# 1987 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year

The 1987 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 61st year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

## Roll of honour

Major Winners :
| Award | Name of Winner |
| 1987 English Greyhound Derby | Signal Spark |
| 1987 Irish Greyhound Derby | Rathgallen Tady |
| 1987 Scottish Greyhound Derby | Princes Pal |
| Greyhound Trainer of the Year | Fred Wiseman |
| Greyhound of the Year | Signal Spark |
| Irish Greyhound of the Year | Randy |
| Trainers Championship | Geoff De Mulder |

## Summary

The performances of Ballyregan Bob and Scurlogue Champ during the two previous years, combined with a strong UK economy resulted in a significant increase in greyhound racing popularity. The National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC) released the annual returns, with totalisator turnover up nearly 20% at £77,832,636 and attendances up over 5% recorded at 4,020,438 from 5255 meetings. Track tote remained at 17.5% and a further boost to the industry came when the government abolished tote tax on 29 March.
Major changes took place within the Greyhound Racing Association (GRA), the company merged with Wembley Stadium owners Arena Holdings to form a new company. The new company retained the GRA name and is valued at £68.5 million. In March the company closed Slough Stadium and six months later in September they closed Harringay Stadium which had been sold to Sainsbury's in 1985.
Satellite Information Services began to beam pictures into the betting shops from the 5 May, the company owned by the 'Big Four' Ladbrokes, Corals, William Hill and Mecca Bookmakers would pay the greyhound racing industry a fee for the televised rights. Ladbrokes however abstained from negotiations because they owned some of the tracks involved. Corals also owned some tracks involved but had the foresight to realise that they should pay a fee to help maintain the health of the industry. Ladbrokes actions only further enhanced the belief that bookmakers had too much control of the industry which was already subject to an investigation by the Office of Fair Trading. The negotiations ended with the NGRC charging £300 per each S.I.S meeting in addition to an extra 10% of the track's BAGS fee which prompts Ladbrokes to seek legal advice.

## Tracks

Two more tracks closed along with Harringay and Slough, they were Clacton and Chester but four also opened, those of Barrow, Canterbury, Swaffham and Bideford.
Hall Green underwent refurbishment costing £400,000 and Powderhall's new grandstand was completed costing £750,000 but suffered a fire that then caused £25,000 damage. The Scottish Greyhound Derby rights, held by GRA meant that Edinburgh would hold the event for the first time leaving Glasgow with no classic race. Shawfield Greyhound Racing and Leisure Company Ltd re-opened the Shawfield despite not having the Scottish Derby as their blue riband event.

## Competitions

Harringay's closure resulted in the Oaks going to Wimbledon Stadium and the Pall Mall Stakes going to Oxford. The Scurry Gold Cup switched to Catford Stadium following the closure of Slough. Crayford took possession of the Golden Jacket after spells at Hall Green and Monmore. Harringay had also held the event in the afternoon and it was very popular due to the television exposure of the event. Crayford also provided a new matinee meeting for their own Ladbrokes betting shops. Role of Fame made amends for a disappointing TV Trophy performance at Oxford by winning the Cesarewitch at Belle Vue.
The Savva camp had a double success towards the latter part of the year. First with Olivers Wish (from the same litter as Westmead Move) who won the £5,000 Gold Collar. Then in the Laurels at Wimbledon, Flashy Sir beat a field that included Derby champion Signal Spark.

## News

Trainers Ray Peacock and Linda Mullins joined Catford and Romford respectively from Harringay, Pam Heasman joined Wembley. Trainer Joe Booth died in hospital and George Curtis retired to be replaced by head man Bill Masters.
The kennel of Gary Baggs contained Puppy Derby champion Spiral Darkie, in addition to Fifty Pence, Fiddlers Run, Signal Spark and Karens Champ. Signal Spark emerged as the star when winning the 1987 English Greyhound Derby. Signal Spark was then transferred to Ernie Gaskin following a well-documented dispute between Gary Baggs and owner Towfiq Al-Aali, resulting in the latter removing his dogs from the Walthamstow trainer. Fred Wiseman also had a strong kennel including Scurry champion Rapid Mover, head man John McGee was credited for much of the success from the kennel. Signal Spark was voted Greyhound of the Year.

