Magpie Miscellany Part 23
Dog Racing
For the last episode of this season’s Magpie Miscellany, I’m going to look at the club’s final attempt to raise money in the close season with a summer sport.
As the Magpies homed in on promotion from the Isthmian League Division Two South in 1991, the club spied an opportunity to boost revenue by launching whippet racing.
This first meeting on Friday 8th March attracted 220 spectators, one more than the official crowd for the first team match against Ruislip Manor the following day. Although more popular in the north of England, meetings in that part of the country tended to be held on Sundays which precluded betting. The York Road meetings were thought to be the only events in the south east.
The previous Sunday the competitors had attended York Road for grading to decide their handicap. The whippets had to be registered with the kennel club with a pedigree stretching back five generations. They ran a 220 yard course around the perimeter of the pitch with a horseshoe turn at the Canal End, chasing a set of rags on a motorised rope.
On Friday nights throughout the summer York Road took on the appearance of a race track with on course bookies and even a tote, with some evenings culminating in a final between the best dogs.
This wasn’t the first time canines had trod the hallowed turf. In 1970, the club tried greyhound racing, again as a summer alternative to boost club funds.
The venture was headed up by local owner and trainer Roy Furby with the first meeting held on 30th May 1970 (pictured top). The Advertiser reporter explained: “The track, which will be grass, will encircle the pitch but because of lack of space will have to encroach on some parts of the field.” Admission was priced at four shillings which included a race card. Up to 200 spectators attended watching seven “flapping” races with Catweazle recording the fastest time of the night.
The greyhounds only lasted one summer whilst the whippets returned for two more seasons with the last meeting being held in 1993. This was the end of the York Road dog track, following the local horse racecourse at Hawthorn Hill into the pages of history. From this point on football was the only pursuit permitted at the Desborough Sports ground.
Sources:
One for Sorrow, Two for Joy, Mark Smith, 2011
