From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
1954 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
The 1954 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 29th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.[1]
Roll of honour
Summary
Spanish Battleship secured a second consecutive Irish Greyhound Derby title becoming the first greyhound in history to do so. In addition to the Derby win, during the year he won the Tostal Cup at Harold's Cross Stadium and Easter Cup at Shelbourne Park before an injury curtailed his efforts in the Callanan Cup final. After his historic Derby win he would win the Tipperary Cup with two track record runs and a victory in the McCalmont Cup but would be a shock loser in the final of the McAlinden Cup for the second year running.[5] [8] Pauls Fun won the English Greyhound Derby for Leslie Reynolds securing a record fifth title for the trainer.[2]
The annual totalisator was £56,139,001.[9]
Competitions
Prince Lawrence and Ardskeagh Ville claimed the pre-derby classics, the Grand National and Gold Collar respectively.[7] Jack Harvey went on a significant three classic winning run; his Gold Collar finalist Demon King captured the sprinters classic the Scurry Gold Cup .[10] The following month during the Laurels , at Wimbledon Stadium Coolkill Chieftain picked up the £1,000 first prize and then in September his Laurels runner up Pancho Villa secured a four and half-length victory in the St Leger final. In addition he also won the Puppy Derby with Gulf of Darien.[11]
The Scottish Greyhound Derby moved to October in an attempt to gain more entries and this seemed to work when the competition received a good entry, including a pair of brothers who emerged to dominate the event. Rushton Mac (by Rushton News out of Rushton Panda) defeated his brother Rushton Spot, who was eliminated from the English Derby at the semi-final stage. Rushton Mac had previously won the Edinburgh Cup . The kennel brothers were trained by Frank Johnson and Rushton Mac won the Pall Mall Stakes and Select Stakes titles.[12] [13] [11] [10]
West Ham Stadium received a star studded line up for the Cesarewitch final in October. Matchlock beat a field in the final by seven lengths that included Derby champion Pauls Fun, St Leger champion Pancho Villa, Title Role and Barrowside. The last major event of the year was the Grand Prix and the Rushton brothers took the first two places again, only this time in a reversal of the Scottish Derby final.[14] [11] [10]
Kensington Perfection trained by Bill Higgins at Oxford Stadium completed an impressive four timer by winning four National Produce stakes finals at Stamford Bridge , Catford Stadium , Brighton & Hove Greyhound Stadium (The Regency ) and Eastville Stadium .[11] [10]
Tracks
A new track in Weymouth opened during August; the site was on Radpole Lane and was known as the Wessex Stadium and Somercotes opened the following month.[15] Stanley Greyhound Stadium withdrew from the National Greyhound Racing Club under the 'Combine' licence.[16]
Principal UK races
Grand National , White City (May 8 525y h, £300)
Pos
Name of Greyhound
Trainer
SP
Time
Trap
1st
Prince Lawrence
Joe Pickering
10-1
30.29
1
2nd
Brighton Master
Sidney Orton
10-1
30.53
2
3rd
Ruddy Caution
Paddy McEvoy
7-2
30.71
5
4th
Tanist Farewell
3-1
30.89
3
5th
Parkroe Bob
Jack Young
6-1
31.01
4
6th
The Flying Kingdom
A.W.Way
2-1f
31.09
6
Gold Collar , Catford (May 29, 440y, £450)
Pos
Name of Greyhound
Trainer
SP
Time
Trap
1st
Ardskeagh Ville
Dave Barker
9-4
25.86
5
2nd
Rathroe Surprise
Bob Burls
10-1
26.10
3
3rd
Demon King
Jack Harvey
100-7
26.20
2
4th
More Majors
33-1
26.36
1
5th
Safe Keys
Miss Mary Vaughan
8-1
27.00
4
6th
Home Luck
Stan Martin
1-1f
00.00
6
Scurry Gold Cup , Clapton (Jul 24, 400y £600)
Pos
Name of Greyhound
Trainer
SP
Time
Trap
1st
Demon King
Jack Harvey
4-9f
22.84
1
2nd
Annaghneal
Jim Syder Jr.
