Southwark Star
08 Jun 11 19:32
Joined: 03 Jul 01 | Topic/replies: 186 | Blogger: Southwark Star's blog
The bookmakers betting at White City when it closed, here goes main ring right to left. Joe Norris rep by Philly Herring Ted Craze, John White Stanley Rep by Tom Allsop Sam Earl rep by Phil Earl. Gap Pat Whitmarsh, Alper, Tony Morris, Sid Hales rep Ronnie Hales and John Power mostly rep by Tom Jenkins.Cheap side right to left Alby Parsons think the name of the firm was I cant remember was it Sammy Davis Sid Fry rep by Horace Simmons Joe Clark and Chas Raymond. When i first went to White City Joe Bennett was also in that bay Gap Then Alf Nathan, Harold Crockford Morry Pincus was also in that bay i think. Gap Steve Griffen, Terry and son, Walter Prince Bubbles was in the last bay with Young Harry and another bookmaker whos name escapes m

sparrow john white senior a very nice person cant say that about his son

Never really knew his son mad dog but John was a gentlemen and a great bookmaker too.

What on earth are you on about irish?

cant remember john whites old man , youre spot on mike

Brought back some memories lads anyone remember the hot eels and liquor stand also Walthamstow had one at the first bend my fav dog at the stow BILL THE PIG think he was deaf always last out of traps be lucky gal

many years ago stamford bridge 6 races then a cab over to white city on a saturday

Desert Pilot ran in the Derby final won by Sarahs Bunny

Stan Bowles the QPR footballer was a regular there when i used to go.

I totally agree about the atmosphere, best track ever.

1975 was my first derby final, tartan khan won 25/1, was 17yrs old at the time, i would say that was the most exciting

    times as far as atmosphere on the track. hooked ever since.

Yep GLASGOW, that was mine too.  Me and my mate came down in his old Capri trying to make a case for Tartan Khan at 33/1.  I had a tenner each way in Harrowers at 33's before kleaving - to ensure I was on. I brought a ton for him but frittered most of it away and was left with £20 and got on at 35's.  Simply unbelievable.  Myrtown didn't turn up and Sallys Cobbler, a dead railer and backed as if defeat was impossible,  inexplicably came off the rails early in the back straight and the rest is history.  There were two bedecked Scottish guys way up in the back row singing and dancing - were you one of them?  At Staples Corner we heard a loud click from under the gear stick and found we couldn't get fourth gear.  A selector pin had gone and we came all the way back in third gear.  Did we care - did we Falkirk! 

Brilliant

Great stuff irish.  The noise at W.City that night was unbelievable.  The track was manicured like a bowling green.  The staff were all kitted out in white suits and caps.  Ger McKenna got an impromptu round of applause from the very knowledgeable and appreciative White City patrons as he paraded Shamrock Point - surely most ill-treated and unlucky greyhound in Derby history.  It is still an enduring and magical memory.
Afterwards it was reported that the trainer, Gwen Lynds, had repeatedly walked the dog under a railway bridge, as a train was booming overhead, to get it used to a thunderous noise.  I take it to be true.
The irony is that as a pup the White City management told the owner to take the dog away as it wasn't good enough to grade!

Good to read about Tartan Khan, I was also at the same derby, although it wasn't my first (Dolores Rocket was). I was a regular at the track, not only the derby meeting. Occasionally a mate used to join me at the derby and he always backed the outsider, as he did with TK (had a fiver on it at 25/1, a nice win in those days). I was on Sallys Cobbler and thought he was home and hosed, but couldn't believe it when TK finished strongly to win, although he obviously had stamina as he won the Leger later.

The first Greyhound i owned was Claremont Point (raced at Slough and Reading) and he was sired by another dog mentioned above - Shamrock Point !

A really good thread.

There was a bloke who used to give us tips now and then, never wanted anything,used to say buy me a pint if it wins, was at Wembley when he told us Ellas Penguin would win at White City,was in S3 I think, over 686 metres? had £40 at 9/4, which as a youth was a massive bet, it won, pure elation, great place

1st
Tartan Khan
m
NOV 1972
BD
Spectre
Chilled Sweet
29.57


2

25/1

e.p., rld, led back strt, stay
2nd
Sallys Cobbler
m
APR 1973
BK
Cobbler
Pineapple Jam
29.67
1 ¼

1

3/1

fa, rls, mvd off back strt

seem to remember Tartan Khan had a few trials from sprint traps at Hinckley and timed it for when the train used to go by to get him used to the derby roar. Sad to say Hinckley long gone

God I so envy you older boys who experienced those days,just seem so romantic if you know what I mean.What I would give to have those memories.

Scroll down 8 photos for the above.

You're welcome SGE. In the 50s when my father took me there were bookmakers all around the track as best as I can remember. Average crowd must have been around 10,000 on Saturday nights.

From wikipedia....................................The stadium became the Mecca of greyhound racing with tens of thousands of spectators attending meetings on a regular basis, particularly in the 1940s, and 1950s. A crowd of 92,000 attended the 1939 English Greyhound Derby final.