# 1978 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year

The 1978 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 52nd year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

## Roll of honour

Major Winners :
| Award | Name of Winner |
| 1978 English Greyhound Derby | Lacca Champion |
| 1978 Irish Greyhound Derby | Pampered Rover |
| 1978 Scottish Greyhound Derby | Pat Seamur |
| Greyhound Trainer of the Year | Geoff De Mulder |
| Greyhound of the Year | Lacca Champion |
| Irish Greyhound of the Year | Pampered Rover |
| Trainers Championship | Ted Dickson |

## Summary

The National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC) released the annual returns, with totalisator turnover up, at £71,504,284 and attendances down, recorded at 6,027,327 from 5688 meetings.
Lacca Champion, a brindle dog trained by Pat Mullins was voted the Greyhound of the Year after winning the 1978 English Greyhound Derby.
Paddy Keane became the first trainer to win both the English Greyhound Derby and Irish Greyhound Derby following the 1978 Irish Greyhound Derby win by Pampered Rover.

## Tracks

Ramsgate owners Northern Sports bought Oxford in April, with the proviso from the council that the Stadium must be used as a recreational Stadium until 1983. The Managing Director David Hawkins changed the stadium name back to Oxford Stadium from Cowley Stadium; Bob Newson was appointed the General Manager and Jim Layton would soon arrive as Racing Manager from Catford. Northern Sports also owned Doncaster and then added independent track Long Eaton to their portfolio bringing four tracks under their banner.
Brandon Stadium in Coventry opened on 19 September. Independent track Cambridge had a second attempt at NGRC racing on 24 November; the previous attempt had only lasted five months. This second spell would be more successful with top trainers Joe Cobbold, Natalie Savva and Pat Mullins taking attachments at the track over the next couple of years.
Watford closed on 30 October; the site would now only be used by the football club. As a consequence the BAGS contract went to Willenhall.

## News

The Greyhound Racing Association (GRA) made a profit which helped pay back some of their debt. The sale of the land that formerly housed Harringay Arena boosted the profits.
Trainer Phil Rees Sr. retired from training and his licence was handed to his son Phil Rees Jr. The latter chose not to take part in the trainer's championship because he had qualified by virtue of his fathers achievements in 1977. Gordon Hodson returned from Australia to take up a contract trainer's position at Brighton and two respected trainers Sid Ryall and Dave Barker retired. After a decade at Brighton, Peter Shotton took the role of head of racing at Wembley followed to the track by his assistant Jim Cremin. Other Racing Managers on the move were Jim Simpson to Romford from Crayford, Des Nichols moved to Brighton from Romford just one year after taking over from Les Cox. Paul Richardson took the chair at Brough Park and Gosforth replacing Tony Smith who switched to Crayford. At Hall Green Assistant Racing Manager Horace Peplow retired after 50 years on the racing staff and was replaced by Simon Harris son of former trainer the late Roger Harris.
John McCririck was brought in as an investigative reporter for the Sporting Life. In 1978, McCririck was voted the Specialist Writer of the Year in the British Press Awards. His stories included a sting that he had exposed based on the fact that Extel, who used to broadcast commentaries into betting shops, gave the off-times for greyhound races in minutes, without the refinement of seconds. By briefly delaying the commentaries, criminals were able to back dogs after a race had started.
During the same year McCririck took the lead in covering the Rochester Stadium coup. The track had decided to hold a dual distance event with heats over 277 metres and a final over 901 metres, unusual competitions were seen as an interesting way of presenting racing by several management teams. Two greyhounds trained by Jack Purvis both won sprint heats, Leysdown Pleasure at 33-1 and Leysdown Fun at 4–1. They had been backed off course by five South London men winning a reputed £350,000. Fun was withdrawn from the 901 metre final and Pleasure finished last, not staying the distance. BOLA advised its members to withhold payment and the Big Four Bookmakers refused to pay out. The NGRC held an inquiry and found no evidence of rule breaking. The police submitted a report to the DPP (Director of Public Prosecutions) who also took no action. It appeared that a legitimate coup had been staged and a protest resulted where 800 betting shop offices had their locks super-glued for not paying out. It was not until 1985 that a judge agreed that bookmakers were not liable to pay out.

## Competitions

Greenfield Fox trained by Ted Dickson continued his fine form carried over from 1977 by claiming the Scurry Gold Cup in April from favourite Lacca Champion. Another Pat Mullins greyhound Paradise Spectre (the Grand Prix champion) won the Guys and Dolls trophy and won 18 consecutive races from 9 September 1977 to 4 February 1978.
Dickson had a superb year winning the Trainers Championship at Monmore, where he gained five winners, Donals Greatest, Rip Perry, Kudas Toy, Lesleys Charm and Black Legend.

