From the day I joined the Dublin veterinary college my favourite patients were the greyhounds. I did not know them while I was growing up in Donegal but I did have a few lurchers . I admired them because they used to catch the odd hare on the heather at the base of the mountains. Probably that explains my interest in coursing during my five student years in Dublin. I also enjoyed time spent- or- wasted at dog and horse racing and football. My saddest memories are of serious injuries on the tracks to some of my favourites.
When I was a schoolboy my Dad told me "our collie will be your friend for life. He would be there if you lost your brethren and if he saw you in danger he would die for you." He also said that with a little kindness any dog can be trained to be forever faithful.
The other animals he taught me to respect were horses. He told me they fought and died with us in wars since Xenophon in B.C. times.
The fact that Professor McGeady who lectured on racing injuries in the veterinary college came from my county helped to develop my interest in greyhounds. They were his speciality.
His philosophy was "They' re there for our benefit or pleasure but we have a duty to try to protect them from hunger and pain. "
I remember the first patient he allotted to me to care for in the hospital in '43. He was a lovely fawn & white dog with the name Bella's Prince. There was not much of him but he had won many
big races on the tracks over a period of two years. Later when retired to stud he was a popular choice with breeders.
Near the end of my final year the professor brought me out to Islandbridge to meet Arthur Callanan the Cork - born Vet he called the specialist on greyhounds. He gave consultations there and had a few kennels for holding patients he had operated on. He was
destined to become famous from 1927 when a Father Brophy called him to treat a sapling he feared was dying from Distemper.
The patient recovered and went on to win the English Derby in '29 and again in '30 for trainer Sidney Orton.
That winner had what became and remains the most notable name in British greyhound racing - Mick The Miller.
During the thirties while training at Wembley Stadium in London
Callanan was among the most successful names.
One that brought him much publicity was a bitch called Kitshine
by Macoma ex Pleasant Note. Her early form was poor but the young vet saw some promise in her and bought her for £4 ! She started winning and registering faster times. Her name went into the record books when she landed the Oaks and the Laurels.
Callanan won the Scurry Cup with a blue dog called Creamery Border. He also won major races with a lady called Mitzvah. When he retired from training in '39 he served as Vet at Park Royal & Wandsworth tracks before he returned to Dublin .
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After I qualified as a vet there was little employment in most walks of life in Ireland. I got on the Holyhead ferry to take up a job in Anglesey. When home for my first week- end off, I got a terrible shock. At only fifty one the popular Arthur Callanan had died.
Like - many good friends I have lost Arthur deserved much time to share his goodness with society. Mourners from many counties in Ireland travelled to Cork for his funeral.
Professor McGeady contacted a number of personalities in the
racing and sporting world about fundig a Memorial to our colleague. Enough was raised to establish annual coursing and track competitions in Dublin with a Callanan Cup to the winner of each.
I attribute my long life and health to my Dad and my Mama and cousin Bridget - daughter of Dad's sister Maggie - who helped feed and nurse me until I could run. And when I went to England I was fortunate to meet Jane - for me the greatest wife and - for our boys the greatest mother. I 'm also lucky to still have my good brother Father Owen -- although the poor fellow is in an excellent nursing home in Dublin after dedicating his life to caring for the poor.
I 'm always thinking how lucky Owen and I are to have known that good cousin Brigid. Her son Tony and his kind wife Bridie live in Celbridge. They have lots of commitments but somehow they regularly find time to visit Owen and cheer him up.
They are the sort I call real friends.
I suppose I became fascinated by Greyhound Racing because of the 80,000 who were attracted to White City in London to see the Derby in '48. The fact that the winner -- Priceless Border -- was from Belfast added to my interest.
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After becoming a vet and spending twenty years treating dogs and attending lectures by specialists I became concerned about the avoidable injuries and began writing about their prevention. I blamed the turf surface for many of them. Its condition was dependent on the amounts of sunshine and rain the weather provided. When dry and hard, the turf caused fractures. When wet or soft the grass was soon killed and left mud which provided no grip. At New Cross there was a peat surface which was satisfactory in normal weather. On a wet evening however I saw runners slip and fall on the turns. The only protection against heavy rain in our climate is a canopy suspended about 2M over the running surface. The only ones I ever saw were over Liverpool 's White City, Gosforth on Tyneside and over the original Crayford.
From communication with trainers I soon learned that the broken hock was the injury they feared most. They complained that it ended the careers of more fast hounds than any other joint. I first heard the dreaded words in 1938 when Manhattan Midnight broke down in the Derby at London's White City.
I have never forgotten a fated trial that took place there later between
two well-bred brothers in 1971. They were by the very fast St Leger winner Spectre who had been second to his own brother Tric Trac in the '67 Derby.
One of them pulled up with a broken hock between the first and second turns. His mate met the same fate between the third and fourth turns.
The owner and trainer were shocked. To console them the Manager said : - " Cheer up. It's nobody's fault . It's all down to your bad luck."
I have heard such clap-trap from a great many officials. He must have learned that in the collisions between leg and surface there was a lethal factor in the material, shape or radius of the turns.
If he had put his brain into gear and decided to speak logically and openly he would have said :-" I am sorry about your precious and lovely dogs ... but if you want to avoid this injury you must take them where there are races up the straight or on a circular track with a radius nearing a hundred yards."
Of those I knew here since West Ham closed only Sheffield reached fifty and another two hundred were smaller.
