2003 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year

The 2003 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 78th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

2003 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year

Summary

The industry suffered a huge double blow with the closure of Catford and the English Greyhound Derby fiasco. Catford Stadium, owned by GRA was closed with little warning. The last meeting was on the 5 November leaving the staff, trainers and many others redundant. [1] [2]

Trainers John Simpson, Tony Taylor, Maxine Locke and John Walsh moved to Wimbledon, Keston based Steve Gammon left for Crayford, Sonja Spiers and Kevin Connor went to Sittingbourne and Mark Lavender switched to Portsmouth. Racing Manager Derek Hope was able to take up the same position at Wimbledon soon after because Simon Harris had left for Coventry [1] Stadium bookmaker John Humphreys, who had stood in the main ring since 1966 and sponsored the Gold Collar for 18 years, retired.[1]

The 2003 English Greyhound Derby took place as usual with the final being held on 28 June. The final resulted in the disqualification of Droopys Hewitt, trained by Andy Iaonnou a first season trainer and former head man to Nick Savva. A sample taken by the stewards (the usual practice) was tested as positive and following a six-month court battle the National Greyhound Racing Club stewards finally prevailed and stripped the Derby title from Droopys Hewitt and awarded it to second place Farloe Verdict. The winner Farloe Verdict received £75,000 and the disgraced Iaonnou was banned from the sport.[3]

The 2003 Irish Greyhound Derby suffered no such troubles and was won by Climate Control.[4]

Charlie Lister was Greyhound Trainer of the Year, it was the first time he had taken the honour despite all of his previous success. Brian Clemenson landed the trainers championship for the second successive year. The title of greyhound of the year went to Tims Crow.[5] [6]

Tracks

Dundalk officially opened their new Dundalk Stadium on 29 November 2003 to the cost of €11 million. The minister for sport John O'Donoghue conducted the opening.[7] [8]

William Hill bookmakers purchased Brough Park and it underwent major investment, similar to that of Sunderland, which William Hill had acquired the year before.[5]

Auchinleck in East Ayrshire, a major independent (unlicensed track) closed after seventy years racing. The track was the birthplace of famous Scottish bookmaker Fearless Freddie Williams[9] who had his first pitch there many years ago.[10]

Competitions

Former Springbok champion Rossa Ranger set a new track record over 385 hurdles at Crayford recording a remarkable 23.36, faster than the flat heats of the Rosebowl on the same night. However he failed to make it past the Grand National first round. The event went to Selby Ben continuing Tommy Foster's success in the hurdle classic. Charlie Lister lifted the Scottish Greyhound Derby with new Irish acquisition Micks Mystic. Shelbourne Star lost his St Leger title after a positive test.[5]

News

There was continued debating on two issues; whether a levy should be paid to the sport in place of the Bookmakers contributions and how to increase funding in welfare to ensure that the industry could meet and exceed the requirements set by DEFRA and the Animal Welfare Bill.[5]

Trainer Joe Cobbold died after a long battle with cancer aged 71, his son Trevor Cobbold had died nearly ten years previous with cancer; the Utopia kennels had produced countless champions under the 'Decoy' prefix.[11]

Roll of honour

Major Winners
Award	Name of Winner
2003 English Greyhound Derby	Farloe Verdict
2003 Irish Greyhound Derby	Climate Control
Greyhound Trainer of the Year	Charlie Lister
Greyhound of the Year	Tims Crow
Irish Dog and Bitch of the Year	Climate Control / Mustang Mega

Trainers Championship, Sittingbourne (May 4) Pos Name of Trainer Points 1st Brian Clemenson 56 2nd Linda Jones 47 3rd Paul Young 30 4th Cheryl Miller 29 5th Seamus Cahill 25 6th John Mullins 21

Principal UK finals

William Hill Grand National, Wimbledon (Mar 18, 460mH, £7,500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Selby Ben Tommy Foster 12-1 28.45 2 2nd Take A Tonic Paul Young 5-1 28.57 4 3rd Shopitaly Seamus Cahill 2-1f 28.59 1 4th High Roller Barry O’Sullivan 4-1 28.69 6 5th Ultra Low Norah McEllistrim 7-1 28.69 3 6th Coogee Tel Boy George Andreas 7-2 28.72 5

