West Ham Final Meeting 1972 Photo

1972 May 26, The largest and probably the best running track in Britian, West Ham, holds its last meeting. The track had the fastest 700 yard course in the country, because greyhounds had only five bends to go round, the race starting just round the fourth bend. The never-to-be-beaten track record of 38.61 was set that last night by A A Thompson’s Commutering (bd d Dusty Trail-No Mabel, Sep 69) trained by Frank Melville at Harringay. The 4-5 favourite from trap 3 beat Clohast Rebel from trap 1 by 4 3/4 lengths. Incidentally, Clohast Rebel’s time was .07 spots inside the old track record. In an earlier race over 550 yards Pepino (wf d Pools Punter-Morning Brandy, Jun 69) skated home in 30.21 just .04 outside Come On Wonder’s record. Charlie Smoothy, who trained Pepino at Clapton, was a kennel lad at West Ham’s very first meeting way back in 1928. The other never-to-be-beaten track records were: 550 yards hurdles Sherrys Prince 30.89; 600 yards flat Cals Pick 32.72; 880 yards flat Spotted Nice 49.55; 1112 yards flat Lucky Five 64.85. The last race is won by Troilus trap 5, a 3-1 chance trained by Irene McNally, over 550 yards in 30.96. The Cesarewitch is transferred to Belle Vue over 880 yards.