From reading books about greyhounds I learned that they were given more room on Australian tracks and I looked forward to seeing them when I retired. When in 95 I made the first long flight it was Lawnton impressed me most because it had a radius of 90. Cowra, Cessnock, Sale and Devonport Tasmania had radii of 80 and all of the following had 70 :-- Parklands, Casino, Albury, Bendigo, Tweed Heads, Toowoomba, Geelong, Forbes, Shepperton, Wangaratta, Cootamundra, Wauchope, Young, Warrugal and Moss Vale.
Ideally this is how a foot should hit the ground.
They do so while dogs are travelling on a straight.
In the early years of racing banking the turns was first
tried at Shawfield. Others followed with hopes of making turns safer. But most of them were disappointed. This shows all four toes contacting the surface. They would thus share the stress felt in colliding with the surface.
But this picture is unreal. Without wheels nothing bigger than a rat could travel on such a slope. The maximum slant that proved to be acceptable was just enough to let surface - water run off.
A dog may easily manage a small slope while climbing but when it starts coming down its gait is disturbed, uncertain and anyhow.
At Beenleigh I met an experienced greyhound vet called Colin Welch who agreed with my criticism of sharp turns. Colin maintained that for safety in an ideal world our big fast dogs need a radius of a hundred and fifty metres.
This was one of my favourites among the circular tracks I saw.
But the racing I admired most was on the straight at Wyong. It was a delight to see big fast heavy dogs who were sound after fifty races on the flat rich green turf. They have six more straights at - Appin. Capalaba, Healsville, Kalpura, Wentworth, and Southland. Some big owners drive three or four hundred mils to trial or race their dogs in safety at these venues.
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They were aware that the length and frequency of a fast hound's stride on the straight cannot be continued around a tight turn.
An expert railer may keep up the the frequency but only at the expense of a shorter stride.
The leading limb may be switched at intervals and cause shifting of the centre of gravity, mis-steps and crucial stress.
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News of the universal use of sand for surfaces in America, Australia and Spain had made me wonder why we in Britain and Ireland continued to injure thousands of greyhounds on turf and spend millions on replacing them. I began writing articles on the advantages of sand. My long campaign was eventually successful. For its acceptance and the reduction in injuries I had
to thank my client, and big owner the late Joe Haden -- the big Tyre Supplier in Coventry.
Yes, it was Joe who paid for those Adverts "Sand those Bends" in the Sporting Life. He had three of his champions in my hospital at the time. One I remember was Moose Jet - by Printers Prince ex Princess Wand. In winning 22 open races he broke records at three tracks before a broken wrist joint sustained while speeding on a tight turn ended his career. Joe was distraught at the loss of this outstanding runner and wanted to protect others from similar fates.
Sadly poor Joe passed away within two years. I considered his loss to be the worst blow to greyhound welfare I had known.
I felt fortunate to still have the support of some respected promoters and friends of the greyhound like Leo Craven at Kings Heath, Tom Stanley at Rayleigh and Bob Becket at Bletchley. Their example gradually convinced other promoters of the wisdom of switching to sand -- except for those at the premier track -- London's White City.
Another beneficial change I welcomed later was in the design of starting traps. A few modern promoters do have the necessary
space of more than a foot between every two. This has given some runners a chance of avoiding collisions in the run to the dangerous first turn.
Unfortunately to this day -- straights at Wimbledon and at some others are too narrow to accept the new traps. In the recent Derby the hot favourite was crowded on the run to the sharp turn. His chance was eliminated and his followers lost an unknown amount of loot. Although owners and punters have been aware of this
hazard since 1930 I rarely read a comment2 about it. Some must think it is just one of those immovable things that must be accepted meekly like a spell of bad weather.
The major cause of trauma in our biggest & fastest is still with us.
It is in the LEANING they must adopt on our acute turns. Force is exerted on the outer side of the left limbs and More So on the inner side of the right limbs. These are the areas where X Rays reveal the luxations, cracks, fissures or fractures.
. All three at Equal Risk
Greyhounds with their long legs are designed for galloping in an upright stance on a straight. They can of course be comfortable on a circular track provided its radius is sufficient to allow them to remain upright.
They cannot turn in an upright posture on an acute turn. Even the hare finds that impossible. If it survives the first experience of proximity with the teeth of dog or fox it learns the art of the instant jump to safety. Further evidence of the hare's ingenuity is seen in the doe who gives birth to more than one leveret. She drops them singly in different fields to reduce the danger of the fox stealing them all.
On all tight turns fast hounds are forced to check, to lean and to become vulnerable. On extreme turns they may stumble or fall. The stress during their motion is proportionate to their force and speed and is likely to exceed the breaking strength of some ligament
tendon or bone. Apart from those injuries caused by bumping and collisions serious damage is often sustained in solo trials. Consequently few big fast greyhounds are sound for more than twenty races on our little tracks. Although anybody who has been to the dogs may know this nobody seems bothered about it.
Travelling in the south of Ireland in the fifties and sixties I always enjoyed visiting my expert friends Paddy Dunphy and Pat Dalton and listening to their sound knowledge and judgement. Pat had the bravery and foresight to take hounds to Florida and train them to compete for the lavish purses on offer with the support of his wonderful wife and family.