## Principal UK races

Trainers Championship, (Monmore) :
| Pos | Name of Trainer | Points |
| 1st | Ted Dickson | 52 |
| 2nd | Natalie Savva | 37 |
| 3rd | Geoff De Mulder | 32 |
| 4th | Barbara Tompkins | 30 |
| 5th | George Curtis | 25 |
| 6th | John Coleman | 24 |
BBC TV Trophy, Walthamstow (Apr 5, 820m, £1,500) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Westown Adam | Natalie Savva | 52.27 | 11-4 | 6 |
| 2nd | Top Touch | John Sherry | 52.53 | 20-1 | 3 |
| 3rd | Westpark Kale | Phil Rees Sr. | 52.59 | 1-1f | 5 |
| 4th | Shakehands | | 53.15 | 40-1 | 2 |
| 5th | Gloss | Bette Godwin | 53.18 | 16-1 | 4 |
| 6th | Langford Dacoit | George Curtis | 53.24 | 3-1 | 1 |
Grand National, White City (April 8 500m h, £1,500) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Topothetide | Tim Forster | 8-11f | 30.23 | 2 |
| 2nd | Raybet | Norah McEllistrim | 12-1 | 30.47 | 6 |
| 3rd | Moreen Penguin | Bette Godwin | 9-1 | 30.93 | 4 |
| 4th | Danger Freak | Tom Foster | 14-1 | 31.01 | 5 |
| 5th | Moreen Flamingoe | | 7-2 | 31.09 | 3 |
| 6th | Ballyhar Aim | | 10-1 | 31.10 | 1 |
Scurry Gold Cup, Slough (April 15, 442m, £2,500) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Greenfield Fox | Ted Dickson | 5-2f | 27.00 | 4 |
| 2nd | Northwood Double | Paddy McEvoy | 4-1 | 27.02 | 3 |
| 3rd | Westmead Orchid | George Bailey | 20-1 | 27.14 | 1 |
| 4th | Tiger Jazz | Terry Dartnall | 7-2 | 27.26 | 2 |
| 5th | Lacca Champion | Pat Mullins | 9-4f | 27.46 | 5 |
| 6th | Vals Son | | 50-1 | 27.48 | 6 |
Laurels, Wimbledon (May 19, 460m, £3,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Jet Control | Bertie Gaynor | 9-2 | 27.45 | 2 |
| 2nd | Night Fall | Bertie Gaynor | 11-4f | 27.51 | 6 |
| 3rd | Pigeon Flyer | Tom Reilly | 3-1 | 27.61 | 1 |
| 4th | Great Storytella | Norah McEllistrim | 4-1 | 27.65 | 4 |
| 5th | Shady Monkey | Colin West | 12-1 | 27.67 | 5 |
| 6th | Tiger Jazz | Terry Dartnall | 4-1 | 27.83 | 3 |
Scottish Greyhound Derby, Shawfield (Aug 5, 500m, £2,500) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Pat Seamur | Geoff De Mulder | 11-4 | 30.52 | 2 |
| 2nd | Kentim Khan | Bertie Gaynor | 3-1 | 30.60 | 5 |
| 3rd | Blissful Hero | Geoff De Mulder | 5-4f | 30.70 | 3 |
| 4th | Rum Please | | 5-1 | 30.90 | 1 |
| 5th | Erins Band | | 14-1 | 31.06 | 4 |
St Leger, Wembley (Sep 4, 655m, £10,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Westmead Power | Natalie Savva | 4-5f | 39.67 | 2 |
| 2nd | Rhu | Matt O'Donnell | 11-4 | 39.93 | 5 |
| 3rd | Nipa Lassie | Stan Gudgin | 13-2 | 40.03 | 3 |
| 4th | Waveney Boy | | 40-1 | 40.15 | 6 |
| 5th | Tour Tess | Frank Baldwin | 12-1 | 40.23 | 1 |
| 6th | Ascarne Bronco | Pat Mullins | 10-1 | 40.69 | 4 |
Gold Collar, Catford (Sep 23, 555m, £2,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Im A Smasher | John Coleman | 7-1 | 35.31 | 6 |
| 2nd | Pat Seamur | Geoff De Mulder | 3-1 | 35.45 | 3 |
| 3rd | Rockaway Star | Barney O'Connor | 3-1 | 35.59 | 2 |
| 4th | Owners Guide | Tony Jowett | 3-1 | 35.63 | 1 |
| 5th | Adamstown Sonny | Dave Geggus | 11-4f | 35.79 | 4 |
| 6th | El Cavalier | Ted Griffin | 10-1 | 35.95 | 5 |
Ladbrokes Cesarewitch, Belle Vue (Oct 7, 815m, £2,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Sportland Blue | Harry Crapper | 7-2 | 51.20 | 3 |
| 2nd | Tour Tess | Frank Baldwin | 8-1 | 51.21 | 1 |
| 3rd | Westown Adam | Natalie Savva | 4-5f | 51.35 | 6 |
| 4th | Micks Glory | Ron Saunders | 14-1 | 51.51 | 4 |
| 5th | Corboy Kojak | Harry Bamford | 10-1 | 51.54 | 2 |
| 6th | Peggys Darling | Miss.B.Gavin | 3-1 | 51.94 | 5 |
The Grand Prix, Walthamstow (Oct 21, 640m, £5,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Paradise Spectre | Pat Mullins | 3-1cf | 40.03 | 2 |
| 2nd | Toytown Sparkie | Gwen Lynds | 14-1 | 40.27 | 6 |
| 3rd | Ruakuras Mutt | Paddy Coughlan | 3-1cf | 40.39 | 1 |
| 4th | Langford Dan | | 8-1 | 40.57 | 4 |
| 5th | Adamstown Sonny | Dave Geggus | 3-1cf | 40.58 | 3 |
| 6th | Ballinamona Prim | Brian Jay | 9-2 | 00.00 | 5 |
Oaks, Harringay (Nov 3, 475m, £1,750) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Kilmagoura Mist | Tom Johnston Jr. | 10-1 | 28.55 | 4 |
| 2nd | House Party | Geoff De Mulder | 1-2f | 28.65 | 5 |
| 3rd | Westmead Orchid | George Bailey | 5-1 | 28.71 | 1 |
| 4th | Dot the Domino | Dave Geggus | 7-2 | 28.75 | 6 |
| 5th | Timeless | John Coleman | 12-1 | 29.09 | 2 |
| N/R | Shiloh Jenny | Ray Wilkes | | | |

