The annual
totalisator turnover was £99,449,342, which although the fourth highest ever recorded was also the second consecutive drop since 1946.[8] The minimum betting stake on the track
totalisator was increased from two to four shillings but quickly changed back following a widespread slump.[9] The government ban on mid-week racing continued.[10]
A greyhound called Narrogar Ann from a litter of six, out of the bitch Winnie of Berrow (winner of the 1944
Eclipse) came to prominence when successful in the
Western Two year Old Produce Stakes. Narrogar Ann trained by Joe Farrand at
Oxford Stadium beat littermates Narrogar Dusty and Narrogar Tommy who finished second and third respectively. Narrogar Ann would soon move to
Leslie Reynolds at
Wembley.[13]
Local Interprize won the Laurels and Welsh Derby, in the latter he recorded a seven length final win in a new track record time defeating a field that included the
Scottish Greyhound Derby champion Western Post, an 84lb fawn and white dog. Local Interprize then won the Scurry final by eight lengths before losing out to Good Worker trained by former Surrey cricketer Jack Daley, in the
Laurels. Local Interprize finished the year by claiming a remarkable fourth classic when picking up the Cesarewitch trophy on 23 October.[11][12]
Tracks
Rayleigh Weir Stadium in
Southend-on-Sea was one of seven known track to open, three of them were in Ireland.
Breck Park Stadium in Liverpool, closed following a devastating fire and fire also destroyed most of the stands at
Long Eaton Stadium.[14] The total number of tracks in the United Kingdom with a betting licence was 209, of which 77 were affiliated to the National Greyhound Racing Society and raced under
National Greyhound Racing Club rules.[15]
On 1 April, Fred Trevillion, Arthur Hancock (head kennel-man) and
Trev's Perfection left on the
Queen Mary for Raynham Park,
Raynham, Massachusetts in the
United States, where the dog was expected to make headlines. The venture was a failure and in five races he did not win one and returned to England in July.[14] Sir
William Gentle died.[16]
Ireland
The
Irish Greyhound Derby offered a record £1,000 first prize and attracted the Frank Davis trained Western Post; Davis put him with Paddy Moclair for the duration of the event. Moclair had originally bought the dog at the Limerick sales for £240 before selling him to Davis for £2,000. The fawn and white dog became the first winner of the Scottish and Irish Derby.[4][5]
The
Greyhound Racing Association set up the Kingsfurze breeding establishment at
Naas in
County Kildare, the seven acre grounds included a house, cottage and 15 runs. The greyhounds would transfer to training establishments within the GRA as soon as they were older enough.[17]
The totalisator returns declared to the licensing authorities for the year 1948 are listed below. Tracks that did not have a totalisator in operation are not listed.[8]
The annual
totalisator turnover was £99,449,342, which although the fourth highest ever recorded was also the second consecutive drop since 1946.[8] The minimum betting stake on the track
totalisator was increased from two to four shillings but quickly changed back following a widespread slump.[9] The government ban on mid-week racing continued.[10]
A greyhound called Narrogar Ann from a litter of six, out of the bitch Winnie of Berrow (winner of the 1944
Eclipse) came to prominence when successful in the
Western Two year Old Produce Stakes. Narrogar Ann trained by Joe Farrand at
Oxford Stadium beat littermates Narrogar Dusty and Narrogar Tommy who finished second and third respectively. Narrogar Ann would soon move to
Leslie Reynolds at
Wembley.[13]
Local Interprize won the Laurels and Welsh Derby, in the latter he recorded a seven length final win in a new track record time defeating a field that included the
Scottish Greyhound Derby champion Western Post, an 84lb fawn and white dog. Local Interprize then won the Scurry final by eight lengths before losing out to Good Worker trained by former Surrey cricketer Jack Daley, in the
Laurels. Local Interprize finished the year by claiming a remarkable fourth classic when picking up the Cesarewitch trophy on 23 October.[11][12]
Tracks
Rayleigh Weir Stadium in
Southend-on-Sea was one of seven known track to open, three of them were in Ireland.
Breck Park Stadium in Liverpool, closed following a devastating fire and fire also destroyed most of the stands at
Long Eaton Stadium.[14] The total number of tracks in the United Kingdom with a betting licence was 209, of which 77 were affiliated to the National Greyhound Racing Society and raced under
National Greyhound Racing Club rules.[15]
On 1 April, Fred Trevillion, Arthur Hancock (head kennel-man) and
Trev's Perfection left on the
Queen Mary for Raynham Park,
Raynham, Massachusetts in the
United States, where the dog was expected to make headlines. The venture was a failure and in five races he did not win one and returned to England in July.[14] Sir
William Gentle died.[16]
Ireland
The
Irish Greyhound Derby offered a record £1,000 first prize and attracted the Frank Davis trained Western Post; Davis put him with Paddy Moclair for the duration of the event. Moclair had originally bought the dog at the Limerick sales for £240 before selling him to Davis for £2,000. The fawn and white dog became the first winner of the Scottish and Irish Derby.[4][5]
The
Greyhound Racing Association set up the Kingsfurze breeding establishment at
Naas in
County Kildare, the seven acre grounds included a house, cottage and 15 runs. The greyhounds would transfer to training establishments within the GRA as soon as they were older enough.[17]
The totalisator returns declared to the licensing authorities for the year 1948 are listed below. Tracks that did not have a totalisator in operation are not listed.[8]