The 1999 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 74th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and the 73rd year of greyhound racing in Ireland.
Roll of honour Major Winners Award Name of Winner1999 English Greyhound Derby Chart King 1999 Irish Greyhound Derby Spring Time 1999 Scottish Greyhound Derby Chart King Greyhound Trainer of the Year Linda MullinsGreyhound of the Year Chart KingIrish Dog and Bitch of the YearChart King / Spring TimeTrainers Championship Linda Jones
Summary The National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC) released the annual returns, with totalisator turnover at £80,268,946 and attendances recorded at 3,511,847.
Chart King was voted Greyhound of the Year after winning the 1999 Scottish Greyhound Derby and 1999 English Greyhound Derby. He also picked up the Irish Greyhound of the Year award. Chart King a brindle dog was owned and trained by brothers Karl and Ralph Hewitt from Lurgan in Northern Ireland. He also won the Easter Cup in a record-breaking 28.40 at Shelbourne Park.
Linda Mullins won the Greyhound Trainer of the Year for the fourth successive year.
Sky Sports increased their TV coverage to show major events on Tuesday nights at Wimbledon including the Springbok and the Grand National, the latter now held at Wimbledon instead of Hall Green. They also wanted to show the Pall Mall Stakes at Oxford but the track was reluctant to switch the event to a Tuesday night so remained off the viewing schedule for the time being.
Tracks Wisbech reopened under NGRC rules and appointed former Peterborough RM Mike Middle. The tracks owner Gary Meads had improved the facilities after the venue had been closed for seven years. Canterbury closed its doors on 30 October and independent Workington ceased racing. Peterborough was severely damaged by fire spread from an adjoining warehouse. Work started immediately on repairs and refurbishment but there was no racing for six months.
The Dundalk Race Company PLC and Dundealgan Greyhound Racing Company Limited merged to form Dundalk Racing (1999) Ltd. The Dundalk Ramparts Greyhound Stadium was earmarked for a major rebuild.
News Elsewhere the BS Group (owners of several tracks) purchased the Milton Keynes Bowl to add to their assets. Shelley Cobbold sent out the last runner from the Utopia kennels at Nottingham, the family association with greyhound racing (Joe Cobbold, the late Trevor Cobbold and Pam Cobbold) ended. In November Linda Jones gained a contract at the country's premier track Walthamstow.
Competitions El Tenor dropped back down in distance in an attempt to defend his Grand National title and made the final but was unlucky to find trouble when going well. The race ended in a dead heat for Hello Buttons and Pottos Storm. Despite this defeat the target of 100 open race wins was in sight even though he had gone past five years of age. By the end of the year he was still competing and winning.
A puppy by the name of Rapid Ranger had started his career with defeat in two graded races at Stainforth for trainer Mike Pomfrett, but was improving and scored a first open win at Nottingham. By autumn he would improve and owner Ray White purchased the brindle and sent him to Charlie Lister.
A brindle dog called Palace Issue, trained by Linda Mullins started to perform superbly and quickly established himself as the leading stayer. He broke the track record at Romford during the Champion Stakes before winning the Group One Grand Prix at Walthamstow that included his rival Dilemmas Lad. A strong fancy for the first St Leger at Wimbledon, he had to settle for second behind Dilemmas Lad before successfully defending his Hunt Cup title at Reading.
Gerald Watson travelled to England with his 1999 Irish Greyhound Derby champion Spring Time and outclassed her rivals when winning the Oaks at Wimbledon and Bubbly Prince won the Cesarewitch at Catford Stadium for the Bubbly Club making up for the previous year's disappointment.
