1958 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year

The 1958 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 32nd year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.[1]

1958 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year

Roll of honour

Major Winners
Award	Name of Winner
1958 English Greyhound Derby	Pigalle Wonder [2][3]
1958 Irish Greyhound Derby	Colonel Perry [4][5]
1958 Scottish Greyhound Derby	Just Fame [6]
1958 Welsh Greyhound Derby	Our Defence [7]
Greyhound of the Year	Pigalle Wonder

Summary

The National Greyhound Racing Society (the management branch of the National Greyhound Racing Club agreed a deal with the BBC to provide an annual greyhound event which would be shown live on Sportsview. The race would be known as the Sportsview BBC Television Trophy with the venues to be changed each year. The first competition was at Wimbledon over 500 yards but it was soon discovered that the distance was too short for the viewers to remain interested, which resulted in a switch to longer distances the following year. The inaugural event was claimed by trainer Leslie Reynolds with a 20-1 shot called Town Prince.[8][9]

Pigalle Wonder was voted Greyhound of the Year, after a year that included winning the 1958 English Greyhound Derby at White City, Cesarewitch at West Ham Stadium and Pall Mall Stakes at Harringay Stadium.[10][11]

Competitions

Pigalle Wonder's victory in the Pall Mall included a time of 29.03 seconds for 525 yards, which was not beaten for years. Another time he set at Wembley (28.78sec) stood for almost twenty years until the distance was changed to metres. In the TV Trophy he gained all of the attention despite finishing fourth to Town Prince when expected to win, at odds of 1-4f. He had previously won his heat at Powderhall Stadium in a new track record time of 27.97.[12][13][14][15]

There was a major gamble on Our Defence in the Welsh Greyhound Derby final, that had been moved to October due to the Commonwealth Games using the venue in the summer. Because of very wet weather the newly laid track surface became a quagmire with straw being laid on top. Despite this the gamble was landed by the owner trainer, Dr Dennis O'Brien.[13] [14] [15]

Tracks

The Franklin family took sole control of Yarmouth Stadium following the death of Clifford Yaxley and the Arms Park in Cardiff was taken over for the Commonwealth Games and afterwards the circuit was re-laid before the Welsh Derby took place.[16]

News

Harringay Arena was converted into a food storage facility following the sale of the venue the previous year by the Greyhound Racing Association (GRA).[17] The greyhound companies continued to complain at the 10% tax imposed on betting.[18] Wimbledon trainer Paddy Fortune died and his kennels were taken over by George Waterman. [9] [16] Another change came when Sidney Orton retired and his son Clare Orton (a trainer at Clapton) took up his position at Wimbledon. Clare had been a trainer in his own right for nearly ten years.[19]

The GRA senior vet James Bateman was awarded the Victory Medal by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. He had been successful in fitting a plastic scaphoid bone in a greyhound.[9] [16]

Con Stevens applied to the NGRC for a rule change concerning disqualifications. He believes that ungenuine greyhounds in addition to fighters should be disqualified by Racing Managers.[20]

Ireland

The Irish Greyhound Board (Bord na gCon) in Limerick was given the responsibility of all tracks in Ireland by the Dáil Éireann, with the exception of the Ulster tracks that would remain under the jurisdiction of the Irish Coursing Club. The Bord na gCon was established under the Greyhound Industry Act of 1958 with a number of aims. The body was formed to regulate the industry, operate a tote betting system, licence and authorise each stadium, its officials, and its on-course bookmakers, and promote the sport through advertising and prize grants.[21] The new Board includes Dr P.J. Maguire and Captain John Ross.[22]

Harold's Cross re-introduced sales trials and called in British auctioneers Aldridges.[9] [16] Mrs Olive Tasker took the 1958 Irish Greyhound Derby winner Colonel Perry back to England and the greyhound went on to win the Midland Flat with John Bassett.[5]

Principal UK races

Grand National, White City (May 3 525y h, £300) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Fodda Champion Jimmy Jowett 7-4f 30.20 4 2nd Midnight Cossack Joe Pickering 8-1 30.30 5 3rd Vintners Cup Jim Syder Jr. 20-1 30.40 2 4th Tanyard Tulip Jack Harvey 11-4 30.58 1 5th Highway Tim Mrs Rosalie Beba 6-1 30.62 6 6th Prince Poppit Dennis Hannafin 3-1 30.88 3

Gold Collar, Catford (May 24, 440y, £500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Five Up Ron Chamberlain 6-4f 25.43 4 2nd Wickham Hotel Bill Dash 6-1 25.79 6 3rd Simmer Down Pal Joe Booth 10-3 25.97 1 4th Dangerous Customer Dennis Hannafin 3-1 26.11 2 5th Gorm Riac Ron Chamberlain 100-8 26.25 5 6th Recorded Course Les Parry 100-6 26.41 3

Scottish Greyhound Derby, Carntyne (Jul 12, 525y, £500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Just Fame Tom Johnston Sr. 4-1 29.36 2 2nd More Talent Bob Burls 10-1 29.39 3 3rd Ballypatrick Cyril Beaumont 2-1 29.43 6 4th Silvery Airways Joe Pickering 5-4f 29.55 5 5th Northern Leader Dave Geggus 16-1 29.79 1 6th Yes James J.Ward 20-1 00.00 4

