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21 Nov 22
15:54
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02 Apr 03
basilbrush • August 15, 2022 4:04 PM BST
Catford Dogs was very good to me. In a moment of madness in my mid teens I nicked a Ford Anglia in Catford, got pulled over in Bromley, theft,no insurance, no licence. Greenwich magistrates on the Monday (early 1970,s), total fine £285. Judge accepted my offer of £10 a week until the fine was cleared, I was only earning £8 a week so I knew it was going to be a struggle. Three months later and I hadnt paid a brass farthing when I got a summons back to the magistrates for non payment of fines. The night before I was due in court I went to Catford dogs, had a pint in the railway tavern and made my way to the track with my case £12. Picked two dogs out in the first leg of the Jackpot and had a fiver on each, one of them copped, by the last leg I had the only two remaining tickets but it was an 8 dog race over 555 metres. In T1 was a favourite of mine Cameo Andy, in T8 was Cameo Brett, so they were my choices. Brett was three lengths clear at 1/2way, off the final bend Brett was still a length in front, but Cameo Andy was closing fast and I knew I was going to win the Jacko. Cameo Andy won by a neck, from Brett. I was over the moon but had no idea how much the jackpot would pay. I was nervously looking at the tote board but I couldnt see where the dividend would show up. My Brother shouted £240, and that was what I collected under the totaliser board that night. In the last race I fancied a dog called Rosslad Shore T5, as they were going in the traps Humphreys knocked it out from 10/11 to Evens as I stepped in with my £50, Even £50 down to boy Humphreys said. Humphreys was still calling me Boy twenty years later. Rosslad Shore obliged and I left the stadium with just under £300, to celebrate my good fortune I went for a couple of sherberts in the Catford Ram. In the dock the following day I had no intention of using my winnings to pay the fine, I explained to the judge that I was only earning £9 amount of pounds a week and apologised for the fully outstanding fine, I promised to pay double each week in future until the fine was cleared. To my absolute horror the judge read me the riot act and gave me 30 days in prison....I was shell shocked, all I heard next was "take him down". So then Im whisked off to the cells (with the £300) tucked down my sock. Even though I had the £300 I didnt know if I would be allowed to pay the fine or be held in contempt of court or something and make matters worse. I bit the bullet and called the Jailer and asked him if it was too late to pay the fine, the jailer said if you can pay right now you will be released, I quickly produced the £300 and I was marched to the court cashiers office to pay the fine and was subsequently released. The Jailer was smiling throughout the whole episode after I had told him about the Jackpot win the previous night, it turned out he was related to a lady called Carol who was a barmaid in the downstairs bar over the posh side near the kennels at Catford dog track. Its a small small world, I became great friends with Carol some years later and she would often drop by my house after she finished work at the old track. I have tons of stories about Catford Dogs, and Wimbledon come to that, but I wouldnt wish to bore any of you with my memories. Edenvale Lady, Prudent, Portlairge Tipp, so many greaT local dogs graced the old track, far too many to mention.
Looked up a few of my old cards that I kept as I remembered the names
[img]https://community.cdnbf.net/community.betfair.com/user/lucky_luciano/7dc8fb4c3360353c1a4f22e63d7df2a3.jpeg?
v=269400[/img]
[img]https://community.cdnbf.net/community.betfair.com/user/lucky_luciano/dd5aecd6d8ffd02da6bff907fe598eae.jpeg?
v=269400[/img]
[img]https://community.cdnbf.net/community.betfair.com/user/lucky_luciano/adca0a732f80cdea187b4e4cab102ba1.jpeg?
v=269400[/img]
[img]https://community.cdnbf.net/community.betfair.com/user/lucky_luciano/54a1fa9ffcc7c8d51709bda5568a5b89.jpeg?