I remember them contesting an International race in 1970 at Hollywood for a prize of 15,000 Dollars. Each of three owners entered two runners. They were Pat Dalton with Gabriel Mist & Rusty Coast representing Ireland, Pauline Wallis with Gabriel Echo and Gurtcommer Jet representing Britain and Joe La Croix with
the track record holder Twin Lucky to represent the USA.
This great champion had won many big races but was almost four.
Gabriel Mist was made favourite at the 'off' but after a close race Twin Lucky kept the money at home for Mr La Croix.
He supported my proposal that breeders of dogs weighing less than 65 lbs deserve to have their registration fees refunded -- as they would reduce the incidence of injury.
Paddy never galloped a youngster around a turn until he had made it fit on the straight. He had learned the importance of fitness from Nicholas his Dad who was a champion cyclist. I asked him about the lovely stuffed hare in his dining room. It was the one his Dad's fawn dog 'Whole Nelson' had caught in winning the 1915 Irish Purse at Clounanna. I checked the breeding by courtesy of
GREYHOUND - DATA . Whole Nelson's Dad Half Nelson and Mam Dull Day both trace back to the great Fiery Furnace. who was born at the Fawcett Kennel in 1895.
There was a time when I used to purchase greyhounds for clients. I felt embarrassed whenever one that cost over two thousand... came back for treatment of an incurable injury - before it had won a decent prize. I preferred to supply ones weighing between 50 and 60 lbs because they were more likely to remain sound for a few years on our narrow tracks. They were also more likely to win because most graders tended to favour them..
I have never forgotten that when I first read a book on old coursing dogs I learned that Master McGrath at 53 lbs won the Waterloo Cup in 1868, 69 & 71 and Coomassie a bitch at 44 lbs won it in 1877 & 78.
When asked to name some of my favourite runners I always included Spanish Battleship. At 61 lbs he won the Irish Derby in '53, '54 & '55. He also won the Easter Cup, Corn Tostal, the Laurels, McCalmont Cup and the Tipperary Cup. He won 80 of his 90 races. He usually made a fast start and chose the inside of the track. He was trained by Tom Lynch who was married to Peg the sister of Gay McKenna. As a student I often went with Gay to
some track where he had a runner.
When the Battleship was retired Mr Lynch was invited to bring him to Dagenham to run an exhibition trial.
I knew him well and thought he might be too clever to chase - without company - a hare that made far more noise than any he had ever heard. But as I had a runner in London on the day I was tempted to go and see him. He drew a big crowd although the only betting was on the time he would record and whether he would break the track record.
The report on the trial was brief. He flew from the trap - but when the hare reached the turn -- where he saw more of it -- he lost all interest in it.. The driver stopped it. The Battleship ambled over to it and lifted his leg to it.
A couple of years later I saw a fawn dog of 58 lbs called Kilkaskin Kern win the St Leger at Limerick for a proud Doctor Twomey. Four bus loads came from Kanturk to support him. The popular owner kept refilling the cup until all thirsts were quenched. I liked the game little winner and commended him to a good client called Tony Dennis who was among the most talented of trainers. I was glad to see him rewarded with a number of good prizes.
Another small dog that I admired shortly afterwards was LOW PRESSURE bred from Hi There and Belle Of Cassagh and
trained by the expert Pam Heasman at Denver Lodge in Nazeing. He was so popular that when he died in '69 he left a record 3,000 progeny.
To represent outstanding small females I would mention The Grand Music who won the Oaks at 53 lbs and PENNY COUNTY the '79 Derby winner. This one was actually a pound lighter and she was trained at Athgoe by a real gentleman who was dedicated to caring for his dogs. His name was Matt Travers. Like all who knew him I miss him since he passed away last year.
Before moving off the feats of small ladies I must mention the Lennon's Lano Mist by Hi There ex Carls Pride. Against her own weight - 47 lbs - many would say she was the greatest.
I also knew a number of champion dogs who weighed little more than sixty pounds. Pat & Linda Mullins bred and trained one called Sports Promoter by Breakaway Town who won the Gold Collar at Catford, the Grand Prix at Walthamstow and the Spratts Championship at White City. In Ireland in '81 Bold Work by Itsa champion ex Silver Moll won the Derby at 64 lbs.
Breeder & trainer Pam Heasman was one of the greatest lovers and defenders of the greyhound I was lucky to know. I recall a day after the Southend bends were first sanded. There was a 3 inch ridge where the turf met the sand and two greyhounds were tripped on it. In falling they each broke a hock joint. Pam rushed to the paddock, opened two doors and removed her runners. The track manager warned her " If you don't return those dogs, you will be banned from the track".
Pam was then Secretary of the Greyhound Breeders Forum and also Leader of the NGRC Liaison committee.
But they treated her as if she was a slave. Now you know why I loved them so much ?
There always were some owners and trainers who loved dogs and kept them with loving care until death. But there were far too
many promoters and managers with little concern for them because the NGRC rules gave them authority.
When short of runners managers visited kennels and inspected those who were resting, lame or sick. Trainers were ordered to get rid of those unlikely to recover within a month and replace them with sound ones. Many hounds were raced on surfaces that were frozen or otherwise dangerous. Trainers in tears after seeing one lamed were fined or dismissed for refusing to run others. I well remember the unfortunate invalid Mal Thomas from Mullingar being fined £500 for withdrawing a dog from a frozen track at Reading in '93. The leading writer Bob Betts in the Sporting Life described the penalty as "brutal".
