Stories

Bedwellty Is the oldest independent in Wales, It started greyhound racing in the late 20's and has outlived many of its younger rivals, It is situated on the top of Bedwellty mountain near the church. it is shaped like a lazy D with some say the easiest first bend in the country.: from the 510 start dogs get a level 100yds before they turn left up a gradient then along the level back straight before turning left down gradient then its back up the home straight to the winning line located just before the first bend. The track suits early paced well balanced dogs.

The tracks longest member is Billy Beddoes 93 years young and still having the odd touch with his hounds. a real character who always has a tale to tell, he is a lovable old rouge and still is one of the shrewdest punters at the track.

IT STARTED WHEN THE BITCH WAS BOUGHT FOR £400 FROM BRIAN [ TITCH ]. SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN A OPEN RACER BUT WAS IN SEASON HENCE THE PRICE.? SHE WAS BOUGHT IN GOOD FAITH. RESTED FOR TEN WEEKS THEN GIVEN A 312YD TRIAL DOWN THE VALLEY. WENT WELL ENOUGH TO RECORD 18.10. WAS THEN TRIALED IN BEDWELLTY WHERE SHE RECORDED A DISMAL 19.10. WAS TAKEN BACK TO VALLEY WHERE SHE RECORDED 18.00. BACK TO BEDWELLTY FOR HER NEXT TRIAL 18.80. SHE THEN HAD 2 RACES AT BEDWELLTY [ 2nd race] FINISHING LAST ON BOTH OCCASIONS. DECIDED THAT SHE WAS NOT RUNNING BEDWELLTY VERY WELL. SHE WAS GIVEN A COUPLE OF RACES AT THE VALLEY. 6 RUNS LATER NO NEARER A WINNER. DESPITE SHOWING NO SIGNS OF LAMENESS SHE WAS TAKEN TO THE VET.[ MR P DEVLIN ] HIS REPORT WAS THE BITCH HAD AN OLD FRACTURE ON A TOE AND WAS STILL SHOWING SIGNS OF SEASON AND WOULD NOT BE RIGHT FOR 8 WEEKS. AFTER A 2 WEEK REST SHE HAD ANOTHER RACE FINISHED 4th BUT HAD HER FIRST DROP IN GRADE. IT WAS AT THIS POINT LIONEL+MOLLY GOT THE BITCH.[ despite not running well for the lads she was still running in high grade and was short odds] THEY WERE INFORMED OFF THE VETS ADVISE THAT SHE WILL BE A DIFFERENT BITCH IN ABOUT 6 WEEKS. THEY GAVE HER A RUN THE FOLLOWING WEEK. 4th BUT SHOWED SIGNS OF A RETURN TO FORM. SHE WAS THEN PUT INTO SOME SERIOUS TRAINING TO REAPPEAR A FORTNIGHT LATER IN A SOLO TRIAL AFTER RACING. SHE DID 17.50 A MASSIVE IMPROVEMENT ON RECENT FORM [ SO MUCH SO THAT WE ALL COULD NOT BELIEVE IT ]. IT WAS DECIDED TO GIVE HER ANOTHER TRIAL THE FOLLOWING WEEK WHERE SHE AGAIN IMPROVED TO RECORD 17.30. THAT'S IT,. WE'VE GOT HER RIGHT AND WERE GOING FOR GLORY THE FOLLOWING WEEK.

ON ARRIVAL AT THE TRACK WE FOUND SHE WAS IN THE 2nd RACE TRAP 5 [we wanted her in trap 1] IT WAS ONLY ON THE INSISTENCE OF LIONEL WHO SAID THAT SHE WAS BOUNCING AND COULD BE NO BETTER, THAT IT WENT AHEAD [ and the fact he wanted a £100 pound on, never had more than a tenner before ] FORTUNATELY IT WAS ONE OF THEM RACES WHERE THE BOOKIES OPENED THE BETTING EARLY, COULD NOT BELIEVE OUR EYES SHE OPENED THE OUTSIDER AT 4-1 WE COULD NOT GET ENOUGH ON AND GAMBLED HER TO CHALK-DUST, CAN STILL SEE ONE BOOKIE WHO NORMALLY ONLY TAKES £50 HAVE A £100 PUT HIS HAND, GO CHASING THE PUNTER TO GIVE HIM £50 BACK AND GET SO CONFUSED HE CHALKED HER BACK UP AT 5-1, CAN STILL SEE HIM ON THE FLOOR FROM THE ONSLAUGHT SCREAMING NO-MORE NO-MORE.

