53-702: Cleveland Park Stadium was a greyhound racing and speedway stadium in Middlesbrough , North Yorkshire. It was built in 1928 and demolished in 1996. The idea of constructing a greyhound track in Middlesbrough came from Jack French who formed the National Greyhounds Middlesbrough Ltd. An eleven-acre site of former allotments in the Ayresome Ward, south of the River Tees and directly south of
106-483: A 15-day period, except for special circumstances. In any event the competition must be completed within 18 days. Category One races replaced competitions called classic races in the 1990s. Category Two Race These races must have minimum prize money of £5,000. They can be run with one, two or three rounds but must be completed within a 15-day period. Category Three Race These races must have minimum prize money of £1,000. They can be run over one or two rounds and within
159-444: A 400-yard straight course, chasing an artificial hare. This was the first attempt to introduce mechanical racing to the UK; however it did not catch on at the time. The oval track and mechanical hare were introduced to Britain in 1926, by Charles Munn, an American, in association with Major Lyne-Dixson, a key figure in coursing. Finding other supporters proved to be rather difficult, and with
212-455: A bid of 1,250 guineas and Col Skookum was taken off the bench despite a 1,450 guineas bid. Walthamstow Stadium owner William Chandler died and left equal shares to his children. Charles Chandler became managing director and Percy was responsible for the catering and restaurants. Victor Sr. and Jack were already bookmakers and Ronnie trained greyhounds in Ireland. In July the first case of
265-527: A few weeks previous. A strong entry for the St Leger saw Bohernagraga Boy win by just a short head from recent Oaks champion Dumbles Maid, Monday's News struggled with the longer distance and could only finish a disappointing fifth. History was made during the All England Cup , held at Brough Park when four of the entries were all four nations Derby winners. The English Greyhound Derby winner Mondays News,
318-507: A form of hunting called coursing , in which a dog runs after a live game animal – usually a rabbit or hare. The first official coursing meeting was held in 1776 at Swaffham , Norfolk . The rules of the Swaffham Coursing Society, started by Lord Orford , specified that only two greyhounds were to course a single hare. Coursing by proxy with an artificial lure was introduced at Hendon , on September 11, 1876. Six dogs raced over
371-474: A greyhound traveling by air took place when Warrington greyhound Clady Border, trained by Ken Newham went from Manchester Airport to Belfast, to take part in an event at Celtic Park in which he won. During the same year Fernane Sweeper was the first greyhound to fly the Atlantic. Wandsworth transported their racing greyhounds from the track kennels to the race track using a Scammell Mechanical Horse that pulled
424-576: A hock in his first round heat and was retired to stud. Shannon Shore gained some compensation for his Derby defeat after winning the Laurels , the January 1943 whelp would retire to stud after an unsuccessful attempt to retain his Golden Crest crown which went to Rimmells Black. Stan Biss won the Oaks for the fifth time with Dumbles Maid, a brindle and white bitch that had turned in the traps and refused to chase just
477-489: A nine-day period. A category three race can be staged over one day but must have minimum prize money of £500. Invitation Race A special type of open race usually staged by the promoter in support on the night of other opens. This will be proposed to the committee by the Greyhound Board or by a promoter, with the racers being invited into the competition rather than the usual process. The minimum prize money for these races
530-401: A race. Greyhounds from which samples can not be obtained for a certain number of consecutive races are subject to being ruled off the track. If a positive sample is found, violators are subject to penalties and loss of their racing licenses by the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB). The trainer of the greyhound is at all times the "absolute insurer" of the condition of the animal. The trainer
583-820: A revamped Sunderland had opened. In September 1996 the site was sold and the track was demolished to make way for the Goals soccer centre football pitches and the Macmillan City Technology College extension (part of the Macmillan Academy ). Greyhound racing in the United Kingdom Greyhound racing is a sport in the United Kingdom. The industry uses a parimutuel betting tote system with on-course and off-course betting available. Attendances have declined in recent years, mainly due to