In dishing out their biased and unfair penalties the stewards showed no more compassion for trainers than for injured dogs. In '91 when Nottingham runners were positive to tests their trainers claimed that
the drug must have been in the biscuit. The track manager paid for a test on the food which exonerated them. The innocent and honest
Charlie Lister knew nothing of this.
He had been feeding the same biscuit and the star bitch 'Risk It Miss ' -- belonging to Valerie his wonderful wife -- was also
positive. I'm sad to say poor Valarie was close to death and he was too distraught to defend himself. They fined him £300.
I never understood why I never heard of any RSPCA action on the neglect and abuse of greyhounds on an NGRC track. They did however persecute and prosecute -- with the aid of one of my colleagues -- the odd elderly person living alone with more pets than it was possible to care for.
Trainers without owners who could pay a harsh or unjust penalty were instantly dismissed. Nobody cared a hoot whether a trainer, his wife or kids had supper or a bed for the night. British dog racing was primarily a means of getting easy money for promoters and bookmakers.
For more than thirty years the NGRC ignored responsibility for welfare. Very few owners had kennels, or could afford to pay for keep of those who could not win. Many were hanged, drowned, shot or abandoned on quiet or distant roads. A survey in 1961 indicated that about 26,000 disappeared.
Through the Sunday Times eight years ago our sport suffered the delayed exposure and disgrace that was reported near and far. A photo of two dead dogs being wheeled to a garden for burial was published. They had recently raced at the respectable track at Pelaw Grange.
I spent a day in the area and found a great deal of sympathy and support for the popular newsagent who had for years been killing and burying dogs for £10 as a favour for poor people and for the Police who had collected the strays of the town and distract.
A week later a local pensioner was reported to have been charged £170 by a vet for putting his two old greyhounds to sleep.
That brought me telephone calls from elderly dog lovers. One felt the Police should help to pay the newsagent's fine. Others wanted to know what was illegal about burying dogs. ?
They had buried all their dogs in their gardens and would continue to do so.
The benevolent newsagent was fined £2,000 plus £2,000 costs for the burials -- surely mere hypocrisy to divert blame from the NGRC. The court acknowledged that the dogs had been killed humanely with a captive bolt pistol -as his Dad had done for years.
We are still without the statutory board that was essential ever
since racing was introduced in 1927. The faceless bureaucrats inherited from Lord Donoughue without veterinary advice or guidance has left owners, trainers and their greyhounds at the mercy of bookmakers.
When the present leading trainer -- appointed democratically to represent his colleagues --committed a trivial offence the innocent greyhounds in his care were put at risk of injury in trials - without permission from their owners. I know you can't believe me. But in
our house we only use facts. If such a penalty was imposed over in Limerick racing would be suspended until a new Bord na gCon was appointed. I did not hear of a single Complaint or Objection here. Where is the Bottle British owners and trainers used to have ? And Why Oh Why when Lord Donoughue was creating the GBGB Did he not name someone from greyhound racing who was qualified to direct them. ? I discussed the matter with three experienced owners and they all gave me the name Linda Jones.
Far too little has been done to prevent injuries, to make tracks safer or improve the welfare of the hounds and the kind - and often poor people - who care for them.
We do have a score or more of able bodied males on fat salaries in plush pricey offices in the big city and working long hours in order to provide races for the betting shops. I heard of two of them being too stressed to work with the trainers' leader. I expected resignations but, so far, never heard of any, or, of appointments of folk who could handle a wee bit of stress.
All I have ever bothered them for -- on four occasions -- is the numbers of greyhounds who have been injured and the numbers who have been put to sleep at each of their licensed tracks.
So far, they have refused to tell me. I thought that some of them and especially - those who had sworn to protect our patients from abuse - would be interested in finding out and letting me know. They are paid to protect them from preventable injury. As a foundation member of the Society of Greyhound Vets I never expected to be denied such info.
You would be wrong to think I'm the only Vet concerned about the cover-ups, the lack of openness and the frequency of the injuries. Frances Allen the popular Newcastle specialist has complained via Jonathan Kay in the Racing Post that reports of an increase in track injuries were not being thoroughly investigated. Surely this was the main reason for the appointment of the GBGB.
Our colleagues in horseracing would never tolerate being denied
their database.
Frances and her husband Arron Atmore are dedicated friends of the greyhound. In Winter they look forward to going to Ireland and enjoying a few days watching the ancient sport of coursing in which dogs run the natural way -- up a straight.
I must congratulate Frances for being among the brave people who
jumped from the plane to provide homes for the retired. I never had the courage for such a risk. Some 35 years ago I did collect £500 toward finding a vaccine against Parvovirus All I did was 10 runs around White City with Derby winner Jimsun and Juno our favourite bull terrier. Then they pleaded for a rest and left me to do the other ten alone.
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Reading about the longer careers of greyhounds on the larger tracks in Australia reminded me of my wish to go there in 1949. As I approached retirement with time to travel I thought seriously about seeing the big country. Apart from the expense there were problems to be considered. The first was that Jane would not enjoy being driven up to 200 miles a day just to see as many tracks as possible. She was not totally happy about my going without her but - as usual - she did not stop me. She accepted my absence gracefully and with love.
I did not have the confidence to undertake the journey alone. I had mentioned the trip to a few younger friends who were single. They were too polite to say so but I thought they wondered whether I was quite right. Then Jane said to me " your friend John McConnell has been with you to Ireland for dog racing, horse racing, coursing, hurling, football and funerals and although he is older than you he may expect to be invited ". I told John that I would be away for six weeks and that he would be welcome if he wished to join me. After two days thinking about it he was eager to come.
