The 1954 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 29th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.[1]
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1954 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year |
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More information Major Winners, Award ...
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Spanish Battleship secured a second consecutive Irish Greyhound Derby title becoming the first greyhound in history to do so. In addition to the Derby win, during the year he won the Tostal Cup at Harold's Cross Stadium and Easter Cup at Shelbourne Park before an injury curtailed his efforts in the Callanan Cup final. After his historic Derby win he would win the Tipperary Cup with two track record runs and a victory in the McCalmont Cup but would be a shock loser in the final of the McAlinden Cup for the second year running.[5][8] Pauls Fun won the English Greyhound Derby for Leslie Reynolds securing a record fifth title for the trainer.[2]
The annual totalisator was £56,139,001.[9]
Prince Lawrence and Ardskeagh Ville claimed the pre-derby classics, the Grand National and Gold Collar respectively.[7] Jack Harvey went on a significant three classic winning run; his Gold Collar finalist Demon King captured the sprinters classic the Scurry Gold Cup.[10] The following month during the Laurels, at Wimbledon Stadium Coolkill Chieftain picked up the £1,000 first prize and then in September his Laurels runner up Pancho Villa secured a four and half-length victory in the St Leger final. In addition he also won the Puppy Derby with Gulf of Darien.[11]
The Scottish Greyhound Derby moved to October in an attempt to gain more entries and this seemed to work when the competition received a good entry, including a pair of brothers who emerged to dominate the event. Rushton Mac (by Rushton News out of Rushton Panda) defeated his brother Rushton Spot, who was eliminated from the English Derby at the semi-final stage. Rushton Mac had previously won the Edinburgh Cup. The kennel brothers were trained by Frank Johnson and Rushton Mac won the Pall Mall Stakes and Select Stakes titles.[12][13][11][10]
West Ham Stadium received a star studded line up for the Cesarewitch final in October. Matchlock beat a field in the final by seven lengths that included Derby champion Pauls Fun, St Leger champion Pancho Villa, Title Role and Barrowside. The last major event of the year was the Grand Prix and the Rushton brothers took the first two places again, only this time in a reversal of the Scottish Derby final.[14][11][10]
Kensington Perfection trained by Bill Higgins at Oxford Stadium completed an impressive four timer by winning four National Produce stakes finals at Stamford Bridge, Catford Stadium, Brighton & Hove Greyhound Stadium (The Regency) and Eastville Stadium.[11][10]
A new track in Weymouth opened during August; the site was on Radpole Lane and was known as the Wessex Stadium and Somercotes opened the following month.[15] Stanley Greyhound Stadium withdrew from the National Greyhound Racing Club under the 'Combine' licence.[16]
More information Grand National, White City (May 8 525y h, £300), Pos ...
Grand National, White City (May 8 525y h, £300) |
Pos |
Name of Greyhound |
Trainer |
SP |
Time |
Trap |
1st |
Prince Lawrence | Joe Pickering | 10-1 | 30.29 | 1 |
2nd |
Brighton Master | Sidney Orton | 10-1 | 30.53 | 2 |
3rd |
Ruddy Caution | Paddy McEvoy | 7-2 | 30.71 | 5 |
4th |
Tanist Farewell | | 3-1 | 30.89 | 3 |
5th |
Parkroe Bob | Jack Young | 6-1 | 31.01 | 4 |
6th |
The Flying Kingdom | A.W.Way | 2-1f | 31.09 | 6 |
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Gold Collar, Catford (May 29, 440y, £450) |
Pos |
Name of Greyhound |
Trainer |
SP |
Time |
Trap |
1st |
Ardskeagh Ville | Dave Barker | 9-4 | 25.86 | 5 |
2nd |
Rathroe Surprise | Bob Burls | 10-1 | 26.10 | 3 |
3rd |
Demon King | Jack Harvey | 100-7 | 26.20 | 2 |
4th |
More Majors | | 33-1 | 26.36 | 1 |
5th |
Safe Keys | Miss Mary Vaughan | 8-1 | 27.00 | 4 |
6th |
Home Luck | Stan Martin | 1-1f | 00.00 | 6 |
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More information Scurry Gold Cup, Clapton (Jul 24, 400y £600), Pos ...
Scurry Gold Cup, Clapton (Jul 24, 400y £600) |
Pos |
Name of Greyhound |
Trainer |
SP |
Time |
Trap |
1st |
Demon King | Jack Harvey | 4-9f | 22.84 | 1 |
2nd |
Annaghneal | Jim Syder Jr. | 7-1 | 23.00 | 3 |
3rd |
Hertzog | Dave Geggus | 100-8 | 23.18 | 2 |
4th |
Mystery Rival | Bert Stephens | 50-1 | 23.54 | 5 |
5th |
Fitzs Marquis | Tom Paddy Reilly | 7-1 | 23.64 | 4 |
6th |
Explosive Gilbert | Leslie Reynolds | 8-1 | 24.04 | 6 |
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Laurels, Wimbledon (Aug 20, 500y, £1,000) |
Pos |
Name of Greyhound |
Trainer |
SP |
Time |
Trap |
1st |
Coolkill Chieftain | Jack Harvey | 1-2f | 28.05 | 5 |
2nd |
Pancho Villa | Jack Harvey | 11-2 | 28.49 | 4 |
3rd |
Christopher Hemley | Sidney Orton | 10-1 | 29.13 | 6 |
4th |
Ashcott Boy | Leslie Reynolds | 10-1 | 29.17 | 3 |
5th |
Rathroe Surprise | Bob Burls | 20-1 | 29.41 | 2 |
6th |
Something Odd | Dave Geggus | 15-2 | 29.53 | 1 |
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More information St Leger, Wembley (Sep 13, 700y, £1,000), Pos ...
