2004 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year

The 2004 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 79th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

2004 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year

Summary

Irish racing was experiencing promising growth with increased prize money for competitions including the richest ever prize for a marathon event when the Corn Cuchulainn offered €50,000 for the winner at Harold's Cross.[1]

The situation in Britain was not as simple after Richard Caborn, the Minister for Sport announced that it had been agreed that the bookmakers levy fund would increase to 0.5% in 2004, 0.55% in 2005 and 0.6% in 2006 and therefore doubling the sports income to £16 million within the three years.[2] However the statement was incorrect because a 0.1% increase after three years would mean only a one sixth increase (16.6%).[2] The promise turned out to be false because the levy fund actually decreased significantly over the next five years.[3]

Droopys Scholes won the 2004 English Greyhound Derby[4] and Like A Shot won the 2004 Irish Greyhound Derby.[5] Charlie Lister won the Greyhound Trainer of the Year and Derby finalist, Arc, East Anglian Derby and Oxfordshire Gold Cup winner Fire Height Dan won the Greyhound of the Year.[2]

Tracks

Coventry opened under new management after an 18-year absence.[2]

Competitions

English Derby champion Farloe Verdict won the Scottish Greyhound Derby setting a new track record in the final. Brian Clemenson claimed his third successive Trainers Championship at Coventry. A brindle bitch called Roxholme Girl won the St Leger and the Gold Collar, the latter in a new track record time at the competition's new home of Belle Vue Stadium.[2]

News

Trainer Tommy Foster retired from Wimbledon Stadium to concentrate on a small open race kennel and his son Jason joined Oxford Stadium.[2]

Roll of honour

Major Winners
Award	Name of Winner
2004 English Greyhound Derby	Droopys Scholes
2004 Irish Greyhound Derby	Like A Shot
Greyhound Trainer of the Year	Charlie Lister
Greyhound of the Year	Fire Height Dan
Irish Dog and Bitch of the Year	Premier Fantasy / Legal Moment

Betfair Trainers Championship, Coventry (Jun 27) Pos Name of Trainer Points 1st Brian Clemenson 48 2nd John Mullins 41 3rd Charlie Lister 37 4th Linda Jones 36 5th Ernie Gaskin Sr. 26 6th Paul Young 19

Principal UK finals

William Hill TV Trophy, Wimbledon (Mar 16, 872m, £6,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Double Take Andy Heyes 55.22 11-10f 5 2nd Latin Beauty Cheryl Miller 55.30 12-1 1 3rd Hesley Gale Chris Lund 55.32 5-1 3 4th Ericas Equity Paul Young 55.33 7-4 2 5th Getaway Harp Albert Dale 55.37 25-1 6 6th Aughacasla Erin Ken Tester 55.38 20-1 4

Totesport Scottish Derby, Shawfield (Apr 3, 480m, £25,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Farloe Verdict Charlie Lister 11-4 28.79+ 2 2nd Legal Moment Pat Buckley 4-1 29.21 3 3rd Farloe Marathon Charlie Lister 7-1 29.23 5 4th Cathals Idol Pat Buckley 14-1 29.51 6 5th Holdyoursilence Liz McNair 33-1 30.07 4 6th World Class Pat Buckley 11-10f 30.31 1 + Track record

Reading Masters, Reading (Jul 18, 465m, £20,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Droopys Chester Carly Philpott 7-1 27.92 6 2nd Manera Spark John Mullins 9-2 27.94 1 3rd Droopys Corleone Daniel Riordan 6-4f 28.16 3 4th Three Way Ebony Jackie Taylor 4-1 28.26 2 5th Terry Henry Jackie Taylor 5-1 28.48 5 6th Pennys Worth Richard Baker 7-1 28.66 4