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#1733085514874636-461: A standard colour scheme. The starting traps (equipment that the greyhound starts a race in) determines the colour. Races with eight greyhounds are no longer held. A racing jacket worn by a reserve bears an additional letter 'R' prominently on each side. Greyhound racing at registered stadiums in Great Britain is regulated by the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB). Greyhounds are not kept at
689-584: A trailer of 56 greyhounds in individual kennels to the race track. Motts Regret , a brindle whelped in April 1944 by Trev's Dispatch out of Friar Tuck, had been bred and reared in the Cumberland Fells by Mr H.G. Nunn. During the year he won a number of open races and was entered for the English Greyhound Derby at White City without success. Later that year he went down with distemper and pneumonia at
742-555: A vaccination to minimize outbreaks of diseases such as kennel cough and a retirement bond before being allowed to race. All tracks are required to have veterinary room facilities on site. When a greyhound is due to race or trial at a track its health and condition must be checked by the veterinary surgeon at kennelling time and again before they are permitted to race, the weight must be recorded by officials and random drugs tests are conducted. From 1 April 2023, all vehicles transporting racing greyhounds must have air-conditioning. When
795-544: Is held on just one racecourse. There is no requirement for central registration or licensing, and no code of practice. In England, standards for welfare and integrity are set by local government, but there is no governing or other regulatory body. In the 1940s, there were seventy-seven licensed tracks and over two hundred independent tracks in the United Kingdom, of which thirty-three were in London. There are 20 active Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) registered stadiums in
848-464: Is responsible for any positive test regardless of how the banned substance has entered the greyhound's system. Due to the increased practice of random testing, the number of positive samples has decreased. Over a one-year period from 2017 to 2018, over 15,000 greyhounds were tested by the GBGB 'flying squad' which returned four positive cocaine tests. These cases resulted in disqualification or suspension for
901-465: Is subject to a record bid of 2,100 guineas but his owner refuses the offer because he had set a reserve of 2,250 guineas. Kilkenny Greyhound Stadium opened on 5 June, the first winner was a greyhound called Rebel Gunner. Dunmore Stadium , in Belfast which had suffered serious fire and bomb damage during the war underwent significant renovation. Two new stands were built, one acted as a reserved area and
954-594: Is the Greyhound Trust (GT). The GT is a charity but is partly funded by the British Greyhound Racing Fund (BGRF), who gave funding of £1,400,000 in 2015 and rehomed 4,000 greyhounds in 2016. In recent years the racing industry has made significant progress in establishing programmes for the adoption of retired racers. Many race tracks have established their own adoption programmes in addition to actively cooperating with private adoption groups throughout
1007-483: Is £750. Minor Open Race This is any other open race. The minimum added money for these races is £150. In 1986, Ballyregan Bob beat the record for the most number of consecutive races won by winning his 32nd race, besting the record set by Joe Dump in the United States in 1978 and 1979. This is any other race staged at a track, and prize money is varied. This kind of racing is the core of most stadiums and some of
1060-621: The Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB), and a sector known as 'independent racing' or 'flapping' which is unaffiliated with a governing body. Registered racing in Great Britain is regulated by the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) and has been UKAS accredited since 2010. All in the registered sector are subject to the GBGB Rules of Racing and the Directions of the Stewards, who set
1113-623: The Greyhound Racing Association (GRA) recorded record attendances and profits at all of their tracks. The largest tote turnover was at White City and reached £17,576,190. Mondays News won the 1946 English Greyhound Derby , run under floodlights for the first time. In the Derby Consolation Stakes, Quare Times won by four lengths from Bah's Choice in 28.82 seconds to improve on his own world record. The Scottish Greyhound Derby and Welsh Greyhound Derby clashed, in
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#17330855148741166-579: The Irish Greyhound Derby champion Lilac Lady, Welsh Greyhound Derby winner Negro's Lad and Scottish Greyhound Derby champion Lattin Pearl all competed. The hope that all four would progress to the final failed to materialise but two of them Monday's News and Lattin Pearl did make the final and duly finished first and second. Just two known tracks were opened during 1946. A proposed track application for Darnley between Barrhead and Thornliebank