## Principal UK races

Grand National, Hall Green (Mar 28, 474m h, £3,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Cavan Town | Mel Cumner | 4-1 | 30.01 | 4 |
| 2nd | Monroe Tiger | | 20-1 | 30.04 | 3 |
| 3rd | Mondays Cannon | Phil Rees Jr. | 5-2 | 30.08 | 1 |
| 4th | Parktown Ranger | Tom Foster | 7-1 | 30.24 | 2 |
| 5th | Distant Echo | Mel Fordham | 11-2 | 30.42 | 5 |
| 6th | Diamonds Sparkle | Stan Gudgin | 6-4f | 30.70 | 6 |
BBC TV Trophy, Oxford (April 8, 845m, £4,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Glenowen Queen | Dick Hawkes | 7-1 | 53.37 | 4 |
| 2nd | Super Spell | Tony Martin | 33-1 | 53.55 | 6 |
| 3rd | Change Guard | Trevor Draper | 5-1 | 53.59 | 5 |
| 4th | Role of Fame | Adam Jackson | 4-9f | 53.67 | 1 |
| 5th | Tender Champ | Walter Dewbury | 10-1 | 54.27 | 3 |
| 6th | Irish Pallas | Ernie Wiseman | 50-1 | 55.27 | 2 |
Scurry Gold Cup, Catford (Jul 18, 385m, £5,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Rapid Mover | Fred Wiseman | 1-1f | 23.62 | 2 |
| 2nd | Lyons Turbo | Kenny Linzell | 25-1 | 23.80 | 4 |
| 3rd | Quarrymount Sigh | John Honeysett | 7-1 | 23.86 | 6 |
| 4th | High St Franz | Linda Mullins | 5-1 | 23.92 | 3 |
| 5th | Lively Sailor | John Gibbons | 10-1 | 23.98 | 1 |
| 6th | Up For One | Mick Puzey | 7-2 | 24.00 | 5 |
St Leger, Wembley (Aug 28, 655m, £12,500) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Life Policy | Bob Young | 12-1 | 39.96 | 5 |
| 2nd | Lone Wolf | Bill Masters | 5-2 | 40.06 | 6 |
| 3rd | Longcross Jim | Phil Rees Jr. | 7-1 | 40.20 | 2 |
| 4th | Yellow Emperor | Derek Knight | 6-4f | 40.40 | 1 |
| 5th | Bankers Benefit | Adam Jackson | 6-1 | 40.58 | 3 |
| 6th | Deal Now | Geoff De Mulder | 6-1 | 40.82 | 4 |
Scottish Greyhound Derby, Powderhall (Aug 29, 465m, £10,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Princes Pal | Matt Travers | 1-1f | 27.58 | 2 |
| 2nd | Killouragh Chris | Pete Beamount | 6-1 | 27.74 | 5 |
| 3rd | Karens Champ | Gary Baggs | 11-2 | 27.88 | 3 |
| 4th | Twiggys Rose | Hugh Davies | 33-1 | 28.06 | 1 |
| 5th | Fiddlers Run | Gary Baggs | 14-1 | 28.07 | 6 |
| 6th | Tapwatcher | Bob Young | 3-1 | dnf | 4 |
Gold Collar, Catford (Sep 19, 555m, £5,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Half Awake | Barry Silkman | 4-1 | 34.90 | 4 |
| 2nd | Justa Mo | Dinky Luckhurst | 2-1f | 35.02 | 1 |
| 3rd | Moths Dysert | Mick Puzey | 4-1 | 35.20 | 6 |
| 4th | Eldorado | Bob Young | 4-1 | 35.32 | 2 |
| 5th | Blackie Comehome | John Honeysett | 16-1 | 35.48 | 5 |
| 6th | Rashane Glory | Hugh Davies | 7-2 | 35.58 | 3 |
Cesarewitch, Belle Vue (Sep 26, 853m, £3,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Role Of Fame | Arthur Hitch | 1-7f | 52.41 | 1 |
| 2nd | Denes Mutt | Fred Wiseman | 10-1 | 53.01 | 2 |
| 3rd | Gotoon Peg | Carol Aymes | 20-1 | 53.31 | 6 |
| 4th | Mollifrend Es | Colin Packham | 8-1 | 53.37 | 4 |
| 5th | Little Dragonfly | John Coleman | 14-1 | 53.65 | 5 |
| 6th | Tender Champ | Walter Dewberry | 12-1 | 53.68 | 3 |
The Grand Prix, Walthamstow (Oct 10, 640m, £5,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Olivers Wish | Nick Savva | 7-2 | 39.86 | 4 |
| 2nd | Super Duchess | Kim Marlow | 6-4f | 39.98 | 2 |
| 3rd | Moths Dysert | Mick Puzey | 4-1 | 40.08 | 6 |
| 4th | Winsor Way | Fred Wiseman | 7-1 | 40.44 | 5 |
| 5th | Giblet | Ernie Gaskin Sr. | 16-1 | 40.74 | 1 |
| 6th | Silver Walk | Ernie Gaskin Sr. | 7-1 | 40.80 | 3 |
Oaks, Harringay (Oct 23, 475m, £5,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Lucky Empress | Allen Briggs | 2-1 | 28.43 | 6 |
| 2nd | Foretop | Kenny Linzell | 7-4f | 28.57 | 1 |
| 3rd | Louise Champion | Eric Vose | 5-1 | 28.79 | 3 |
| 4th | Holiday Hope | Pat Ryan | 6-1 | 28.89 | 5 |
| 5th | Giblet | Ernie Gaskin Sr. | 20-1 | 29.03 | 2 |
| 6th | Dominique | Phil Rees Jr. | 12-1 | 29.11 | 4 |
Laurels, Wimbledon (Dec 26, 460m, £5,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Flashy Sir | Nick Savva | 11-4 | 27.52 | 2 |
| 2nd | Pike Alert | Tom Foster | 10-1 | 27.66 | 3 |
| 3rd | Wendys Dream | Tom Foster | 8-1 | 27.78 | 4 |
| 4th | Signal Spark | Ernie Gaskin Sr. | 1-2f | 27.84 | 5 |
| 5th | Skomal | Barry Silkman | 14-1 | 27.86 | 1 |
| N/R | Lissadell Tiger | Ernie Gaskin Sr. | | | |

