1931 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year

The 1931 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the sixth year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The total annual attendance across the country for 1931 increased to 17,906,917 from 17,119,120 (in 1930), a fifth consecutive annual increase.[1]

1931 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year

Summary

Mick the Miller was a now household name in the United Kingdom following his achievement in winning a second English Greyhound Derby.[2] A third Derby win was the primary target for the year but before the event started he successfully defended his Wembley Spring Cup title during March.[2] He won heat and semi final before claiming the final on 23 March in a track record time of 30.04.[3] After three more races he then participated in the 1931 English Greyhound Derby. The exploits of Mick the Miller was propelling many other greyhounds to national fame at the time.[4] He retired on a high with an undefeated run to St Leger glory. The final opposition had included Virile Lad, the brilliant bitch Bradshaw Fold and the Derby champion Seldom Led. He was retired to stud with Jack Masters in Norfolk and later starred in a film called Wild Boy produced by Gainsborough Pictures, along with stars of the day, Sonnie Hale, Bud Flanagan and Chesney Allen.

Tracks

At least 17 new tracks opened during 1931, including a new stadium on the Park Royal site in London. The Associated Greyhound Company that owned the tracks of Towneley and Darnall and the lease at Craven Park went bankrupt. Towneley was then bought by Captain Ramsbottom.[5][6]

The Duchy of Cornwall proposed allowing greyhound racing to take place at The Oval, to generate income for the Kennington area, the proposal failed following protests from neighbours and Christian groups.[4]

Ireland

Following a meeting by the Irish Coursing Club on 4 August, the idea of a major racing calendar schedule was discussed and circulated to the Irish tracks.[7] The Kilkenny dog Little Chummie completed a significant double by winning the National Cup at Shelbourne Park and the unofficial 1931 Irish Greyhound Derby at Harold's Cross Stadium.[8]

Competitions

A greyhound called Future Cutlet arrived on the scene, sired by Mutton Cutlet he had come over from Ireland after being purchased for £600 by W.A. Evershed to race at Wembley Stadium. He was trained by Sidney Probert and was then entered for the 1931 Cesarewitch at West Ham Stadium. He set a new national record for the 600 yards in the heats before winning the event. Mick the Miller finished runner-up.[9][4]

Altamatzin won the Welsh Greyhound Derby before defeating Mick the Miller in a match race on 15 August, at the Welsh White City.[3] Future Cutlet secured a second major trophy by virtue of winning the Laurels at Wimbledon. Another greyhound that had appeared during the year was a brindle dog called Wild Woolley, the April 1930 whelp, came to prominence when winning the Trafalgar Puppy Cup.[4]

Bradshaw Fold confirmed her status as the leading bitch by reaching a third consecutive Oaks final but a third place finish meant that she would retire with only a Coronation Stakes to her name.[4] [3] [10]

News

The Greyhound Racing Association's (GRA) Hook Estate and Kennels at Northaw opened.[6]

Tracks opened

Date	Stadium/Track	Location
31 January	GER Sports Ground	March, Cambridgeshire
20 March	Clonmel Greyhound Stadium	Clonmel
3 April	Ashby-de-la-Zouch	Ashby-de-la-Zouch
4 April	Peterborough Greyhound Stadium	Peterborough
10 April	Coldham Lane	Cambridge
11 May	Millmoor	Rotherham
23 May	Warrington Greyhound Stadium	Warrington
25 May	Virginia Park	Caerphilly
25 May	East End Park	Dunfermline
25 May	Portsmouth Stadium	Portsmouth
10 July	Recreation Ground, Tredegar	Tredegar
20 September	Romford Greyhound Stadium	Romford
24 October	Southall Greyhound Stadium	London
07 November	Halifax Greyhound Stadium	Halifax
14 November	Reading Stadium	Reading
11 December	Cliftonhill	Glasgow
unknown	Park Royal Stadium	London
unknown	Luton Stadium	Luton
unknown	Syston Sports Stadium	Leicestershire

Roll of honour

Major Winners
Award	Name of Winner
1931 English Greyhound Derby [11]	Seldom Led
1931 Irish Greyhound Derby+ [12]	Little Chummie
1931 Scottish Greyhound Derby [13]	Sister Olive
1931 Welsh Greyhound Derby [14]	Altamatzin

