# 1999 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year

The 1999 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 73rd year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

## Roll of honour

Major Winners :
| Award | Name of Winner |
| 1999 English Greyhound Derby | Chart King |
| 1999 Irish Greyhound Derby | Spring Time |
| 1999 Scottish Greyhound Derby | Chart King |
| Greyhound Trainer of the Year | Linda Mullins |
| Greyhound of the Year | Chart King |
| Irish Dog and Bitch of the Year | Chart King / Spring Time |
| Trainers Championship | Linda Jones |

## Summary

The National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC) released the annual returns, with totalisator turnover at £80,268,946 and attendances recorded at 3,511,847.
Chart King was voted Greyhound of the Year after winning the 1999 Scottish Greyhound Derby and 1999 English Greyhound Derby. He also picked up the Irish Greyhound of the Year award. Chart King a brindle dog was owned and trained by brothers Karl and Ralph Hewitt from Lurgan in Northern Ireland. He also won the Easter Cup in a record-breaking 28.40 at Shelbourne Park.
Linda Mullins won the Greyhound Trainer of the Year for the fourth successive year.
Sky Sports increased their TV coverage to show major events on Tuesday nights at Wimbledon including the Springbok and the Grand National, the latter now held at Wimbledon instead of Hall Green. They also wanted to show the Pall Mall Stakes at Oxford but the track was reluctant to switch the event to a Tuesday night so remained off the viewing schedule for the time being.

## Tracks

Wisbech reopened under NGRC rules and appointed former Peterborough RM Mike Middle. The tracks owner Gary Meads had improved the facilities after the venue had been closed for seven years. Canterbury closed its doors on 30 October and independent Workington ceased racing. Peterborough was severely damaged by fire spread from an adjoining warehouse. Work started immediately on repairs and refurbishment but there was no racing for six months.
The Dundalk Race Company PLC and Dundealgan Greyhound Racing Company Limited merged to form Dundalk Racing (1999) Ltd. The Dundalk Ramparts Greyhound Stadium was earmarked for a major rebuild.

## News

Elsewhere the BS Group (owners of several tracks) purchased the Milton Keynes Bowl to add to their assets. Shelley Cobbold sent out the last runner from the Utopia kennels at Nottingham, the family association with greyhound racing (Joe Cobbold, the late Trevor Cobbold and Pam Cobbold) ended. In November Linda Jones gained a contract at the country's premier track Walthamstow.

## Competitions

El Tenor dropped back down in distance in an attempt to defend his Grand National title and made the final but was unlucky to find trouble when going well. The race ended in a dead heat for Hello Buttons and Pottos Storm. Despite this defeat the target of 100 open race wins was in sight even though he had gone past five years of age. By the end of the year he was still competing and winning.
A puppy by the name of Rapid Ranger had started his career with defeat in two graded races at Stainforth for trainer Mike Pomfrett, but was improving and scored a first open win at Nottingham. By autumn he would improve and owner Ray White purchased the brindle and sent him to Charlie Lister.
A brindle dog called Palace Issue, trained by Linda Mullins started to perform superbly and quickly established himself as the leading stayer. He broke the track record at Romford during the Champion Stakes before winning the Group One Grand Prix at Walthamstow that included his rival Dilemmas Lad. A strong fancy for the first St Leger at Wimbledon, he had to settle for second behind Dilemmas Lad before successfully defending his Hunt Cup title at Reading.
Gerald Watson travelled to England with his 1999 Irish Greyhound Derby champion Spring Time and outclassed her rivals when winning the Oaks at Wimbledon and Bubbly Prince won the Cesarewitch at Catford Stadium for the Bubbly Club making up for the previous year's disappointment.

