Wimbledon Stadium


Wimbledon Stadium, also known as Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium, was a greyhound racing track located in Wimbledon in southwest London, England.
It also hosted stock car and other small circuit motor racing events and until 2005 hosted motorcycle speedway. The stadium hosted the English Greyhound Derby every year between 1985 and 2016.
The stadium was closed in March 2017 and subsequently demolished by the owners, Galliard Homes Limited, in order to build 600 apartments and a new football stadium called New Plough Lane for AFC Wimbledon.

Stadium

The facilities included a brick fronted grandstand seating 8,000, executive suites, several bars and catering facilities, including a large waiter-service restaurant. The stadium was surrounded by a large open-air car park.

Greyhound racing

Origins

The greyhound stadium was constructed east of the River Wandle on a section of land that was difficult to build on due to the fact that it was marsh land and was prone to flooding. The only buildings near this plot of land were a chamois leather mills, a large sewage works and the Plough public house. Slightly to the east was Summerstown Road which held the only housing in the immediate area.
The difficult plot did not deter South London Greyhound Racecourses Ltd who went ahead with plans to build a large stadium ready for 1928. However financial difficulties halted the project until a consortium headed by Bill 'WJ' Cearns whose firm had been responsible for the construction of the stadium stepped in with a sufficient funds to save the project.

Opening

The opening night was on 19 May 1928 with the first race being won by a greyhound called Ballindura trained by Harry Leader. The Burhill kennels in Walton-on-Thames became renowned within the industry housing the hounds for Wimbledon and were initially used by trainers Stan Biss, Harry Leader and Ken Appleton. Paddy McEllistrim, a Norfolk farmer and breeder of greyhounds, and Sidney Orton joined the training kennels soon after.

1928–1939

Wimbledon was the first track to introduce weighing scales in 1929 at their kennels so that the racing public could be issued with the greyhounds weights before racing. The same year Harry Leader returned to Ireland and was replaced by Sidney Orton. New events called the Puppy Derby, International, Wimbledon Gold Cup and Wimbledon Spring Stakes were all inaugurated.
In December 1929 Arundel Kempton purchased Mick the Miller for £2,000 as a present for his wife placing him with Sidney Orton. The track had already been associated with Mick the Miller because the champion took up residence at the kennels of Paddy McEllistrim during the duration of the 1929 English Greyhound Derby. Con Stevens was the first Racing Manager and was instrumental in bringing the first classic race to Wimbledon in the form of the Laurels in 1930. Mick the Miller claimed his second Derby crown in 1930 propelling himself, the sport and Wimbledon into national fame.
Trainer Joe Harmon arrived from White City in 1934 and Paddy Fortune another new trainer at Wimbledon claimed a second Derby victory for the track in 1939 after the greyhound Highland Rum won the race. The 'Two Year Old Produce Stakes' was introduced in 1935 and another event called 'The Key' started in 1936.

1940s

During World War II the stadium suffered bomb damage but continued to race. The well known Irish dog Tanist was put with Paddy McEllistrim but found it hard to cope with the sharp turns at Wimbledon and failed to win a single race by the end of June 1940. In contrast Ballynennan Moon became a Wimbledon greyhound after Billy Quinn negotiated a sale to Mrs Cearns, wife of the managing director of Wimbledon Stadium and the greyhound became a household name during the war years. In 1942 after a winter rest he won the Walthamstow Stakes and Wimbledon Spring Cup before embarking on forty wins and seven second places from 48 starts. After finishing first fourteen times in succession he was beaten a neck by Laughing Lackey failing to beat Mick the Miller's 19 straight wins record.
A new puppy called Ballyhennessy Seal first came to the scene in 1943 after moving from Catford Stadium to Wimbledon and was placed in the care of Stan Martin. Martin had joined the Wimbledon training ranks following the death of Joe Harmon in 1942. Martin guided Ballyhennessy Seal to a third Derby success for the track in 1945.