Principal UK races
Grand National, Wimbledon (Mar 30, 460m h, £7,500)PosName of GreyhoundTrainerSP TimeTrap 1st Hello Buttons (dh) Linda Mullins 9-4cf 28.13 11st Pottos Storm (dh) David Mullins 9-4cf 28.13 43rd Kennyswell Smoke Tom Foster 8-1 28.31 64th Rum and Black Linda Mullins 14-1 28.39 55th Autumn Duster Tom Foster 33-1 28.55 26th El Tenor Linda Mullins 9-4cf 28.59 3 dh=dead heat
Regal Scottish Derby, Shawfield (May 1, 480m, £20,000)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Chart King Ralph Hewitt 4-5f 28.98 62nd Wath Serenade Andy Heyes 16-1 29.28 13rd Droopys Zidane Paul Young 8-1 29.40 24th Droopys Merson Nick Savva 6-4 29.56 55th Laughta Man Bill Mills 16-1 29.76 36th Slaneys Bomber John McGee Sr. 33-1 29.82 4
Reading Masters, Reading (May 16, 465m, £20,000)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Torbal Piper Tony Meek 14-1 28.15 62nd Charlie the Layer Chris Lund 2-1jf 28.21 43rd Smiffys Errand Nikki Chambers 14-1 28.35 54th Clonbrin Best John McGee Sr. 2-1jf 28.38 15th Dower Leader Ernie Gaskin Sr. 5-1 28.54 36th Lung of Iron Sally Fenwick 4-1 28.76 2
Scurry Gold Cup, Catford (Jul 6, 385m, £2,500)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Lissenaire Luke Charlie Lister 3-1jf 23.49 42nd Union Decree Ernie Gaskin Sr. 9-2 23.87 53rd Kilbarry Boy Mick Puzey8-1 23.89 14th Farncombe Pat David Mullins7-1 23.91 65th Lauragh Exile Terry Dartnall3-1jf 24.29 36th Bewdley Breeze Ernie Gaskin Sr. 9-2 24.31 2
BT Gold Collar, Catford (Sep 18, 555m, £7,500)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Rio Scorpio Daniel Riordan 12-1 34.83 62nd Dukes Again Mick Puzey7-2 34.91 13rd Best Black Linda Jones2-1 34.95 54th Dower Leader Ernie Gaskin Sr. 6-4f 34.99 35th Nice One Kim Mick Douglass8-1 35.01 46th Little Me Norah McEllistrim33-1 35.35 2
Evening Standard TV Trophy, Wimbledon (Sep 21, 868m, £6,000)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Hollinwood Poppy Mick Clarke 10-1 54.89 42nd Spenwood Wizard Ron Hough 4-1 54.96 13rd Spenwood Gem Ron Hough 4-1 54.97 24th Knappogue Oak Ken Bebbington 8-11f 55.07 55th Bubbly Prince Patsy Cusack 14-1 55.45 66th Careys Champion Tom Foster 50-156.01 3
Grand Prix, Walthamstow (Oct 9, 640m, £7,500)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1stPalace Issue Linda Mullins 9-4f 40.32 62nd Tessas Dilemma Nick Savva 10-1 40.34 43rd Dilemmas Lad Nick Savva 4-1 40.46 54th Drumsna Cross Charlie Lister 5-1 40.58 25th Bossy Wade Linda Mullins 16-1 40.94 36th Dream Compadre Linda Mullins 5-2 41.04 1
Laurels, Belle Vue (Oct 26, 460m, £6,000)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Derbay Flyer Charlie Lister 10-11f 27.80 22nd Brickfield Bonus Patsy Byrne3-1 27.82 53rd Terrydrum Flyer Jimmy Gibson11-2 27.90 64th Shabbas Mate Adrian Kimpton12-1 28.40 15th Wath Serenade Andy Heyes8-1 28.44 46th Water Ranger June McCombe33-1 28.60 3
St Leger, Wimbledon (Nov 9, 660m, £12,000)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Dilemmas Lad Nick Savva 5-1 40.56 12nd Palace Issue Linda Mullins 11-10f 40.74 33rd Knappogue Oak Ken Bebbington 2-1 40.76 64th Kennel Image Hazel Dickson25-1 40.96 25th Sew Trader Arthur Hitch6-1 41.16 56th Allegro Royale Ernie Gaskin Sr. 20-1 41.26 4