William Hill Cesarewitch, Oxford (Aug 17, 645m, £5,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Solid Money Derek Knight 9-4 39.56 3 2nd Black Pear Wayne Wrighting 4-5f 39.68 5 3rd Archers Enero Paul Young 20-1 39.92 6 4th Mustang Hero Brian Clemenson 16-1 40.10 1 5th Seabiscuit Russell Warren 6-1 40.13 2 6th Frisby Figo Harry Crapper 10-1 40.23 4

Victor Chandler Grand Prix, Walthamstow (Oct 2, 640m, £10,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Ronnies Flight Linda Jones 11-8f 40.03 2 2nd Marmions Paul Young 6-1 40.33 5 3rd Jack Spark John Mullins 9-2 40.39 1 4th Big Freeze Brian Clemenson 14-1 40.47 3 5th Baltimore Althea Ernie Gaskin Sr. 7-2 40.48 6 6th Droopys Napoli Paul Young 8-1 40.62 4

William Hill Grand National, Wimbledon (Oct 5, 460mH, £7,500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Four Handed Jim Reynolds 6-4f 28.46 4 2nd Selby Ben Tom Foster 5-2 28.48 2 3rd Ballyeacle Norah McEllistrim 7-1 28.62 1 4th Canon Tom Seamus Cahill 5-1 28.70 6 5th Ivors Surprise Phil Rees Jr. 8-1 28.99 3 6th Nacap Junior Norah McEllistrim 16-1 29.06 5

William Hill Laurels, Belle Vue (Oct 26, 465m, £10,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Ningbo Jack Charlie Lister 4-1 27.60 5 2nd Laser Beam Harry Williams 16-1 27.86 3 3rd Under the Kosh Liz McNair 9-2 27.99 1 4th Redbank Classic Joy Andrews 33-1 28.37 2 5th Bally Kee Charlie Lister 7-4f 28.40 4 6th Farloe Exit Charlie Lister 9-4 00.00 6

William Hill St Leger, Wimbledon (Nov 9, 668m, £13,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Roxholme Girl Hayley Keightly 3-1 41.32 3 2nd Shelbourne Star Brian Clemenson 5-2 41.79 4 3rd Droopys Shearer Ted Soppitt 9-4f 41.86 6 4th Ballymac Kewell Carly Philpott 7-1 42.04 2 5th Creamery Tex Paul Garland 33-1 42.11 1 6th Farloe Divide Charlie Lister 5-1 42.19 5

Totesport Gold Collar, Belle Vue (Nov 25, 470m, £10,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Roxholme Girl Hayley Keightley 4-6f 39.01+ 1 2nd Clear Run Charlie Lister 14-1 39.99 3 3rd Lissycasey Duke Michael Donlon 4-1 40.09 6 4th Hayleys Boy June McCombe 7-1 40.24 4 5th Machan Tiger Phil McComish 10-1 40.71 2 6th Bonny Betty Gary Carmichael 7-1 40.77 5 + Track record

William Hill Oaks, Wimbledon (Nov 30, 480m, £6,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Tidyplayroom Derek Knight 5-1 29.27 1 2nd One Yard Andy Johnson 5-2f 29.40 6 3rd Shebas Magic Brian Clemenson 9-2 29.44 4 4th Fernglade Abby Otto Kueres 9-2 29.56 3 5th Annes Honcho Gary Baggs 6-1 29.57 2 6th Miss Siren Ernie Gaskin Sr. 4-1 29.91 5

Principal Irish finals

Donal Reilly Easter Cup Shelbourne (Apr 10, 525y, €50,000) Pos Name of Greyhound SP Time Trap 1st Premier Fantasy [6] 4-9f 28.08 2 2nd Awesome Impact 20-1 28.36 4 3rd Indian Ruler 4-1 28.50 6 4th Phoenix Ice 20-1 28.67 1 5th First Charter 16-1 28.81 3 6th Shantobar 16-1 29.16 5

Red Mills Produce Clonmel (Apr 4, 525y, €30,000) Pos Name of Greyhound SP Time Trap 1st Geldrops Touch[7] 6-4jf 28.56 4 2nd Geordie Legend 7-1 28.63 1 3rd Walk With Fire 7-1 28.77 5 4th Velvet Cash 6-4jf 28.91 6 5th Dunsany 16-1 28.98 2 6th Zigzag Mansell 33-1 29.01 3