1950s

After the war the Wimbledon management constructed a new grandstand in place of the war damaged section of the stadium. They also introduced new perforated tote tickets following continual losses on forged tote tickets every Saturday to the tune of £1,000. Ballymac Ball was the next greyhound to win the Derby for Wimbledon, the brindle dog won the 1950 event for Stan Martin. In 1950 the Instaprint photo timer that was tested at Wimbledon and given the seal of approval to use throughout Britain.
Con Stevens continued to manage the stadium throughout the 1950s overseeing the success of the track and a fifth Derby success came in 1957 after the Dennis Hannafin trained Ford Spartan took the title. In 1958 Paddy Fortune died and his kennels were taken over by George Waterman. Within a few months Sidney Orton retired and his son Clare Orton took up his position at Wimbledon. Clare had been a trainer in his own right for nearly ten years.

1960s

Phil Rees Sr. joined the track as a trainer in the 1960s following the retirement of Dennis Hannafin and the Greyhound Express Merit Puppy Championship was renamed the Juvenile in 1963. George Waterman died and his Burhill kennel range was given to new trainer Nora Gleeson. The three times Derby winning trainer Paddy McEvoy also joined the track in the late 1960s. Towards the end of 1969 the possibility of the stadium being redeveloped was a possibility but the Greyhound Racing Association bought a major part of Wimbledon after a prolonged battle against developers.

1970s

The redevelopment issue could still not be discounted because the GRA Property Trust was buying and selling stadiums but the GRA invested into the stadium and raised the winning prize money levels of the Laurels to £2,000 in 1970 and £5,000 one year later. In 1972 the GRA sealed a deal to buy Wimbledon outright and bring the track fully under the GRA banner. Paddy McEllistrim and Stan Martin both retired in 1974 and were replaced by Paddy's daughter Norah and Sam Sykes, a former head lad to Clare Orton. Con Stevens resigned from the board of directors at Wimbledon bringing to an end his 46 years of association with the track.
Wimbledon introduced new technology in 1976 after using a sectional timing mechanism and they were one of the first tracks to use the system of grading. In the same year Mutts Silver won the Derby when trained by Phil Rees Snr; Rees handed his kennels to his son Philip Rees Jnr just two years later, after retiring.

1980s

In 1985 Wimbledon was chosen to host the sport's premier event, the Greyhound Derby, following the closure of White City. Industry support for Wembley to be given the premier race was inconsequential because GRA owned the rights to the competition and would not allow a non-GRA track to have the race. Bob Rowe the Chief Racing Manager for the GRA was also the Racing Manager at Wimbledon when the track was handed the Derby and trainers Tom Foster and David Kinchett both joined from White City. The first Derby at Wimbledon was held over a new distance of and ended with a seventh success for the track, Pagan Swallow won the competition and the Rees family became the second father and son to each win the Derby. Arthur Hitch joined the tack in 1987 when Slough Stadium closed and then following the closure of Harringay the prestigious Oaks for bitches was switched to Wimbledon.

1990s

In 1990 a greyhound called Druids Johno was given to Prince Edward, the half share of the black dog had been given to the Prince by Patsy Byrne during a charity meeting at Kingsmead Stadium, Canterbury. Byrne joined Wimbledon as a trainer in 1991 and sponsored the long running International in the process. This appointment brought about the last ever Derby triumph for the track. Ballinderry Ash took the 1991 title bringing the total to eight just one behind Wembley.
In 1992 GRA parent company Wembley plc announced losses of £8 million despite a £13 million profit in its UK operation. Simon Harris became Racing Manager arriving from Hall Green, while Bob Rowe remained based at Wimbledon in his role of Chief Racing Manager of the GRA. In 1996 the Intertrack betting service was introduced for the first time, enabling race-goers at other tracks around the country to view the racing and place bets direct into the Wimbledon tote. In 1998 the Laurels switched to sister track Belle Vue Stadium and a new Paddock Bar extension costing £500,000 opened, the kennels were moved to the first bend to facilitate the change. One year later Sky Sports screened their first greyhound meeting at Wimbledon which included the Springbok final. The GRA switched the Grand National to Wimbledon from Hall Green in 1999.