Regal Scottish Derby, Shawfield (Apr 5, 480m, £25,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Micks Mystic Charlie Lister 4-6f 29.07 5 2nd Bomber Graham Pat Rosney 12-1 29.47 3 3rd Unassailable Tommy Gentles 10-1 29.53 1 4th Swift Star Paul Young 8-1 29.83 6 5th Sportsman Linda Jones 5-1 29.97 4 6th Stay Please Janis Carmichael 10-1 30.31 2

Reading Masters, Reading (Jul 20, 465m, £20,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Blonde Ranger John Mullins 6-1 28.00 5 2nd Haughty Ted Dinky Luckhurst 9-4f 28.10 1 3rd Iceman Merlin Tony Lucas 5-2 28.22 6 4th Shirl Tel Kel George Andreas 14-1 28.30 3 5th Farloe Hack Barrie Draper 11-4 28.44 4 6th Nightingale Babe Liz Redpath 10-1 28.64 2

William Hill Cesarewitch, Oxford (Jul 22, 645m, £5,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Maxie Rumble John Mullins 1-1f 39.62 2 2nd Creamery City Nick Colton 25-1 39.72 3 3rd Iceman Yank Tony Lucas 9-2 39.73 6 4th Creamery Euro Nick Colton 6-4 39.82 1 5th Jago Pride Richard Jago 33-1 40.10 4 6th Southlodge Rage Nick Colton 16-1 40.21 5

Tote Gold Collar, Catford (Sep 18, 555m, £7,500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Toms Little Jo Gary Baggs 3-1 34.56 3 2nd Topmeup Paul Garland 4-1 35.00 1 3rd Wall of Tears Claude Gardiner 2-1f 35.12 6 4th Sympatico Bernie Doyle 10-1 35.20 2 5th Iceman Mork Tony Lucas 33-1 35.36 5 6th Master Card John Coleman 3-1 35.46 4

Victor Chandler Grand Prix, Walthamstow (Oct 4, 640m, £10,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Special Trick Linda Jones 4-1 39.85 3 2nd Bale Out Jim Reynolds 5-2f 40.09 1 3rd Little Sapphire John Mullins 10-1 40.41 5 4th Soviet Swinger Ernie Gaskin Sr. 3-1 40.51 2 5th Split the Score John Mullins 5-1 40.59 4 6th Ballyshane Snow Gary Baggs 6-1 40.85 6

William Hill TV Trophy, Wimbledon (Oct 7, 872m, £6,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Ericas Equity Paul Young 6-4 54.62 3 2nd Shelbourne Star Brian Clemenson 7-1 54.66 1 3rd Creamery Euro Nick Colton 7-1 54.78 2 4th Iceman Yank Tony Lucas 1-1f 55.00 4 5th Vigorous Brook Linda Jones 16-1 55.03 5 N/R Similar Colour Ernie Gaskin Sr. 6

William Hill Laurels, Belle Vue (Oct 28, 465m, £8,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Knockeevan Magic Peter Rich 11-10f 28.25 1 2nd Bally Kee Charlie Lister 7-4 28.53 3 3rd Bomber Graham Pat Rosney 8-1 28.66 2 4th Stuart Little Graham Hutt 9-1 29.23 5 5th Missy Elliot Anthony McConnell 8-1 29.32 6 N/R Burberry Boy Charlie Lister 4

William Hill St Leger, Wimbledon (Nov 11, 668m, £13,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Bite the Bullet Wayne Brunt 20-1 41.38 2 2nd Tullymurry Token Martin Dowman 33-1 41.41 5 3rd Double Take Andy Heyes 16-1 41.46 4 4th Special Trick Linda Jones 2-1 41.53 3 N/R Fortuna Phantom Tony Lucas 6 disq+ Shelbourne Star Brian Clemenson 4-7f 41.21 1 + disqualified after winning the race following a positive drugs test

William Hill Oaks, Wimbledon (Dec 2, 480m, £6,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Cooly Pantera Brian Clemenson 11-8f 29.18 4 2nd Droopys Natalie Charlie Lister 6-1 29.24 6 3rd Zodiac Supreme Norah McEllistrim 6-1 29.32 5 4th Duchess Keghtley Graham Hutt 9-4 29.34 3 5th Lizzie Larsson John Mullins 10-1 29.40 2 6th Whitefort Jackie Terry Kibble 20-1 29.62 1

