2008 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year

none 2008 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year 2007 2009 2008 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 83rd 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 82nd 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 2026 Summary The premier competitions were won by Loyal Honcho (2008 English Greyhound Derby)http://www.greyhoundderby.com/2008%20greyhound%20derby.htm 2008 Greyhound Derby Greyhoundderby.comhttp://www.greyhound-data.com/d?r=2455237 2008 Greyhound Data and Shelbourne Aston (2008 Irish Greyhound Derby) respectively.http://www.igb.ie/results/view-results/?track=SPK&date=13-Sep-08#race9 Derby Final Irish Greyhound Boardhttp://www.greyhound-data.com/d?r=2507985 Irish Derby Final Greyhound Data However their achievements were overshadowed by the closure of the sports leading stadium Walthamstow.The shareholders sold up and the track closed in August despite assurances from the owners in December 2007 that no deal had been made to sell the track. The track had been opened in 1933 by William Chandler and was still owned by the Chandler family but the directors of Walthamstow Stadium Limited agreed to the sale of the Company’s freehold property to a development consortium led by Yoo Capital and K W Linfoot plc.BBC News - Walthamstow race track to close Formal contracts were exchanged and the final race was held on Saturday 16 August. The closure left some of the best trainers in the country pondering their futures. Racing Manager Chris Page joined Harlow Stadium along with five trainers, John Coleman, Mark Wallis Mick Puzey, Graham Sharp and Kelly Mullins but Puzey soon relinquishes his licence.http://greyhoundstar.co.uk/remember-october-3/ Remember When - October 2009 13 October 2018 Greyhound Star John Sherry and Dick Hawkes retired, Paul Rich who had only just taken his father's (Peter Rich) licence in February left the sport while Seamus Cahill joined Hove and Paul Garland returned to Wimbledon. Stacey Baggs relinquished her licence to work for Ricky Holloway and her father Gary Baggs (a very successful trainer) died later that year in October.Hobbs Jonathan Greyhound Annual 2008 2008 Raceform 978-1-905153-534 Tracks There was a major blow when Reading in Bennet Road closed after 33 years. The council did not renew the track's lease and the site would be redeveloped despite promises from the BS Group/Gaming International to build a new modern Reading stadium. Similar BS Group plans had failed to materialise at Bristol and Milton Keynes previously.http://www.getreading.co.uk/sport/other-sport/smallmead-stadium-set-shut-october-4250686 Smallmead Stadium is set to shut in October 22 July 2008 Get Reading Portsmouth city council announced that the long-term lease was nearing its end and they were considering selling the Portsmouth Stadium site for redevelopment. Leaseholders GRA allowed the track to be taken under lease by a new company registered in March 2008, called PGS Ltd headed by Portsmouth general manager Eric Graham, who would pay £1,000 per year as a peppercorn rent.http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/portsmouth-greyhound-track-set-to-close-for-redevelopment-1-1252767 19 March 2010 Portsmouth greyhound track set to close for redevelopment The News https://web.archive.org/web/20160310071903/http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/portsmouth-greyhound-track-set-to-close-for-redevelopment-1-1252767 10 March 2016 31 July 2021 Competitions The IbetX Scottish Greyhound Derby started in horrendous weather and the track ran 170 slow, only three heats were completed before the meeting was abandoned. This meant that some greyhounds would have to run four times in nine days leading to withdrawals headed by Charlie Lister's team that included Clash Harmonica and Farloe Reason. Heat eight would result in a remarkable two dog heat. However the competition saw superb semi-finals with Paul Hennessy’s Tyrur Kieran breaking the track record when beating Loyal Honcho in 28.69. He went on to win a very strong final that included Derby finalist Loyal Honcho and Laurels champion Kylegrove Top.http://www.gbgb.org.uk/resultsRace.aspx?id=555666 Scottish Derby final Greyhound Board of Great BritainJune 