The 1942 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 17th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and the 16th year of greyhound racing in Ireland.
Summary The year continued to be dominated by the effect of World War II. The only major races that had not been suspended were the Irish Greyhound Derby and Scottish Greyhound Derby. Many race meetings held throughout the country helped with the war effort with money collections made frequently for various funds. The crowds remained healthy and the racing provided a welcome distraction from the war.
The distraction was so significant that the annual totalisator turnover set another new record, reaching £49,989,183, government tax and track deduction remained at 6% each respectively. An example of the sports popularity was highlighted at the House of Commons when an issue was addressed. The issue concerned was when upwards of 500 personnel at an aircraft factory left without permission to attend an afternoon greyhound meeting.
Ballynennan Moon Ballynennan Moon returned after a winter rest and won the Walthamstow Stakes and Wimbledon Spring Cup. In his next 48 races, he was to win on forty occasions and finish second seven times. After finishing first, fourteen times in succession, he seemed certain to beat Mick the Miller's 19 straight wins but, in the fifteenth race, he was beaten a neck by Laughing Lackey. He then went on to record another eight successive wins during a five-month period and became a household name. He won the Wimbledon Spring Cup, the 1,000 Guineas at Park Royal Stadium, the Wembley Summer Cup, the Eclipse at Coventry, the Stewards Cup at Walthamstow Stadium and at the end of the year the International at Wimbledon Stadium at odds of 1/5f.
Competitions The fawn dog Ballycurreen Soldier won the Scottish Derby for the second time, the veteran racer was running in his fourth consecutive final.
News Stan Martin took over the Joe Harmon kennel range, following the death of Harmon the previous September. The range included the greyhound Lights O'London. A memorial race would be initiated in Harmon's honour and the race would aptly be won by the best greyhound in training, Ballynennan Moon. Alfred Critchley became the Chairman of the Greyhound Racing Association, in place of the late Edward Loch, 2nd Baron Loch.
Ireland The Irish Derby moved back to a more traditional slot at the end of May and was held at Cork Greyhound Stadium. It was only the second time the classic was run outside Dublin. Cork had won the rights to host due to the unfortunate circumstances that had stopped them from holding the event the year before (Foot-and-mouth disease). The first prize was only £175, the lowest on record but the track experienced record crowds. John Crowley a local pub owner in Cork trained Uacterlainn Riac to success for his brother Jerry who owned the dog. Uacterlainn Riac (meaning Creamery Brindle) attempted hurdles after the Derby but failed to take to them and plans for a Grand National double were scrapped.
Roll of honour Major Winners Award Name of Winner1942 English Greyhound Derby Suspended1942 Irish Greyhound Derby Uacterlainn Riac1942 Scottish Greyhound Derby Ballycurren Soldier1942 Welsh Greyhound Derby Suspended
Scottish Greyhound Derby, Carntyne (18 Jul, 525y)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSPTime (sec)Trap 1st Ballycurreen Soldier Michael Conroy1/1f29.94 32nd Jamboree Reveller Harringay9/4 29.98 13rd Joint RefusalAustin Hiscock 6/1 30.02 64th Train 9/230.06 45th Light Bone C Lee 12/130.10 56th Brave Captain Newcastle50/1 30.38 2
Totalisator Returns
The totalisator returns declared to the licensing authorities for the year 1942 are listed below. Tracks that did not have a totalisator in operation are not listed.
StadiumTurnover £London (White City) 4,585,310London (Harringay) 2,557,417London (Wembley) 2,289,400 4 Glasgow Stadia combined (Albion, Carntyne, Shawfield, White City) 2,182,311London (Walthamstow) 2,018,317London (Wimbledon) 1,713,542London (Clapton) 1,603,789Manchester (Belle Vue) 1,290,238London (Stamford Bridge) 1,220,680London (Catford) 1,181,455London (Wandsworth) 1,171,904London (New Cross) 1,017,7533 Birmingham stadia combined (Hall Green, Kings Heath, Perry Barr)962,113Sheffield (Owlerton) 852,899London (Park Royal) 840,206Bristol (Eastville) 818,054Bradford (Greenfield) 798,008London (West Ham) 780,577London (Hackney) 741,855London (Hendon) 717,011Wolverhampton (Monmore)714,606Edinburgh (Powderhall) 681,446Sheffield (Darnall) 602,082Coventry (Lythalls Lane)590,990Newcastle (Brough Park) 586,086Romford 553,110 Crayford & Bexleyheath 552,625Liverpool (White City)542,340
StadiumTurnover £Liverpool (Stanley) 537,478Liverpool (Seaforth) 506,371Brighton & Hove 506,213Manchester (White City) 502,040London (Charlton) 495,073Newcastle (Gosforth)457,364Manchester (Salford) 439,878Gateshead 439,436Newcastle (White City) 388,045Gloucester & Cheltenham 384,311Ashington (Co Durham) 379,901Leeds (Elland Road) 364,109South Shields 340,121Reading (Oxford Road) 338,726Slough 336,212Portsmouth 302,335London (Dagenham)273,327Stoke-on-Trent (Hanley) 272,613Liverpool (Breck Park) 270,732Bradford (City) 267,238Southampton 264,684Stanley (Co Durham) 260,930Sunderland 254,042Hull (Old Craven Park)250,432Middlesbrough 247,529Oxford 236,772Long Eaton231,264West Hartlepool 226,491Sheffield (Hyde Park)220,371Norwich (Boundary Park) 208,588Newport 197,435
StadiumTurnover £Edinburgh (Stenhouse) 175,739Houghton-le-Spring 174,983Ipswich 142,438Luton 131,693Aberdeen 114,942Willenhall 111,610Norwich (City) 109,804Falkirk (Brockville Park) 100,116Wigan (Poolstock) 93,115Easington (Co Durham) 91,360London (Stratford) 87,450Warrington 76,224Coundon (Co Durham) 73,643London (Southall) 49,307Glasgow (Mount Vernon)45,981Doncaster (Spotbrough) 45,320Wallyford (East Lothian) 43,391Wishaw (North Lanarks) 42,823Kingskerswell (Devon) 27,050Durham City 25,902Leeds (Parkside) 24,132Rotherham 23,112Thornton (Fife) 19,437Castleford (Whitwood) 15,466Irvine (Caledonian) 12,576Worksop 8,257Stockport (Hazel Grove) 7,422Ayr (Tams Brig) 6,872Wombwell (South Yorks)3,373Aldershot 1,244
Summary +AreaTurnover London £ 24,450,103Rest of England£ 21,516,547 Wales £ 372,779 Scotland £ 3,449,749 Total £ 49,989,183
References