In '95 on November 9 we flew to Hong Kong in 11 hours and after another eight we arrived in Melbourne. We were 2 years late to see Michael Kinane winning the Melbourne Cup on Vintage Crop for Dermot Weld . But all I wanted to see were dog tracks with safer radii than any of ours. I could no longer accept that the broken hocks and wrists that retired so many were just 'one of those things' or caused by 'sheer bad luck'. Such parrot talk is an affront to adult people who love dogs.
When I booked our flight to Melbourne I telephoned Mr Gavin Fitzpatrick - Keeper of their Greyhound Stud Book - and asked him to please book us into a hotel for the night of our arrival. I was much relieved when he said " I look forward to seeing you and your friend at the arrival hall." Those words banished my final fears of our journey into unknown territory.
Gavin was there with a really warm welcome. He helped us take our luggage to the car park and drove us out to Tarneit where his charming wife Rubina had prepared a big meal and two comfortable beds for us. After a long breakfast and an exchange of histories of Donegal and Melbourne they drove us to a garage where I hired a car. They waved us Good Bye and Good Luck after advice which we were to appreciate on every day of our adventure.
I still remember how much I looked forward to seeing their safer tracks and telling people about them when I got home.
Now almost twenty years older I realize how naive I was to think that the NGRC might give priority to safe tracks. In '94 I attended a meeting on Canine Welfare organised by the National Canine Defence League. One of the speakers was Doctor Robert Hubrecht from the Universities Federation of Animal Welfare. His organisation worked alongside industry and government on scientific issues. In his speech on greyhound welfare he said "Information from abroad on Track Design is not being fully utilised and if any promoter was interested... he would produce a feasibility paper." His offer was choked before anyone got time to think about it. The NGRC secretary on a fat salary after being a trainer jumped up saying "It would be too expensive to change track configurations."
While sympathising with owners whose favourite had smashed a hock on a tight turn ---- with the words "It was just one of those things but he has had an operation to have screws inserted and we must now wait to give it time to heal." He carefully avoided
mention of the percentage he had known to win another race.
One of my frustrations in trying to help owners involves those who say that making a track safer would result in more speed and risk of injury. What sort of Talk is That Gobble De Gook ? I prefer the reality of the Aussies I met at their bigger tracks during those six weeks down under.
Attending the evening greyhound meeting at Sandown Stadium by invitation from the manager John Stevens was an exciting and memorable experience. It was different class to anything I had seen in Ireland, in Britain or in Europe. The presentation of the racing was more professional. The lighting was ever so bright and our view from the restaurant was excellent. The entry of the greyhounds for every race was announced with an exciting burst of music from the band. We dined with Mrs Conroy the widow of the late Chairman, Fred Reed the famous retired trainer, Neil Mackenzie the official photographer and the resident successful trainer Jeanette Krewter. We enjoyed delicious wine with the great food.
I enjoyed watching the racing because I saw none injured. They
have few serious ones because of three factors :- 1) the level manicured sand surface, 2) the inside lure which invited all the runners to look toward the inside of the track and 3) the rounder turns that reduced bumping, and crowding. Our outside lures encourage some runners to move out on turns because the hare is there and those who are keen on it aim to be there when it stops. Keeping close to the inner rail demands effort and adoption of the leaning posture. In my experience collisions are more common with outside lures.
The only change I would favour for Sandown track is an increase in the radius to 100 M to make it the safest in the world.
When I returned there in '98 I was sorry to hear of a fast dog called Farloe Brook sustaining a serious hock fracture soon after he arrived. He had been bred by Seamus Mc Closkey and taken out there from Brighton by the leading trainer Gordon Hodson.
One of the reasons I write about greyhounds is because I hope that some rich reader might do something to reduce their injury rate. I have been interested in their welfare since 1940 and started writing about it in 1957. By then I had raced greyhounds or seen racing on more than a hundred tracks. There was nothing arcane about what I wrote. It was just common sense and truth.
Over ten years ago I was looking for a site for a schooling track with a radius of at lrast 80 M. It was to be funded by one of my special clients -- a very rare kind and generous nurse and dog lover -- if she had not been cruelly taken by cancer. Her name was the unique Alice Swaffield from Gortnahoe in Tipperary.
For an all too short few months Alice had enjoyed winning the
the Derby with Batties Rocket and the St Leger with his sister Battie's Spirit. Alice will never be forgotten by those who were privileged to know her and appreciate her supreme goodness.
I was heartened in '58 when statutory control was introduced by Dail Eireann. But Westminster continued to ignore the fate of hounds here. Tracks had sprung up like mushrooms without veterinary advice on safety requirements. Thousands of races were run without the presence of a Vet.
When runners were scarce some promoters bred replacements.
I saw hundreds of litters being raised on GRA - owned land along the Naas road from Dublin. Other promoters accepted any and every one brought along with little regard for fitness or performance. After a few trials or a race many were rejected without thought or care about their future. There were a great many poor people and a culture had developed which caused dogs who could not win to be disposed of at the least expense.
In the Winter of '57 I had accepted responsibility for the care of 200 greyhounds and contracted to attend the meetings at Coventry and Leicester tracks. I was influenced by the fact that I knew Mr Lambert the Coventry Racing Manager. I had met him at Wandsworth when racing some of my own. I had also treated a number of open racers for Mrs Hilda Sanderson the wife of the promoter at the two tracks.