2000–2017

completed two Derby successes in 2001 emulating Mick the Miller and Patricias Hope before both Seamus Cahill and Bernie Doyle joined Wimbledon from Catford and Reading Stadium respectively in 2002. Catford closed in 2003 resulting in three new trainers, John Simpson, Tony Taylor and John Walsh. Catford Racing Manager Derek Hope took over from the departing Simon Harris who left for Coventry. In 2003 Wimbledon underwent £70,000 track improvements following criticism received during the 2002 Derby, consequently the trip changed to and the changed to. In 2004 trainer Tommy Foster retired.
Westmead Hawk won the 2005 & 2006 Greyhound Derby becoming the fourth greyhound to complete two wins and in 2007 trainer Ray Peacock died. Racing Manager Derek Hope left to join William Hill and was replaced by Gary Matthews and in 2008 Richard Rees, son of Philip Rees Jnr, became a third generation trainer at Wimbledon; Philip Rees Jnr retired due to ill health. Tony Morris who stood as a track bookmaker also retired after a long career at Wimbledon. In 2010 Wimbledon underwent major changes in time for the Derby, the grandstand was switched to the far side of the stadium and the physical makeup of the track altered meaning new track records would be set. The changes cost around £400,000 which were partly funded by a £195,370 grant from the British Greyhound Racing Fund.
The GRA allowed the Grand National to go to Central Park Stadium in Sittingbourne in 2012 and leading trainer Norah McEllistrim left for Brighton & Hove Greyhound Stadium. Bob Rowe switched to Belle Vue as the Racing Manager along with the Oaks.
After falling attendances for many years, the final meeting was held on 25 March 2017. This attracted a huge crowd, many of whom were turned away due to capacity restrictions, largely caused by much of the stadium being closed off due to maintenance issues. The last ever race was won by Glitzy King trained by Brian Nicholls, who provided many of the dogs in the final few months of the stadium's existence.

Speedway

Until 2005, the stadium was also home for over 50 years to the now defunct Wimbledon Dons speedway team. It was famous for hosting the Internationale meeting every season. from 1962 until 1981, though they did hold a qualifying round of this competition in 1961.
Speedway arrived at Wimbledon in the 1928 pioneer season and a team was entered in the league competitions from 1929 to 1939. The team was re-formed after the war and the Dons raced in the top flight National League Division One from 1946 to 1964. The Dons were multiple winners of the league in the 1950s. The Dons were founder members of the British League in 1965. Upon their reopening after the war, in 1946, average weekly attendances were in excess of 30,000, until the early 1950s, when the sport declined rapidly in popularity. Still Wimbledon were one of the top teams with healthy crowd figures, and upon the closure of Wembley in 1956 remained the only team in London until 1963 when Hackney entered the Provincial League, and 1964 when West Ham reopened in the National League.
Wimbledon's tenure in the top flight came to an end in the 1980s and the Greyhound Racing Association decreed that speedway would end at the end of the 1986 season. However, a London stockbroker, David Pickles, gathered together a consortium in the 1986/87 close season who ensured that the famous Dons would continue to run. They employed the ex-England team manager John Berry and enjoyed reasonable success on and off the track in their first season. After a disagreement with Berry and the other members of the board, Pickles dramatically resigned as chairman of the club during the match with Exeter in September 1987, selling his shares back to the other members. With a few reshuffles at board level and the leaving of Berry, the remaining members eventually took Wimbledon back to the British League Division One in 1991, but the move proved disastrous and with only a couple of months of the season having been ridden, the financial losses proved to be so great that they were forced to disband the team. In June 1991 Wimbledon rode their final meeting, which was eventually curtailed due to the weather. Although there was no longer any league racing at the Plough Lane stadium, the team continued their league fixtures for the 1991 season moving to Eastbourne and were known as the Eastbourne Dons.
Having been defunct for eleven years, the team were then reopened again at Wimbledon Stadium in 2002, but were finally disbanded completely in 2005 as a result of a dispute between the team's promoters and the owners of the stadium, the Greyhound Racing Association, over a proposed large rent increase.