2023 InternetArchiveBot yes News Leading marathon runner Spiridon Louis retired in May after reaching the Dorando Marathon final. Sprinter Horseshoe Ping made the Scurry Gold Cup final again in addition to the Guys and Dolls final and won the National Sprint at Nottingham. Lenson Joker, a white and brindle dog picked up the Cesarewitch trophy before winning the William Hill Grand Prix and Champion Stakes unbeaten. He would be voted Greyhound of the Year.https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/other-sports/lenson-joker-crowned-2008-greyhound-373075 Lenson Joker crowned 2008 Greyhound of the Year 26 January 2009 Daily Mirror In December Irish Derby finalist Ballymac Ruso trained by Matt Dartnall recorded the fastest ever time for 480 metres (27.79 at Monmore) and Mark Wallis ended the year with the trainer's title, a remarkable achievement bearing in mind the upheaval caused when he lost his Walthamstow contract.http://www.markwallisgreyhounds.co.uk/guest-column/review-2008/ Review Of 2008 Mark Wallis Greyhounds Former Wimbledon trainer Sydney 'Clare' Orton died on 11 May. The Bord na gCon announced a 6% increase in prize money.Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 2008) April edition Greyhound Star Roll of honour Major Winners Award Name of Winner2008 English Greyhound Derby Loyal Honcho2008 Irish Greyhound Derby Shelbourne AstonGreyhound Trainer of the Year Mark WallisGreyhound of the Year Lenson JokerIrish Dog and Bitch of the Year Shelbourne Aston / Oran Majestic Betfair Trainers Championship, Wimbledon (Mar 18)http://www.gbgb.org.uk/resultsMeeting.aspx?id=49629 Trainer's Championship meeting Greyhound Board of Great BritainAugust 2026 InternetArchiveBot Pos Name of Trainer Points1st Seamus Cahill 492nd Charlie Lister 433rdJohn Mullins 344th Barrie Draper 305th Elaine Parker 276thMark Wallis 25 Principal UK finals IbetX Scottish Derby, Shawfield (Apr 12, 480m, £25,000)PosName of GreyhoundTrainerSP TimeTrap 1st Tyrur Kieran Paul Hennessy 6-4jf 29.02 12nd Bubbly Totti Ted Soppitt 4-1 29.28 63rd Loyal Honcho Seamus Graham 6-4jf 29.60 54th Pond Gallileo Harry Williams 16-1 29.64 35th Kylegrove Top Julie Bateson 12-1 29.74 26th Killough Tale Graeme Frew 8-1 29.96 4 Stan James Grand National, Wimbledon (Apr 15, 480mH, £7,500) PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Kildare Lark Jason Foster 7-4f 28.63 32nd Eye On the Flame Mark Wallis 6-1 28.66 53rd Call Again Seamus Cahill 8-1 28.72 64th Be All David Mullins 5-1 28.73 15th Smooth Turbo Jason Foster 9-4 28.74 26th Morell Warrior Lorraine Sams 8-1 28.794 William Hill Cesarewitch, Oxford (Jun 10, 645m, £5,000) PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Lenson Joker Tony Collett 10-11f 39.22 42nd Primitive Way David Pruhs 9-4 39.68 13rd Coolanga Flyer Mark Wallis 20-1 39.73 24th Directors Chair Mark Wallis 7-2 39.93 35th Vatican Fyne Pat Rosney 16-1 40.05 56th Swift Stirling Tony Magnasco 28-1 40.15 6 Showsec Scurry Cup, Perry Barr (June 19, 275m, £8,000)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Boherbradda Mac Harry Williams 7-4F 15.95 42nd Blonde Jet Maria Dennis 3-1 16.06 23rd Horseshoe Ping Jim Reynolds 3-1 16.07 54th Ibetx Dot Com Tony Lucas 7-1 16.27 65th Beardys Robbie Peter Witchell 12-1 16.41 16th Swift Sapphire Pat Rosney 4-1 16.49 3 William Hill Classic, Sunderland (Jul 10, 450m, £40,000)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Lenson Express Tony Collett 3-1 27.14 12nd Bower Keane Kelly Macari 6-1 27.32 43rd Droopys Sheehy Elaine Parker 6-1 27.40 24th Droopys Wells Liz McNair 14-1 27.63 65th Kilkenny Lonjack Seamus Cahill 5-1 27.80 56th Me Buddy Matt Dartnall 1-1f 27.82 3 William Hill Grand Prix, Sunderland (Jul 10, 640m, £20,000)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Lenson Joker Tony Collett 4-6f 39.29 22nd Romeo Turbo David Firmager 8-1 39.64 43rd Coolavanny Pius Elaine Parker 25-1 40.05 34th Bubbly Totti Ted Soppitt 5-2 40.22 65th Blonde Buzz John Mullins 20-1 40.27 16th Westmead Tina Nick Savva 8-1 40.33 5 Totesport Gold Collar, Belle Vue (Aug 28, 590m, £10,000)PosName of GreyhoundTrainerSP Time Trap 1st Barnfield Loreto Pat Rosney 5-2 35.21 32nd Salacres Chief Laurence Tuffin 11-10f 35.29 23rd Romeo Turbo David Firmager 4-1 35.33 54th Swift Denn Joy Andrews 20-1 35.53 65th