William Hill Oaks, Wimbledon (Nov 26, 480m, £6,000)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Spring Time Gerald Watson4-9f 28.97 62nd Tarmon Tia Jackie Taylor 14-1 29.13 33rd Dower Beauty Peter Rich 5-1 29.35 14th Im Okay Barrie Draper 7-1 29.37 55th Farloe Twin Terry Dartnall 8-1 29.41 46th Honky Tonk Gal Linda Jones 16-1 29.42 2
Cesarewitch, Catford (Dec 4, 718m, £5,000)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Bubbly Prince Patsy Cusack 4-6f 45.90 52nd Phils Ann Marie Danny Smee 7-1 46.36 13rd Springville Sion Tom Lanceman 4-1 46.38 34th Deise Prince Roy Towner 7-1 46.64 25th Hopping Mick Dennis Bakewell 100-1 46.78 66th Freighduff Ball Ray Peacock 10-1 46.924
Principal Irish finals
Easter CupShelbourne (525y)PosName of Greyhound SP Time Trap 1st Chart King 5-4f 28.40 TR22nd Frisby Flashing 14-128.7043rd Crossleigh Fudge10-129.0064th April Surprise 11-4 29.0615th Pescasdor 14-1 29.3636th Garvagh Tommy 5-1 29.505
National Produce Thurles (525y)PosName of Greyhound SP Time Trap 1st Borna Survivor 9-229.15 22nd Airmount Rover 1-1f 29.2563rd Ballingarry Joy 7-4 29.3514th Lake Eagle Lad 29.5155th Badge of Tigings 29.5546th First Watch 00.003
Shelbourne 600 Shelbourne (600y)PosName of Greyhound SP Time Trap1st Frisby Flashing 12-1 32.83 22nd Boozing Buddy 4-1 33.0553rd Millstream Lad 12-133.0734th Kilmessan Jet 1-2f 33.0965th Duffys Kestrel 16-1 33.1116th Martinstown Gold 16-133.214
St Leger Limerick (550y)PosName of Greyhound SP Time Trap 1st Frisby Flashing 1-1f29.64 TR 42nd Soviet Merc 5-1 29.7863rd Race First 7-2 30.2024th Cable King 10-1 30.4155th Aussie Prince 10-1 30.44 36th Bawnogue Pal 30.651
Oaks Shelbourne (525y)PosName of Greyhound SP Time Trap1st Borna Survivor 4-5f28.672nd Metric Flower 28.863rd Craggy Island 29.16u Peter Spice u Mantle Glory u Deenside Delight
Champion Stakes Shelbourne (550y)PosName of Greyhound SP Time Trap 1st Mr Bozz 9-1 30.422nd Santa Paolo 30.45 3rd 4th 5th 6th
Puppy Derby Harolds Cross (525y) PosName of Greyhound SP Time Trap1st Cool Performance 2-1f28.5032nd Always Sorry 5-129.0663rd Cill Dubh Amber 16-129.1344th Aughduff Tim 11-429.3455th Woodbroke Wine 3-1 29.4126thWellpad Hero 29.691
LaurelsCork (525y)PosName of Greyhound SP Time Trap1st Lumber Boss (dead heat) 5-129.4261st Tigers Eye (dead-heat) 10-1 29.42 13rd Sandyhill Slip 34th Sineads Rocket 25th Rathroon Ranger 4N/R Mr Pickwick 5
Totalisator returns
The totalisator returns declared to the National Greyhound Racing Club for the year 1999 are listed below.
StadiumTurnover £London (Walthamstow) 12,656,388London (Wimbledon) 9,173,828Romford 7,282,198Manchester (Belle Vue)5,111,368Brighton & Hove 4,939,600Birmingham (Hall Green) 4,652,283London (Catford) 3,585,163Sheffield (Owlerton) 2,801,479Birmingham (Perry Barr) 2,412,500Sunderland 2,332,195Crayford 2,300,663
StadiumTurnover £Oxford1,758,882Peterborough 1,676,251Wolverhampton (Monmore)1,594,903Glasgow (Shawfield) 1,590,526Poole1,511,642Nottingham 1,460,253Yarmouth 1,434,126Newcastle (Brough Park) 1,412,960Milton Keynes1,411,222Portsmouth 1,348,322Reading 1,097,280
StadiumTurnover £Swindon 967,235Harlow 811,109Sittingbourne 795,277Doncaster (Stainforth) 370,248Hull (New Craven Park) 310,024Mildenhall 213,199Swaffham 184,693Henlow (Bedfordshire) 176,723Rye House 168,215
References