The 1959 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 34th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and the 33rd year of greyhound racing in Ireland.
Roll of honour Major Winners Award Name of Winner1959 English Greyhound Derby Mile Bush Pride1959 Irish Greyhound Derby Sir Frederick 1959 Scottish Greyhound Derby Mile Bush Pride1959 Welsh Greyhound Derby Mile Bush PrideGreyhound of the Year Mile Bush Pride
Summary Mile Bush Pride was voted Greyhound of the Year after becoming only the second greyhound, after Trev's Perfection to win the Triple Crown which consisted of the English Greyhound Derby, Scottish Greyhound Derby and Welsh Greyhound Derby. Trained by Jack Harvey for owner Noel Purvis, a shipping magnate, the brindle greyhound also won the Pall Mall, Select Stakes and Cesarewitch in 1959.
Competitions Irish Greyhound Derby champion Colonel Perry moved kennels from John Bassett to Tom Baldwin and finished a disappointing fourth in the final of the Gold Collar behind Dunstown Warrior. After his English Greyhound Derby success, Mile Bush Pride ran out an eleven and a quarter winner of the Welsh Derby, in 28.80 seconds, eclipsing the previous track record by over five lengths. Mile Bush Pride then achieved the Triple Crown by winning the Scottish Derby in 29.41, beating the defending champion Just Fame by eight lengths.
During 1959 Pigalle Wonder won the Anglo-Irish International, the Wood Lane Stakes and successfully defended his Edinburgh Cup title.
News Charlie Birch became the new Racing Manager at White City and the Oaks moved to sister track Harringay Stadium. At the pre-Derby final luncheon at the Dorchester Hotel, Mrs Frances Chandler called for two changes to the sport. First the standardisation of starting traps and secondly the setting up of a greyhound national stud. The National Greyhound Racing Society considered changing the tote deductions at all National Greyhound Racing Club affiliated tracks. The current deduction stands at 16%, of which 10% goes to the government.
It was announced at the London veterinary conference that a vaccine had been found to counteract canine hepatitis. Now both distemper and hepatitis can be controlled.
Ireland A new track in Ireland opened in the form of Lifford, which was a former schooling track. The venue just south of the Northern Irish border in County Donegal was opened by James Magee. His sons Cathal and Sheamus would help run the track for many years. A track bookmakers strike over the cost of admissions to their staff resulted in racing being halted at many Irish venues.
One of the most prominent sires of all time, The Grand Champion died aged 9½. He had sired many champions including Mile Bush Pride and Palms Printer.
Principal UK races
Grand National, White City (2 May, 525y h, £300) PosName of GreyhoundTrainerSP TimeTrap 1st Prince Poppit Dennis Hannafin 3-1 30.10 12nd Looks A Leader Reg Bosley 5-1 30.11 63rd Khaffra F.J.Hedley 5-2f 30.19 34th Sammy Light Jim Syder Jr. 20-1 30.31 25th Tangled FateGeorge Waterman 3-1 30.37 56th Foolish Customer Jimmy Purnell 6-1 30.47 4
BBC Sportsview Trophy West Ham (6 May, 700y, £1,000)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Leslie Reynolds 5-1 38.72 52nd Dunmore Rocco Dennis Hannafin 1-1f 38.86 43rd Society Wonder Jim Syder Jr. 13-2 39.02 34th Sailaway Rebel Joe Pickering 100-8 39.22 15th Polar Airways 33-1 39.42 26th Mink Muff Joe De Mulder 11-4 39.70 6
Gold Collar, Catford (23 May, 440y, £500)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Dunstown Warrior Tom Reilly 11-4 25.77 52nd The Glen Abbey Joe Pickering 8-1 26.09 63rd Marazion Minister Stan Martin 100-7 26.21 34th Colonel Perry Tom Baldwin 15-2 26.41 15th Armour Prince Jack Harvey 9-4f 26.57 46th Granite Glittering Tony Dennis 3-1 26.73 2
Welsh Derby, Arms Park (4 Jul, 525y £500)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Mile Bush Pride Jack Harvey 8/11f 28.80+ 22nd Killahalla Len Bane 100-8 29.78 13rd Prince of Speed Jimmy Jowett 100-6 29.86 34th Snub Nose Jimmy Purnell 5-1 29.98 65th No Wonder Bob Burls 7-2 30.14 56th Glittering Paver Wilf France 33-1 30.36 4 +Track record
Oaks, Harringay (6 Jul, 525y, £500) PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Gurteen Scamp George Waterman 11-2 29.90 42nd Simonette Les Brown 8-1 30.16 63rd Fancy Cinema Lewis Hiscock 100-7 30.18 54th Glittering Millie Tim Forster 5-1 30.24 35th Naughty Judy Jim Syder Jr. 10-3 30.36 16th Bridgetown Girl Barney O'Connor 5-4f 00.00 2
Scottish Greyhound Derby, Carntyne (11 Jul, 525y, £500)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Mile Bush Pride Jack Harvey 2-7f 29.41 32nd Just Fame Tom Johnston Sr. 9-2 30.05 43rd Mile From Curraglas Alan Lake 10-1 30.13 54th Imperial Town Joe Booth 33-1 30.21 25th Lynmoor Joe Booth 33-1 30.41 1N/R Ollys Quare Breeze
Scurry Gold Cup, Clapton (25 Jul, 400y £600)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Gorey Airways Jimmy Jowett 9-4 22.95 42nd Imperial Bar Dennis Hannafin 5-1 23.17 63rd Westland Cleo Paddy Keane 7-1 23.41 34th Supreme King Tom Smith 7-4f 23.45 15th Wild Look Stan Martin 8-1 23.55 26th Comrade Reg String Marsh 100-7 23.69 5
Laurels, Wimbledon (21 Aug, 500y, £1,000)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Mighty Hassan Jack Harvey 5-1 28.01 12nd Tailors Cheerful Tom Reilly 5-1 28.19 33rd Davy Crickett Bob Burls 66-1 28.25 24th Mile Bush Pride Jack Harvey 10-11f 28.33 55th Derry Waltz Stan Martin 50-1 28.89 46th Leighlin Champion Barney O'Connor 4-1 00.00 6
St Leger, Wembley (7 Sep, 700y, £1,000)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Wincot Clifford Jack Toseland 5-4f 40.25 12nd Princess Jester Jack Harvey 11-4 40.27 33rd Snub Nose Jimmy Purnell 8-1 40.51 24th Crazy Paving Charles Payne 6-1 40.57 55th Pierrot Ronnie Melville 3-1 40.73 66th Money Trebles Bob Burls 66-1 40.85 4
Cesarewitch, West Ham (9 Oct, 600y, £1,000)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Mile Bush Pride Jack Harvey 2-7f 32.66 12nd Just Fame Tom Johnston Sr. 100-8 33.26 53rd Dunmore Rocco Dennis Hannafin 6-1 33.46 44th De Luxe W Taylor 100-8 33.58 25th Princess Jester Jack Harvey 100-6 33.62 66th Pierrot Ronnie Melville 50-1 33.68 3
References