# 1965 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year

The 1965 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 39th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

## Roll of honour

Major Winners :
| Award | Name of Winner |
| 1965 English Greyhound Derby | Hack up Chieftain |
| 1965 Irish Greyhound Derby | Ballyowen Chief |
| 1965 Scottish Greyhound Derby | Clonmannon Flash |
| 1965 Welsh Greyhound Derby | Harmony |
| Greyhound Trainer of the Year | Jim Hookway & John Bassett |
| Greyhound of the Year | Clonmannon Flash |
| Irish Greyhound of the Year | Ballyowen Chief |

## Summary

The industry experienced a small rise in attendances and totalisator turnover for the first time since 1946. The National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC) affiliated tracks saw 11,213,730 paying customers at 5972 meetings with tote turnover of £58,480,219. However the possibility of future increases was unlikely because there was competition from television, which had found its way into many of Britain's households, bingo halls (a recent gambling rival) which was now established and dance halls pulled in the younger generation. In addition many companies that owned tracks had evaluated that selling them for redevelopment brought large short term financial gain, especially in major cities.

## Tracks

Staines Greyhound Stadium was demolished, five years after closing and the Mexborough greyhound track called the Dog Daisy Stadium, which was situated on the corner of Sedgefield Way and Harlington Road also shut. Seaforth Greyhound Stadium closed on 31 December. Romford Stadium Ltd sold their controlling interest in the Dagenham Greyhound Stadium track for £185,000 stating that government restrictions on fixtures forced both tracks to race on the same day which impacted attendances. Incidentally The Dagenham Coup court case continued.

## News

On 25 January Juvenile champion Hi Joe trained by Noreen Collin and owned by bookmaker Victor Chandler Sr. was stolen from his Epping kennels. Initial hopes were that he could be recovered quickly to allow him to line up for the English Greyhound Derby but as the weeks passed he had not been recovered.
John Sutton became the Managing Director of the Greyhound Racing Association and the GRA extended its board by adding Major Percy Brown, John Cearns (son of WJ Cearns) and Charles Chandler Jr. to the directors. They then sold the Kingsfurze breeding establishment at Naas in County Kildare, the seven acre grounds had been breeding greyhounds for over 17 years. This was followed by the sale of Upper Childown Farm and Fan Court Farm grounds in Longcross near Chertsey. The two properties were used as a nursery and rearing establishment by the GRA. Further cutbacks by the GRA included the sacking of two advertising executives and five trainers from the Hook Estate and Kennels. Harry Buck, Dick Clark, Albert Jonas, Eric Hiscock and Jack Cooper all left while the remaining ten Hook Kennels trainers would cover the three tracks of White City Greyhounds, Harringay Stadium and Stamford Bridge Greyhounds. The Chairman and Directors were rewarded for their work by gaining a significant rise, doubling their salaries, which was deferred until 1966.
Track Chromatography (a drug testing unit) was first used at Walthamstow in their purpose built lab. Leading owner, the 70 year old shipping magnate Noel Purvis retired after forty years owning greyhounds, he rated Mile Bush Pride as his greatest greyhound.

## Ireland

Des Hanrahan became Chairman of the Bord na gCon and actively sought to buy any Irish tracks in danger of being sold to developers.
At the seaside resort of Ballybunion in County Kerry, Matt Sullivan finally received a licence to open Ballybunion Greyhound Stadium despite having to go to court against the Bord na gCon, who had reservations that it was too close to the Kingdom Greyhound Stadium in Tralee.
A litter whelped in February 1965, at the kennels of Leo Stack at Duagh, County Kerry, would become one of the greatest litters in the history of track racing. The litter, of five dogs and four bitches, was by Crazy Parachute out of Supreme Witch and included Forward Flash (a black dog), Forward King (a fawn dog), Spectre II and Tric-Trac (two black dogs) and Gezira (a fawn bitch).

## Competitions

The Grand Prix at Walthamstow Stadium is cancelled for the second year in succession due to problems over filling the event. Walthamstow had applied for a change to 700 yards at late notice but it is refused by the NGRC. They will however apply for a longer distance the following year and be successful. Conna Count, a white and brindle dog became the fourth greyhound to successfully defend the Laurels at Wimbledon Stadium for a new increased prize of £1,500.
Clonmannon Flash, the Jim Hookway trained greyhound won the Scottish Greyhound Derby, Northern Flat, Edinburgh Cup, Pall Mall Stakes, Gimcrack and Stewards' Cup. He subsequently received the accolade of Greyhound of the Year at the end of year awards held at the Dorchester Hotel.