Ladbrokes 600 Shelbourne (May 8, 600y, €35,000) Pos Name of Greyhound SP Time Trap 1st Awesome Impact [8] 11-4 32.44 2 2nd Great Lark 20-1 32.45 3 3rd Valentia Citrate 3-1 32.55 6 4th Karma Knight 7-4f 32.57 4 5th Velvet Cash 7-1 32.75 1 6th The Other Domino 20-1 32.76 5

Kerry Agribusiness Irish St Leger Limerick (Jul 4, 550y, €35,000) Pos Name of Greyhound SP Time Trap 1st Never Give Up [9] 7-1 29.88 4 2nd Blue Panther 14-1 29.90 6 3rd Farloe Cricketer 5-1 30.04 3 4th Tomsheaboy 1-1f 30.14 5 5th Go Ahead Honcho 9-1 30.16 1 6th Persian Ruler 3-1 30.48 2

Vodafone Corn Cuchulainn Harold's Cross (Jul 9, 750y, €50,000) Pos Name of Greyhound SP Time Trap 1st Smiling Man[1] 7-2 41.62 4 2nd Air Force Honcho 3-1jf 42.46 5 3rd Won't You Stay 5-1 42.60 1 4th Moss Time 7-1 42.70 6 5th Bins Image 5-1 43.12 3 6th Special Trick 3-1jf 43.26 2

Sporting Press Oaks Shelbourne (Jul 17, 525y, €35,000) Pos Name of Greyhound SP Time Trap 1st Legal Moment [10] 2-1f 28.59 3 2nd Page Three Girl 33-1 28.94 4 3rd Graigues Echo 10-1 28.96 2 4th Things To Do 4-1 29.03 6 5th Side Saga 9-4 29.10 1 6th Greenlough Slip 7-1 29.27 5

Boylesports Champion Stakes Shelbourne (Jul 31, 550y, €40,000) Pos Name of Greyhound SP Time Trap 1st Never Give Up [11] 4-1 29.90 2 2nd Smiling Man 6-1 29.93 5 3rd Disguised 7-2 29.94 4 4th World Class 5-1 30.05 1 5th Tomsheaboy 6-4f 30.06 6 N/R Velvet Commander 3

Droopys Stud & Donal Reilly Puppy Derby Harolds Cross (Oct 15, 525y, €50,000) Pos Name of Greyhound SP Time Trap 1st Droopys Brooklyn [12] 6-1 29.17 1 2nd Dairyland Bandit 14-1 29.24 4 3rd Albino 7-1 29.38 5 4th He Said So 4-7f 29.52 3 5th Cals Tonic 5-1 29.53 2 N/R Mandys Cheeky 6

Cashmans Laurels Cork (Oct 30, 525y, €35,000) Pos Name of Greyhound SP Time Trap 1st Boherduff Light [13] 2-1jf 28.44 2 2nd Farloe Pocket 2-1jf 28.72 5 3rd Jesceda Lad 6-1 28.74 3 4th Cavecourt Jon 5-1 28.88 1 5th Rhincrew Shergar 12-1 29.05 6 6th Tourna Star 20-1 29.23 4

References

1. "Corn Cuchulainn Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
2. Hobbs, Jonathan (2004). Greyhound Annual 2005. Raceform. ISBN 1-904317-58-8.
3. "INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF THE GREYHOUND INDUSTRY IN GREAT BRITAIN" (PDF). Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-06-08. Retrieved 2018-02-13.
4. "2004 English Derby final". Greyhound Data.
5. "Irish Derby Final". Greyhound Data.
6. "Easter Cup Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
7. "Produce Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
8. "600 Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
9. "St Leger Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
10. "Oaks Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
11. "Champion Stakes Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
12. "Puppy Derby Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
13. "Laurels Final". Irish Greyhound Board.