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I post on this forum as often as West Ham win an F.A. Cup, 
but I used to enjoy going dog racing years ago.
Here are some things I remember from the distant past.
Apologies for any errors, my memory is not what it used to be.
CATFORD
Onwe of the first and longest races I ever saw must have been about 1968. Farmer Zora the 2/7 favourite, won easily over a distance of 1,112 yards.
WEST HAM
At the time I lived close enough to spit from my bedroom window on to the track.
Dolores Rocket was the 10/11 favourite for the St Leger Final. Seamans Star was second best.
After a series of bunps at the first bend, traps 1 and 2, Whisper Billy and Sir Joe, shot clear and were never caught. The only bloke cheering was a postal worker named Harry, who always backed the two rags in every race for 20p win and place each on the Tote, and a 10p reverse forecast in the shops.
The winner was 50s, the runner-up was 33s, and iirc, the forecast paid £83-00 on the NSL chart.
Some of the best dogs to run there were Yellow Printer, and over hurdles, Adamstown Valley, Derry Palm and Sherrys Prince. 'Sherrys' was based at West Ham and never lost a race there.
I used to go every Wednesday and Friday.
Happy days.
HACKNEY WICK
Every Saturday morning for years was a regular fixture for me and my mates. This was the only instance of the Stewards Red Light coming on for an Enquiry that I witnessed in years of watching dog racing.
Ba The Rover looked to be nothing special on his trial times, but came out for the first race on the card, which is basically for really slow dogs.
He trapped fast and was gone by the first turn. He scooted home by no less than 17 lengths at 8/1 and on came the red light.
A month later he was winning A1 races and competing in Open Races.
WHITE CITY
A bit of a slap from the east end on the Underground but worth it. I think this was 1972 or 1973.
Sherrys Prince, the West Ham based hurdler, had already won two Grand Nationals. In his semi final in his third year there, he caught his tail in the fence on the first bend, which tore a piece off. Unbelievably he still got past 4 others and was only beaten 3 lengths by Adamstown Valley.
In the Final he was over his small injury, but the bookies thought otherwise. He was 15/8 against, which was like Christmas for his loyal supporters. Never put a foot wrong, out fast, over the first, and away home to mighty cheers from the whole of the stadium.
THE STOW
The dog with a mind of its own, Scurlogue Champ, who used to draw great crowds to dog racing for his style of running. All looked lost as he was tailed off, and suddenly, on went the turbo and he passed dogs like they were standing still.
I must be a bok. I went to watch him as The Stow, not my favourite track, and he was well beaten.
WEST HAM, CLAPTON AND THE STOW.
When favourites missed the break when the money was down, and somebody would step forward from the crowd, and from his overcoat he would produce a live cat and chuck it on the track as the dogs approached.
The cat would soon be over the hare rail and away, closely followed by greyhounds.
The Stewards would have no choice other than to declare the races void.
I also used to go Harringay om most Mondays. Not a bad track at all.
Romford was a pain for parking, so I gave that a miss more often than not.
I would only go to The Stow if I had won on the nags during the day as I found the grading pretty hard to fathom out.
A few trips to Wembley, which I thought was a soul-less place, and a long drive home if I lost.
I used to go to Crayford now and again, but when it wss transformed I didn't like it.
Not been to the dogs for 4 or 5 years, which was a meet up of chit-chat posters at The Stow.
I live in west Norfolk now and have no local track.
Any memories from other oldies out there ?
but I used to enjoy going dog racing years ago. Here are some things I remember from the distant past.
Apologies for any errors, my memory is not what it used to be.
CATFORD
Onwe of the first and longest races I ever saw must have been about 1968. Farmer Zora the 2/7 favourite, won easily over a distance of 1,112 yards.
WEST HAM
At the time I lived close enough to spit from my bedroom window on to the track.
Dolores Rocket was the 10/11 favourite for the St Leger Final. Seamans Star was second best.
After a series of bunps at the first bend, traps 1 and 2, Whisper Billy and Sir Joe, shot clear and were never caught. The only bloke cheering was a postal worker named Harry,
who always backed the two rags in every race for 20p win and place each on the Tote, and a 10p reverse forecast in the shops. The winner was 50s, the runner-up was 33s, and iirc, the forecast paid £83-00 on the NSL chart.