Soon afterwards their managers were leaving and I was asked to advertise for replacements and interview those who might be interested. I appointed Harold Richards from Gloucester and Dan McCormack who had no previous experience -- he had been in the
Navy. I liked his enthusiasm and he did not let me down. He became one of the best administrators in the business.
The vet's position appealed to me mainly because of the ambitious plan to replace the dilapidated buildings which housed some staff as well as dogs and build modern kennels and hygienic rooms where I could treat the sick and injured with the compensation money for the damage by the Blitz in 1940. After giving loyal service for five months I asked Charlie Ochiltree the General Manager for news from the City Council Planners about my new premises. I never had any warning of the shock I was to get.
He reported "The only application before them is for four hundred houses " ! I found it hard to believe that a man who owned one of Britain's biggest hotels could treat me so . The folk I grew up with did not know how to behave like that. But I gave him a week's notice so that he could find another vet. I knew of one anxious to get the salary so that he could employ another assistant.
On a cold evening during that week I reported to the Manager that some patches were frozen and needed.trampling on to make racing possible .. .but unless there was a rise in temperature the surface was unlikely to be safe. The first race was run without incident. Fog reduced visibility for the second and two runners overtook the McWhirther sledge hare. Harvey the driver could not see it clearly and one of them received cut legs from it. The Manager reported to the Promoter over the telephone. He was told to tie a flash lamp to the sledge and continue with the racing. In the next race the lamp fell off, the hare stopped and all dogs jumped on it. Two more sustained toe injuries before the meeting was abandoned. As 4 races were run the attendance fee was retained.
The punters went home in a grumpy mood.
I hope there are some alive and well who were there that evening.
The only one I know about is Joe Kelly who I'm glad to say is well in Manchester and nine years younger than I am. I first met him in 1951 when he was winning races with a black dog called Drumman Rambler by Selyom ex Shaggy Miss at Independent & NGRC tracks as far north as Dundee and as far south as Plymouth. He was honest and truthful and was among the ten best men with a greyhound I ever knew. Joe worked at my kennels for a few months and my runners responded to his care. He came from Kilrush in Clare - an area noted for great hounds and his good wife Paddy is a daughter of John who was one of the famous Murphy brothers from Dromintee in county Armagh.
Joe trained Lisamote Perecept to win the Scottish Derby at Carntyne, the International at Wimbledon and the Lincoln at Kings Heath in '68. In '70 he again won the Scotch Derby with Brilane Clipper.
I remember a popular Manager called John Rowe taking the reins at Coventry and Leicester about two years later. He had a nice little lad called Robert who used to come with him to meetings and play with other children. After a highly respected career in charge of our three leading tracks West Ham, White City and Belle Vue Robert has recently retired and his legion of friends wish him many happy years of good health. And so say I.
I must now refer to practices which made me ashamed of being associated with some of the NGRC racing and prefer the integrity of the Independents. For Open races on the latter a real trap - draw was made in the paddock just before the hounds went out to race.
On NGRC tracks most draws were advertised to be held at a certain time. Anyone turning up to witness it might find that it had it had already taken place or that it had been postponed because they were waiting for another entry to arrive. Many runners were believed to be "placed". Draws made by a junior manager were
often altered by somebody more senior in order to favour some wealthy owner. A wad of fifty big ones or a case of special juice was often added to the prizemoney. When a runner was seen to fight its chance of being disqualified might depend on the popularity of the owner.
Concerned about the need for integrity in the control of racing I had discussions with gentlemen who were there before my time, saw how it all began and prospered for a while -- until it lost public confidence -- and countless supporters. Fred Whitehead was the straight and clever man who taught me most about the early years of the 'dogs'. 1 had not got involved until 1940.
Fred had been Manager of Manchester's Belle Vue & White City for 3 years before being promoted to London's White City in '31. About '38 he left to join Hackney and Hendon who were among the Independents. He was very happy there until these two joined the NGRC against his wishes. But he continued as manager for them until '66 when he retired to live in Brighton. He told me that he was no longer enjoying his position. He did not feel comfortable in dealing with some other managers. They were unfriendly to him and it became obvious that they were taking cash for favours from some bookmakers and punters.
When I mentioned my hope of replacing the NGRC Fred advised me that I was 20 years too late. 'Too much self inflictred damage had been done'.
Another straight and loyal manager gave me similar advice. He was to spend his life at Wembley and many readers will know that his name was Jack Tetlow. I still felt something should be tried.
In '70 with 750 members I established the democratic Greyhound Council which aimed to create fairplay and equal opportunity for every member. We hoped to sponsor races at every track whose promoter paid our £1 membership fee. We encouraged owners to enter dogs in their stud book names. At that time there were over seven million a year still following the dogs and we hoped it was not too late to restore credibility to the business that had been losing
customers for thirty years. There were many true dog lovers among us -- men and women , owners, trainers, racegoers and followers who were prepared to make sacrifices to save the sport.
Our leaders included Nigel Cooper Secretary, Treasurer Victor Ross & daughter Jacqualey the Vet. Sandra Brook, Anne Fortey, David Lee, Ken Coxon, George Carrigall, Norman Donaldson, Peter Onslow, Vet David Poulter, Kenny Reynolds, Bertie Gaynor, Joe DeMulder, A.J. Probert, Ken Coxon, Dr Stephanie Fleming, Mrs Jill Goode, Lady Hudson, John Bassett, Nick Savva, Jack West, Colin McNally, Tommy Jones, Brian Stoker, Ben Parsons, Tommy Unwin, John Ruffe Williams, Harry George Frank Sanderson, Ted the great horseman Williams and many others whose names are hazy.
