2010 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
Arthur Hitch was one of four prominent trainers that died during 2010.

The 2010 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 85th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Summary

Levy payments for greyhound racing went down again from £10 million to £8.5 million. Betting exchanges were impacting major bookmakers which in turn affected greyhound racing.[1] Jimmy Lollie finished the year with a remarkable 35 open-race wins after winning the semi-final of the Scurry Cup at Belle Vue. Trained by Seamus Cahill the brindle dog went on to be voted greyhound of the year which was unusual for a sprinter. He was withdrawn from the final of the Scurry but did win the National Sprint, set four new track records [2] and passed 50 career wins.[3]

Tracks

Portsmouth Stadium under the control of manager Eric Graham closed under controversial circumstances. Within weeks of the unsuccessful application for a lease renewal Graham stated that the company would be wound up with immediate effect.[4][5][6]

There was a new track in Limerick when the Limerick Greyhound Stadium was opened in October by minister of agriculture, fisheries and food Brendan Smith. It was built on the site of the old Greenpark Racecourse costing €18 million. The Irish Greyhound Board's latest showpiece had the facilities and comforts of a world-class stadium. The new venue was also served by a new tunnel linking Clare and Limerick.[7]

Competitions

Toomaline Jack was an unlucky loser in the Grand National final, the Dolores Ruth trained Irish entry set a new hurdle track record but went lame leaving Plane Daddy to win the first prize.[8] The Greyhound Racing Association decline continued with open race prize money decreases including the St Leger; the event was won by Droopys Bradley.

News

Champion trainer Mark Wallis joined Yarmouth from Harlow; Yarmouth had just undergone track improvements at the cost of £190,000. Matt Dartnall joined Swindon and Patrick Curtin joined Monmore. Seamus Cahill won his first trainers championship held at Doncaster and Carol Evans was sacked from Sheffield after being fined by the Greyhound Board of Great Britain following investigations into unusual betting patterns on Betfair accounts.[9]

Bad weather during December resulted in many meetings cancelled all over the country. The Henlow Gold Cup suffered when several attempts to run the event were cancelled. Elsewhere huge numbers of greyhounds were required to grade on again (re-qualify) at many tracks, after they ran out of time under the sport's 28 day rule. Temperatures on Boxing Day (daytime) meetings were held at temperatures of minus 7 Celsius and below.

Four current and former leading trainers died. Philip Rees Jr., a long-time successful Wimbledon trainer died aged 67. Pam Heasman 85, Arthur Hitch 77 and Terry Duggan 77 also died during 2010.[10][11] A former leading on-course bookmaker Tony Morris also died in March, aged 73.[12]

Roll of honour

Major Winners
Award Name of Winner
2010 English Greyhound Derby Bandicoot Tipoki
2010 Irish Greyhound Derby Tyrur McGuigan
Greyhound Trainer of the Year Seamus Cahill
Greyhound of the Year Jimmy Lollie
Irish Dog and Bitch of the Year Tyrur McGuigan / Dalcash Dvinsky

Principal UK finals

Principal Irish finals

References

  1. ↑ "INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF THE GREYHOUND INDUSTRY IN GREAT BRITAIN" (PDF). Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 June 2017. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  2. ↑ "Jimmy Lollie". Greyhound Data.
  3. ↑ "Remember When - September 2010". Greyhound Star.
  4. ↑ "Portsmouth greyhound track set to close for redevelopment". The News.
  5. ↑ "Ex-greyhound staff say they are owed thousands of pounds". The News.
  6. ↑ "Demolition of the Tipner greyhound stadium begins". The News.
  7. ↑ "Comptroller and Auditor General Special Report" (PDF). audgen.gov.ie.
  8. ↑ "Grand National Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 4 January 2018. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  9. ↑ "Disciplinary Committee Inquiries". GBGB. Archived from the original on 24 June 2018. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  10. ↑ "Remember When - November 2010". Greyhound Star.
  11. ↑ "Remember When - May 2020". Greyhound Star.
  12. ↑ "Remember When series (March 2020)". Greyhound Star.
  13. ↑ "Trainer's Championship meeting". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 24 February 2018. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
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