Some of the best dogs to run there were Yellow Printer, and over hurdles, Adamstown Valley, Derry Palm and Sherrys Prince. 'Sherrys' was based at West Ham and never lost a race there.
I used to go every Wednesday and Friday.
Happy days.
HACKNEY WICK
Every Saturday morning for years was a regular fixture for me and my mates. This was the only instance of the Stewards Red Light coming on for an Enquiry that I witnessed in years of watching dog racing.
Ba The Rover looked to be nothing special on his trial times, but came out for the first race on the card, which is basically for really slow dogs.
He trapped fast and was gone by the first turn. He scooted home by no less than 17 lengths at 8/1 and on came the red light.
A month later he was winning A1 races and competing in Open Races.
WHITE CITY
A bit of a slap from the east end on the Underground but worth it. I think this was 1972 or 1973.
Sherrys Prince, the West Ham based hurdler, had already won two Grand Nationals. In his semi final in his third year there, he caught his tail in the fence on the first bend, which tore a piece off. Unbelievably he still got past 4 others and was only beaten 3 lengths by Adamstown Valley.
In the Final he was over his small injury, but the bookies thought otherwise. He was 15/8 against, which was like Christmas for his loyal supporters. Never put a foot wrong, out fast, over the first, and away home to mighty cheers from the whole of the stadium.
THE STOW
The dog with a mind of its own, Scurlogue Champ, who used to draw great crowds to dog racing for his style of running. All looked lost as he was tailed off, and suddenly, on went the turbo and he passed dogs like they were standing still.
I must be a bok. I went to watch him as The Stow, not my favourite track, and he was well beaten.
WEST HAM, CLAPTON AND THE STOW.
When favourites missed the break when the money was down, and somebody would step forward from the crowd, and from his overcoat he would produce a live cat and chuck it on the track as the dogs approached.
The cat would soon be over the hare rail and away, closely followed by greyhounds.
The Stewards would have no choice other than to declare the races void.
I also used to go Harringay om most Mondays. Not a bad track at all.
Romford was a pain for parking, so I gave that a miss more often than not.
I would only go to The Stow if I had won on the nags during the day as I found the grading pretty hard to fathom out.
A few trips to Wembley, which I thought was a soul-less place, and a long drive home if I lost.
I used to go to Crayford now and again, but when it wss transformed I didn't like it.
Not been to the dogs for 4 or 5 years, which was a meet up of chit-chat posters at The Stow.
I live in west Norfolk now and have no local track.
Any memories from other oldies out there ?
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the mad ghost i remember tony friend trap6 adamstown valley think it got killed in a kennel fight
the mad ghost do you remember the greyhound express what a good paper that was good days
ron russian you remember the t.o.t.e there the clocks
the old tea room round near the kennals at white city
the.mad.dog.man 15 May 11 23:43
the mad ghost do you remember the greyhound express what a good paper that was good days
I remember the GE seller at West Ham, he sounded like a facking strangled cat.
'GREYAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRN'
the mad ghost do you remember the greyhound express what a good paper that was good days
I remember the GE seller at West Ham, he sounded like a facking strangled cat.
'GREYAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRN'
Only went to Wimbledon once, best night I ever had at dogs I think.
Got off at the wrong station and missed the first 3 races, pied down with rain, but I backed the other 5 winners.
Went into a local with my best mate, played as guests in their dart team and mullered the opposition.
Missed the last underground train back east on the District Line, had to get a taxi to Trafalgar Square and a night bus to Canning Town.
Happy days.
Got off at the wrong station and missed the first 3 races, pied down with rain, but I backed the other 5 winners.
Went into a local with my best mate, played as guests in their dart team and mullered the opposition.
Missed the last underground train back east on the District Line, had to get a taxi to Trafalgar Square and a night bus to Canning Town.
Happy days.
When I was about 18 I went to The Stow from Woolwich, on a bike.
I locked the bike to a tree in the car park.
Came out after 8 taces - skint.
Went to the car park, the bike had been nicked.
That was a facking long walk home on a cold winter night.
I locked the bike to a tree in the car park.
Came out after 8 taces - skint.
Went to the car park, the bike had been nicked.
That was a facking long walk home on a cold winter night.
