1940 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year

none June 2019 June 2019 1940 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year 1939 1941 The 1940 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 15th year of greyhound racing in the United KingdomGreyhound Racing South Gloucestershire Gazette 24 Jul 1926 9 March 2026 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004065/19260724/015/0003 British Newspaper Archive subscription and the 14th year of greyhound racing in Ireland.https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001542/19270419/075/0003 Belfast's New Sport Northern Whig 19 April 1927 British Newspaper Archive subscription 9 March 2026Fry Paul The Official NGRC Greyhound Racing Yearbook 1995 Ringpress Books 186054-010-4 Roll of honour Major Winners Award Name of Winner1940 English Greyhound Derby G.R.Archduke1940 Irish Greyhound Derby Tanist1940 Scottish Greyhound Derby Hobbs Jonathan Greyhound Annual 2008, pages 153-154 2007 Raceform 978-1-905153-53-4 Ballycurren Soldier Summary The government were reportedly on the verge of calling a ban on racing and tracks that remained open were beset with problems with many of their staff being called up to fight in the war. Staff called up included trainers and the likes of Wilf Taylor and Albert Jonas were just two such cases.https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000437/19401220/029/0002 Stamford Bridge trainer called to the colours West London Observer 20 December 1940 British Newspaper Archive subscription 8 December 2024 In addition many of the greyhound owners were unable to pay the kennel fees to their respective trainers for the same reason. The Greyhound Express even ran an article about their own dwindling staff at the newspaper.Genders Roy The Greyhound and Racing Greyhound 1975 Page Brothers (Norwich) 0-85020-0474 The anti–betting lobby led by the Labour Party wanted a total ban to racing, quoting that the public transport was being used by racegoers and as a result munitions factory workers were having to walk home. The nation was divided in regards to allowing racing to continue.Genders Roy NGRC book of Greyhound Racing 1990 Pelham Books Ltd 0-7207-1804-X Despite the problems the industry continued to record remarkable results, in terms of attendances and totalisator turnover. The leading greyhound company, the Greyhound Racing Association (GRA) saw reduced profits as expected but still made a net profit of £74,988. The figure was made all the more surprising because from 24 June until 31 December the company had only staged 23 meetings across its race tracks. GRA attendances for the year dropped but remained healthy at 2,516,816.http://tinyurl.galegroup.com/tinyurl/7224a8 "Greyhound Racing Association Trust." Times, 5 Mar. 1941, p. 9 The Times 5 March 1941 9 After receiving instruction from the government, all tracks were ordered by the sports administrative body (the National Greyhound Racing Society) to reduce racing to one meeting per week.http://tinyurl.galegroup.com/tinyurl/722HHX "Various." Times, 27 June 1940, p. 2 The Times 27 June 1940 2 G.R.Archduke won the 1940 English Greyhound Derby,http://www.greyhound-data.com/d?r=2574 1940 Greyhound Data which became known as the 'Silent Derby' due to the fact that it started at White City but ended at Harringay Stadium, after White City closed for the rest if the war.Dack Barrie Greyhound Derby, the first 60 years 79–80 1990 Ringpress Books 0-948955-36-8 Tracks Sunderland Greyhound Stadium held its inaugural race meeting on 23 March and Yarmouth Stadium opened on 11 May but would close soon after.Barnes Julia Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File 1988 Ringpress Books 0-948955-15-5 The Brighton & Hove Greyhound Stadium kennels moved from on site to Albourne.Genders Roy The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing 1981 Pelham Books Ltd 07207-1106-1 Reading Stadium appointed former Reading F.C. goalkeeper Percy Whittaker as a trainer.https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003511/19400126/219/0012 Trainer Whittaker Reading Standard 26 January 1940 British Newspaper Archive subscription 8 December 2024 Tracks opened DateStadium/TrackLocation 23 March Sunderland Greyhound Stadium Sunderland 1 April Mains Park Linlithgow 11 May Yarmouth Stadium Yarmouth Competitions Many of the major competitions were postponed until 1945, classic races the Scurry Gold Cup, Cesarewitch and St Leger were some of the biggest casualties. The