Used to work there in the evenings in the 70s while I was doing A levels.
It was before Ladbrokes took over and let’s just say there were some dubious practices at the time.
Its still dodgy now tbh
When I worked at William Hill any bets placed at Crayford or Romford if it was over a certain amount we had to ring head office to make sure we could place it, as both those tracks were well known for fixing races
If both tracks were Well known for fixed races, why did the NGRC / Fraud Squad not shut them down. I think you will find that if a number of good judges frequent a track and perform winning analysis, then major firms want any significant bets rang through to HO. Nothing to do with race fixing.
Can you imagine the repercussions for The Ladbroke /Coral group if race fixing was proven......
But you could say that about any track.
All I know is what I was told when I first joined which was those 2 tracks an singles above £50 had to be rung through to see if any paterns were forming and if they were we couldn't take the bet.
I asked my manager why and he said they were both known tracks for fixing races I:E over feeding favourites before races
A dog that is asked to race after being fed, will almost certainly be sick, after the race. If that occurs the sick is collected bagged up and weighed. An ok you have stuffed the fav, which one of the other 5 is guaranteed to win. If the weighed food is deemed to be anything other than a light breakfast, an inquiry is called. The trainer can be called to the NGRC where they can lose their trainers licence. So their entire career is knackered , their home and business ruined. As iv said before how much would you want to run that risk, £5000, £10,000 £25,000. So if you pay the trainer £25,000 , how much you going to make £75,000. Believe me I’ve owned and raced dogs for over 30 years. You can not get those sort of bets on.
In the seventies and 80s when technology was very low in dog racing, like many other sports cheating was more common place. Since the mid nineties the technology and drug testing etc has made any kind of skulduggery, almost impossible.
It's easy to fix a dog race. Just bung the jockey a few quid.
Used to work there in the evenings in the 70s while I was doing A levels.
It was before Ladbrokes took over and let’s just say there were some dubious practices at the time.
Its still dodgy now tbh
When I worked at William Hill any bets placed at Crayford or Romford if it was over a certain amount we had to ring head office to make sure we could place it, as both those tracks were well known for fixing races
It's not dodgy now.
It might have been once upon a time as others have said but I know someone who works at Crayford Dogs and staff are not even allowed to bet inside a Ladbrookes owned bookies or even in the stadium itself. Same as well if they are caught getting someone to bet on there behalf.
That should give an idea of how serious they take cheating.
Used to live near White City and used to attend most night of the greyhound Derby during The early eighties. Used to get nearly 20,000 there for the final which was live on the Beeb, hosted by Harry Carpenter. The atmosphere for the final was electric.
Likewise - the famous 'White City Roar' as the hare started running.
Catford was good as well. Does anyone remember the george cole/ Leeds Permanent advert filmed at Catford with his greyhound. Look at the interes rate offered on the Liquid Gold account and salivate!
Living in Catford now on Perry Hill Road, I always walk over Catford Bridge as I head into Catford Town Centre and see the paintings of the dogs on the bridge and have always wondered exactly where the stadium was
Derby Day 1985. Me and a mate had gone to Epsom (as we did most years from 1979 through most of the 80s) and had a really good day, both backing Slip Anchor heavily. We then came back and went to Catford dogs as a superstar was running. Lost most of what we'd won at Epsom but didn't care - we saw the mighty Scurlogue Champ smash the track record.
Catford was good as well. Does anyone remember the george cole/ Leeds Permanent advert filmed at Catford with his greyhound. Look at the interes rate offered on the Liquid Gold account and salivate!
Living in Catford now on Perry Hill Road, I always walk over Catford Bridge as I head into Catford Town Centre and see the paintings of the dogs on the bridge and have always wondered exactly where the stadium was
Derby Day 1985. Me and a mate had gone to Epsom (as we did most years from 1979 through most of the 80s) and had a really good day, both backing Slip Anchor heavily. We then came back and went to Catford dogs as a superstar was running. Lost most of what we'd won at Epsom but didn't care - we saw the mighty Scurlogue Champ smash the track record.
I was there that night too Bob, didn't realise that it had been recorded and archived......... thanks for posting....... happy days indeed!!! Scurlogue Champ and Ballyregan Bob around at the same time had Greyhound racing enjoying a purple patch
Great night out at the dogs and regularly book a table at the restaurant at Crayford. Owned a couple dogs at Crayford too and had them with Dinky Luckhurst, his daughter still trains now I believe. Many memories brought back to with mentions if banger racing at Crayford and also the great Scurlogue Champ and Ballyregan Bob.
For years afterwards the disgruntled punters use to glue up the locks of betting shops on Grand National Day - I had to remind my shop managers to squirt WD40 into the locks as they left on the Friday night!
Great night out at the dogs and regularly book a table at the restaurant at Crayford. Owned a couple dogs at Crayford too and had them with Dinky Luckhurst, his daughter still trains now I believe. Many memories brought back to with mentions if banger racing at Crayford and also the great Scurlogue Champ and Ballyregan Bob.