The first four races we sponsored at Kinsley, Halifax, PelawGrange and Spennymoor attracted increasing interest. The Finish at Kinsley resulted in a Photo that sparked off a £2,000 challenge match between the two sporting owners.
The match caused much interest throughout Yorkshire and attracted the television cameras as well as the biggest gate at the
track while it belonged to Jack Mugglestone.
Here is Mrs Lee receiving our trophy won by her dog King Royal. The gallant loser in a close finish was owned by Frank Parker the sporting father-in-law of today's champion trainer Elaine. Sadly Frank and Jack are no longer among us but they are still very much missed by their many friends.
The support we got encouraged us to stage a competition open to twelve tracks. The final - at Sheffield Hyde Park - drew a record crowd. Manager Denis Slack felt the atmosphere was the most
exciting he had ever enjoyed. Nobody knew how many saw the races The little track in Manor Oak Road was surrounded by hundreds of 3 - storey houses that provided clear viewing.
The winning trainer was the famous Joe Booth from Old Clipstone. He was born in Bradford in 1906 and was down in the pits at Bewinning as soon as he left school. He helped his dad
bringing up the coal with the ponies for a few years. Originally they raced whippets but Joe soon became addicted to greyhounds
and chose to make a living from them -- mainly outside the NGRC.
For a number of years Joe had a partner called Jim Glover. He and his wife always kept a couple of greyhounds for life. I kept in touch with Jim during the last 12 years of his life when he was alone. He lived in Furnace near Oakerthorpe and I enjoyed calling and hearing his tales of dogs whenever I was on the M I with half an hour to spare. I missed this kind dog lover when he died at 96.
Joe's winner on our big night in Sheffield was the brilliant black dog called Cricket Bunny by Printers Prince ex Cricket Lady. He had won the Laurels at Wimbledon just a month before. He belonged to Albert Burgess whose restaurant near Chesterfield I liked to visit when in the area.
A tiny bitch of my own called Wheatfield Curry won one of the slower races on the programme. I still have the tankard presented by the Heiniken Beer company. The prizes were presented by Christine Owen the lovely professional dancer who was the "Miss Britain" for the year.
Following all the publicity Independent tracks enjoyed the NGRC were embarrassed by a wrong result of a handicap race at one of their more prominent tracks -- Hall Green in Birmingham. The two starting -traps holding the favourite and second favourite opened very late and left the race between the two complete outsiders. Everyone bar the stewards noticed what should have been a false start. Booing began and grew louder while objects were thrown at the officials. Several windows were smashed. Police were called
and about forty came from several stations in the city. The racing had to be abandoned but scores of angry punters refused to be evacuated until after midnight.
Shortly afterwards my Council sponsored a race for runners in their stud book names at my local track Hinckley which was managed by
the famous Joe Grant. Joe liked to keep a good greyhound to race it in good class at his own track and at others within a fifty mile radius. Our race attracted a near record crowd. Among the entries was a good bitch called Legal Ethel owned by a highly respected school teacher from Gloucester. When the NGRC
stewards met to decide on their response some were said to be envious of us while others felt jealous. After some argument, debate and tossing of a coin a majority agreed to "warn off" the totally innocent teacher and open one more of their favourite bottles.
When poor Joe passed away a big crowd of mourners came from many tracks to pay their respects to a true greyhound friend and Tommy continued to manage the track with its usual integrity.
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I hope to get time to write some more about those wonderful dogs. Right now I would like to digress to wish good health to all my readers and friends. Health is the greatest of gifts and I feel so fortunate to enjoy it with my wonderful workaholic Jane and our Walter, his Nuala and their girls Siobhan, Lucy and Hannah, our Warwick, his Fiona and their girls Eleanor and Rebecca and our Simon, his Lyn and their Judith and Ruth and their Neil our only grandson.
I still have my dear brother Owen in a comfortable Home in Dublin. I feel grateful and indebted to a cousin and his wife who visit him frequently and take him out for a drive.
They are Tony and Bridie Doohan. Without their kindness I would have to make many more trips across the channel. Tony is a son of my cousin Brigid who helped my mother nurse me and teach me to walk.
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Since September I should have found time to pay a tribute to one of Ulster's most popular and colourful sportsmen who died at 75 in Dublin's Mater Hospital after several spells there. He had been
fighting a brave battle against cancer for nineteen years.
His name was Oliver Brady.
He first became known as a talented trainer who loved his horses.
He earned world-wide fame for his native Monaghan when joining
one like himself -- the gallant Rita Shah to found the Shabra business group and Cancer Foundation. They were both highly respected for their generosity and their feelings for the poor and the underprivileged. They raised funds for hospitals in need of instruments and medicines. Whenever Oliver won a race -- whether at a big meeting like Fairyhouse or Cheltenham or at his local Downpatrick or Navan racegoers rushed to the finish to join in the cheering and the celebrations.
Despite his frailty he somehow found energy to keep going until the very end of his amazing life.
An enormous crowd of mourners supported his daughter and his brothers and sisters at his funeral in Ballybay where Oliver will never be forgotten.