## Principal UK races

Grand National, White City (April 24 525y h, £500) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Im Crazy | Randy Singleton | 11-4 | 29.60 | 4 |
| 2nd | Killouragh Course | Adam Jackson | 8-1 | 30.24 | 1 |
| 3rd | Gladstone Mark | Jim Singleton | 9-1 | 30.30 | 6 |
| 4th | Tact | Nora Gleeson | 9-1 | 30.32 | 5 |
| 5th | Bolshoi Prince | Phil Rees Sr. | 2-1f | 30.56 | 2 |
| 6th | Chantillys Fawn Lace | Jimmy Clubb | 4-1 | 30.64 | 3 |
BBC Sportsview TV Trophy Wimbledon (Apr 28, 880y, £1,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Lucky Hi There | Jimmy Jowett | 13-8f | 51.35 | 2 |
| 2nd | Conna Jester | Tony Dennis | 100-7 | 51.41 | 5 |
| 3rd | What About This | S Brennan | 11-2 | 51.44 | 3 |
| 4th | Boothroyden Flash | Harry Bamford | 3-1 | 51.50 | 1 |
| 5th | Fatal Result | | 8-1 | 51.82 | 6 |
| 6th | Boothroyden Larry | Harry Bamford | 4-1 | 51.83 | 4 |
Gold Collar, Catford (May 15, 570y, £1,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Friday Morning | Ron Chamberlain | 11-10f | 33.73 | 6 |
| 2nd | Clifden Orbit | Tom Johnston Jr. | 5-1 | 34.17 | 3 |
| 3rd | Automation | Phil Rees Sr. | 3-1 | 34.23 | 5 |
| 4th | Lucky Monforte | John Bassett | 11-2 | 34.39 | 1 |
| 5th | Speed Rue | R.Dalton | 9-2 | 34.75 | 4 |
| N/R | Mercedes Star | Paddy Keane | | | 2 |
Welsh Derby, Arms Park (Jul 3, 525y £500) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Harmony | Jim Irving | 3-1 | 29.43 | 1 |
| 2nd | Creggan Bush | Reg Webb | 6-4f | 29.59 | 6 |
| 3rd | Bernies Fire | | 7-1 | 29.73 | 5 |
| 4th | Tact | Nora Gleeson | 12-1 | 29.99 | 2 |
| 5th | Cons Prince | Lionel Maxen | 14-1 | 30.15 | 3 |
| 6th | Venture Again | Dave Geggus | 5-2 | 30.18 | 4 |
Oaks, Harringay (Jul 5, 525y, £1,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Marjone | Mick O'Toole | 4-1 | 29.37 | 6 |
| 2nd | Geddys Empress | Bill Kelly | 2-7f | 29.53 | 1 |
| 3rd | Shancloon Lady | Stan Gudgin | 8-1 | 29.54 | 3 |
| 4th | Carols Champion | Johnny Bullock | 20-1 | 29.78 | 4 |
| 5th | Miss Taft | Bob Burls | 20-1 | 29.80 | 5 |
| 6th | Extra Smart | | 50-1 | 30.20 | 2 |
Scurry Gold Cup, Clapton (Jul 17, 400y £1,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | After You | John Bassett | 7-1 | 22.47 | 1 |
| 2nd | Cassildo (dead-heat) | Ron Chamberlain | 5-1 | 22.87 | 2 |
| 2nd | Faithful Hope (dead-heat) | Paddy Keane | 5-2jf | 22.87 | 3 |
| 4th | Orphan Swan | Paddy McEvoy | 9-2 | 23.07 | 6 |
| 5th | Bank Note | Paddy Power | 14-1 | 23.55 | 5 |
| 6th | Ballinasloe Fred | Bill Kelly | 5-2jf | 23.69 | 4 |
Laurels, Wimbledon (Aug 13, 500y, £1,500) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Conna Count | Paddy McEvoy | 11-2 | 28.13 | 4 |
| 2nd | Venture Again | Dave Geggus | 1-1f | 28.23 | 5 |
| 3rd | Charlie Caesar | Stan Martin | 7-1 | 28.27 | 1 |
| 4th | Chittering Clapton | Adam Jackson | 5-1 | 28.35 | 2 |
| 5th | Lucky Private | | 20-1 | 28.36 | 3 |
| 6th | Sapphire Prince | Jimmy Fletcher | 4-1 | 28.37 | 6 |
Scottish Greyhound Derby, Carntyne (Sep 4, 525y, £1,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Clonmannon Flash | Jim Hookway | 2-1f | 29.00 | 6 |
| 2nd | O'Leary | Jim Hookway | 6-1 | 29.12 | 5 |
| 3rd | Olivers Leader | | 8-1 | 29.15 | 3 |
| 4th | Kilbeg Kuda | John Bassett | 6-1 | 29.16 | 4 |
| 5th | Flash Solar | Stan Mitchell | 4-1 | 29.24 | 1 |
| 6th | Chittering Clapton | Adam Jackson | 5-2 | 29.25 | 2 |
St Leger, Wembley (Sep 6, 700y, £1,250) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Greenane Flash | Jimmy Quinn | 2-1 | 40.13 | 6 |
| 2nd | Claudyne | John Brown | 13-8f | 40.21 | 1 |
| 3rd | Suir View II | Tom Johnston Jr. | 5-1 | 40.31 | 4 |
| 4th | Joystick | Harry Bamford | 20-1 | 40.41 | 5 |
| 5th | Ringulator | Jimmy Jowett | 9-2 | 40.49 | 2 |
| 6th | Adamstown Toast | | 10-1 | 40.65 | 3 |
Cesarewitch, West Ham (Oct 8, 600y, £1,500) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Lucky Montforte | John Bassett | 5-1 | 33.00 | 1 |
| 2nd | Faithful Hope | Paddy Keane | 4-5f | 33.04 | 3 |
| 3rd | Greenane Flame | Jack Harvey | 16-1 | 33.44 | 5 |
| 4th | Lucky Arrow II | Peter Collett | 7-1 | 33.46 | 4 |
| 5th | Motor Now | Tom Johnston Jr. | 5-2 | 33.54 | 2 |
| 6th | Clifden Orbit | Tom Johnston Jr. | 16-1 | 33.74 | 6 |