## Principal UK races

Grand National, Wimbledon (Mar 30, 460m h, £7,500) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Hello Buttons (dh) | Linda Mullins | 9-4cf | 28.13 | 1 |
| 1st | Pottos Storm (dh) | David Mullins | 9-4cf | 28.13 | 4 |
| 3rd | Kennyswell Smoke | Tom Foster | 8-1 | 28.31 | 6 |
| 4th | Rum and Black | Linda Mullins | 14-1 | 28.39 | 5 |
| 5th | Autumn Duster | Tom Foster | 33-1 | 28.55 | 2 |
| 6th | El Tenor | Linda Mullins | 9-4cf | 28.59 | 3 |
Regal Scottish Derby, Shawfield (May 1, 480m, £20,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Chart King | Ralph Hewitt | 4-5f | 28.98 | 6 |
| 2nd | Wath Serenade | Andy Heyes | 16-1 | 29.28 | 1 |
| 3rd | Droopys Zidane | Paul Young | 8-1 | 29.40 | 2 |
| 4th | Droopys Merson | Nick Savva | 6-4 | 29.56 | 5 |
| 5th | Laughta Man | Bill Mills | 16-1 | 29.76 | 3 |
| 6th | Slaneys Bomber | John McGee Sr. | 33-1 | 29.82 | 4 |
Reading Masters, Reading (May 16, 465m, £20,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Torbal Piper | Tony Meek | 14-1 | 28.15 | 6 |
| 2nd | Charlie the Layer | Chris Lund | 2-1jf | 28.21 | 4 |
| 3rd | Smiffys Errand | Nikki Chambers | 14-1 | 28.35 | 5 |
| 4th | Clonbrin Best | John McGee Sr. | 2-1jf | 28.38 | 1 |
| 5th | Dower Leader | Ernie Gaskin Sr. | 5-1 | 28.54 | 3 |
| 6th | Lung of Iron | Sally Fenwick | 4-1 | 28.76 | 2 |
Scurry Gold Cup, Catford (Jul 6, 385m, £2,500) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Lissenaire Luke | Charlie Lister | 3-1jf | 23.49 | 4 |
| 2nd | Union Decree | Ernie Gaskin Sr. | 9-2 | 23.87 | 5 |
| 3rd | Kilbarry Boy | Mick Puzey | 8-1 | 23.89 | 1 |
| 4th | Farncombe Pat | David Mullins | 7-1 | 23.91 | 6 |
| 5th | Lauragh Exile | Terry Dartnall | 3-1jf | 24.29 | 3 |
| 6th | Bewdley Breeze | Ernie Gaskin Sr. | 9-2 | 24.31 | 2 |
BT Gold Collar, Catford (Sep 18, 555m, £7,500) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Rio Scorpio | Daniel Riordan | 12-1 | 34.83 | 6 |
| 2nd | Dukes Again | Mick Puzey | 7-2 | 34.91 | 1 |
| 3rd | Best Black | Linda Jones | 2-1 | 34.95 | 5 |
| 4th | Dower Leader | Ernie Gaskin Sr. | 6-4f | 34.99 | 3 |
| 5th | Nice One Kim | Mick Douglass | 8-1 | 35.01 | 4 |
| 6th | Little Me | Norah McEllistrim | 33-1 | 35.35 | 2 |
Evening Standard TV Trophy, Wimbledon (Sep 21, 868m, £6,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Hollinwood Poppy | Mick Clarke | 10-1 | 54.89 | 4 |