Joe Harmon trained brindle, Juvenile Classic, completed a second successful campaign in the Grand National. He had finished runner up the previous year and had won it during 1938. The Gold Collar followed the Grand National as usual and the Wembley trained Cash Balance stopped Grosvenor Ferdinand, now trained by Jack Harvey, from becoming the first greyhound to defend the title successfully. The Scottish Greyhound Derby in July, was won by local greyhound Ballycurreen Soldier, who would justify favouritism as he defeated Grosvenor Ferdinand, Junior Classic and defending champion Misty Law II. In the Laurels, Derby finalists Rock Callan and Keel Creamery failed to overcome April Burglar.Barnes/Sellers Julia/John Ladbrokes Greyhound Fact File 1992 Ringpress Books 0-948955-22-8 News Regular fund raising for the war effort from the greyhound racing public raised significant amounts throughout the year. Ireland In Ireland the 1940 Irish Greyhound Derby would not take place until October and a superstar would emerge, without fully being recognised during his racing career. Tanist was a brindle dog whelped in March 1938 by Inler out of the dam Tranquilia and would later become arguably the most significant breeding sire in Irish history.Comyn John 50 Years of Greyhound Racing in Ireland Aherlow Publishers Ltdhttp://www.gbgb.org.uk/hall-of-fame.aspx?id=1013 Hall of Fame Greyhound Board of Great Britain Owned Mr W.Twyford (real name Father F.Browne) and trained by Billy Quinn he reached the final of the Easter Cup at Shelbourne Park, won by Shy Sandy in April and broke the track record, recording 29.66 seconds and was also the first to break 30 seconds barrier at Clonmel Greyhound Stadium, setting a new record in his only race there. He finished runner up to great rival Another Dancing Willie in the McAlinden Cup final before being bought by Londoner Arthur Probert for £200. He was sent to Paddy McEllistrim at Wimbledon Stadium before returning to Ireland, he set a new Irish national record for 525 yards and was entered for the 1940 Irish Derby. In every heat of the Derby he set a new track record and, by the time of the final, was a popular favourite. He beat the field including Another Dancing Willie in the final; the first time 30 seconds had been broken in a final.Fortune Michael Irish Greyhound Derby 1932-1981 Victory Irish Promotions LtdFortune Michael The 75 Years History of the Irish Greyhound Derby Irish Greyhound Review 0332-3536 Billy Quinn owned and trained another greyhound called Ballynennan Moon who was born in April 1939, five months before the war. In August he was to make his first appearance in public winning the North Kilkenny Stakes. In his first twenty races he won eight times but, in the last of those, he broke 30 seconds to defeat Roeside Liene and Quinn then negotiated a sale to Mrs Jessie Cearns, wife of the managing director of Wimbledon Stadium. Principal UK races Grand National, White City (11 May, 525y h, £150) PosName of GreyhoundTrainerSP TimeTrap 1st Juvenile Classic Joe Harmon 1-1f 30.23 42nd Chinese Cutlet Albert Jonas 2-1 30.71 23rdSpeedway Rebel Wembley100-6 30.74 34th Wooteys Kingmaker E Harfield 5-1 30.90 15th Falling Often Sidney Orton 100-6 31.30 5 Gold Collar, Catford (1 June, 440y, £350)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Cash Balance Sidney Probert 100-7 25.74 52nd Grosvenor Ferdinand Jack Harvey 9-4jf 26.18 23rd Trevs Despatch Johnny Bullock 9-4jf 26.3844th Half A Mo Johnny Bullock 25-1 26.42 35th Berwick Trout Cornelius Crowley 5-1 26.46 66th Musical Duke Cornelius Crowley 4-1 26.50 1 Scottish Greyhound Derby, Carntyne (6 Jul, 525y, £250)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Ballycurren Soldier H Irving 4-5f 29.65 12nd G.R.Acumen 10-1 30.05 43rd Grosvenor Ferdinand Jack Harvey 3-1 30.09 54th Junior Classic Joe Harmon 2-1 30.13 65th Athy Model 20-1 30.2926th Misty Law II M Greenshields 20-1 30.53 3 Laurels, Wimbledon (28 Aug, 500y, £150)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st April Burglar Ken Appleton 100-8 28.56 32nd Rock Callan Joe Harmon 9-4 28.70 23rd Keel Creamery Joe Harmon 8-1 29.10 54th Rushwee Playboy Cornelius Crowley 6-1 29.30 65th Trevs Despatch Johnny Bullock 100-8 29.42 46th Shorn Joe Harmon 2-1f 29.74 1 References Category:Greyhound racing in the United Kingdom Category:Greyhound racing in the Republic of Ireland Category:1940 in British sport Category:1940 in Irish sport Category:1940 in Welsh sport Category:1940 in Scottish sport