## Totalisator returns

Extended content :
The totalisator returns declared to the licensing authorities for the year 1965 are listed below.
Stadium
Turnover £
London (White City)5,415,369
London (Harringay)3,496,197
London (Wimbledon)3,150,990
London (Walthamstow)2,913,718
London (Wembley)2,505,145
London (Catford)2,030,731
London (Clapton)1,965,500
London (West Ham)1,854,887
Manchester (Belle Vue)1,834,078
London (Wandsworth)1,778,071
London (New Cross)1,372,102
London (Hendon)1,347,031
Romford1,282,457
London (Stamford Bridge)1,275,368
Birmingham (Perry Barr, old)1,219,632
Edinburgh (Powderhall)1,193,969
Manchester (White City)1,146,295
London (Hackney)1,081,582
Glasgow (Shawfield)1,080,310
Stadium
Turnover £
Brighton & Hove991,959
London (Park Royal)950,507
Birmingham (Hall Green)923,625
Glasgow (White City)887,241
Slough819,895
Leeds (Elland Road)757,118
Sheffield (Owlerton)732,336
Southend-on-Sea722,286
Manchester (Salford)715,087
Newcastle (Brough Park)707,159
Wolverhampton (Monmore)705,836
Bristol (Eastville)680,701
Crayford & Bexleyheath673,742
Willenhall648,176
Newcastle (Gosforth)619,462
Cardiff (Arms Park)576,908
Birmingham (Kings Heath)567,888
Reading (Oxford Road)549,249
Bradford (Greenfield)539,608
Stadium
Turnover £
Gloucester & Cheltenham535,785
Ramsgate (Dumpton Park)522,651
Liverpool (White City)498,134
Glasgow (Carntyne)465,557
Derby460,975
Poole419,305
Rochester & Chatham385,533
Oxford362,050
Gateshead342,751
Middlesbrough328,571
Liverpool (Seaforth)295,851
Leicester (Blackbird Rd)291,283
Hull (Old Craven Park)290,437
Nottingham (White City)289,003
Portsmouth286,792
Aberdeen278,707
Preston253,309
South Shields202,255
Norwich (City)159,055 :