| 2nd | Spenwood Wizard | Ron Hough | 4-1 | 54.96 | 1 |
| 3rd | Spenwood Gem | Ron Hough | 4-1 | 54.97 | 2 |
| 4th | Knappogue Oak | Ken Bebbington | 8-11f | 55.07 | 5 |
| 5th | Bubbly Prince | Patsy Cusack | 14-1 | 55.45 | 6 |
| 6th | Careys Champion | Tom Foster | 50-1 | 56.01 | 3 |
Grand Prix, Walthamstow (Oct 9, 640m, £7,500) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Palace Issue | Linda Mullins | 9-4f | 40.32 | 6 |
| 2nd | Tessas Dilemma | Nick Savva | 10-1 | 40.34 | 4 |
| 3rd | Dilemmas Lad | Nick Savva | 4-1 | 40.46 | 5 |
| 4th | Drumsna Cross | Charlie Lister | 5-1 | 40.58 | 2 |
| 5th | Bossy Wade | Linda Mullins | 16-1 | 40.94 | 3 |
| 6th | Dream Compadre | Linda Mullins | 5-2 | 41.04 | 1 |
Laurels, Belle Vue (Oct 26, 460m, £6,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Derbay Flyer | Charlie Lister | 10-11f | 27.80 | 2 |
| 2nd | Brickfield Bonus | Patsy Byrne | 3-1 | 27.82 | 5 |
| 3rd | Terrydrum Flyer | Jimmy Gibson | 11-2 | 27.90 | 6 |
| 4th | Shabbas Mate | Adrian Kimpton | 12-1 | 28.40 | 1 |
| 5th | Wath Serenade | Andy Heyes | 8-1 | 28.44 | 4 |
| 6th | Water Ranger | June McCombe | 33-1 | 28.60 | 3 |
St Leger, Wimbledon (Nov 9, 660m, £12,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Dilemmas Lad | Nick Savva | 5-1 | 40.56 | 1 |
| 2nd | Palace Issue | Linda Mullins | 11-10f | 40.74 | 3 |
| 3rd | Knappogue Oak | Ken Bebbington | 2-1 | 40.76 | 6 |
| 4th | Kennel Image | Hazel Dickson | 25-1 | 40.96 | 2 |
| 5th | Sew Trader | Arthur Hitch | 6-1 | 41.16 | 5 |
| 6th | Allegro Royale | Ernie Gaskin Sr. | 20-1 | 41.26 | 4 |
William Hill Oaks, Wimbledon (Nov 26, 480m, £6,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Spring Time | Gerald Watson | 4-9f | 28.97 | 6 |
| 2nd | Tarmon Tia | Jackie Taylor | 14-1 | 29.13 | 3 |
| 3rd | Dower Beauty | Peter Rich | 5-1 | 29.35 | 1 |
| 4th | Im Okay | Barrie Draper | 7-1 | 29.37 | 5 |
| 5th | Farloe Twin | Terry Dartnall | 8-1 | 29.41 | 4 |
| 6th | Honky Tonk Gal | Linda Jones | 16-1 | 29.42 | 2 |
Cesarewitch, Catford (Dec 4, 718m, £5,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Bubbly Prince | Patsy Cusack | 4-6f | 45.90 | 5 |
| 2nd | Phils Ann Marie | Danny Smee | 7-1 | 46.36 | 1 |
| 3rd | Springville Sion | Tom Lanceman | 4-1 | 46.38 | 3 |
| 4th | Deise Prince | Roy Towner | 7-1 | 46.64 | 2 |
| 5th | Hopping Mick | Dennis Bakewell | 100-1 | 46.78 | 6 |
| 6th | Freighduff Ball | Ray Peacock | 10-1 | 46.92 | 4 |