TMDM: Yes, I have a couple of copies somewhere, if I can lay my hands on them. It closed in 1969. It's most famous reporter was Harry Carpenter before he joined The BBC as a boxing commentator.
I thought Tony's Friend was retired after he was disqualified for fighting at White City?
The old Tea Room, did it share it with a bar? This was on the Popular enclosure.
I thought Tony's Friend was retired after he was disqualified for fighting at White City?
The old Tea Room, did it share it with a bar? This was on the Popular enclosure.
tonys friend was retired i think it was adamstown valley that was killed in kennel fight not sure now the tea bar you are thinking off was near the cockles and muscles and jelled eals
anybody remember a hurdler called belated silver he used be around a hurdle clear come round the last bend run very very wide then seemed to stare at the crowd and pull himself up he won many races though at all the big london tracks harringay wembley white city etc i reckon circa 1975.
At White City, I go back to the Winter days of coke braziers on the public areas around the track.
The track was entirely covered with sewn-in straw for frost protection as undersoil heating had not yet been invented.
The track was entirely covered with sewn-in straw for frost protection as undersoil heating had not yet been invented.
Mr Memory,we always celebrated each winner with a large mug of steaming Bovril from the tea bar near the kennels.
Ballintore Tiger brings back some memories, it was trained at New Cross along with Halfpenny King another top class hurdler, there were were such great hurdlers about in those days... No Chips.. Derry Palm etc & Wimbledon always had a great crop of hurdlers and their top hurdles heats were like top finals anywhere.
mr memory i think stamford bridge was the first to have sewn in straw and the coke fires i remember them also at wembley
MDM wasnt it Beaverwood Wind that got killed in a kennet fight.
Wembley used to be covered in a black peat to stop it freezing in winter months
Wembley used to be covered in a black peat to stop it freezing in winter months
Longest marathon at the time, the 60s, was 1140yards @ Romford and Movealong Margo won it.
No Mickie, used to pop in en route to Walthamstow but not any more.
Good to have a Re-union with all the lads
Good to have a Re-union with all the lads
sevey i remember cleaning combes out one day with that bet 8 unplace
Longest marathon that I saw at Catford was 1050 metres or 1148 yards. Salina broke the track record in 70 seconds plus a few spots, can't recall exactly the time but it was thereabouts. Extreme marathons were quite a rare occurrence in those days.
The Coke braziers were also at Clapton scattered all around the track..as was mentioned on another old thread, a dog called Woodford Alan got turned over at 1/3 in a graded race at Clapton.. and a few disgruntled punters threw the Braziers onto the track and all the straw caught fire.
Talking of the 1000yds+ races.. a few to mention. Miss Taft.. Greenville Fauna.. Movealong Margo..Husky Crazy.. Poor Mick.. Little Tiddler..Not Permissable etc..probably not all 1000 yarders but all great staying dogs.
Taling of Clapton, does anyone remember the London Cup competition run over 909 yards. As a lover of marathon contests, I always enjoyed it.
i Found the starting post very enjoyable. Thanks for your memories!
i Found the starting post very enjoyable. Thanks for your memories!
i Found the starting post very enjoyable. Thanks for your memories!
loved sherrys prince what a great hurdler often wondered if it was naughty in younger days.saw it do the wembley clock in a flat trial
bbc2: the old cherry from years gone by "if it's over the jumps, it must be dodgy!" Well it applied to some but "Sherrys", never. 17 track records, 3 Grand Nationals, the undisputed Greatest Hurdler of all time.
TMG - if only the normal punters had digital cameras back in those days.
This forum would be awash with photos.
I was on my way to Charlton once, with a bird in tow.
No buses or Woolwich Ferry for me
A gleaming pillar box red Mk2 Jaguar roared its way through Blackwall Tunnel.
My face was also pillar box red when it ran out of facking petrol due to a faulty fuel gauge.
And so was the 108 bus that took the bird back north of the river. never to be see again.
This forum would be awash with photos.
I was on my way to Charlton once, with a bird in tow.
No buses or Woolwich Ferry for me
A gleaming pillar box red Mk2 Jaguar roared its way through Blackwall Tunnel.
My face was also pillar box red when it ran out of facking petrol due to a faulty fuel gauge.
