The 1957 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 32nd year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and the 31st year of greyhound racing in Ireland.

Roll of honour Major Winners Award Name of Winner1957 English Greyhound Derby Ford Spartan 1957 Irish Greyhound Derby Hopeful Cutlet 1957 Scottish Greyhound Derby Ballypatrick 1957 Welsh Greyhound Derby Go Doggie Go Greyhound of the Year Duet Leader

Summary Marsh Barton Stadium in Exeter closed; many smaller independent tracks were susceptible to closure, mainly due to the fact that government taxing of tote profits outweighed the income from attendances. This was leaving many of them untenable. Regulated tracks under the National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC) banner were better off and remained successful, with annual tote turnover still around £55 million. The Greyhound Racing Association (GRA) continued to be the most successful greyhound company (as it had been every year since the introduction of racing in 1926). The Chairman Francis Gentle announced that net profits had increased to £119,000 but the sale of Harringay Arena had been agreed because it was operating at a loss. It was sold to the Home and Colonial Stores Ltd. Gentle remains Chairman of the company but relinquishes his role as Managing Director to be replaced by Laddie Lucas.

Ford Spartan won the 1957 English Greyhound Derby and Duet Leader was voted Greyhound of the Year.

Competitions Kilcaskin Kern won the Irish St Leger and then went through a hectic schedule, flown straight to London to join new trainer Tony Dennis. The fawn dog then qualified for the Cloth of Gold at Charlton with three quick trials on three successive days. The decision was justified after he won the title. He also won Grand Prix at Walthamstow Stadium later in the year.

Ford Spartan (the Derby champion) won Laurels at Wimbledon Stadium but was then surprisingly retired to stud after just fourteen months racing.

Duke of Alva won all his races in reaching the St Leger final at Wembley and recorded sub 40 second runs in each round, the final was televised live on the BBC.

News Scoutbush was sold for $4,500, shortly after his Cesarewitch victory, to stand at stud in the United States. Sir Arthur Elvin MBE died, he had saved Wembley Stadium and turned it into one of the most famous stadiums in the world. Without him it would have been demolished in 1926.

Elias Jolley stood trial, after the 80 year old general manager of White City Stadium (Nottingham) was accused of widespread rigging of tote odds and destroying evidence. It was agreed by the London Greyhound Tracks committee that any greyhound disqualified for fighting would lose any prize money and trophies but it would not affect the result in terms of betting.

Derby runner-up Highway Tim was stolen from the kennels of Rosalie Beba, one month after the Derby final but was recovered safely after the van carrying them crashed and the driver was arrested.

Ireland The unsuccessful ante post Irish Greyhound Derby favourite, Solar Prince, went on to win the Tipperary Cup and Callanan Cup before winning a White City invitation race featuring Kilcaskin Kern, Ballypatrick and Northern King, held on the Oaks final night.

Prairie Champion has his first race was on 10 October 1957, when he participated in the McCalmont Cup at Kilkenny. He won his heat by ten lengths in 29.80 seconds and then won the final. After recording 29.10 seconds in a 525 yards trial at Harold's Cross Stadium he was bought by Al Burnett, who was known for owning the Pigalle Club in London and renamed Pigalle Wonder.

Principal UK races

Grand National, White City (May 4 525y h, £300) PosName of GreyhoundTrainerSP TimeTrap 1st Tanyard Tulip Jack Harvey 2-1 29.85 52nd Fodda Champion Jimmy Jowett 10-11f 30.01 43rd Johnnie Pops 10-1 30.65 14th Harwin Boyerler 66-1 31.05 35th Imperial Fawn Dave Geggus 5-1 31.61 26th Overleigh Headline 33-1 00.00 6

Gold Collar, Catford (May 25, 440y, £500)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Silent Worship John Bassett 4-11f 25.5012nd Ford Squire Dennis Hannafin 7-1 25.53 43rd Parkland Hero Miss G.Barrett25-1 25.77 54th Fairy Lawn Champion 5-1 25.97 25th Rail Guard Bill Matthews 25-1 26.13 36th Chilly White 33-1 26.33 6

Welsh Derby, Arms Park (Jul 6, 525y £500)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Go Doggie Go Jack Toseland 5-4f 29.38 32nd Northern King Jack Harvey 5-2 29.46 63rd Quare Fool Harry Buck 3-1 29.70 14th Black Coak Paddy McEvoy 50-1 29.86 25th The Grand Genius 7-1 29.90 46th Sober Lane 25-1 29.94 5

Scottish Greyhound Derby, Carntyne (Jul 13, 525y, £250)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Ballypatrick Cyril Beaumont 7-1 29.53 22nd Frisky Look Jimmy Jowett 2-5f 29.55 43rd Grange Son 16-1 29.87 14th Parkside Paul 8-1 29.95 35th Simmer Down Pal Joe Booth 5-1 30.19 5

Scurry Gold Cup, Clapton (Jul 27, 400y £600)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Lisbrook Chieftain Reg Holland 6-1 23.09 52nd Prince Galtee Jack Harvey 4-1 23.41 33rd Frisky Look Jimmy Jowett 7-223.51 14th Dark Rose W.G.Brown 9-2 23.52 45th Pointers Prince Tom Smith 5-2f 23.53 66th Customers Blazer 20-1 23.75 2

Laurels, Wimbledon (Aug 23, 500y, £1,000)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Ford Spartan Dennis Hannafin 2-7f 27.89+ 52nd Clara Prince Paddy McEvoy 9-2 27.95 23rd Bloom Again J Taylor 8-1 28.15 34th Cleos Gossip Bob Burls 33-1 28.47 15th Star of India 20-1 28.48 66th Rail Guard Bill Matthews 100-1 28.62 4 +Track Record

St Leger, Wembley (Sep 9, 700y, £1,000)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Duke of Alva Dicky Myles 4-6f 39.97 12nd Highway Tim Mrs.R.Beba 9-4 40.25 63rd Scoutbush Bob Burls 100-7 40.31 24th Canuever 25-1 40.45 45th Gurthrush Boy Leslie Reynolds 33-1 40.89 56th Dark Rose W.G.Brown 9-1 41.01 3

The Grand Prix Walthamstow (Sep 24, 525y, £1,000)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Kilcaskin Kern Tony Dennis 8-11f 29.25 32nd Racing Don Jim Syder Jr. 4-1 29.69 63rd Limafe Dave Barker 7-1 29.81 24th Name the Peace Tom Reilly 6-1 29.93 45th Flying Customer 25-1 30.09 56th The Gifts Champion Alf Forman 100-7 30.17 1

Oaks, White City (Sep 28, 525y, £500)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Dark Rose W G Brown 4-6f 29.02 22nd Cute Customer Ronnie Melville 7-2 29.34 53rd Ford Spectre Dennis Hannafin 7-1 29.37 14th Kilcaskin Katherine Johnny Bullock 100-6 29.41 35th Crosty Biddy Alf Forman 8-1 29.51 46th Chester Grand 100-6 29.52 6

Cesarewitch, West Ham (Oct 11, 600y, £1,000)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Scoutbush Bob Burls 7-4f 33.05 12nd Highwood Sovereign Leslie Reynolds 13-2 33.17 23rd Hurry Cleo (dh) 66-1 33.31 43rd Clara Prince (dh) Paddy McEvoy 9-4 33.31 65th Highway Tim Mrs.R.Beba 5-2 33.45 36th Land of Song Bob Burls 7-1 33.59 5

dh=dead heat

References