Stock car racing

Plough Lane also hosted Motor Racing events promoted by Spedeworth International, including Superstox, Stock Cars, Hot Rods and Bangers. The first stock car meeting at Wimbledon was on 29 September 1962 and the circuit quickly became Spedeworth's flagship venue with the World Final being held there every year up to and including 1974. The World Championship, along with other key race meetings such as Carnival Night, became very popular and were often 'ticket only' events filled to capacity. The stadium also boasted its own stock car racing teams in 1966 and 1971–72. The 1966 team shared its base with New Cross Stadium. The Unlimited Banger World Final also used to take place at Wimbledon until the event moved to Foxhall Stadium in 2008. This was due to the introduction of the London low emission zone which made it too expensive for the transporters to travel to the venue.

Other notable events

Wimbledon Stadium was the scene for part of the music video for the 1978 Queen song "Bicycle Race", in which 65 professional female models rode on bicycles around the stadium.
Banger racing at the stadium was featured in the ITV police series The Sweeney. The episode was entitled "Contact Breaker".

Closure and demolition

In 2007 the stadium was purchased by development company Galliard Homes Limited when the Greyhound Racing Association was put up for sale by parent company Wembley PLC. Following this, the local professional football team AFC Wimbledon expressed interest in building their new football stadium on the site of the greyhound track in collaboration with Galliard Homes. A joint planning application made by Galliard Homes and AFC Wimbledon to build the new football stadium, together with 600 residences, on the site of the greyhound stadium was approved by the London Borough of Merton in December 2015. Attempts to prevent the closure of the stadium failed; a £20 million rival planning bid to build a new greyhound stadium, submitted by Irish businessman Paschal Taggart, the owner of Shelbourne Park Greyhound Stadium, and a bid by pressure group 'Save Wimbledon Stadium Action Group' to have the stadium granted listed status by Historic England both came to nothing. The stadium was finally closed on 25 March 2017, and demolition of the stadium and associated buildings commenced on 16 March 2018.