1219-427: The Irish Greyhound Derby , held at Shelbourne Park , is open to British greyhounds. There used to be a Scottish Greyhound Derby and Welsh Greyhound Derby but the events finished in 2019 and 1977 respectively. In 2010, a short lived Northern Irish Derby was introduced. Category One Race These races must have minimum prize money of £12,500. They can be run between one and four rounds but must be completed within
1272-561: The National Greyhound Racing Club , with his wife Mary they farmed sixty acres and bred the 'Rushton' greyhounds prefix. Johnson contemplated giving up greyhound racing after the decision but luckily decided against it. Ballynennan Moon and Ballyhennessy Seal both on stud duties demanded £100 for a mating fee at the Burhill Kennels. A greyhound called Long Rally who set a track record in his first race at Darnall
1325-626: The GRA Hook Estate and Kennels in Northaw and it was thought he would die, but after a long convalescence would make it back to the track in 1947. Lemon Flash (the 1946 McAlinden Cup winner) and Tim O'Linn died of distemper in Birmingham private kennels, the latter had recently cost his new owner £1,400. Frederick Johnson a breeder from Tarporley in Cheshire, was refused a private trainers licence by
1378-899: The General Strike of 1926 looming, the two men scoured the country to find others who would join them. Eventually they met Brigadier-General Critchley , who in turn introduced them to Sir William Gentle . Between them they raised £22,000 and launched the Greyhound Racing Association . On July 24, 1926, in front of 1,700 spectators, the first modern greyhound race in Great Britain took place at Belle Vue Stadium , where seven greyhounds raced round an oval circuit to catch an electric artificial hare. They then hurried to open tracks in London at White City and Harringay . The first three years of racing were financially successful, with attendances of 5.5 million in 1927, 13.7 million in 1928 and 16 million in 1929. The greyhound racing industry in Great Britain currently falls under two sectors: that registered by
1431-488: The Lincolnshire, Suffolk and Portsmouth Greyhound Trusts reported that all retired greyhounds were being homed and that there was a shortage. Concerns were raised that if the shortage of retired greyhounds continued it could force some homing organisations to close. The most recent independently verified published figures show that the 2021 injury rate was 1.23% which equated to 4,442 from 359,083 runs. The most common injury
1484-541: The Scottish Grand National for trainer Reece before moving to Norah McEllistrim at Wimbledon Stadium the same year and completed the triple crown of by winning the English Grand National . In 1985 a serious arson attack destroyed the main stand and Ross Searle took over from Vic Abbott. In 1987 the track hosted auctions for the first time but during 1990 the track suffered an exodus of trainers because
1537-510: The Scottish Greyhound Racing Company was valued at £4,500 by the assessor but £3,700 by the track, which was followed by White City , White City Glasgow Ltd £6,700 (£4,000), Albion , Glasgow-Albion Racing Ltd £12,000 (£1,250), Firhill , Partick Thistle FC & Firhill Racing Company Ltd £3,000 (£2,500) and finally Shawfield , Shawfield Greyhound Racing Company Ltd £4,000 (£600). 1946 Irish Greyhound Derby winner Steve
1590-484: The Tees Marshalling Yard Railways and Stockton Road Tramway was chosen in 1928. Originally the greyhound track had a circumference of 412 yards (377 m) and used a Mono-Rail type hare system running on a bogie which would later be replaced by an 'Inside Sumner' in 1939. The first greyhound meeting was held on 19 May 1928 watched by an attendance of eight thousand. A greyhound called Just Alone won
1643-649: The UK to come to an end but the GBGB responded criticising the charities' inaccurate data. In 2023, trainer Rebecca Perkins received a jail sentence and life ban after committing offences contrary to the Animal Welfare Act. 1946 UK %26 Ireland Greyhound Racing Year The 1946 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 21st year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The greyhound racing industry experienced an extraordinary year in 1946, with all previous records in terms of attendances and totalisator turnover being broken. The year would be
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1696-658: The United Kingdom. There are no active GBGB tracks in Scotland and just one in Wales. Northern Irish tracks do not come under the control of the GBGB. There is just one active independent stadium: There are various types and levels of competitions in Britain, with prize money reaching £15,737,122. Greyhound Derby The English Greyhound Derby currently has a winner's prize of £175,000. The competition (held at Towcester) has six rounds and attracts around 180 entries each year. In addition,
