 41.40 | 5 |
| 6th | Paracelsus | Jack Harvey | 25-1 | 41.41 | 2 |
The Grand Prix Walthamstow (Sep 25, 525y, £500) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Land Of Song | Bob Burls | 7-2 | 29.70 | 3 |
| 2nd | Parkland Hero | Mrs K.Roberts | 11-10f | 29.82 | 1 |
| 3rd | Jan | | 7-1 | 29.88 | 4 |
| 4th | Garbagh Bin | Bob Burls | 5-2 | 30.20 | 2 |
| N/R | Go Doggie Go | Jack Toseland | | | |
| N/R | Comin Champion | Jim Syder Jr. | | | |
Oaks, White City (Sep 29, 525y, £500) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | First But Last | Jack Harvey | 2-7f | 29.08 | 6 |
| 2nd | Dark Rose | Paddy Fortune | 9-2 | 29.52 | 1 |
| 3rd | Magourna Belle | | 100-7 | 29.53 | 4 |
| 4th | Rambling Cockeye | | 25-1 | 29.63 | 5 |
| 5th | Speir Bhean | Jack Harvey | 20-1 | 29.75 | 3 |
| 6th | Meanus Ann | | 66-1 | 30.55 | 2 |
Cesarewitch, West Ham (Oct 12, 600y, £1.000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Coming Champion | Jim Syder Jr. | 9-2 | 33.02 | 4 |
| 2nd | Gallant and Gay | Joe Pickering | 33-1 | 33.18 | 5 |
| 3rd | Gulf of Darien | Jack Harvey | 9-4 | 33.22 | 3 |
| 4th | Northern King | Jack Harvey | 7-4f | 33.38 | 6 |
| 5th | Jakfigaralt | Joe Booth | 9-2 | 33.42 | 2 |
| 6th | Kilcaskin Kilian | | 25-1 | 33.48 | 1 |