Competitions

Wimbledon hosted the following competitions throughout its history.
The Derby
St Leger
Grand National
Laurels
Oaks
Puppy Derby
Juvenile
Champion Hurdle
Cearns Invitation
Champion Stakes
Derby Consolation/Invitation
The International
The Key
The Key was a competition held from 1936 over the stayers distance and then the marathon distance.
YearWinnerTrainerTimeSP
1936Book ReporterJoe Harmon 40.80
1937Brave QueenStanley Biss 40.70
1938Sally MaidA Rees 41.04
1939BallydancerSidney Orton 41.426-4jf
1940Keel BorderJoe Harmon 41.20 6-1
1941Rahinisky ChampionPaddy Fortune 40.812-1f
1942Wallace CStan Martin 41.636-1
1943Merry Two StarM Barnett 41.035-2
1944Model DasherTom Baldwin 42.178-13f
1945Robeen PrinterGeorge McKay 41.538-11f
1946Maggie SallyD Hayes 42.065-1
1947Ben SilverStanley Biss 42.395-4f
1948Baytown FlashStanley Biss 42.208-15f
1949Drastic O'LeerW Major 42.5913-8f
1950SheevaunPaddy Fortune 42.00 8-1
1951Rapid ChoicePaddy McEvoy 41.554-11f
1952Careless HandsJimmy Quinn 42.065-1
1953Magourna RejectTom Paddy Reilly 41.491-2f
1954Mottram HeroLeslie Reynolds 41.7611-2
1956Spark PrincePaddy Fortune 42.139-4
1957Highway TimMrs Rosalie Beba 55.0511-10f
1959The Lure of the TurfPhil Rees Sr. 55.35 5-1
1960Lemon ChipPhil Rees Sr. 55.4640-1
1961Pine BlacktopNoreen Collin 55.11
1962What CheerFrank Conlon 54.93
1963Miss ElegantPaddy Keane 54.96
1964Carmen StarMrs E Eade 55.182-5f
1966I'm SpeedyJimmy Jowett 54.82
1967Miss TaftBob Burls 54.78
1968Greenville FaunaPaddy McEvoy 54.54
1969BallycairnJohn Coleman 55.247-1
1970Swift SilverArthur Hancock 55.05 1-1f
1971Swift SilverArthur Hancock 54.88
1972Iver FlashGeorge Curtis 54.678-13f
1973Country MaidenFrank Baldwin 55.67 3-1
1974Leading PrideGeorge Curtis 54.49
1975Mondays Style55.689-2
1976Sindys FlameJohn Honeysett 54.54 7-1
1977Moonlight ModNora Gleeson 54.344-1
1978Langford DacoitGeorge Curtis 55.30
1980SalinaGeorge Lang 55.154-5f
1981Regal GirlGeorge Lang 55.381-3f
1982Nails UnitedA Smith 55.065-2
1983Sandy LaneGeorge Curtis 54.411-2f
1984Sandy LaneGeorge Curtis 54.901-7f
1985Miss LinseyKenny Linzell 54.70 5-2jf
1986Yankees ShadowGeorge Curtis 55.071-5f
1987Denes MuttFred Wiseman 54.464-7f
1988Cloverhill JuneTerry Kibble 55.19 7-4
1989Xpert HeroineSam Sykes 55.4613-8
1990Ivory LambHazel Dickson 54.87 1-4f
1992Hopton ChilliGraham Sharp 54.845-1
1993Killenagh DreamCharlie Lister 54.691-1f
1994Smart DecisionErnie Gaskin Sr. 55.3911-10f

1936 -1957, 1936 -1975, 1975-1994
Wimbledon Gold Cup
The Wimbledon Gold Cup was a competition held from 1929 originally over hurdles and later the stayers distance.
YearWinnerTrainerTimeSP
1929Honeymans Last29.76
1930Firework29.81
1931Smart FashionPaddy McEllistrim 29.75
1932Lock AudacityJerry Hannafin 31.0910-1
1933Bronze Dragon29.87
1934March On29.27
1935Kilganny BridgePJ Higgins 29.46
1936Wild StormLes Parry 29.37 6-4
1937Terrys HopeF Rolfe 29.234-1
1938Lenins RingJoe Harmon 29.189-4
1939PrinterPaddy McEllistrim 29.221-1f
1940Captain MoonlightArchie Whitcher 29.71 100-8
1941Dangerous RallyHarry Buck 30.03 100-8
1942Winterhead BigSidney Orton 30.058-1
1943Gypsy WinW Franks 29.584-5f
1944Gypsy WinSidney Orton 29.17 5-4
1945Derryboy JubileeStan Biss 29.33
1946Red NuxerRobert Linney 29.43 9-2
1948Listoke InvaderStan Martin 29.405-2
1949Sprightly PeterPaddy McEllistrim 29.394-5f
1950Blossom of AnnaguraJack Sherry 29.247-1
1951Devil O'LeerNorman Merchant 29.056-1
1952Spanish RosetreeJerry Hannafin 29.165-1
1953Spanish RosetreeJerry Hannafin 28.965-2
1954Oriel IdolDal Hawkesley 29.512-1
1955Roguish ShaggyPeter Hawkesley 29.30 100-30
1956Vintners CupSidney Orton 29.162-1jf
1957Glacier MetalPaddy Fortune 29.198-1
1958Fodda ChampionJimmy Jowett 28.83 4-5f
1959KhaffraF.Hedley 29.125-2
1960Change ThatJack Harvey 28.75 8-11f
1961Ballinatona SpecialStan Martin 28.37
1962Pigalle The GreatJimmy Clubb 29.47
1963Mood Indigo IIPaddy McEllistrim 29.21
1964Fairyfield SurpriseG Jackson 28.91 7-4f
1965Lisnalong HeroPaddy McEllistrim 28.74
1966Charlie CaesarStan Martin 29.13
1967No ChipsPaddy McEvoy 29.12
1968Super FameNorah Gleeson 29.47
1969Colonels RibJoe Pickering 29.194-1
1970Peaceful HomeClare Orton 28.99 5-1
1971Sherrys PrinceColin West 28.83
1972Derry PalmPhil Rees Sr. 29.333-1
1973Crimsons GroveNora Gleeson 29.13
1974Gurteen Prince29.55
1975Bansha PridePhil Rees Sr. 28.67 3-1
1977Belated SilverSam Sykes 28.35 6-4f
1978Moreen PenguinBette Godwin 29.11
1979Toms ChanceJoe Pickering 29.06
1980Cladagh Colina29.65
1981Westmead PrinceNatalie Savva 28.344-1
1982Westlands BridgeGunner Smith 28.19
1986Lone WolfGeorge Curtis 1-2f
1990Trans MercedesMaldwyn Thomas 41.081-4f
1991Anglers PrideSam Sykes 40.735-1
1992Westmead SupriseNick Savva 40.405-2
1993Squire DeltaJohn Coleman 40.411-1f
1994Island DoeDerek Knight
1995Argos ChiefTommy Foster 40.502-1
1999Spenwood WizardRon Hough 54.991-2f