7-1
23.00
3
3rd
Hertzog
Dave Geggus
100-8
23.18
2
4th
Mystery Rival
Bert Stephens
50-1
23.54
5
5th
Fitzs Marquis
Tom Paddy Reilly
7-1
23.64
4
6th
Explosive Gilbert
Leslie Reynolds
8-1
24.04
6
Laurels , Wimbledon (Aug 20, 500y, £1,000)
Pos
Name of Greyhound
Trainer
SP
Time
Trap
1st
Coolkill Chieftain
Jack Harvey
1-2f
28.05
5
2nd
Pancho Villa
Jack Harvey
11-2
28.49
4
3rd
Christopher Hemley
Sidney Orton
10-1
29.13
6
4th
Ashcott Boy
Leslie Reynolds
10-1
29.17
3
5th
Rathroe Surprise
Bob Burls
20-1
29.41
2
6th
Something Odd
Dave Geggus
15-2
29.53
1
St Leger , Wembley (Sep 13, 700y, £1,000)
Pos
Name of Greyhound
Trainer
SP
Time
Trap
1st
Pancho Villa
Jack Harvey
1-1f
40.99
1
2nd
Matchlock
Ted Brennan
9-2
41.35
2
3rd
Fly Prince
George Crussell
100-8
41.55
5
4th
Blue Bell Crosty
4-1
41.61
4
5th
The Sherpa
Noreen Collin
8-1
41.67
6
N/R
Coolkill Chieftain
Jack Harvey
Oaks , White City (Oct 2, 525y, £500)
Pos
Name of Greyhound
Trainer
SP
Time
Trap
1st
Ashcott Winsome
Bert Heyes
100-6
29.39
2
2nd
Cree Dusk
Sidney Orton
2-1f
29.49
1
3rd
Velvet Doll
Jack Harvey
5-2
29.53
5
4th
Rimmells Pearl
Jim Hookway
4-1
29.56
6
5th
Gift of Pleasure
Arthur Hancock
6-1
29.72
3
6th
Waltzers Choice
Reg String Marsh
6-1
29.76
4
Scottish Greyhound Derby , Carntyne (Oct 9, 525y, £500)
Pos
Name of Greyhound
Trainer
SP
Time
Trap
1st
Rushton Mac
Frank Johnson
5-2
29.20
2
2nd
Rushton Spot
Frank Johnson
6-1
29.32
5
3rd
Hi There
Jim Brennan
3-1
29.35
4
4th
Prince Chancer
Jimmy Jowett
6-4f
29.47
1
5th
Stolen Seal
50-1
29.79
3
6th
Tillside Beech
33-1
30.19
6
The Grand Prix Walthamstow (Oct 13, 525y, £750)
Pos
Name of Greyhound
Trainer
SP
Time
Trap
1st
Rushton Spot
Frank Johnson
10-3
29.57
5
2nd
Rushton Mac
Frank Johnson
5-2
30.09
6
3rd
Cheeky Tony
25-1
30.17
4
4th
Cooleen Surprise
George Crussell
6-1
30.45
3
5th
Step Inside
Ron Chamberlain
7-2
30.47
1
6th
Please Champion
Miss K.G.Sanderson
9-4f
30.63
2
References
^ Fry, Paul (1995). The Official NGRC Greyhound Racing Yearbook . Ringpress Books. ISBN 186054-010-4 .
^ a b Dack, Barrie (1990). Greyhound Derby, the first 60 years page 96/97/98 . Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-36-8 .
^ "1954" . Greyhound Data.
^ Comyn, John. 50 Years of Greyhound Racing in Ireland . Aherlow Publishers Ltd.
^ a b Fortune, Michael. Irish Greyhound Derby 1932-1981 . Victory Irish Promotions Ltd.
^ Hobbs, Jonathan (2007). Greyhound Annual 2008, pages 153-154 . Raceform. ISBN 978-1-905153-53-4 .
^ a b Genders, Roy (1975). The Greyhound and Racing Greyhound, page 320 . Page Brothers (Norwich). ISBN 0-85020-0474 .
^ Fortune, Michael. Irish Greyhound Derby 1932-1981 . Victory Irish Promotions Ltd.
^ Particulars of Licensed tracks, table 1 Licensed Dog Racecourses . Licensing Authorities. 1954.
^ a b c d Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing . Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 07207-1106-1 .
^ a b c d Genders, Roy (1990). NGRC book of Greyhound Racing . Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 0-7207-1804-X .
^ Barnes, Julia (1991). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File, Vol Two . Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-61-9 .
^ Barnes/Sellers, Julia/John (1992). Ladbrokes Greyhound Fact File . Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-22-8 .
^ Hobbs, Jonathan (2002). Greyhound Annual 2003 . Raceform. ISBN 1-904317-07-3 .
^ Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File . Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-15-5 .
^ "Stanley Quit, Thursday 7 October". Greyhound Owner . 1954.
UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Years
Years
UK & Irish greyhound competitions
English competitions
Current competitions
Former competitions
Irish competitions
Current competitions
Former competitions
Current greyhound stadiums in Great Britain licensed by the Greyhound Board of Great Britain
Licensed stadiums
English greyhound tracks
Unlicensed tracks (independent / flapping)
Greyhound stadiums in Ireland
Current (Republic of Ireland) Current (Northern Ireland) Former (Republic of Ireland) Former (Northern Ireland)
Scottish greyhound tracks
Unlicensed tracks (independent/flapping)
Welsh greyhound tracks
Unlicensed tracks (independent/flapping)