Scurry Gold Cup, Clapton (Jul 26, 400y £600) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Beware Champ George Waterman 8-13f 22.71 1 2nd Grove Champion Tom Reilly 33-1 23.09 4 3rd Recorded Course Les Parry 5-1 23.25 6 4th Lisronagh Duet Tom Reilly 10-1 23.43 3 5th Crazy Avenue Gray 20-1 23.77 2 6th Five Up Ron Chamberlain 4-1 24.05 5

Laurels, Wimbledon (Aug 22, 500y, £1,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Granthamaian Jack Harvey 10-1 28.57 5 2nd Lowerton Prince Jack Harvey 5-1 28.61 6 3rd Dangerous Customer Dennis Hannafin 20-1 28.75 2 4th Outside Left Bob Burls 5-2 28.76 1 5th Dancing Sheik Ted Brennan 6-4f 28.88 4 6th Lisronagh Duet Tom Reilly 5-1 29.32 3

St Leger, Wembley (Sep 8, 700y, £1,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Barrys Prince Jack Harvey 4-1 40.01 4 2nd Holystone Mischief Jimmy Purnell 100-8 40.21 5 3rd Beauepaire Reject Jim Hookway 8-1 40.35 2 4th Firgrove Steel Ted Brennan 7-2 40.43 3 5th Lough Champion Joe Pickering 13-2 40.53 1 6th Multiforbo Bob Burls 5-4f 40.71 6

The Grand Prix Walthamstow (Sep 13, 525y, £600) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Granthamian Jack Harvey 1-1f 29.98 1 2nd Crazy Drumloch Bob Burls 8-1 30.02 4 3rd Silvery Airways Joe Pickering 100-8 30.14 2 4th Shannon Gale Tom Reilly 5-2 30.26 6 5th Latest Step Dave Geggus 8-1 30.32 3 6th Lisronagh Duet Tom Reilly 20-1 30.40 5

Oaks, White City (Sep 28, 525y, £500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Antarctica Jimmy Jowett 7-2 29.12 6 2nd Lovely Girl II Ron Chamberlain 13-2 29.26 3 3rd Kilcaskin Karmen Johnny Bullock 5-2 29.27 5 4th Split the Wind II W.G.Brown 9-1 29.49 2 5th Dail Road Blonde 100-7 29.59 4 6th Duneaney Maid Bob Burls 9-4f 29.69 1

Cesarewitch, West Ham (Oct 10, 600y, £1,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Rylane Pleasure (dh) Jack Harvey 3-1 33.06 2 1st Pigalle Wonder (dh) Jim Syder Jr. 8-11f 33.06 4 3rd Lowerton Prince Jack Harvey 9-2 33.18 1 4th Dunmore Rocco Dennis Hannafin 20-1 33.19 6 5th Uncle Albert 66-1 33.43 3 6th Sir Frederick Jack Harvey 100-7 33.63 5 (dh) - dead heat

Welsh Derby, Arms Park (Oct 18, 525y £500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Our Defence Dr Dennis O'Brien 6-1 30.27 3 2nd Crazy Drumloch Bob Burls 1-1f 30.37 6 3rd Arrow Bridge Bill Doolan 4-1 30.47 4 4th Fearless Mac Joe De Mulder 7-2 30.53 1 5th Glenknockaun Boy 10-1 30.93 2 6th Dunstown Prince 8-1 31.09 5

Inaugural BBC Sportsview Trophy Wimbledon (May 21, 500y)
Pos	Name of Greyhound	Trainer	SP	Time	Trap
1st	Town Prince	Leslie Reynolds	20-1	28.14	6
2nd	Dancing Sheik	Ted Brennan	7-1		3
3rd	More Talent	Bob Burls	5-1		4
4th	Pigalle Wonder	Jim Syder Jr.	1-4f		5
5th	Northern Lad	Bob Burls	7-2		2
6th	Wincot Clifford	Jack Toseland	100/8		1

References

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 104/105/106. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-36-8.
3. "1958". Greyhound Data.
4. 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. Genders, Roy (1975). The Greyhound and Racing Greyhound, page 320. Page Brothers (Norwich). ISBN 0-85020-0474.
8. Genders, Roy (1975). The Greyhound and Racing Greyhound. Page Brothers (Norwich). ISBN 0-85020-0474.
9. Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 07207-1106-1.
10. Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing page 110. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 07207-1106-1.
11. "Hall of Fame". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
12. "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 1958) April edition". Greyhound Star.
13. Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-15-5.
14. Barnes, Julia (1991). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File, Vol Two. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-61-9.
15. Barnes/Sellers, Julia/John (1992). Ladbrokes Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-22-8.
16. Genders, Roy (1990). NGRC book of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 0-7207-1804-X.
17. ""Stores Firm To Buy Harringay Arena." Times, 25 July 1958, p. 8". Times Digital Archives.
18. ""G.R.A. Trust." Times, 30 July 1957, p. 14". Times Digital Archives.
19. "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 1958) February edition". Greyhound Star. 2012.
20. "Greyhound Star (Remember When November 1958)". Greyhound Star.
21. "Bord na gCon". Sport Agencies. Department of Arts, Sports and Tourism. Archived from the original on 2008-04-14. Retrieved 2008-07-17.
22. "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When) September edition". Greyhound Star. 2012.