1936 -1975, 1975-1982, 1986-1994
Wimbledon Spring Cup
The Wimbledon Spring Cup also known as the Spring Stakes was a competition held from 1929 the standard distance and later the stayers distance.
YearWinnerTrainerTimeSP
1929Elm Branch29.08
1930BrisbaneSidney Orton 29.48
1931Rory of the Hill29.33
1932AltamatzinArthur Doc Callanan 28.999-4
1933Wild WoolleyJack Rimmer 29.61
1934Happy Form29.78
1935Curleys Fancy IIJerry Hannafin 28.37
1936MitzvahArthur Doc Callanan 29.56 11-8f
1937Shandy GaffSidney Orton 29.182-1
1938Lone KeelSydney Wright 28.487-4jf
1939Ivyhouse Champion28.97
1940Selsey CutletLeslie Reynolds 28.57 5-1
1941Lights O'LondonJoe Harmon 29.372-5f
1942Ballynennan MoonSidney Orton 29.055-6f
1943Farloe BestMrs R McKay 28.86 5-1
1944Jazzer Smith28.05
1945Fair MarquisSidney Orton 28.67 8-1
1946Fair and HandsomeBill Cowell 28.996-1
1948Don GipseyLeslie Reynolds 28.792-1
1949Olives IvyPaddy Fortune 28.514-1
1950Ballymac BallStan Martin 27.97 1-6f
1951Magna HastyStan Martin 29.08 5-2
1952Ryton BasherStan Martin 28.15 2-1
1953Home LuckStan Martin 28.12 8-11f
1954Small TownLeslie Reynolds 28.582-1
1955Imperial FawnGeorge Crussell 28.8610-1
1956The Grey GooseStan Martin 28.425-4f
1957Highway SueSidney Orton 28.315-2jf
1958Beware ChampPaddy Fortune 28.46 1-2f
1959Firgrove SnowmanTed Brennan 28.627-2
1960Mink MuffJoe De Mulder 40.0111-10f
1961Just SherryPhil Rees Sr. 40.50
1962Watch KernTony Dennis 40.50
1963Hi RebelDennis Hannafin 41.01
1964Lucky Hi ThereJimmy Jowett 40.3811-8f
1965Westpark QuailNoreen Collin 40.59
1966Miss TaftBob Burls 40.25
1967Hampton LadPaddy McEvoy 40.98
1968Cullen EraClare Orton 39.724-9f
1969Shanes RocketPaddy Milligan 41.243-1
1970Shady AntionetteNorman Oliver 40.312-1
1971Dolores RocketHerbert White 39.66
1972Puff PastrySid Ryall 40.807-4
1973Starline LadyGeoff De Mulder 40.212-1f
1974Cowboy JoMick Hawkins 41.1610-3
1975Glin BridgeGeorge Curtis 42.07
1976Drynham StarNatalie Savva 40.187-4
1977Oaken LadPaddy Coughlan 41.82 8-1
1978Sindys ProspectPaddy Coughlan 41.48
1979Owners GuideTony Jowett 42.59
1980Little Lamb40.95
1981Nails TailsCharlie Coyle 41.38 2-1
1982Auburn JetPaddy Coughlan
1985Lady OpinionPhilip Rees Jr.
1986Kalamity KellyGunner Smith 40.89
1987Lone WolfGeorge Curtis
1988OhteeveeTed Dickson
1989Silver ChanceJohn Honeysett
1990Crohane LucyTony Lucas 40.56 1-1f
1991Kaszenas LadJohn McGee Sr. 41.609-4
1992Gold SplashPhilip Rees Jr. 41.06 10-1
1993Regent LassPhilip Rees Jr. 41.059-2
1994Phantom RosePhilip Rees Jr. 40.8410-1

