1998 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year

none March 2026 March 2026 1998 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year 1997 1999 The 1998 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 73rd year of greyhound racing in the United KingdomGreyhound Racing South Gloucestershire Gazette 24 July 1926 9 March 2026 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004065/19260724/015/0003 British Newspaper Archive subscription and the 72nd 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 2026Hobbs Jonathan Greyhound Annual 2008 2008 Raceform 978-1-905153-534 Roll of honour Major Winners Award Name of Winner1998 English Greyhound Derby Toms The Besthttp://www.greyhound-data.com/d?r=2071 1998 Greyhound DataHobbs Jonathan Greyhound Annual 2008, page 91 2007 Raceform 978-1-905153-53-41998 Irish Greyhound Derby Eyeman Fortune Michael The 75 Years History of the Irish Greyhound Derby 1932-2006 Irish Greyhound Review 0332-35361998 Scottish Greyhound Derby Larkhill Jo Hobbs Jonathan Greyhound Annual 2008, pages 153-154 2007 Raceform 978-1-905153-53-4Greyhound Trainer of the Year Linda MullinsGreyhound of the Year Toms The Best Irish Dog and Bitch of the Year Eyeman / April SurpriseTrainers Championship Ernie Gaskin Sr. Summary The National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC) released the annual returns, with totalisator turnover at £78,981,066 and attendances recorded at 3,606,704.NGRC calendar January 1999 National Greyhound Racing Club Irish Greyhound Derby champion Toms The Best trained by Nick Savva was voted Greyhound of the Year after finishing runner-up in the Scottish Greyhound Derby at Shawfield Stadium and winning the 1998 English Greyhound Derby.Hobbs Jonathan Greyhound Annual 2003 2002 Raceform 1-904317-07-3Hobbs Jonathan Greyhound Annual 2005 2004 Raceform 1-904317-58-8 Linda Mullins won Greyhound Trainer of the Year for the third successive year. The industry lost Wembley when it was announced that greyhound racing would no longer take place there. The last race was held on Friday 18 December. A twist of fate resulted in a no race on that final night after a hare failure, just like 71 years previous when on the opening night in 1927 the same happened.https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/greyhound-racing-hounded-out-after-a-71-year-run-1191954.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/greyhound-racing-hounded-out-after-a-71-year-run-1191954.html 2022-05-01 subscription Greyhound racing: Hounded out after a 71-year run The Independent Tracks Independent track Long Eaton in the hands of the receivers Grant Thompson suffered a catastrophic grandstand fire on Sunday 27 December. The receivers had hoped to sell it for £1.5 million to developers but the Erewash council had voted unanimously (44-0) that the track would remain a sporting venue. However that plan was scuppered after the fire which local police treated as suspicious. With no grandstand anyone interested in bringing back racing had pulled out of negotiations. Leading owner, Pat Chambers, had been involved in a scheme to buy the track in January.https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Long+Eaton+burns+down-a060658277 Long Eaton burns down The Racing Post News Wembley Racing Manager John Rowley left the sport whilst Peter Miller moved to Hove. Wembley trainers Ken Tester and Terry Atkins relocated to Catford before switching to Crayford and Oxford respectively, Patsy Cusack joined Crayford and Hazel Dickson joined Wimbledon, John Haynes kept a small kennel to open race, while Wally Ginzel and Pam Heasman would both soon retire.https://betting.betfair.com/greyhound-racing/lost-tracks/post-1-031207.html When racing ruled Wembley Betfair The Sporting Life closed in May after a merger with the Racing Post; it was the end of an era for the newspaper that had served greyhound racing for decades and its editor Bob Betts.https://www.theguardian.com/business/1999/mar/05/6 The murder of this Sporting Life The Guardian 5 March 1999 Subsequently the Racing Post sponsored a new festival of racing at Walthamstow. Seven-time champion trainer