This is the bold Paddy Keane with Olive his brave wife and their very fast 1966 Derby winner Faithful Hope by Solar Prince ex Minnie Hawthorn.
I remember the occasion because of the great celebration party and because it was repeated a year later when they won the Essex Vase with Mel's Talent. They also enjoyed many wins a few years later with a dog called Tommy Astaire. They bred him from their own bitch Miami Star and Ivy Hall Flash.
Paddy was a shrewd trainer and never afraid to risk his money if he thought his runner was fast enough and well enough to win. He was a respected client who always paid me. I'm sad to say there came the day when he was very ill and not expected to come out of hospital in Dublin. One of his runners was entered to race at Harolds Cross in the evening. Olive telephoned the racing manager to say that because of her husband's illness she wished to withdraw it. When she got to the ward to visit Paddy the first question he asked her was how is our runner ? When she told him what she had done Paddy jumped out of the bed saying " That dog is a certainty, Go straight home and take a thousand pound from the safe. You will .just have time to get there and have it on him. "
Olive did as she was told and the dog won.
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I have had a fall which prevented me from writing anything during the last two weeks. I feel lucky to have escaped more lasting pain.
I have had a fall which prevented me from writing anything during the last two weeks. I feel lucky to have escaped more lasting pain.
But I regret to tell you that I heard of the death of another of my most respected clients after a long illness. He was the famous Cork business man Fenton Kirwan.
This is Myrtown one of the outstanding hounds owned by Fenton on field and track. It was bred in 1971 from 'Myross Again' and 'Longtown Lassie '. It always raced in the highest class and just missed out in the final of several valuable competitions.
This was another great favourite among the patients I treated.
The name of this colourful character was Patrica's Hope. He had intelligence and appeared to do the right thing most times.
Patricia won the White City Derby in 72 when trained by Adam Jackson. He came back in 73 under the care of John 0'Connor
to win again .
Other twice winners were the great Westmead Hawk in 05 & 06 for Nick Savva. Rapd Ranger in 2000 & 2001 for Charlie Lister OBE and Mick the Miller away back in 29 & 30.
Other winners well known to me were Chittering Clapton trained by Adam Jackson in 65, Faithful Hope by Paddy Keane in 66, Jimsun in 74 for Geoff De Mulder, .Balliniska Band for Eddie Moore in 77, Lacca Champion for Pat Mullins in 78, Sarahs Bunny for De Mulder in 79, I'm Slippy for Barbara Tompkins in 83 and Whisper Wishes for Charlie Coyle in 84.
X X X X X
Handling this greyhound is Pat Casey whom I considered to be among the most skilful at managing them. He was gifted with a close relationship with them while he was a schoolboy. Yet he never wished to be a trainer. Toward the end of his long career as Head Man to a number of top trainers in Ireland and in Britain he was persuaded to take a position as trainer at Shawfield stadium in Glasgow. But he felt that he could not be bothered with the administrative tasks such as writing reports and filling forms. After a few months he resigned and returned to assisting trainers to win more races.
Pat never had the ambition to become a famous trainer of greyhounds. He grew up with a deep love of them and was happy from the day he learned that he could get paid for being with them and taking care of them. After school hours on most days he spent much time at the neighbouring kennels in Tralee to watch and learn from the maestro Kerr Boyle.
It was at Altcar in '57 for the Waterloo Cup that I first saw Pat. He was in charge of Final Expectations - a runner in the International stake. Quite a crowd gathered around the newcomer Pat to see him massage his dog in readiness for the course. As we inhaled the fumes from the liniment I heard a man say to his mate " This young lad got out of a car with a Tralee number plate so I guess he got his skill from Kerr Boyle. Pat was born with a deep love of dogs.
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I collapsed and woke up to find myself in an ambulance on the way to Hull Royal Hospital. I owe my life to the special care that allowed me home after 9 days. Now Jane my wonderful wife at 95 is not well and you will forgive me for being unable to resume any writing to you for a while. Meanwile -- our good wishes to All of my readers.
I am delighted to tell you that thanks to the skill of the Medics at Castlehill hospital I survived the implantation of a Pacemaker.
Five days later however we suffered a shocking loss.
Charley our cherished Jack Russell will no longer be with us at Beverley Library or the ten taverns where he was welcomed by people of all ages over the past eleven years.
. I have never known my Jane more sad.
The redeeming feature of our grief is the fact that his death was quick and painless. He enjoyed his last hour with me on Saturday going around the market and meeting some of his canine and human friends.
Whenever he was let out in our garden his habit was to make one loud bark - demanding to be allowed back in. This time there was no bark. His little heart had given its last beat.
My Jane - his dearest friend - had become alarmed at the silence.
On opening our back door she looked out and was shocked to see the lifeless body under a tree. I don'think I have have ever seen her more dismayed or depressed.
I wanted to dig the grave but as happened -- when Buster his Dad died seven years ago ...she grabbed the spade and did the final work of mercy for the one who idolized her.
I'm glad to say Jane has rallied to attend the Treasure House for lunch to day and told the staff about poor Charley.
.JPG) |
This is our middle son Warwick and his patient has a bandage over his off fore foot to protect an injured toe.
This is Simon our youngest son. He is proudly in charge of a famous runner named Prince Of Roses
Like thousands more, this champion was too fast for his own safety. His right hock joint collapsed under the stress suffered on the sharp turn to the left..