1929 -1959, 1936 -1975, 1975-1994
Two-Year Old Produce Stakes
The Wimbledon Two-Year Old Produce Stakes was a competition held from 1935 until 1974.
In 1974 the track announced that the race would end blaming changing ties and increased expenses.
YearWinnerTrainerTimeSP
1935Maidens DelightJim Syder Sr.
1936Melksham LassieJoe Harmon 28.737-4f
1937Golden AlexanderJimmy Campbell 28.35 3-1
1938Junior ClassicJoe Harmon 28.43 8-11f
1939Jungle ConquestJoe Harmon 28.53 8-1
1940Rock CallanJoe Harmon 28.816-4f
1941Grosvenor FlexionJoe Harmon 28.725-1
1942Laughing LieutenantBert Heyes 29.186-4
1943Lord O’the LimelightStan Martin 28.40 7-1
1945Newtown DefenderPaddy Fortune 28.12 10-11f
1946Westbury SammyJerry Hannafin 28.344-1
1947Rio CeprettaStan Biss 28.3211-10f
1948Good WorkerJack Daley 28.856-4f
1949HuntlawriggJerry Hannafin 28.305-4f
1950Kismet DFred Trevillion 28.46 8-11f
1951Ilford BoyPaddy McEllistrim 28.35 3-1
1952Marazion MichaelPaddy Fortune 28.34100-8
1953Home LuckStan Martin 28.30 1-8f
1954Record CoupPaddy McEvoy 28.70 1-1f
1955Broadway Darkie IIPam Heasman 28.27 4-1
1956Dunmore KingPaddy McEvoy 28.084-5f
1957Town PrinceLeslie Reynolds 28.23 1-2f
1958Gypsy BoyBob Burls 28.47 4-1
1959Eden GateLeslie Reynolds 28.117-2
1960Laird O'The GlenPaddy McEllistrim 27.94 2-1f
1961S.S. LeaderJim Hookway 28.13
1962Pride of PillarStan Mitchell 28.24
1963TripawayVivien Pateman 28.17
1964FlintstoneTed Brennan 28.26 9-4
1965Marshbank LionStan Martin 28.25
1966Morden MistW.English 28.09
1967Warfield FlashLen Drewery 28.04
1968PetrovitchJack Harvey 28.10
1969Lion LaddieArthur Hancock 28.23100-8
1970Kasama LadGordon Hodson 28.074-1
1972Deneholme ChiefFred Lugg 27.82 11-4
1973Carry On BimboPaddy Coughlan 27.956-4f
1974Daemonic GambolPaddy McEvoy

1935 -1974

Track records

Post Metric records

Pre Metric records