John McGee Sr. returned to England after spending four years in Ireland. He leased the Halls Green Farm kennels in Roydon, Essex, where former Walthamstow stars were reared, after selling his Woodlands Kennels in County Kildare. His relationship with the NGRC remained fractious and they announced that they would not be licence him until he met the £30,000 legal bill accumulated from the failed high court ban back in 1994. After agreeing a payment he was given an attachment at Rye House. Meanwhile at Peterborough Racing Manager Mike Middle retired and was replaced by Con Baker. Sheffield won the Supertrack (a competition between tracks); they beat the competition which included hosts Walthamstow by scoring 81 points; Walthamstow finished 2nd with 69 points with Henlow in third with 39.Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 1998) November edition 2012 Greyhound Starhttp://greyhoundstar.co.uk/remember-when-november-3/ Remember When - November Greyhound Star 3 November 2019 Competitions The last Grand National at Hall Green was won by a greyhound called El Tenor trained by Linda Mullins and owned by Italian film producer Mario Lanfranchi. The brindle dog had won the Essex Vase in 1996 before being disqualified and being switched to hurdles and then won 9 from 13 before the Grand National. During the final El Tenor came from off the pace to catch and beat Quote That and Mullins saw a gap in the open race circuit over stayers hurdles. No other greyhound could compete with him over staying hurdles events and he won many open races throughout the year and passed Poor Sue's record of 69 open victories when picking up another victory at Nottingham in December. In the Pall Mall Stakes at Oxford Stadium Droopys Eric took a length off Carmels Prince's eight year old track record beating Blue Murlen in the process. Later following a major car accident Droopys Eric was injured with a kennelmate dying and passenger Olive Tasker seriously injured. Eric was withdrawn from the semi-finals. On 17 March, Ernie Gaskin Sr. won his third trainer's championship when winning the event at Sittingbourne. The event was the closest in history because Gaskin and Brian Clemenson tied on points, meaning that on count back the number of winners would determine the champion. However they also had an equal number of winners, which resulted in the decision that second placings would count.Dash in for Value Daily Mirror 19 March 1998 23 January 2022 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002344/19921022/816/0023 British Newspaper Archive subscription During the Golden Jacket final Bubbly Princess won but was then disqualified by the stewards, the connections were waiting at the podium when the announcement took place. Linda Jones and the Bubbly Club lost the £7,500 first prize but Mario Lanfranchi the owner of El Onda gave the trophy away after not being happy at winning by default.http://greyhoundstar.co.uk/remember-february-8-4/ Greyhound Star (Remember When - February 1998) February 2019 Greyhound Star Principal UK races Worthington Creamflow Bitter Grand National, Hall Green (Apr 7, 474m h, £7,500)PosName of GreyhoundTrainerSP TimeTrap 1st El Tenor Linda Mullins 11-10f 29.20 52nd Quote That David Mullins 8-1 29.22 23rd Why Brian Terry O'Sullivan 9-2 29.24 14th Chums Choice Robinson 12-1 29.36 65th Kevs Express Tom Foster 14-1 29.76 36th Stradeen Ranger Gary Baggs 4-1 29.94 4 Regal Scottish Derby, Shawfield (Apr 18, 480m, £20,000)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Larkhill Jo Nick Savva 5-4f 29.01 52nd Toms The Best Nick Savva 5-2 29.07 63rd Droopys Deniro Charlie Lister 20-1 29.15 44th Jonssen John McGee Sr. 5-1 29.29 35th Treasury Tag Francie Murray 6-1 29.43 16th Mi Sateen John McGee Sr. 6-1 29.58 2 Reading Masters, Reading (May 3, 465m, £20,000)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st You Will Call Jo Burridge 5-1 27.90 32nd Fawn Boy Nikki Adams 6-1 27.93 53rd Spoonbill Snowey Michael Bacon 6-4f 28.07 64th Enchanted Wood Roy Towner 20-1 28.11 25th Ceekay Linda Mullins 7-2 28.19 46th Frisco Sir Ray Peacock 8-1 28.29 1 Worthington Creamflow Bitter Scurry Gold Cup, Catford (Jul 11, 385m, £2,500)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Im Frankie Mick Puzey 9-1 24.40 32nd Leaders Highway Geoff De Mulder 4-1 24.48 43rd Union Decree Ernie Gaskin Sr. 4-9f 24.50 14th Lenson Gold Norah McEllistrim 10-1 24.76 25th Kilderry Mover John Coxon 25-1 25.00 56th Hello Buttons Linda Mullins 8-1 25.02 6 Syntegra Gold Collar, Catford (Sep 19, 555m, £7,500)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Pure Patches Dinky Luckhurst 11-10f 34.6852nd El Hombre Linda Mullins 2-1 34.86 13rd Homeside Knight Tom Gates 14-1 35.26 24th El Franco Linda Mullins 14-1 35.42 45th Bubbly Lad Linda Jones 10-1 35.60 66th Dalcash Sile Tony Taylor 7-1 35.62 3 Laurent-Perrier Grand Prix, Walthamstow (Oct 3, 640m, £7,500)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Dans Sport Charlie Lister 6-1 39.79 62nd Honest Lord Lee Gifkins 2-5f 39.85 13rd Scart Eight Gary Baggs 25-1 39.95 44th Farloe Bonus Charlie Lister 4-1 40.09 55th Farloe Bramble Terry Dartnall 16-1 40.49 3N/R Lydpal Frankie Tony Meek William Hill Laurels, Belle Vue (Oct 17, 460m, £6,000)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Ardant Jimmy Sandra Ralph 10-1 28.05 42nd Ceekay Linda Mullins 7-4 28.13 13rd Ballygalda Mike John Walton 16-1 28.15 24th Quick Stop Tony Lythgoe 25-1 28.23 35th Tippins Garden June McCombe 12-1 28.25 56th Spoonbill Snowey Michael Bacon 5-4f 28.43 6 Evening Standard TV Trophy, Wimbledon (Oct 13, 868m, £6,000)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Note Book Gary Adam 3-1 54.75 62nd Thornfield Bob Brian Murfin 5-1 55.01 53rd Spenwood Wizard Ron Hough 4-1 55.15 14th Impulsive Girl Chris Emmerson 7-4f 55.31 35th Spenwood Gem Ron Hough 5-1 55.43 26th Annamore Blue Ernie Wiley 33-1 55.81 4 Wendy Fair St Leger, Wembley (Nov 6, 655m, £12,000)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Droopys Pacino Tony Bullen 4-1 39.67 32nd Lady Flyaway Brian Clemenson 14-1 39.91 23rd Hi Bob David Pruhs 10-1 39.92 64th Guest In Time Brian Clemenson 7-2 39.95 55th Let Me Run Brian Clemenson 7-2 40.1746th Lydpal Frankie Tony Meek 4-5f 40.20 1 Thoroughbred Investments Oaks, Wimbledon (Nov 12, 480m, £6,000)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Sarah Dee Nick Savva 6-4f 28.82 42nd Droopys Maeve Henry Tasker 5-2 28.86 53rd Velvet Return Charlie Lister 5-2 29.12 64th Seskin Judy Angie Kibble 3-1 29.13 15th Westmead Gigi Nick Savva 10-1 29.27 26th Pure Penny Jason Foster 12-1 29.91 3 William Hill Cesarewitch, Catford (Dec 5, 718m, £5,000)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Fourth Ace Barry Wileman 9-4 47.01 12nd Droopys Paul (dh) Linda Mullins 1-2f 47.11 22nd El Onda (dh) Linda Mullins 9-2 47.11 44th Catch Mona Brian Clemenson 10-1 47.61 3N/R Piercestown Gift Mick Bailey N/R Magpie Miss Ernie Gaskin Sr. dh=dead heat Totalisator returns The totalisator returns declared to the National Greyhound Racing Club for the year 1998 are listed below.Totalisator returns of National Greyhound Racing Club Licensed tracks 1998 National Greyhound Racing ClubFloyd Amphlett March 1999 Slow Climb Greyhound Star StadiumTurnover £London (Walthamstow) 11,944,657London (Wimbledon) 8,455,306Romford 7,326,179Manchester (Belle Vue)4,925,733Birmingham (Hall Green) 4,738,521Brighton & Hove 4,738,292London (Catford) 3,376,356Sheffield (Owlerton) 2,894,945Peterborough 2,891,227Birmingham (Perry Barr) 2,553,614Crayford 2,478,003 StadiumTurnover £Sunderland 2,131,724Poole1,750,882Wolverhampton (Monmore)1,651,061Glasgow (Shawfield) 1,647,828London (Wembley) 1,538,480Oxford1,526,708Milton Keynes1,503,990Nottingham 1,472,640Portsmouth 1,328,722Yarmouth 1,310,523Newcastle (Brough Park) 1,204,602 StadiumTurnover £Reading 1,114,281Swindon 819,064Harlow 784,315Sittingbourne 701,967Canterbury 637,481Hull (New Craven Park) 483,231Doncaster (Stainforth) 306,486Rye House 196,420Mildenhall 191,172Swaffham 189,398Henlow (Bedfordshire) 171,158 References 30em Category:Greyhound racing in the United Kingdom Category:Greyhound racing in the Republic of Ireland UK and Ireland Greyhound Racing Year UK and Ireland Greyhound Racing Year UK and Ireland Greyhound Racing Year UK and Ireland Greyhound Racing Year