1959 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year

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

1959 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
1959 Oaks champion Gurteen Scamp

Roll of honour

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

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

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

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

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

Grand National, White City (May 2 525y h, £300) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Prince Poppit Dennis Hannafin 3-1 30.10 1 2nd Looks A Leader Reg Bosley 5-1 30.11 6 3rd Khaffra F.J.Hedley 5-2f 30.19 3 4th Sammy Light Jim Syder Jr. 20-1 30.31 2 5th Tangled Fate George Waterman 3-1 30.37 5 6th Foolish Customer Jimmy Purnell 6-1 30.47 4

BBC Sportsview Trophy West Ham (May 6, 700y, £1,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Dont Divulge Leslie Reynolds 5-1 38.72 5 2nd Dunmore Rocco Dennis Hannafin 1-1f 38.86 4 3rd Society Wonder Jim Syder Jr. 13-2 39.02 3 4th Sailaway Rebel Joe Pickering 100-8 39.22 1 5th Polar Airways 33-1 39.42 2 6th Mink Muff Joe De Mulder 11-4 39.70 6

Gold Collar, Catford (May 23, 440y, £500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Dunstown Warrior Tom Reilly 11-4 25.77 5 2nd The Glen Abbey Joe Pickering 8-1 26.09 6 3rd Marazion Minister Stan Martin 100-7 26.21 3 4th Colonel Perry Tom Baldwin 15-2 26.41 1 5th Armour Prince Jack Harvey 9-4f 26.57 4 6th Granite Glittering Tony Dennis 3-1 26.73 2

Welsh Derby, Arms Park (Jul 4, 525y £500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Mile Bush Pride Jack Harvey 8-11f 28.80+ 2 2nd Killahalla Len Bane 100-8 29.78 1 3rd Prince of Speed Jimmy Jowett 100-6 29.86 3 4th Snub Nose Jimmy Purnell 5-1 29.98 6 5th No Wonder Bob Burls 7-2 30.14 5 6th Glittering Paver Wilf France 33-1 30.36 4 +Track record

Oaks, Harringay (Jul 6, 525y, £500) [16] Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Gurteen Scamp George Waterman 11-2 29.90 4 2nd Simonette Les Brown 8-1 30.16 6 3rd Fancy Cinema Lewis Hiscock 100-7 30.18 5 4th Glittering Millie Tim Forster 5-1 30.24 3 5th Naughty Judy Jim Syder Jr. 10-3 30.36 1 6th Bridgetown Girl Barney O'Connor 5-4f 00.00 2

Scottish Greyhound Derby, Carntyne (Jul 11, 525y, £500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Mile Bush Pride [14] Jack Harvey 2-7f 29.41 3 2nd Just Fame Tom Johnston Sr. 9-2 30.05 4 3rd Mile From Curraglas Alan Lake 10-1 30.13 5 4th Imperial Town Joe Booth 33-1 30.21 2 5th Lynmoor Joe Booth 33-1 30.41 1 N/R Ollys Quare Breeze

Scurry Gold Cup, Clapton (Jul 25, 400y £600) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Gorey Airways Jimmy Jowett 9-4 22.95 4 2nd Imperial Bar Dennis Hannafin 5-1 23.17 6 3rd Westland Cleo Paddy Keane 7-1 23.41 3 4th Supreme King Tom Smith 7-4f 23.45 1 5th Wild Look Stan Martin 8-1 23.55 2 6th Comrade Reg String Marsh 100-7 23.69 5

Laurels, Wimbledon (Aug 21, 500y, £1,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Mighty Hassan Jack Harvey 5-1 28.01 1 2nd Tailors Cheerful Tom Reilly 5-1 28.19 3 3rd Davy Crickett Bob Burls 66-1 28.25 2 4th Mile Bush Pride Jack Harvey 10-11f 28.33 5 5th Derry Waltz Stan Martin 50-1 28.89 4 6th Leighlin Champion Barney O'Connor 4-1 00.00 6

St Leger, Wembley (Sep 7, 700y, £1,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Wincot Clifford Jack Toseland 5-4f 40.25 1 2nd Princess Jester Jack Harvey 11-4 40.27 3 3rd Snub Nose Jimmy Purnell 8-1 40.51 2 4th Crazy Paving Charles Payne 6-1 40.57 5 5th Pierrot Ronnie Melville 3-1 40.73 6 6th Money Trebles Bob Burls 66-1 40.85 4

Cesarewitch, West Ham (Oct 9, 600y, £1,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Mile Bush Pride Jack Harvey 2-7f 32.66 1 2nd Just Fame Tom Johnston Sr. 100-8 33.26 5 3rd Dunmore Rocco Dennis Hannafin 6-1 33.46 4 4th De Luxe W Taylor 100-8 33.58 2 5th Princess Jester Jack Harvey 100-6 33.62 6 6th Pierrot Ronnie Melville 50-1 33.68 3

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 106/107. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-36-8.
3. "1959". 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 Brothers (Norwich). ISBN 0-85020-0474.
8. "Mile Bush Pride profile". Greyhound Data.
9. Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 07207-1106-1.
10. 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. "Remember When - July 1959". Greyhound Star.
15. "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 1959) January edition". Greyhound Star.
16. "Remember When - July". Greyhound Star.