And so was the 108 bus that took the bird back north of the river. never to be see again.
having watched a lot of hurdlers many were iffy never saw sherrys do anything wrong thats why i asked
mr winkle: Who knows, maybe it saved you from a fate worse than death?
i saw patricia's hope win its second derby at White City in the early seventies, place was packed, couldn't get a bet on the nanny goat, massive queues. She was 9-2 that night, and i had two quid on her, it was my maximum bet for at least ten more years, now its the minimum bet on here
white city the mecca for dog racing.loved the bowler hats precision start times and super running surface.the bets being tic tac from the nobs restaurant.only learnt tic tac to read the bets
well white city was without doubt the best track id ever been id think in early 70,s the best track in the world
"bbc2".........I used to take bets from the restaurant on the "floor"
Mr.Bertorelli was not too keen on his diners showing down.
Mr.Bertorelli was not too keen on his diners showing down.
I always thought West Ham was the best track.
I think only Manchester White City had a larger circumference.
Clapton was more like a circle than an oval.
Saw Watford on telly once. looked lke there was only enough room for 4 dogs round the bends.
Film notes:
Harringay was in The Long Good Friday
White City was in The Blue Lamp
and Hackney was in the telly programme 'Budgie' starring Adam Faith
I think only Manchester White City had a larger circumference.
Clapton was more like a circle than an oval.
Saw Watford on telly once. looked lke there was only enough room for 4 dogs round the bends.
Film notes:
Harringay was in The Long Good Friday
White City was in The Blue Lamp
and Hackney was in the telly programme 'Budgie' starring Adam Faith
West Ham track circumference = 562 yards
White City, London " = 499 "
Wembley Stadium " = 476 "
Harringay Stadium " = 455 "
Rayleigh Stadium " = 450 "
Ramsgate Stadium " = 443 "
Southend Stadium " = 405 "
White City, Manchester " = 356 "
White City, London " = 499 "
Wembley Stadium " = 476 "
Harringay Stadium " = 455 "
Rayleigh Stadium " = 450 "
Ramsgate Stadium " = 443 "
Southend Stadium " = 405 "
White City, Manchester " = 356 "
MadGhost.. in your opinion would Harringay have had the Longest Run-In.. it always seemed so to me.
Cheltenham races mid 70s , skint , hurtle back to Catford over bridge at back , in for free , last two races , last £4 on Catella = £76 , happy days .
Late 70s , barmaid ' divorced ' , top floor of tower block in Greenwich , unfortunately only separated ...........black eye and named next dog ' Pauls Panic ' unfortunately only good enough for Maidstone , but won a fair few .
Late 70s , barmaid ' divorced ' , top floor of tower block in Greenwich , unfortunately only separated ...........black eye and named next dog ' Pauls Panic ' unfortunately only good enough for Maidstone , but won a fair few .
matso: Yes, but Walthamstow seemed pretty long as well.
only went to westham once was it very steep terracing looking down on big track
"bbc2".........The owners brought a football club in.
It was called Thames F.C. & it only lasted for a couple of years or so in the Football League.
The ground had a capacity of 120,000 & was the largest in the British Isles.
It was called Thames F.C. & it only lasted for a couple of years or so in the Football League.
The ground had a capacity of 120,000 & was the largest in the British Isles.
I remember that it was very difficult to see all of the race from track level. I had to go to the first floor of a grandstand and only then could I see it all. I also remember the large, heavy, green blanket that was held up across the track at the pick-up to stop the dogs safely. West Ham was enormous but so was Blackburn. I don't have any dimensions for the place but have seen a photograph and it seems very big.
I was sure I read ?(many years ago) that West Ham had the 2nd largest track circumference in the country.
I obviously got Manchester White City wrong, it wasn't Manchester Belle Vue was it ?
I obviously got Manchester White City wrong, it wasn't Manchester Belle Vue was it ?
I'm not going mad TMG
West Ham WAS the second largest to some other track, but as it was back in the 1970s I can't facking remember.
West Ham WAS the second largest to some other track, but as it was back in the 1970s I can't facking remember.
"mr winkle" - Try Dunmore in Belfast......now closed.
Circumference...575 yards.
Circumference...575 yards.
I really enjoyed all of this thread...
As someone put so well....its painful to look back,especially as we will never see it again..