v=269400[/img]
Had 100,s of cards and sadly thew bagfuls away when I moved but pleased I kept a few some still in my gallery
Catford Dogs was very good to me. In a moment of madness in my mid teens I nicked a Ford Anglia in Catford, got pulled over in Bromley, theft,no insurance, no licence. Greenwich magistrates on the Monday (early 1970,s), total fine £285. Judge accepted my offer of £10 a week until the fine was cleared, I was only earning £8 a week so I knew it was going to be a struggle. Three months later and I hadnt paid a brass farthing when I got a summons back to the magistrates for non payment of fines. The night before I was due in court I went to Catford dogs, had a pint in the railway tavern and made my way to the track with my case £12. Picked two dogs out in the first leg of the Jackpot and had a fiver on each, one of them copped, by the last leg I had the only two remaining tickets but it was an 8 dog race over 555 metres. In T1 was a favourite of mine Cameo Andy, in T8 was Cameo Brett, so they were my choices. Brett was three lengths clear at 1/2way, off the final bend Brett was still a length in front, but Cameo Andy was closing fast and I knew I was going to win the Jacko. Cameo Andy won by a neck, from Brett. I was over the moon but had no idea how much the jackpot would pay. I was nervously looking at the tote board but I couldnt see where the dividend would show up. My Brother shouted £240, and that was what I collected under the totaliser board that night. In the last race I fancied a dog called Rosslad Shore T5, as they were going in the traps Humphreys knocked it out from 10/11 to Evens as I stepped in with my £50, Even £50 down to boy Humphreys said. Humphreys was still calling me Boy twenty years later. Rosslad Shore obliged and I left the stadium with just under £300, to celebrate my good fortune I went for a couple of sherberts in the Catford Ram. In the dock the following day I had no intention of using my winnings to pay the fine, I explained to the judge that I was only earning £9 amount of pounds a week and apologised for the fully outstanding fine, I promised to pay double each week in future until the fine was cleared. To my absolute horror the judge read me the riot act and gave me 30 days in prison....I was shell shocked, all I heard next was "take him down". So then Im whisked off to the cells (with the £300) tucked down my sock. Even though I had the £300 I didnt know if I would be allowed to pay the fine or be held in contempt of court or something and make matters worse. I bit the bullet and called the Jailer and asked him if it was too late to pay the fine, the jailer said if you can pay right now you will be released, I quickly produced the £300 and I was marched to the court cashiers office to pay the fine and was subsequently released. The Jailer was smiling throughout the whole episode after I had told him about the Jackpot win the previous night, it turned out he was related to a lady called Carol who was a barmaid in the downstairs bar over the posh side near the kennels at Catford dog track. Its a small small world, I became great friends with Carol some years later and she would often drop by my house after she finished work at the old track. I have tons of stories about Catford Dogs, and Wimbledon come to that, but I wouldnt wish to bore any of you with my memories. Edenvale Lady, Prudent, Portlairge Tipp, so many greaT local dogs graced the old track, far too many to mention.
Looked up a few of my old cards that I kept as I remembered the names
[img]https://community.cdnbf.net/community.betfair.com/user/lucky_luciano/7dc8fb4c3360353c1a4f22e63d7df2a3.jpeg?
v=269400[/img]
[img]https://community.cdnbf.net/community.betfair.com/user/lucky_luciano/dd5aecd6d8ffd02da6bff907fe598eae.jpeg?
v=269400[/img]
[img]https://community.cdnbf.net/community.betfair.com/user/lucky_luciano/adca0a732f80cdea187b4e4cab102ba1.jpeg?
v=269400[/img]
[img]https://community.cdnbf.net/community.betfair.com/user/lucky_luciano/54a1fa9ffcc7c8d51709bda5568a5b89.jpeg?
v=269400[/img]
Had 100,s of cards and sadly thew bagfuls away when I moved but pleased I kept a few some still in my gallery
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very good read i used to go to catford a lot years ago
john was always different class in promotion....always a celebrity on finals night.....i remember one year he had red rum at the track presenting the gold collar trophy.....could have been 1980 or 81....
Catford was my second home, I absolutely loved the place.
Bookie John Humphries is still going strong, living in Spain and I think he's 83 or 84 now.
The rep at Crayford told me that a couple of months ago.
I see the other main ring bookie, David Richardson quite often, he's always standing at Plumpton, Fontwell & Brighton when I go to those tracks. No joking people, he looks exactly the same as he was all those years ago. My first meeting was in 1974 with Dad, his mates had a few with Paddy Milligan no less and we had dogs after that with dear old Arthur Boyce.
The salad days for sure.
Bookie John Humphries is still going strong, living in Spain and I think he's 83 or 84 now.
The rep at Crayford told me that a couple of months ago.
I see the other main ring bookie, David Richardson quite often, he's always standing at Plumpton, Fontwell & Brighton when I go to those tracks. No joking people, he looks exactly the same as he was all those years ago. My first meeting was in 1974 with Dad, his mates had a few with Paddy Milligan no less and we had dogs after that with dear old Arthur Boyce.
The salad days for sure.
Like a different World , Where the fook did it all Go wrong ,Had similar Happen Bow Street Mag Unpaid fine of a Oner , TAKE HIM down 7 days Got as far as Holding center on Route to the Ville before I managed to Get it paid 
Was due to go to White City that Night , Had the money but was Just taking the Pish
These days people get away with anything
Was due to go to White City that Night , Had the money but was Just taking the Pish These days people get away with anything
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