### Principal Irish finals

Easter Cup Shelbourne (525y) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Chart King | 5-4f | 28.40 TR | 2 |
| 2nd | Frisby Flashing | 14-1 | 28.70 | 4 |
| 3rd | Crossleigh Fudge | 10-1 | 29.00 | 6 |
| 4th | April Surprise | 11-4 | 29.06 | 1 |
| 5th | Pescasdor | 14-1 | 29.36 | 3 |
| 6th | Garvagh Tommy | 5-1 | 29.50 | 5 |
National Produce Thurles (525y) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Borna Survivor | 9-2 | 29.15 | 2 |
| 2nd | Airmount Rover | 1-1f | 29.25 | 6 |
| 3rd | Ballingarry Joy | 7-4 | 29.35 | 1 |
| 4th | Lake Eagle Lad | | 29.51 | 5 |
| 5th | Badge of Tigings | | 29.55 | 4 |
| 6th | First Watch | | 00.00 | 3 |
Shelbourne 600 Shelbourne (600y) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Frisby Flashing | 12-1 | 32.83 | 2 |
| 2nd | Boozing Buddy | 4-1 | 33.05 | 5 |
| 3rd | Millstream Lad | 12-1 | 33.07 | 3 |
| 4th | Kilmessan Jet | 1-2f | 33.09 | 6 |
| 5th | Duffys Kestrel | 16-1 | 33.11 | 1 |
| 6th | Martinstown Gold | 16-1 | 33.21 | 4 |
St Leger Limerick (550y) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Frisby Flashing | 1-1f | 29.64 TR | 4 |
| 2nd | Soviet Merc | 5-1 | 29.78 | 6 |
| 3rd | Race First | 7-2 | 30.20 | 2 |
| 4th | Cable King | 10-1 | 30.41 | 5 |
| 5th | Aussie Prince | 10-1 | 30.44 | 3 |
| 6th | Bawnogue Pal | | 30.65 | 1 |
Oaks Shelbourne (525y) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | SP | Time |
| 1st | Borna Survivor | 4-5f | 28.67 |
| 2nd | Metric Flower | | 28.86 |
| 3rd | Craggy Island | | 29.16 |
| u | Peter Spice | | |
| u | Mantle Glory | | |
| u | Deenside Delight | | |
Champion Stakes Shelbourne (550y) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | SP | Time |
| 1st | Mr Bozz | 9-1 | 30.42 |
| 2nd | Santa Paolo | | 30.45 |
| 3rd | | | |
| 4th | | | |
| 5th | | | |
| 6th | | | |
Puppy Derby Harolds Cross (525y) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Cool Performance | 2-1f | 28.50 | 3 |
| 2nd | Always Sorry | 5-1 | 29.06 | 6 |
| 3rd | Cill Dubh Amber | 16-1 | 29.13 | 4 |
| 4th | Aughduff Tim | 11-4 | 29.34 | 5 |
| 5th | Woodbroke Wine | 3-1 | 29.41 | 2 |
| 6th | Wellpad Hero | | 29.69 | 1 |
Laurels Cork (525y) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Lumber Boss (dead heat) | 5-1 | 29.42 | 6 |
| 1st | Tigers Eye (dead-heat) | 10-1 | 29.42 | 1 |
| 3rd | Sandyhill Slip | | | 3 |
| 4th | Sineads Rocket | | | 2 |
| 5th | Rathroon Ranger | | | 4 |
| N/R | Mr Pickwick | | | 5 |

## Totalisator returns

Extended content :
The totalisator returns declared to the National Greyhound Racing Club for the year 1999 are listed below.
Stadium
Turnover £
London (Walthamstow)12,656,388
London (Wimbledon)9,173,828
Romford7,282,198
Manchester (Belle Vue)5,111,368
Brighton & Hove4,939,600
Birmingham (Hall Green)4,652,283
London (Catford)3,585,163
Sheffield (Owlerton)2,801,479
Birmingham (Perry Barr)2,412,500
Sunderland2,332,195
Crayford2,300,663
Stadium
Turnover £
Oxford1,758,882
Peterborough1,676,251
Wolverhampton (Monmore)1,594,903
Glasgow (Shawfield)1,590,526
Poole1,511,642
Nottingham1,460,253
Yarmouth1,434,126
Newcastle (Brough Park)1,412,960
Milton Keynes1,411,222
Portsmouth1,348,322
Reading1,097,280
Stadium
Turnover £
Swindon967,235
Harlow811,109
Sittingbourne795,277
Doncaster (Stainforth)370,248
Hull (New Craven Park)310,024
Mildenhall213,199
Swaffham184,693
Henlow (Bedfordshire)176,723
Rye House168,215 :