Now anyone remenber a bitch called Sawbridge..I think
As someone put so well....its painful to look back,especially as we will never see it again..
Now anyone remenber a bitch called Sawbridge..I think
MR.WINKLE AT THE SAME TIME AS BA THE ROVER WAS A DOG CALLED ...OLD BOOT...BOTH FAVS OF MINE
REMEMBER ONE NIGHT AT THE WHITE CITY ALL I HAD TO ME NAME WAS 50P HAD 30P WIN THE 2 IN THE FIRST AND A 20P FC 2-4....IT CAME UP THE WIN PAID 68P AND THE FC PAID ABOUT A FIVER GOT 12 NICKER TO DRAW FOUND THE WIN TICKETS BUT COULD I FIND THE FCS COULD I HECK I WENT IN THE BRICK TOILETS STRIPPED OFF TO ME PANTS AND SEARCHED EVERY STITCH ON ME IT WAS THE MIDDLE OF FEBRUARY AND I WAS SHIVERING STILL DIDNT FIND EM ,THAT WAS A LOW POINT I TELL YA
hooleyhooley: Hacksaw was a brood bitch that the Savvas had. She was the dam of Westmead Champ, Westmead Bounty, Westmead Satin, Westmead Damson and many more
never went to any of the old london tracks, before my time
though have a few videos of the derby finals at white city, have to say maybe it was just the time mid eighties, but seemed alot of trouble at the first bend and it looked rather tight to me?
ballyregans bobs TR run at harryingay in the wet, whoooosh it took off, still not as good as his 31.07 for 523m at the wick though
though have a few videos of the derby finals at white city, have to say maybe it was just the time mid eighties, but seemed alot of trouble at the first bend and it looked rather tight to me?
ballyregans bobs TR run at harryingay in the wet, whoooosh it took off, still not as good as his 31.07 for 523m at the wick though
They always said you needed a dog in front off the second bend at White City, (unless it was called Dolores Rocket!)
CASHLESS-LOOKING GOOD 22 May 11 22:46
MR.WINKLE AT THE SAME TIME AS BA THE ROVER WAS A DOG CALLED ...OLD BOOT...BOTH FAVS OF MINE
Also used to a dog called Fleadh Silver, used to run mostly from 3 or 4. I swear, EVERY time I left it, the bastard thing won.
Another was was Never Sober, had a string of seconds that was unreal. IIRC, it was badly injured in a race when it shot out of the boxes but didn't go round the first turn, it went straight into the outside rail.
MR.WINKLE AT THE SAME TIME AS BA THE ROVER WAS A DOG CALLED ...OLD BOOT...BOTH FAVS OF MINE
Also used to a dog called Fleadh Silver, used to run mostly from 3 or 4. I swear, EVERY time I left it, the bastard thing won.
Another was was Never Sober, had a string of seconds that was unreal. IIRC, it was badly injured in a race when it shot out of the boxes but didn't go round the first turn, it went straight into the outside rail.
low point i bet callohow daly to win 1994 english derby had a grand each way at 250/1 1/4 the odds 1st 4 he finnished last can not remember anything about the night the next morning as i got legless he was still a great dog
Mad ghost..Spot on
Before I started racing...Apparently won the TV Trophy at Catford...maybe wrong...
But was bought by Savva from George Ripley[who trained my first dogs]for big money then in those days
Went on to produce the start of the Westmead dinesty[sorry about spelling]
Before I started racing...Apparently won the TV Trophy at Catford...maybe wrong...
But was bought by Savva from George Ripley[who trained my first dogs]for big money then in those days
Went on to produce the start of the Westmead dinesty[sorry about spelling]
Mad ghost..Spot on
Before I started racing...Apparently won the TV Trophy at Catford...maybe wrong...
But was bought by Savva from George Ripley[who trained my first dogs]for big money then in those days
Went on to produce the start of the Westmead dinesty[sorry about spelling]
Before I started racing...Apparently won the TV Trophy at Catford...maybe wrong...
But was bought by Savva from George Ripley[who trained my first dogs]for big money then in those days
Went on to produce the start of the Westmead dinesty[sorry about spelling]
best two tracks to run your dog on was white city and long eaton nice bends long str8 in good order harringay was ok but we had a wide runner who found himself running on the concrete slabs they had for you to parade along
noflapleft: Yes, Dogs either took to Harringay or didn't. It was the banked bends that threw them out, they would go flying into them, hit the raised ground and could then go all over the place. You dog finished up where did probably, looking for some flat, even ground.