## Totalisator returns

Extended content :
The totalisator returns declared to the National Greyhound Racing Club for the year 1987 are listed below.
Stadium
Turnover £
London (Walthamstow)12,915,186
London (Wimbledon)11,992,684
London (Catford)5,328,078
London (Wembley)5,199,032
Brighton & Hove4,956,464
Romford4,913,624
Birmingham (Hall Green)3,011,000
Manchester (Belle Vue)2,830,723
London (Harringay)2,319,045
Crayford2,296,855
Edinburgh (Powderhall)1,789,171
Newcastle (Brough Park)1,694,113
Oxford1,691,894
Stadium
Turnover £
Sheffield (Owlerton)1,552,649
Ramsgate1,409,112
Wolverhampton (Monmore)1,397,324
Yarmouth1,145,974
Portsmouth1,124,862
Maidstone1,007,390
Glasgow (Shawfield)992,903
Reading873,921
Bristol791,570
Milton Keynes762,064
London (Hackney)720,476
Swindon634,107
Derby598,136
Stadium
Turnover £
Henlow (Bedfordshire)514,742
Rye House472,527
Hull (Old Craven Park)467,553
Poole439,697
Nottingham363,550
Middlesbrough346,800
Cradley Heath329,951
Peterborough325,466
Norton Canes320,783
Ipswich150,111
Canterbury135,000 :