# 1996 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year

The 1996 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 70th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

## Roll of honour

Major Winners :
| Award | Name of Winner |
| 1996 English Greyhound Derby | Shanless Slippy |
| 1996 Irish Greyhound Derby | Tina Marina |
| 1996 Scottish Greyhound Derby | Burnpark Lord |
| Greyhound Trainer of the Year | Linda Mullins |
| Greyhound of the Year | Spring Rose |
| Irish Dog and Bitch of the Year | Mountleader Peer / Tina Marina |
| Trainers Championship | Ernie Gaskin Sr. |

## Summary

The National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC) released the annual returns, with totalisator turnover at £73,575,880 from 6384 meetings. The drop in tote turnover could be partly attributed to the first full year of the National Lottery which had begun the previous November.
Spring Rose trained by Charlie Lister was voted Greyhound of the Year after winning the Grand Prix at Walthamstow Stadium and the St Leger at Wembley. She broke the Walthamstow track record twice on her way to winning the Grand Prix and made the St Leger final unbeaten before clocking 39.29 in the final, a new track record.
Linda Mullins became the first woman to win the Greyhound Trainer of the Year.

## Tracks

There was no news on the London Stadium (Hackney) which was in administration, the situation looked unsettled despite good reviews about the stadium. It also hosted the Trainers Championship won by Ernie Gaskin Sr.
Ramsgate Stadium was closed by the receivers but sister track Oxford Stadium was bought by Isle of Man businessman Don Joyce who brought in a new general manager Dan McCormack.
Sittingbourne closed following financial problems but was re-opened by Roger Cearns, the grandson of WJ Cearns the founder of Wimbledon Stadium.
The National Lottery was cited as one of the main reasons why Raikes Park Greyhound Stadium in Bolton closed. The site on by the Raikes colliery on the Manchester Road had been one of the most prestigious Independent tracks and hosted the Independent Derby, St Leger and Guineas. It was a major loss within the independent circles and the independents had a bad year because Bury St Edmunds also closed.

## News

Former Slough and Wembley trainer Ted Dickson died leaving daughter Hazel to run the kennels on her own. When Ramsgate closed trainer Peter Rich moved to Catford and then Romford in quick succession. Hove trainer Bill Masters retired leaving Alan (Claude) Gardiner to take over the kennel. Gardiner was previously assistant to Brian Clemenson. Romford installed former Bolton Racing Manager Peter O'Dowd as the new Racing Manager to replace Steve Daniel who had only recently replaced Ray Spalding.
The Bord na gCon sold the site of the Cork Greyhound Stadium in Cork and purchased a green-field site in Curraheen on the western fringes of the city with the intention of building a brand new facility there.
The Intertrack betting service was introduced for the first time enabling racegoers at other tracks around the country to view the racing and place bets direct into the Wimbledon tote.

## Competitions

A greyhound called Some Picture looked a great prospect after winning the Select Stakes and Eclipse.