1749-469: The country. There are also many independent organisations which find homes for retired Greyhounds. Several independent rescue and homing groups receive some funding from the industry but mainly rely on public donations. In 2016, 1,500 greyhounds were rehomed by independent groups. In 2018, several tracks introduced a scheme whereby every greyhound is found a home by the track, these include Kinsley and Doncaster. During 2020 many homing organisations including
1802-403: The decrease in evening fixtures with the majority of fixtures being held in the daytime. Attendances peaked in 1946 at around 70 million and totalisator turnover reaching £196,431,430. As of January 2024, there are 20 licensed stadiums in the United Kingdom (excluding Northern Ireland) and just one independent stadium (unaffiliated to a governing body). Modern greyhound racing evolved from
1855-420: The event from Shannon Shore, Magic Bohemian, Shaggy Lass and Negro's Lad in addition to Quare Times. The race attracted significant national attention and Major Percy Brown (Racing manager at White City) contacted the owners of the two greyhounds to arrange a return match between them, at White City, on August Bank Holiday Monday. Quare Times was handled by the 'Wizard of Burhill', Sidney Orton , while Bah's Choice
1908-423: The first race over 500 yards with the meeting consisting of seven races including two hurdle races and two handicap races . Middlesbrough Speedway followed three months later on 23 August 1928. The stadium facilities included two enclosures both featuring members clubs, one on the home straight and another slightly larger one on the back straight. Between the first and second bends was the hare control and between
1961-562: The former Lattin Pearl defeated Grand Prix champion Magic Bohemian and in the latter, Negros Lad overcame a field including defending champion Shaggy Lass and 1945 English Greyhound Derby finalist Duffys Arrival. The time of 29.54 broke the track record. A week after the Scurry Gold Cup (won by Mischievous Manhattan) the Wembley Summer Cup paired the two fastest greyhounds in training Bah's Choice and Quare Times. Bah's Choice won
2014-409: The greyhounds finish their racing careers they are retired under the GBGB bond scheme (introduced in 2020) which ensures the homing costs are met. Owners may keep the dog for breeding or as pets, or they can send them to greyhound adoption groups. The Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) have introduced measures to locate where racing greyhounds reside after they have retired from racing and from 2017
2067-466: The offending parties. Isolated incidents have occurred that resulted in national newspaper articles. In 2007, a builder called David Smith destroyed greyhounds with a captive bolt gun, he received a jail sentence. Subsequently, anyone found to have sent a greyhound to him was warned off for life by the GBGB. During September 2022, the RSPCA, Blue Cross and The Dogs Trust jointly called for greyhound racing in
2120-424: The other was unreserved. The 1946 Irish Greyhound Derby was won by an English connection for the first time when Steve, owned by Mrs. R.H.Dent took the honours. Mrs. Dent had owned Wattle Bark, winner of the 1937 English Greyhound Derby . +Track Record The totalisator returns declared to the licensing authorities for the year 1946 are listed below. Tracks that did not have
2173-452: The pinnacle in the history of the sport and would never be matched again. Attendances were estimated to be around 75 million based on an annual totalisator turnover of £196,431,430. The figure equates to £8 billion today (2018), using a historic inflation calculator, which indicates the significance of the industry at the time. Trading on greyhound racing shares at the stock exchange were centre stage business. The leading greyhound company,
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2226-421: The public included four bars and three cafes. Vic Abbott replaced R W Burns as Racing Manager and the decision was taken in 1967 to sand the bends replacing the grass. The entire track would be converted to sand in 1984. During 1978 Harry Gendle retired after 46 years as a trainer at the track. The only major race win by a Middlesbrough greyhound came in 1982 when Irish Grand National champion Face The Mutt won
2279-494: The racing can be viewed in betting shops on the Bookmakers Afternoon Greyhound Service (BAGS). The Racing Manager selects the greyhounds based on ability and organises them into traps (called seeding) and classes (usually 1–9) with grade 1 being the best class. The sex and weight of the greyhound has no bearing. + Only used if a track has an alternative standard distance. Greyhound racing in Britain has