Ballyregan Bob was the classiest of the two, no doubt, but Scurlogue became a cult figure of course due to regularly being tailed off last and then ploughing through the field.
Such a shame the Champ went lame when they met - Bob would still have won though.
Catford was good as well. Does anyone remember the george cole/ Leeds Permanent advert filmed at Catford with his greyhound. Look at the interes rate offered on the Liquid Gold account and salivate!
Living in Catford now on Perry Hill Road, I always walk over Catford Bridge as I head into Catford Town Centre and see the paintings of the dogs on the bridge and have always wondered exactly where the stadium was
Derby Day 1985. Me and a mate had gone to Epsom (as we did most years from 1979 through most of the 80s) and had a really good day, both backing Slip Anchor heavily. We then came back and went to Catford dogs as a superstar was running. Lost most of what we'd won at Epsom but didn't care - we saw the mighty Scurlogue Champ smash the track record.
I was there that night too Bob, didn't realise that it had been recorded and archived......... thanks for posting....... happy days indeed!!! Scurlogue Champ and Ballyregan Bob around at the same time had Greyhound racing enjoying a purple patch
Watching the Champ finished off a great day - but by the time of the race I was, indeed, very, very drunk having been drinking solidly for about 12 hours at that point!
Used to take our two children when they were little to the Saturday morning meeting at Crayford - they loved it - my son’s strategy was to bet on the first dog to have a poo in the pre race parade !!!
My first experience of football was watching Slough at the Dolphin Stadium which was also a dog track. Used to go out with a girl who led the dogs out. Sad day when it closed and was redeveloped into a Co-Op superstore in 87. Slough Town having left the Dolphin in 1973.
I started going dog racing at Charlton dog track where Makros is now back in the 60's and have since owned dogs at Catford, Crayford, Walthamstow and Hove. Still got a dog running at Crayford. Enjoyed Catford the best. (Danny Graham at Crayford is the worst racing manager I've come across!)
Catford was good as well. Does anyone remember the george cole/ Leeds Permanent advert filmed at Catford with his greyhound. Look at the interes rate offered on the Liquid Gold account and salivate!
Living in Catford now on Perry Hill Road, I always walk over Catford Bridge as I head into Catford Town Centre and see the paintings of the dogs on the bridge and have always wondered exactly where the stadium was
Derby Day 1985. Me and a mate had gone to Epsom (as we did most years from 1979 through most of the 80s) and had a really good day, both backing Slip Anchor heavily. We then came back and went to Catford dogs as a superstar was running. Lost most of what we'd won at Epsom but didn't care - we saw the mighty Scurlogue Champ smash the track record.
I was there that night too Bob, didn't realise that it had been recorded and archived......... thanks for posting....... happy days indeed!!! Scurlogue Champ and Ballyregan Bob around at the same time had Greyhound racing enjoying a purple patch
This could be like the Huddersfield 7-6. I was there too, taken by my dad who had owned a greyhound back in the day. Used to love a night at Catford dogs. A unique event and atmosphere.
Our old 5-a-side team used to have our end of season do at Crayford Dogs and I always really enjoyed it. Would like to go back again but not until all this covid stuff is under control.
My old Sunday league team owned a greyhound - we all contributed a few quid a month - first 5 or 6 races we went to, the trainer told us not to bet on the dog - then we went to a race (I think it was Romford) and he told us to pile in and bet - we did - it romped home by a long way, and I won about £300 (but got pissed and frittered it away doing stupid bets for the rest of the evening !!)
Sadly, he only did a few more races, then he broke his leg whilst training
One of the lads in the team took him as a family pet - lovely dog - very chilled and had a good happy long life
They do make very good pets - I have two Springer Spaniels, and they need huge amounts of exercise - Greyhounds don't at all, and are quite happy to sleep most of the time !!
Comments
It might have been once upon a time as others have said but I know someone who works at Crayford Dogs and staff are not even allowed to bet inside a Ladbrookes owned bookies or even in the stadium itself. Same as well if they are caught getting someone to bet on there behalf.
That should give an idea of how serious they take cheating.
Likewise - the famous 'White City Roar' as the hare started running.
Scurlogue Champ and Ballyregan Bob around at the same time had Greyhound racing enjoying a purple patch
Have you listen to this?
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/documentary-on-one-podcast/id107923803?i=1000489409200
Betting coup in Ireland with the Tote & greyhounds.
Watching the Champ finished off a great day - but by the time of the race I was, indeed, very, very drunk having been drinking solidly for about 12 hours at that point!
Sad day when it closed and was redeveloped into a Co-Op superstore in 87. Slough Town having left the Dolphin in 1973.
Had many a great night there when I worked at Homebase.
Savage
Anyone who tells you that cinemas will always be around, tell them how many dog tracks London had a couple of generations ago...
I agree with your comment about track closures in London - the list is very long.
Sadly, he only did a few more races, then he broke his leg whilst training
One of the lads in the team took him as a family pet - lovely dog - very chilled and had a good happy long life
They do make very good pets - I have two Springer Spaniels, and they need huge amounts of exercise - Greyhounds don't at all, and are quite happy to sleep most of the time !!