### Principal Irish finals

Liam Cashman Laurels Cork (Sep 9, 525y, £5,500) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Knockrour Girl | Denis Lynch | 29.40 | 5 |
| 2nd | Gay Corner | Duggan | 29.61 | 2 |
| 3rd | Killaclug Jet | Denis Lynch | 29.89 | 1 |
| 4th | Allemaine | Batt O'Keeffe | 29.94 | 4 |
| u | Shanaway Lad | Ger McKenna | | 3 |
| u | Median Line | Ryan | | 6 |
Sean Kelly Bookmakers Oaks Shelbourne (Sep 16 525y, £5,500) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Hail Fun | McGeough | 29.40 | 3 |
| 2nd | Tinnock Style | Travers | 29.50 | 2 |
| 3rd | Oh Milady | Gay McKenna | 29.60 | 6 |
| 4th | Sophronia | Manning | | 1 |
| 5th | Paddys Shandon | Barry | | 5 |
| 6th | Tain Gerty | Fortune | | 4 |

## Totalisator returns

Extended content :
The totalisator returns declared to the licensing authorities for the year 1978 are listed below.
Stadium
Turnover £
London (White City)7,516,329
London (Walthamstow)6,698,105
London (Wimbledon)5,499,899
London (Harringay)3,921,877
Romford3,279,645
London (Catford)3,218,912
London (Wembley)3,187,421
Brighton & Hove2,635,330
Slough2,603,149
Manchester (Belle Vue)2,565,272
Birmingham (Hall Green)2,278,397
Edinburgh (Powderhall)2,083,876
Crayford & Bexleyheath1,846,876
Birmingham (Perry Barr, old)1,645,611
Southend-on-Sea1,617,033
Stadium
Turnover £
Newcastle (Brough Park)1,555,827
Leeds (Elland Road)1,480,743
Sheffield (Owlerton)1,453,632
Glasgow (Shawfield)1,310,937
Wolverhampton (Monmore)1,176,329
Bristol (Eastville)1,104,259
Manchester (White City)991,229
London (Hackney)946,398
Gloucester & Cheltenham906,462
Derby870,547
Yarmouth851,157
Newcastle (Gosforth)802,030
Ramsgate (Dumpton Park)669,845
Portsmouth618,449
Rochester & Chatham618,449
Stadium
Turnover £
Willenhall604,875
Poole498,953
Reading458,276
Middlesbrough443,152
Hull (Old Craven Park)407,433
Milton Keynes400,088
Leicester (Blackbird Rd)332,625
Cradley Heath298,762
Ipswich292,998
Oxford276,205
Swindon264,205
Rye House254,346
Henlow (Bedfordshire)248,273
Coventry168,628
Norton Canes120,000 :