St Leger, Wembley (Sep 13, 700y, £1,000) |
Pos |
Name of Greyhound |
Trainer |
SP |
Time |
Trap |
1st |
Pancho Villa | Jack Harvey | 1-1f | 40.99 | 1 |
2nd |
Matchlock | Ted Brennan | 9-2 | 41.35 | 2 |
3rd |
Fly Prince | George Crussell | 100-8 | 41.55 | 5 |
4th |
Blue Bell Crosty | | 4-1 | 41.61 | 4 |
5th |
The Sherpa | Noreen Collin | 8-1 | 41.67 | 6 |
N/R |
Coolkill Chieftain | Jack Harvey | | | |
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Oaks, White City (Oct 2, 525y, £500) |
Pos |
Name of Greyhound |
Trainer |
SP |
Time |
Trap |
1st |
Ashcott Winsome | Bert Heyes | 100-6 | 29.39 | 2 |
2nd |
Cree Dusk | Sidney Orton | 2-1f | 29.49 | 1 |
3rd |
Velvet Doll | Jack Harvey | 5-2 | 29.53 | 5 |
4th |
Rimmells Pearl | Jim Hookway | 4-1 | 29.56 | 6 |
5th |
Gift of Pleasure | Arthur Hancock | 6-1 | 29.72 | 3 |
6th |
Waltzers Choice | Reg String Marsh | 6-1 | 29.76 | 4 |
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More information Scottish Greyhound Derby, Carntyne (Oct 9, 525y, £500), Pos ...
Scottish Greyhound Derby, Carntyne (Oct 9, 525y, £500) |
Pos |
Name of Greyhound |
Trainer |
SP |
Time |
Trap |
1st |
Rushton Mac | Frank Johnson | 5-2 | 29.20 | 2 |
2nd |
Rushton Spot | Frank Johnson | 6-1 | 29.32 | 5 |
3rd |
Hi There | Jim Brennan | 3-1 | 29.35 | 4 |
4th |
Prince Chancer | Jimmy Jowett | 6-4f | 29.47 | 1 |
5th |
Stolen Seal | | 50-1 | 29.79 | 3 |
6th |
Tillside Beech | | 33-1 | 30.19 | 6 |
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More information The Grand Prix Walthamstow (Oct 13, 525y, £750), Pos ...
The Grand Prix Walthamstow (Oct 13, 525y, £750) |
Pos |
Name of Greyhound |
Trainer |
SP |
Time |
Trap |
1st |
Rushton Spot | Frank Johnson | 10-3 | 29.57 | 5 |
2nd |
Rushton Mac | Frank Johnson | 5-2 | 30.09 | 6 |
3rd |
Cheeky Tony | | 25-1 | 30.17 | 4 |
4th |
Cooleen Surprise | George Crussell | 6-1 | 30.45 | 3 |
5th |
Step Inside | Ron Chamberlain | 7-2 | 30.47 | 1 |
6th |
Please Champion | Miss K.G.Sanderson | 9-4f | 30.63 | 2 |
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More information Extended content, Stadium ...
