The 1956 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 31st year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and the 30th year of greyhound racing in Ireland.
Roll of honour Major Winners Award Name of Winner1956 English Greyhound Derby Dunmore King 1956 Irish Greyhound Derby Keep Moving 1956 Scottish Greyhound Derby Quick Surprise 1956 Welsh Greyhound Derby Not held
Summary 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. One problem for the industry was that the biggest names Spanish Battleship, Rushton Mac and Pauls Fun had all retired leaving the search for a new star.
Competitions No single greyhound was able to secure more than one classic race success, the main Derby titles went to Dunmore King and Keep Moving. The 1956 English Greyhound Derby runner-up Duet Leader won the Laurels at Wimbledon Stadium and the Derby final third Gulf of Darien, reached the St Leger final at Wembley and the Cesarewitch at West Ham Stadium. The Welsh Greyhound Derby failed to take place again.
Shipping magnate Noel Purvis, who owned two of the 1956 Derby finalists gained consolation when Belingas Customer won the Scurry Gold Cup over 400 yards, a distance better suited to the greyhound than the Derby distance.
Ireland 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.
Principal UK races
Grand National, White City (May 5 525y h, £300) PosName of GreyhoundTrainerSP TimeTrap 1st Blue Sand Ken Appleton 15-8f 29.70 42nd Merry April Dennis Hannafin 4-1 30.34 33rd Jumping Pole Reg Bosley 11-4 30.62 54th Vintners Cup Jim Syder Jr. 6-1 30.66 65th Tanyard Tulip Jack Harvey 6-1 30.72 16th Vented Cask 33-1 30.96 2
Gold Collar, Catford (May 26, 440y, £500)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Ponsford Noreen Collin 10-1 25.69 12nd Rusty Chain Ron Chamberlain 8-11f 25.72 23rd Howardstown Tonic Hackney 8-1 25.75 54th Tax Diablo Jim Syder Jr. 6-1 25.78 35th Record Tass 7-2 26.10 4N/R No Pay
Scottish Greyhound Derby, Carntyne (Jul 14, 525y, £500)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Quick Surprise Pat Mullins 1-1f 29.44 52nd Fodda Champion Harry Bidwell 3-1 29.50 33rd Rushton Spot Frank Johnson 3-1 29.58 24th The Burr 7-1 29.62 15th Grange Son 12-1 29.66 4
Scurry Gold Cup, Clapton (Jul 28, 400y £600)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Belingas Customer Ronnie Melville 10-3 22.82 42nd Claremount John Paddy McEvoy 5-2f 23.02 23rd Cree Starlight 6-1 23.16 14th Crostys Bell Paddy McEvoy 10-3 23.17 35th Maghernagaw Flier Sidney Orton 8-1 23.31 56th Westcourt Freedom 6-1 23.47 6
Laurels, Wimbledon (Aug 24, 500y, £1,000)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Duet Leader Tom Reilly 1-1f 28.13 12nd Cleos Gossip Bob Burls 5-2 28.19 63rd Cool Magourna 10-1 28.33 34th Claremount John Paddy McEvoy 5-1 28.51 55th Rosevale Paddy 7-1 28.61 26th Secret Armour Tom Reilly 10-1 28.75 4
St Leger, Wembley (Sep 10, 700y, £1,000)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Jakfigaralt Joe Booth 7-2 40.50 62nd Gulf of Darien Jack Harvey 5-4f 40.68 43rd Black Envoy Joe Booth 3-1 40.70 34th Whats Yat Leslie Reynolds 8-1 40.92 15th Grandbally Shaun Jack Harvey 10-1 41.40 56th Paracelsus Jack Harvey 25-1 41.41 2
The Grand Prix Walthamstow (Sep 25, 525y, £500)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Land Of Song Bob Burls7-2 29.70 32nd Parkland Hero Mrs K.Roberts 11-10f 29.82 13rd Jan 7-1 29.88 44th Garbagh Bin Bob Burls 5-2 30.20 2N/R Go Doggie Go Jack Toseland N/R Comin Champion Jim Syder Jr.
Oaks, White City (Sep 29, 525y, £500)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st First But Last Jack Harvey 2-7f 29.08 62nd Dark Rose Paddy Fortune 9-2 29.52 13rd Magourna Belle 100-7 29.53 44th Rambling Cockeye 25-1 29.63 55th Speir Bhean Jack Harvey 20-1 29.75 36th Meanus Ann 66-1 30.55 2
Cesarewitch, West Ham (Oct 12, 600y, £1.000)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Coming Champion Jim Syder Jr. 9-2 33.02 42nd Gallant and Gay Joe Pickering 33-1 33.18 53rd Gulf of Darien Jack Harvey 9-4 33.22 34th Northern King Jack Harvey 7-4f 33.38 65th Jakfigaralt Joe Booth 9-2 33.42 26th Kilcaskin Kilian 25-1 33.48 1
References