Principal Irish finals

Easter Cup Shelbourne (Apr 12, 525y, €50,000) Pos Name of Greyhound SP Time Trap 1st Mobhi Gamble [12] 4-1 28.47 6 2nd Clover Hare 9-10f 28.48 2 3rd Borna Pilot 7-2 28.65 3 4th Johnny Jump Up 20-1 29.07 4 5th Ten Men 6-1 29.21 1 6th Haliska Hilander 50-1 29.32 5

Red Mills Produce Clonmel (May 4, 525y, €30,000) Pos Name of Greyhound SP Time Trap 1st Clashduff Fun [13] 2-1 28.79 6 2nd Safari King 7-2 28.89 2 3rd Land of Song 20-1 28.93 4 4th Officer Joe 7-4f 29.21 1 5th Dunloe Prince 3-1 29.42 3 N/R Davran Chief 5

Ladbrokes 600 Shelbourne (May 10, 600y, €35,000) Pos Name of Greyhound SP Time Trap 1st The Other Master [14] 4-1 32.81 3 2nd Frisby Fassan 4-1 32.82 6 3rd Odette 6-1 32.89 1 4th Diego Glory 12-1 33.06 2 5th Charlie Bird 6-1 33.80 4 6th Kansil O Kee 7-4f 00.00 5

Kerry Agribusiness Irish St Leger Limerick (Jun 8, 550y, €35,000) Pos Name of Greyhound SP Time Trap 1st Mountleader Rolf [15] 5-2 30.01 6 2nd Nikita Billie 7-1 30.02 3 3rd Nod Mac 6-4f 30.09 4 4th Land of Song 20-1 30.44 5 5th Balscadden Boy 2-1 30.51 1 N/R Maryville Rumble 2

Sporting Press Oaks Shelbourne (Jul 19, 525y, €35,000) Pos Name of Greyhound SP Time Trap 1st Axle Grease [16] 11-10f 28.64 4 2nd Mustang Mega 3-1 28.66 1 3rd One Yard 4-1 28.90 2 4th Odette 20-1 29.25 3 5th Longvalley Tina 14-1 29.36 6 6th Alisons Pet 20-1 29.57 5

Boylesports Champion Stakes Shelbourne (Aug 2, 550y, €40,000) Pos Name of Greyhound SP Time Trap 1st World Class [17] 16-1 29.72 2 2nd Priceless Rebel 12-1 29.86 1 3rd Bookie Burglar 12-1 30.35 3 4th Magical Captain 16-1 30.36 6 5th Serene Rumble 2-1 30.53 4 6th Climate Control 1-1f 31.23 5

BCR Press/Droopys Vieri Puppy Derby Harolds Cross (Oct 10, 525y, €50,000) Pos Name of Greyhound SP Time Trap 1st Droopys Cahill [18] 5-4f 28.55 2 2nd Jack Spark 6-1 28.79 4 3rd Side Cash 6-1 28.86 3 4th Early Mist 4-1 28.88 5 5th Ballymac Returns 4-1 28.95 6 6th Bo Bo 12-1 29.06 1

Co-Op Superstores Laurels Cork (Oct 25, 525y, €35,000) Pos Name of Greyhound SP Time Trap 1st Nikita Billie [19] 9-2 28.34 3 2nd Droopys Ruud 2-1f 28.44 2 3rd Droopys Oasis 7-2 28.65 5 4th Fiery Lark 12-1 28.90 1 5th Mustang Buster 7-2 28.91 4 6th Oasis Rumble 14-1 29.19 6

References

1. "Catford greyhound track: gone but not forgotten". Betfair.com.
2. "Catford's gone to the dogs". Evening Standard.
3. Hobbs, Jonathan (2007). Greyhound Annual 2008, page 91. Raceform. ISBN 978-1-905153-53-4.
4. "Irish Derby Final". Greyhound Data.
5. Hobbs, Jonathan (2004). Greyhound Annual 2005. Raceform. ISBN 1-904317-58-8.
6. "Remember When December (2019)". Greyhound Star.
7. "Dundalk presents all-weather track plan". Irish Examiner.
8. "Dundalk". Greyhound Data.
9. "Never bet against Fearless Freddie Freddie". The Telegraph.
10. "Legendary bookie dies in his sleep". Daily Record.
11. "Greyhounds: Joe Cobbold dies, aged 76". Racing Post.
12. "Easter Cup Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
13. "Produce Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
14. "600 Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
15. "St Leger Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
16. "Oaks Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
17. "Champion Stakes Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
18. "Puppy Derby Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
19. "Laurels Final". Irish Greyhound Board.