## Principal UK races

Daily Mirror/Sporting Life Grand National, Hall Green (Mar 27, 474m h, £7,500) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Dynamic Display | Barry O'Sullivan | 7-2 | 29.23 | 2 |
| 2nd | Diamond Hero | Les Lawrence | 7-2 | 29.25 | 1 |
| 3rd | Fear Faire | Kim Marlow | 7-2 | 29.27 | 5 |
| 4th | Colorado Joker | Maria Nierobisz | 5-1 | 29.39 | 3 |
| 5th | Doctor Fox | David Mullins | 3-1f | 29.53 | 4 |
| 6th | Ebony Lad | Kim Marlow | 9-1 | 29.61 | 6 |
BBC TV Trophy, Walthamstow (Apr 6, 820m, £6,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Suncrest Sail | Charlie Lister | 7-2 | 51.75 | 2 |
| 2nd | Martinstown Gem | Patsy Byrne | 3-1 | 51.87 | 4 |
| 3rd | High Knight | Ernie Gaskin Sr. | 9-4f | 52.11 | 1 |
| 4th | Miss Piggy | Ann Power | 5-2 | 52.23 | 6 |
| 5th | Autumn Tiger | S Brunt | 16-1 | 52.31 | 3 |
| 6th | Dusty Image | C Finch | 50-1 | 52.71 | 5 |
Regal Scottish Derby, Shawfield (Apr 27, 480m, £20,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Burnpark Lord | Dave Hopper | 5-2 | 29.32 | 1 |
| 2nd | Carnegie | John Robinson (Ire) | 14-1 | 29.40 | 5 |
| 3rd | Quick Tune | Gordon Hodson | 3-1 | 29.44 | 6 |
| 4th | Heres Andy | Paul Stringer | 6-4f | 29.54 | 2 |
| 5th | Cill Dubh Sam | Hazel Dickson | 20-1 | 29.74 | 4 |
| 6th | Murlens Link | Willie Frew | 3-1 | 29.94 | 3 |
Reading Masters, Reading (May 13, 465m, £20,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Doyougetit | Tony Meek | 2-5f | 27.99 | 6 |
| 2nd | Come On Royal | Barry McIntosh | 6-1 | 28.11 | 3 |
| 3rd | Mottos Gold | Arthur Hitch | 8-1 | 28.23 | 2 |
| 4th | El Grand Senor | Linda Mullins | 11-2 | 28.29 | 1 |
| 5th | Mi Cooper | Kennerley | 7-1 | | 4 |
| N/R | Gold Dempsey | Terry Kibble | | | |
Scurry Gold Cup, Catford (Jul 13, 385m, £2,500) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Come On Royal | Barry McIntosh | 4-1 | 23.58 | 2 |
| 2nd | Woodside Erah | Arthur Boyce | 7-2 | 23.64 | 4 |
| 3rd | Aglish Lester | Brian Clemenson | 14-1 | 23.72 | 3 |
| 4th | Chipeta Jack | Tony Taylor | 10-1 | 23.74 | 5 |
| 5th | Lemon Duchess | Ernie Gaskin Sr. | 9-2 | 23.82 | 1 |
| 6th | Tiger Khan | Derek Knight | 7-4f | 23.90 | 6 |
Gold Collar, Catford (Sep 21, 555m, £7,500) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Homeside Knight | Tom Gates | 7-1 | 34.80 | 3 |
| 2nd | Away Duke | Derek Knight | 9-4 | 34.81 | 1 |
| 3rd | El Tenor | Linda Mullins | 8-11f | 34.82 | 4 |
| 4th | Square Penny | Derek Knight | 10-1 | 34.84 | 6 |
| 5th | Heros Morsel | Linda Mullins | 33-1 | 34.96 | 5 |
| N/R | Coom Cruiser | Derek Knight | | | |
Laurent-Perrier Grand Prix, Walthamstow (Oct 5, 640m, £7,500) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Spring Rose | Charlie Lister | 4-7f | 39.05+ | 6 |
| 2nd | Sadlers Return | Ernie Gaskin Sr. | 9-2 | 39.61 | 2 |
| 3rd | Level Coaster | Bob Hall | 9-2 | 39.71 | 5 |
| 4th | Deenside Sport | Dick Hawkes | 25-1 | 39.87 | 1 |
| 5th | Honest Guv | Chris Duggan | 50-1 | 40.11 | 3 |
| 6th | Hilton Patch | Natalie Savva | 14-1 | 40.31 | 4 |
Ike Morris Laurels, Wimbledon (Oct 12, 460m, £7,500) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | El Grand Senor | Linda Mullins | 9-4f | 27.52 | 1 |
| 2nd | Pavilion Rock | Sam Sykes | 11-4 | 27.94 | 2 |
| 3rd | Sandwichsunshine | Peter Rich | 4-1 | 27.98 | 5 |
| 4th | Im Trigo | Tom Foster | 10-1 | 27.99 | 4 |
| 5th | Killila Johno | Sam Sykes | 20-1 | 28.09 | 6 |
| 6th | Night Trooper | Nikki Adams | 7-2 | 28.29 | 3 |
Wendy Fair St Leger, Wembley (Nov 15, 655m, £12,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Spring Rose | Charlie Lister | 2-5f | 39.29+ | 6 |
| 2nd | Wise Beauty | Patsy Byrne | 7-1 | 39.91 | 2 |
| 3rd | Dinan Wonder | Charlie Lister | 10-1 | 39.93 | 1 |
| 4th | Bonnies Major | Steve Davis | 10-1 | 40.09 | 5 |
| 5th | Level Coaster | Bob Hall | 12-1 | 40.11 | 4 |
| 6th | One For Tarbert | Graham Holland | 33-1 | 40.63 | 3 |
Cesarewitch, Catford (Dec 7, 718m, £5,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Elbony Rose | Nick Savva | 11-10f | 45.90 | 2 |
| 2nd | Love of You | Tom Foster | 7-2 | 45.93 | 1 |
| 3rd | Misties Cloud | Hazel Dickson | 9-2 | 45.95 | 6 |
| 4th | Orizontals Star | Tony Taylor | 10-1 | 46.15 | 5 |
| 5th | Bubbly Boy | Linda Jones | 6-1 | 46.17 | 4 |
| 6th | Countrywide Lass | Peter Rich | 25-1 | 46.67 | 3 |
Oaks, Wimbledon (Dec 14, 480m, £6,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Annies Bullet | Nick Savva | 7-4jf | 28.76 | 4 |
| 2nd | Be Bopa Lola | Phil Rees Jr. | 7-4jf | 29.00 | 3 |
| 3rd | Clodeen Magic | Brian Clemenson | 11-4 | 29.06 | 2 |
| 4th | Freds Flame | Graham Sharp | 25-1 | 29.12 | 5 |
| 5th | Pams Wizard | Jim Reynolds | 6-1 | 29.44 | 6 |
| N/R | Roses Opinion | Mick Puzey | | | |

## Totalisator returns

Extended content :
The totalisator returns declared to the National Greyhound Racing Club for the year 1996 are listed below.
Stadium
Turnover £
London (Walthamstow)11,235,549
London (Wimbledon)7,606,497
Romford5,989,366
Brighton & Hove4,565,571
Birmingham (Hall Green)4,527,118
Manchester (Belle Vue)3,984,297
London (Catford)3,769,208
Crayford2,424,532
Sheffield (Owlerton)2,359,515
Birmingham (Perry Barr)2,305,608
Peterborough2,045,249
London (Wembley)2,011,499
Sunderland1,685,804
Stadium
Turnover £
Glasgow (Shawfield)1,678,487
London (Hackney)1,650,000
Wolverhampton (Monmore)1,423,000
Portsmouth1,332,268
Bristol1,323,050
Yarmouth1,240,261
Newcastle (Brough Park)1,231,215
Oxford1,082,732
Reading1,041,505
Milton Keynes1,011,687
Bolton874,940
Nottingham848,833
Canterbury628,548
Stadium
Turnover £
Swindon511,529
Harlow505,855
Sittingbourne480,000
Hull (New Craven Park)450,000
Rye House343,820
Middlesbrough291,611
Doncaster (Stainforth)278,736
Ramsgate234,000
Swaffham221,447
Mildenhall189,171
Henlow (Bedfordshire)181,972
Dundee11,400 :