2332-462: The retirement data has been available to the public. Concern among welfare groups is the well-being of some racing greyhounds who are not adopted upon their retirement, and that they may subsequently be put down or sold by their owners, some others are put down because they are not suitable for retirement. However the GBGB require all owners to sign a retirement form indicating the retirement plans. The main greyhound adoption organisation in Britain
2385-532: The standards for greyhound welfare and racing integrity, from racecourse facilities and trainers' kennels to retirement of greyhounds. There are Stewards' inquiries, and then disciplinary action is taken against anyone found failing to comply. The registered sector consists of 20 racecourses and approximately 880 trainers, 4,000 kennel staff and 860 racecourse officials. Greyhound owners number 15,000, with approximately 7,000–8,000 greyhounds registered annually for racing. Independent racing, also known as 'flapping',
2438-457: The third and fourth bends was the tote control which opened later in 1936. The stewards box and offices were situated on the home straight before the first bend. A greyhound called Cheerful Chinaman won his first race on 20 August 1928 and went on to win 138 races from 452 outings when retiring on 21 November 1934. (A record believed to be still held today). The first track champion was a greyhound called Brilliant Gambler an Irish import that held
2491-525: The track records over 470 and 650 yards. In 1938 all greyhounds were owned by the company after privately owned greyhounds were phased out, a move designed to foil doping . Distances changed to 288, 500, 518 and 700 yards. Totalisator turnover during 1946 equated to £656,386 and one year later a new Electro-Mechanical tote was installed. In 1956 there was a triple dead heat between Law Maker, Red Bay and Spinach Lad in 30.36 over 518 yards, an excellent grading achievement by Racing Manager R W Burns. The feat
2544-530: The tracks and are instead housed in the kennels of trainers and transported to the tracks to race. Licensed kennels have to fall within specific guidelines and rules and are checked by officials to make sure the treatment of racing greyhounds is within the rules. In 2018, licensing and inspecting trainer's kennels was conducted through the government-approved, UKAS accredited method. Greyhounds require microchipping, annual vaccinations against distemper , infectious canine hepatitis , parvovirus , leptospirosis ,
2597-494: Was a hind limb muscle at 1,012 (0.28%), this was followed by foot injuries 876 (0.24%), hock 811 (0.23%), wrist 752 (0.21%), fore limb muscle 414 (0.12%), fore long bone 106 (0.03%) and hind long bone 26 (0.01%), other equated to 425 (0.12%). Track fatalities were 120 (0.03%). The Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) actively works to prevent the spread of drug usage within the registered greyhound racing sector. Attempts are made to recover urine samples from all six greyhounds in
2650-554: Was rejected by Glasgow magistrates, on the grounds that it was too near houses and would cause traffic congestion. A company called the Darnley Greyhound Racing Track Ltd had already been formed in readiness. The Glasgow City assessor attempted to increase the valuations of the five greyhound stadiums in Glasgow, which was opposed by the tracks because they did not want to have to pay increased tax. Carntyne , owned by
2703-551: Was repeated three years later when Quarry Tanist, Sandboy & Skip Me crossed the line together on 12 July 1959. In 1961 the track hosted a heat of the BBC Television Trophy shown live on Sportsview . Throughout the 1960s the raced on Wednesday and Saturday nights and the resident trainers were Harry Gendle and K Nelson. The principal event was the Cleveland Stayers Championship and amenities on offer to
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#17330855148742756-596: Was trained by Bob Burls at Wembley. Quare Times, was first from the traps and made no mistakes setting a new world record of 30.38 seconds for the 550 yards course. In the Invitation Stakes run at Coventry on 9 August, Bah's Choice gained revenge beating Quare Times by five lengths, in a new track record with a time of 29.45 seconds. Sadly entered for the Birmingham Cup at Perry Barr in September, Bahs Choice broke
2809-522: Was withdrawn from the Aldridges sales despite bids in excess of £1,000. Owner Mrs. R.H.Dent refused to sell to connections who intended to flap (race on independent tracks) with him. Steve would have to continue his career in Ireland because English Racing Managers refused to allow him to race. This was because of a previous disqualification for fighting at Wembley during a trial. Two other greyhounds failed to sell at Aldridges; Motts Regret went unsold despite
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