The 1956 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 30th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.[ 1]
1956 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
Attendances and Totalisator turnover had stabilised, with the latter resulting in a turnover of around £55 million. The Churches' Council on gambling quoted a figure of £119 million but that figure was for total gambling spend within the industry.[ 8] One problem for the industry was the fact that the biggest names Spanish Battleship , Rushton Mac and Pauls Fun had all retired leaving the search for a new star.[ 9]
The main interest in Ireland was in regard to Prince of Bermuda, the brindle dog owned by Ned Buckley was considered to be the fastest greyhound in training at the time but had disappointed in the 1956 Irish Greyhound Derby final. A match race was organised between Prince of Bermuda, Northern King and Duet Leader at White City which ended with the Irish hound coming out best, he was subsequently retired to stud.[ 10] [ 11]
Grand National , White City (May 5 525y h, £300)
Pos
Name of Greyhound
Trainer
SP
Time
Trap
1st
Blue Sand
Ken Appleton
15-8f
29.70
4
2nd
Merry April
Dennis Hannafin
4-1
30.34
3
3rd
Jumping Pole
Reg Bosley
11-4
30.62
5
4th
Vintners Cup
Jim Syder Jr.
6-1
30.66
6
5th
Tanyard Tulip
Jack Harvey
6-1
30.72
1
6th
Vented Cask
33-1
30.96
2
Gold Collar , Catford (May 26, 440y, £500)
Pos
Name of Greyhound
Trainer
SP
Time
Trap
1st
Ponsford
Noreen Collin
10-1
25.69
1
2nd
Rusty Chain
Ron Chamberlain
8-11f
25.72
2
3rd
Howardstown Tonic
Hackney
8-1
25.75
5
4th
Tax Diablo
Jim Syder Jr.
6-1
25.78
3
5th
Record Tass
7-2
26.10
4
N/R
No Pay
Scottish Greyhound Derby , Carntyne (Jul 14, 525y, £500)
Pos
Name of Greyhound
Trainer
SP
Time
Trap
1st
Quick Surprise
Pat Mullins
1-1f
29.44
5
2nd
Fodda Champion
Harry Bidwell
3-1
29.50
3
3rd
Rushton Spot
Frank Johnson
3-1
29.58
2
4th
The Burr
7-1
29.62
1
5th
Grange Son
12-1
29.66
4
Scurry Gold Cup , Clapton (Jul 28, 400y £600)
Pos
Name of Greyhound
Trainer
SP
Time
Trap
1st
Belingas Customer
Ronnie Melville
10-3
22.82
4
2nd
Claremount John
Paddy McEvoy
5-2f
23.02
2
3rd
Cree Starlight
6-1
23.16
1
4th
Crostys Bell
Paddy McEvoy
10-3
23.17
3
5th
Maghernagaw Flier
Sidney Orton
8-1
23.31
5
6th
Westcourt Freedom
6-1
23.47
6
Laurels , Wimbledon (Aug 24, 500y, £1,000)
Pos
Name of Greyhound
Trainer
SP
Time
Trap
1st
Duet Leader
Tom Reilly
1-1f
28.13
1
2nd
Cleos Gossip
Bob Burls
5-2
28.19
6
3rd
Cool Magourna
10-1
28.33
3
4th
Claremount John
Paddy McEvoy
5-1
28.51
5
5th
Rosevale Paddy
7-1
28.61
2
6th
Secret Armour
Tom Reilly
10-1
28.75
4
St Leger , Wembley (Sep 10, 700y, £1,000)
Pos
Name of Greyhound
Trainer
SP
Time
Trap
1st
Jakfigaralt
Joe Booth
7-2
40.50
6
2nd
Gulf of Darien
Jack Harvey
5-4f
40.68
4
3rd
Black Envoy
Joe Booth
3-1
40.70
3
4th
Whats Yat
Leslie Reynolds
8-1
40.92
1
5th
Grandbally Shaun
Jack Harvey
10-1
41.40
5
6th
Paracelsus
Jack Harvey
25-1
41.41
2
The Grand Prix Walthamstow (Sep 25, 525y, £500)
Pos
Name of Greyhound
Trainer
SP
Time
Trap
1st
Land Of Song
Bob Burls
7-2
29.70
3
2nd
Parkland Hero
Mrs K.Roberts
11-10f
29.82
1
3rd
Jan
7-1
29.88
4
4th
Garbagh Bin
Bob Burls
5-2
30.20
2
N/R
Go Doggie Go
Jack Toseland
N/R
Comin Champion
Jim Syder Jr.
Oaks , White City (Sep 29, 525y, £500)
Pos
Name of Greyhound
Trainer
SP
Time
Trap
1st
First But Last
Jack Harvey
2-7f
29.08
6
2nd
Dark Rose
Paddy Fortune
9-2
29.52
1
3rd
Magourna Belle
100-7
29.53
4
4th
Rambling Cockeye
25-1
29.63
5
5th
Speir Bhean
Jack Harvey
20-1
29.75
3
6th
Meanus Ann
66-1
30.55
2
Cesarewitch , West Ham (Oct 12, 600y, £1.000)
Pos
Name of Greyhound
Trainer
SP
Time
Trap
1st
Coming Champion
Jim Syder Jr.
9-2
33.02
4
2nd
Gallant and Gay
Joe Pickering
33-1
33.18
5
3rd
Gulf of Darien
Jack Harvey
9-4
33.22
3
4th
Northern King
Jack Harvey
7-4f
33.38
6
5th
Jakfigaralt
Joe Booth
9-2
33.42
2
6th
Kilcaskin Kilian
25-1
33.48
1
^ Fry, Paul (1995). The Official NGRC Greyhound Racing Yearbook . Ringpress Books. ISBN 186054-010-4 .
^ Dack, Barrie (1990). Greyhound Derby, the first 60 years pages 99/100/101 . Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-36-8 .
^ "1956" . Greyhound Data.
^ Comyn, John. 50 Years of Greyhound Racing in Ireland . Aherlow Publishers Ltd.
^ Fortune, Michael. Irish Greyhound Derby 1932-1981 . Victory Irish Promotions Ltd.
^ Hobbs, Jonathan (2007). Greyhound Annual 2008, pages 153-154 . Raceform. ISBN 978-1-905153-53-4 .
^ Genders, Roy (1975). The Greyhound and Racing Greyhound, page 320 . Page Brothers (Norwich). ISBN 0-85020-0474 .
^ " "£22M. More Spent On Gambling Last Year." Times, 16 Feb. 1957, p. 4" . Times Digital Archives.
^ Genders, Roy (1975). The Greyhound and Racing Greyhound . Page Brothers (Norwich). ISBN 0-85020-0474 .
^ a b Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing . Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 07207-1106-1 .
^ a b Genders, Roy (1990). NGRC book of Greyhound Racing . Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 0-7207-1804-X .
^ Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File . Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-15-5 .