Charlies Dream Otto Kueres 14-1 35.67 16th Southwind Harry Kim Billingham 4-1 35.79 4 William Hill TV Trophy, Doncaster (June 24, 868m, £6,000) PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Flying Winner Chris Lund 1-2f 55.82+ 12nd Swift Blackfoot Charlie Lister 40-1 56.64 53rd Midway Skipper Henry Chalkley 5-1 56.68 24th Swift Jade Darryl Porter 5-1 56.90 35th Swift Ninja Michael Harris 6-1 57.08 66th Bubbly Kate Paul Young 20-1 57.12 4 + Track record Betfred Laurels, Belle Vue (Oct 7, 470m, £10,000) PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Boherna Best Barrie Draper 11-4 27.90 42nd Farley Magic Barrie Draper 10-1 28.08 33rd Centaur Marine Chris Allsopp 9-2 28.14 64th Boherna On Air Barrie Draper 1-1f 28.18 15th Prodigious Elaine Parker 9-2 28.28 2N/R Cortsway Giants Ron Nelson 5 William Hill St Leger, Wimbledon (Oct 28, 668m, £13,000)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Bubbly Totti Ted Soppitt 1-4F 41.06 62nd Midway Skipper Henry Chalkley 7-1 41.3053rd Lenson Earl Tony Collett 8-1 41.88 14th Lavenders Grant Paul Young 50-1 41.98 45th Go Big Hitter Laurence Tuffin 25-1 42.17 26th Droopys Arsene Pat Curtin, Ire 12-1 42.21 3 William Hill Oaks, Wimbledon (Dec 16, 480m, £6,000)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Meenala Amy Kim Billingham 10-1 28.99 22nd Ravello Drive Philip Rees Jr. 3-1 29.02 53rd Droopys Quinta Seamus Cahill 5-2 29.14 14th Steady Scholes Mark Grady 14-1 29.15 35th Dangerous Lady David Mullins 5-4f 29.29 66th Adamant Mojo Andy Heyes 14-1 29.57 4 Principal Irish finals BCR Print Easter Cup, Shelbourne (Apr 19, 550y, €50,000)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Tyrur Kenny Paul Hennessy 2-1 29.91 32nd Advantage Johnny Owen McKenna5-1 30.03 63rd College Causeway Pat Buckley7-4f 30.15 44th Caz Diamond Pat Curtin, Ire 9-2 30.19 55th Plough Lane Seamus Graham 9-1 30.31 2N/R Firshill Boy Paul Hennessy 1 Red Mills Produce, Clonmel (May 4, 525y, €30,000)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Knowsley Jake Bernadette Connolly 3-1 28.65 22nd Lemon Zamora Martin Leahy 3-1 28.89 13rd Boherash Goithe Joan Hanrahan 16-1 29.07 44th Borna Alley Ruari Dwan 5-2f 29.21 65th Iguazu Falls Aidan Roche 3-1 29.24 36th Compass Honey Stephen Wadsworth 10-1 29.35 5 Kerry Agribusiness Irish St Leger, Limerick (Jun 14, 550y, €35,000)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Boherash Goithe Joan Hanrahan 14-1 29.71 62nd Goldmine Emre Alan Higgins 5-1 29.85 23rd Graigues Shadow Jim Morrissey 2-1 30.09 14th Jaxerback John McGee Sr. 6-1 30.16 55th Shaneboy Maria Michael Kiely 6-1 30.30 46th Line of Fire Owen McKenna 7-4f 30.44 3 Sporting Press Oaks, Shelbourne (Jun 21, 525y, €35,000)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap1st Oran Majestic John McGee Sr. 11-10f 29.02 62nd Forest Baby Francie Murray 4-1 29.18 33rd Parnell Daisy James O’Connor 7-1 29.19 24th Wilcos Sonia Shane Murphy 12-1 29.22 15th Priceless Pearl Paul Hennessy 6-1 29.26 46th Martinstown Mist Rory McConnell 10-1 29.34 5 Boylesports Champion Stakes, Shelbourne (Jul 26, 550y, €40,000)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Shelbourne Aston Pat Curtin, Ire 10-1 29.71 42nd Killahan Phanter Pat Buckley 2-1f 29.77 23rd Advantage Johnny Owen McKenna 8-1 29.81 34th College Causeway Pat Buckley 5-1 29.87 55th Mid West Blue Michael O’Donovan 3-1 29.88 66th Tyrur Kenny Paul Hennessy 9-2 30.56 1 HX Bookmakers Puppy Derby, Harolds Cross (Oct 10, 525y, €35,000) PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap1st Droopys Noel John Linehan 11-2 28.49 32nd Ballymac Bondi Liam O’Rourke 5-1 28.65 53rd Timor Blue Jim Morrissey 1-1f 28.77 24th Droopys Miller Ian Reilly 5-1 28.81 45th Accordello Lar Kinsella 6-1 28.83 66th Honcho Freddie Adrian Kelly 14-1 29.31 1 Cashmans Laurels, Cork (Oct 18, 525y, €36,000)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap1st Cashen Legend Chris Houlihan 14-1 28.74 62nd Slip The Lark Pat Buckley 5-4f 28.77 43rd Tyrur Laurel Pat Mullarkey 3-1 28.79 54th Solinus Mark Moloney 5-1 29.23 15th Cabra Cool Pat Buckley 6-1 29.29 26th Chicken Supper John Kiely 12-1 29.37 3 References 30em Category:Greyhound racing in the United Kingdom Category:Greyhound racing in the Republic of Ireland Category:2008 in British sport Category:2008 in Irish sport