1959 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year

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1959 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
1959 Oaks champion Gurteen Scamp
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The 1959 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 33rd year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.[1]

Roll of honour[edit]

Major Winners
Award Name of Winner
1959 English Greyhound Derby Mile Bush Pride[2][3]
1959 Irish Greyhound Derby Sir Frederick [4][5]
1959 Scottish Greyhound Derby Mile Bush Pride[6]
1959 Welsh Greyhound Derby Mile Bush Pride[7]
Greyhound of the Year Mile Bush Pride

Summary[edit]

Mile Bush Pride was voted Greyhound of the Year after becoming only the second greyhound, after Trev's Perfection to win the Triple Crown which consisted of the English Greyhound Derby, Scottish Greyhound Derby and Welsh Greyhound Derby.[7][8] Trained by Jack Harvey for owner Noel Purvis, a shipping magnate, the brindle greyhound also won the Pall Mall, Select Stakes and Cesarewitch in 1959.[9][10]

Competitions[edit]

Irish Greyhound Derby champion Colonel Perry moved kennels from John Bassett to Tom Baldwin and finished a disappointing fourth in the final of the Gold Collar behind Dunstown Warrior.[10] After his English Greyhound Derby success, Mile Bush Pride ran out an eleven and a quarter winner of the Welsh Derby, in 28.80 seconds, eclipsing the previous track record by over five lengths. Mile Bush Pride then achieved the Triple Crown by winning the Scottish Derby in 29.41, beating the defending champion Just Fame by eight lengths.[11][12]

During 1959 Pigalle Wonder won the Anglo-Irish International, the Wood Lane Stakes and successfully defended his Edinburgh Cup title.[13]

News[edit]

Charlie Birch became the new Racing Manager at White City and the Oaks moved to sister track Harringay Stadium. At the pre-Derby final luncheon at the Dorchester Hotel, Mrs Frances Chandler called for two changes to the sport. First the standardisation of starting traps and secondly the setting up of a greyhound national stud.[7][9][10] The National Greyhound Racing Society considered changing the tote deductions at all National Greyhound Racing Club affiliated tracks. The current deduction stands at 16%, of which 10% goes to the government.[14]

It was announced at the London veterinary conference that a vaccine had been found to counteract canine hepatitis. Now both distemper and hepatitis can be controlled.[7][9][10]

Ireland[edit]

A new track in Ireland opened in the form of Lifford, which was a former schooling track. The venue just south of the Northern Irish border in County Donegal was opened by James Magee. His sons Cathal and Sheamus would help run the track for many years. A track bookmakers strike over the cost of admissions to their staff resulted in racing being halted at many Irish venues.[4]

One of the most prominent sires of all time, The Grand Champion died aged 9½. He had sired many champions including Mile Bush Pride and Palms Printer.[15]

Principal UK races[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Fry, Paul (1995). The Official NGRC Greyhound Racing Yearbook. Ringpress Books. ISBN 186054-010-4.
  2. ^ Dack, Barrie (1990). Greyhound Derby, the first 60 years pages 106/107. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-36-8.
  3. ^ "1959". Greyhound Data.
  4. ^ a b Comyn, John. 50 Years of Greyhound Racing in Ireland. Aherlow Publishers Ltd.
  5. ^ Fortune, Michael. Irish Greyhound Derby 1932-1981. Victory Irish Promotions Ltd.
  6. ^ Hobbs, Jonathan (2007). Greyhound Annual 2008, pages 153-154. Raceform. ISBN 978-1-905153-53-4.
  7. ^ a b c d Genders, Roy (1975). The Greyhound and Racing Greyhound. Page Brothers (Norwich). ISBN 0-85020-0474.
  8. ^ "Mile Bush Pride profile". Greyhound Data.
  9. ^ a b c Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 07207-1106-1.
  10. ^ a b c d Genders, Roy (1990). NGRC book of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 0-7207-1804-X.
  11. ^ Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-15-5.
  12. ^ Barnes/Sellers, Julia/John (1992). Ladbrokes Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-22-8.
  13. ^ "Hall of Fame". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
  14. ^ a b "Remember When - July 1959". Greyhound Star.
  15. ^ "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 1959) January edition". Greyhound Star.
  16. ^ "Remember When - July". Greyhound Star.
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