Extended content |
The totalisator returns declared to the licensing authorities for the year 1954 are listed below. Tracks that did not have a totalisator in operation are not listed.[9]
Stadium |
Turnover £ |
London (White City) | 4,367,000 |
London (Harringay) | 2,967,000 |
London (Wimbledon) | 2,464,000 |
London (Wembley) | 2,429,000 |
London (Walthamstow) | 2,298,000 |
London (Wandsworth) | 1,748,000 |
London (Clapton) | 1,681,000 |
London (Park Royal) | 1,641,000 |
London (West Ham) | 1,583,000 |
London (Stamford Bridge) | 1,561,000 |
Manchester (Belle Vue) | 1,558,000 |
London (Catford) | 1,467,000 |
London (Hackney) | 1,231,000 |
London (New Cross) | 1,083,000 |
London (Hendon) | 1,000,000 |
Manchester (White City) | 867,000 |
London (Charlton) | 843,000 |
Romford | 837,000 |
Brighton & Hove | 773,000 |
Glasgow (Shawfield) | 760,000 |
Birmingham (Perry Barr, old) | 747,000 |
Edinburgh (Powderhall) | 721,000 |
Birmingham (Hall Green) | 696,000 |
Newcastle (Gosforth) | 673,000 |
Manchester (Salford) | 652,000 |
Crayford & Bexleyheath | 640,000 |
Newcastle (Brough Park) | 635,000 |
London (Dagenham) | 633,000 |
Cardiff (Arms Park) | 614,000 |
Birmingham (Kings Heath) | 559,000 |
Wolverhampton (Monmore) | 547,000 |
Sheffield (Owlerton) | 544,000 |
Bradford (Greenfield) | 515,000 |
Gateshead | 499,000 |
Glasgow (White City) | 490,000 |
Leeds (Elland Road) | 481,000 |
Slough | 481,000 |
Southampton | 478,000 |
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Stadium |
Turnover £ |
Bristol (Eastville) | 477,000 |
Glasgow (Albion) | 466,000 |
Southend-on-Sea | 462,000 |
Coventry (Lythalls Lane) | 440,000 |
Liverpool (Seaforth) | 424,000 |
Ramsgate (Dumpton Park) | 394,000 |
Middlesbrough | 384,000 |
Willenhall | 372,000 |
Liverpool (White City) | 352,000 |
Blackpool (St Anne's) | 349,000 |
Sheffield (Darnall) | 349,000 |
Glasgow (Carntyne) | 348,000 |
Gloucester & Cheltenham | 342,000 |
Ashington (Co Durham) | 333,000 |
Reading (Oxford Road) | 331,000 |
South Shields | 324,000 |
Leicester (Blackbird Rd) | 317,000 |
Bolton | 310,000 |
Rochester & Chatham | 309,000 |
Chester | 294,000 |
Liverpool (Stanley) | 272,000 |
Hull (Old Craven Park) | 261,000 |
Derby | 254,000 |
Bradford (City) | 246,000 |
Preston | 236,000 |
Nottingham (White City) | 231,000 |
Aberdeen | 225,000 |
Sheffield (Hyde Park) | 214,000 |
West Hartlepool | 210,000 |
Portsmouth | 208,000 |
Plymouth | 207,000 |
Newport | 205,000 |
Oxford | 205,000 |
Sunderland | 205,000 |
Blackburn | 203,000 |
Stanley (Co Durham) | 197,000 |
Warrington | 177,000 |
Stoke-on-Trent (Hanley) | 175,483 |
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Stadium |
Turnover £ |
Exeter (County Ground) | 166,000 |
Glasgow (Firhill) | 162,000 |
Norwich (Boundary Park) | 1556,000 |
Luton | 154,000 |
Yarmouth | 151,000 |
Cradley Heath | 141,000 |
Norwich (City) | 138,000 |
Keighley | 129,000 |
Bristol (Knowle) | 124,000 |
Houghton-le-Spring | 124,000 |
Ipswich | 118,000 |
Stoke-on-Trent (Cobridge) | 117,000 |
St Helens | 133,000 |
Rochdale | 97,000 |
Stockton-on-Tees (Belle Vue) | 97,000 |
Rayleigh (Essex) | 95,000 |
Wallyford (East Lothian) | 95,000 |
Peterborough | 92,000 |
Oldham | 89,000 |
Easington (Co Durham) | 77,000 |
Long Eaton | 72,000 |
Swindon | 67,000 |
Stockport (Hazel Grove) | 63,000 |
Wakefield | 60,000 |
Wigan (Poolstock) | 54,000 |
Wigan (Woodhouse) | 50,000 |
Durham City | 46,000 |
Northampton | 40,000 |
Rotherham | 35,000 |
Tamworth | 32,000 |
Doncaster (Spotbrough) | 30,000 |
Coundon (Co Durham) | 27,000 |
Workington | 25,000 |
Spennymoor (Co Durham) | 24,000 |
Aycliffe (Co Durham) | 18,000 |
Irvine (Townhead) | 6,000 |
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Fry, Paul (1995). The Official NGRC Greyhound Racing Yearbook. Ringpress Books. ISBN 186054-010-4.
Dack, Barrie (1990). Greyhound Derby, the first 60 years page 96/97/98. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-36-8.
Comyn, John. 50 Years of Greyhound Racing in Ireland. Aherlow Publishers Ltd.
Fortune, Michael. Irish Greyhound Derby 1932-1981. Victory Irish Promotions Ltd.
Genders, Roy (1975). The Greyhound and Racing Greyhound, page 320. Page Brothers (Norwich). ISBN 0-85020-0474.
Fortune, Michael. Irish Greyhound Derby 1932-1981. Victory Irish Promotions Ltd.
Particulars of Licensed tracks, table 1 Licensed Dog Racecourses. Licensing Authorities. 1954.
Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 07207-1106-1.
Genders, Roy (1990). NGRC book of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 0-7207-1804-X.
Barnes, Julia (1991). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File, Vol Two. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-61-9.
Barnes/Sellers, Julia/John (1992). Ladbrokes Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-22-8.
Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-15-5.
"Stanley Quit, Thursday 7 October". Greyhound Owner. 1954.