+ unofficial National Derby

Principal UK races

Cesarewitch, West Ham (July 18, 600y, £700) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Future Cutlet Sidney Probert 10-11f 34.03 1 2nd Mick the Miller Sidney Orton 5-2 34.43 3 3rd Lulla Von Roberts 100-7 34.83 2 u Five of Hearts Thomas Cudmore 100-8 4 u Mahers Prospect Williams 10-1 5 u Clandown Sweep Sidney Orton 10-1 6

Scottish Greyhound Derby, Carntyne (Jul 25, 525y, £150) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Sister Olive WC Glasgow 5-1 30.65 3 2nd Telepathy (Powderhall) 5-2 30.66 6 3rd Qua Iboe (Carntyne) 10-1 30.82 1 u Locknavon 2-1 u Man Friday 6-4f u Good Cheer 50-1

Grand National, White City (Jul 25, 525y h, £300) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Rule The Roost Joe Harmon 5-2 31.17 3 2nd Knave of Hearts Bob Burls 6-4f 31.41 4 3rd Merry Matt Bob Burls 5-2 31.45 1 4th Honeymans Last Chapman 7-1 2

Scurry Gold Cup, Clapton (Aug 1, 400y, £300) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Brave Enough Harry Buck 7-1 23.62 4 2nd Odd Minister 100-7 23.63 1 3rd Lions Share Arthur Doc Callanan 1-2f 23.67 2 u Lulla Von Roberts 8-1 3 u Debonie Arthur 'Doc' Callanan 10-1 5 u Dublin Fred Wilson 10-1 6

Welsh Derby, White City (Cardiff) (Aug 3, 525y, £102) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Altamatzin Arthur Doc Callanan 2-1 29.88 4 2nd Dee Swift Mrs D Firman 3-1 5 3rd Prince Fern Stanley Biss 10-1 6 u Rory the Hill Thomas Cudmore 2 u Morris's Mistake (WC Cardiff) 3

Laurels, Wimbledon (Sep 11, 500y, £1,330) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Future Cutlet Sidney Probert 2-5f 28.52 4 2nd Tipperary Boy Jerry Hannafin 10-1 28.92 6 3rd Melksham Gnat Sid Jennings 100-6 29.16 1 u Irish Wit Jerry Hannafin 10-1 5 u Luvett Darlington 8-1 3 u Bentley Stanley Biss 25-1 2

St Leger, Wembley (Oct 3, 700y, £750) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Mick the Miller Sidney Orton 1-1f 41.31 3 2nd Virile Bill Sid Jennings 9-2 41.33 2 3rd Bradshaw Fold Stanley Biss 8-1 41.36 1 4th Seldom Led Wally Green 9-4 4

Oaks, White City (Oct 17, 525y, £300) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Drizzle Harry Woolner 4-6f 30.00 4 2nd Clear Bead Jerry Hannafin 6-1 30.40 2 3rd Bradshaw Fold Stanley Biss 4-1 30.56 1 u Queen of the Hills 10-1 3 u Shusan (Belle Vue) 100-7 5 u Melksham Gnat Sid Jennings 33-1 6

Key

U = unplaced

References

1. "Particulars of Licensed Tracks". Licensing Authorities. 1931.
2. Tanner, Michael (2004). The Legend of Mick the Miller: Sporting Icon of the Depression. Newbury: Highdown. ISBN 978-1-904317-67-8.
3. Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-15-5.
4. Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 07207-1106-1.
5. Ash, edward C (1933). The Book of the Greyhound. Hutchinson & Co. Ltd (London).
6. Culpepper Clarke, Carlo F (1934). Greyhound and Greyhound Racing. Methuen & Co Ltd (London).
7. Comyn, John. 50 Years of Greyhound Racing in Ireland. Aherlow Publishers Ltd.
8. Fortune, Michael. Irish Greyhound Derby 1932–1981. Victory Irish Promotions Ltd.
9. "Hall of Fame". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
10. Genders, Roy (1990). NGRC book of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 0-7207-1804-X.
11. Dack, Barrie (1990). Greyhound Derby, the first 60 years, pages 61-63. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-36-8.
12. Fortune, Michael. The 75 Years History of the Irish Greyhound Derby. Irish Greyhound Review. ISSN 0709-0609.
13. Hobbs, Jonathan (2007). Greyhound Annual 2008, pages 153-154. Raceform. ISBN 978-1-905153-53-4.
14. Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing, pages 129-130. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 07207-1106-1.