I thought West Ham was a fantastic gallop and, believe it or not, Charlton was a good running track.
I thought West Ham was a fantastic gallop and, believe it or not, Charlton was a good running track.
not that old but my dad mum and both grandads where dog men and woman
I WAS 16-17 AND I WAS WORKING AS A OFFICE JUNIOR AT LADDYS IN NOTTINGHAM CREDIT OFFICE WE,D GET PAID FRIDAY IN CASH THEM DAYS I WAS DRAWING AROUND £9 A WEEK ...SATURDAY MORNING ID GO ROUND TO KKORALS SAT MORNING ,IN THEM DAYS YOU COULD HAVE TOTE PLACE ONLY ....THE 3 THAT COME TO MIND WAS BA THE ROVER ...OLD BOOT... AND A FANTASTIC LITTLE DOG CALLED RUSSIAN PICKET ,I TRIED TO REMEMBER ITS NAME YESTERDAY AND IT CAME TO ME IN BED LAST NIGHT ....RUSSIAN PICKET WAS EVERYTHING TO ME FOR A TOTE PLACE IN ABOUT 25 RUNS ITS HARD TO BELIEVE BUT ONCE MAYBE TWICE IT FINISHED OUT THE 2 ...ALWAYS SHORT 5-4 EVENS AND IT WOULD ALWAYS RETURN 17P..18P..19P OR A PLACE ....IF I HAD £12 IT WENT ON RETURN 19P THEN ID WAIT FOR ONE OF THE OTHER 2 AND HAVE ABOUT 6-8 NICKER ON AND THEYD PAY THE SAME ...BACK TO WORK WITH ABOUT £25 PLUS IN ME POCKET .....ONE SATURDAY LANZAROTE RAN AT KEMPTON ID DONE THE DOUBLE IN THE MORNING LANZAROTE WENT OFF 11-10 I HAD £15 PLACE HOPING FOR A 13P RETURN AND ID COP A FIVER ...IT WON THE RACE AND PAID 19P .....THAT NIGHT I WENT TO DRAW AND HEADEED TO DERBY DOGS WITH ABOUT 40 QUID IN ME POCKET WASNT BAD THEN IN 1971...CAME HOME WITH 125 QUID AFTER A GOOD NIGHT THERE .I WAS AMILLIONAIRE ........I SWEAR TO GOD THERES NOT A BETTER FEEELING THAN THAT IN WORLD AT TIMES ,AND SOME OF YA CAN SAY IM A SAD FKKER FOR SAYING IT ....THEN AGAIN ALOT OF YA WILL KNOW WOT I MEAN ........IVE WALKED ON DOG TRACKS AND I CAN SMELL A GOOD NIGHT ...KNOW WHAT I MEAN BOYS?........PRICELESSSS DAYS
THEN AGAIN ALOT OF YA WILL KNOW WOT I MEAN ........IVE WALKED ON DOG TRACKS AND I CAN SMELL A GOOD NIGHT ...KNOW WHAT I MEAN BOYS?........PRICELESSSS DAYS
Oh Yes...know what you mean...hahahaha
Oh Yes...know what you mean...hahahaha
You could smell a good night at Reading Dogs!! It was called the Whitley Whiff!!
cashless i used to do tote place on the dogs remember manchester white city and kings heath in the shops i used to place 2 or 3 dogs in a race dogs used to pay over £1 a place for 10p
WASNT KINGS HEATH JUST 5 DOGS SAT AFTERNOON MICK
MEMEORYS NOT WHAT IT WAS MICK BUT SOME OF THEM DOGS AT HACKNEY WERE LIKE OLD FREINDS
i used to go up the betting shop on saturday morning 11.00 only the blower then
I USED SIT BY THE BOARD JACKSON AND LOWE MARKER WAITING FOR THE FIRST SHOW TO COME THROUGH AND ID PRICE UP LOVED IT
I remember being in a Mecca shop in East Ham and backing a dog on the tote at Hackney called Brown Hill.
I got lucky, it paid £2-10 for a 10p stake, but the SP was only 3/1.
I got limited to 3 times the S.P.
I argued about it, but the rules were up on the wall.
I got lucky, it paid £2-10 for a 10p stake, but the SP was only 3/1.
I got limited to 3 times the S.P.
I argued about it, but the rules were up on the wall.
At King's Heath they used to were adamant that they would have worked out every tote win, place & forecast dividend BEFORE the dogs got to the second bend and these were the days before computers and calculators were even thought of. Remarkable but they proved it race after race.
Actually CASHLESS.....Your story reminded me of when I was out racing 3/4 nights a week...I had terrible nights or I had the ones where...As you put it,you could smell a good one....It made me chuckle at the one ,two or three outstanding night I had...and how it made me smile for months...You were right...they were Priceless..!!
EN AGAIN ALOT OF YA WILL KNOW WOT I MEAN ........IVE WALKED ON DOG TRACKS AND I CAN SMELL A GOOD NIGHT ...KNOW WHAT I MEAN BOYS?........PRICELESSSS DAYS
Oh Yes...know what you mean...hahahaha
EN AGAIN ALOT OF YA WILL KNOW WOT I MEAN ........IVE WALKED ON DOG TRACKS AND I CAN SMELL A GOOD NIGHT ...KNOW WHAT I MEAN BOYS?........PRICELESSSS DAYS
Oh Yes...know what you mean...hahahaha
My first viewing of live greyhound racing was at White City in the mid 60´s and I was hooked from then on. The atmosphere on Derby night was amazing, God knows what the attendance figures were. Packed stands on both straights and even parts of the bends had punters screaming their heads off. I saw many of the greats there, Dolores Rocket, Yellow Printer, Mutts Silver, Shamrock Point, Sarah's Bunny, Patricia's Hope and Jimsun to name a few. I even saw Stan Bowles a few times ;-). I remember trying to convince the world and his brother that Mutts Silver would win the Derby (before the quarters) although I was not so lucky when I waded in to back Sallys Cobbler the year before. He was one of the tightest railers i've ever seen (almost scraping paint off the rail) and had the race in safe keeping but for whatever reason came off the rail and let Tartan Khan through to win. I don't go greyhound racing so often when i'm in England these days, but I was at Wimbledon last year (may have been the quarters) and even though a few good things won, I thought the stadium was depressing, a handful of bookmakers, the opposing stand looked like a building site and the atmosphere was cold to say the least. What I would give to be able to back in time to the night 'Muttsy' won at White city, the Mecca of greyhound racing ...... and always will be ...... at least for many of us oldies ;-)
Betfair has a part to play in killing off dog track attendances for proper punters.
If you went to the Stow no a Saturday night, over 60% of the crowd on the winning line side of the track were young people there for a night out. They used to bet, but in reality, with a bird on their arm, and a wallet full of wonga, they had no clue what percentages book they were betting on.
On here it's close to 100% book in most races, while at the track they're betting at 130% and worse.
I recall backing a 6/1 winner at Romford on here, where I got 20s for it. You never see a dog over 8s in graded racing, unless it can't win.
If you went to the Stow no a Saturday night, over 60% of the crowd on the winning line side of the track were young people there for a night out. They used to bet, but in reality, with a bird on their arm, and a wallet full of wonga, they had no clue what percentages book they were betting on.
On here it's close to 100% book in most races, while at the track they're betting at 130% and worse.
I recall backing a 6/1 winner at Romford on here, where I got 20s for it. You never see a dog over 8s in graded racing, unless it can't win.
Yesterday, on a rare visit after horse racing had finished for the afternoon.
Two dogs in one race, one 4/1, the other 9/2. I got 7/1 and 10/1 on here, and one of them won. That's why BAGS tracks are virtually empty of punters.
Two dogs in one race, one 4/1, the other 9/2. I got 7/1 and 10/1 on here, and one of them won. That's why BAGS tracks are virtually empty of punters.
when and if you ever get a moment have a read of this thread , the good old days 
Sorry to nit-pick winkle but it was 1,118 yards at Catford the maximum allowed at the time under NGRC rules was 1,120 yards!
How did the office let hackney close
It was a schooling ground for young punters on a Saturday
It was a schooling ground for young punters on a Saturday
No contribution from Whitmarsh on this thread but a few posts from Mr Memory.
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