WITH HEARTS FLUTTERING AND EVERYTHING CROSSED [molly could not stop shaking, even had her eyes closed muttering my god oh my god ] THE HARE STARTS IT JOURNEY TO THE TRAPS, SHE PINGS THE LIDS TO COME OUT CLEAR AND GO FURTHER AWAY FROM THE FIELD WITH EVERY STRIDE TO WIN SOME SAY BY THE HOME-STRAIGHT IN 17.40. SHE WAS LED OFF TO APPLAUSE I HAVE NOT HEARD BEFORE OR SINCE WITH NEARLY [ you always get someone who thinks they have done better] AGREEING AS THE BEST JOB THEY HAD EVER SEEN.

LUCY [AKA. SALT+PEPPER] IS ENJOYING HER RETIREMENT WITH LIONEL+MOLLY AND IS SPOILT ROTTEN BEING TREATED LIKE A QUEEN. [they even take her shopping ] THE POCKET ROCKET AS SHE BECAME TO BE KNOWN WON 8 FROM HER FOLLOWING 15 RACES NEARLY ALL IN TOP OR HIGH GRADE. THEY DECIDED TO RETIRE HER AFTER THAT AS SHE WAS GETTING BANGED ABOUT A BIT.

LUCY TODAY ENJOYING LIFE WITH LIONEL AND MOLLY WITH A EXTRACT FROM THE GREYHOUND STAR OCT 1995

I went ,several years ago(probably around 9 years) to a sunday morning greyhound sale at swansea just out of interest (but took the money I had for a new washing machine with me--just incase ! ) and on getting one of the greyhounds for sale out of the transporter van (a big brindle bitch) a very bad injury occured to a toe ,they put her back in-but then later I saw her run, and not too well as you can imagine. Well they put her up for sale and I could not believe I had to go to £80 to get her (finding out later that the other bidder had the same idea of buying her out of pitty) It suddenly dawned on me that I did not have anywhere sorted out to place her (having bought her on impulse) I spoke to Lyn Short (who wasn't very happy with the bitches treatment-not knowing of the injury before the trial) who agreed to keep her at the track untill I had prepared a place.It took me many weeks to complete the work, and about six weeks after rang (as I had been doing every 10 days or so) lyn to see how she was doing 'LOVELY BITCH ERICS HAD LOOK AT TOE IT'S STICKING UP , NO GOOD, BUT SHES IN NO PAIN WITH IT AND BOUNCING ! ' then asked if it was ok to use her to school pups. Well I was then informed that she was fast enough to enter the first race (bottom heat) 'TOE TAPPER' as I called her went on to win nine races for me at swansea and several more at the valley under 'THREE TOES' the best was a trophy meeting at swansea where she won in a three dog photo-finish, and I had £10 on at three's.( a huge bet for me --my usual being £1 .) MY ONLY REGRET WAS- that I loaned her to a person with a disability at the valley who said he could not afford a dog, with agreement to him ringing me up when she retires for me to keep her as a pet and as a grand-daughter of Saras Bunny I belived she would make a good brood. Sadley and angrily he gave her away-as he said he lost my number. ALL I can hope for is that she had a good home--but on a nicer note, she rewarded me well for an £80 charity case (although my wife to be was not too impressed with the hand washing !) keith.

THIS STORY IS TRUE,

IT ALL STARTED WHEN A GOOD FRIEND GOT HIS FIRST DOG. AN ABSOLUTE NUTTER. THE DOG WOULD START SCREAMING THE MOMENT IT GOT TO THE TRACK, NEVER MIND WHAT HE WAS LIKE IN THE TRAPS. AT THAT TIME I RACED WHIPPETS AND HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAD AN IDEA TO PUT A WALKMAN CASSETTE RECORDER IN THE TRAPS, WHICH PLAYED A RECODING OF MY REASSURING VOICE, AND IT WORKED FOR ME. WELL IMAGINE THIS.! UP ROLLS TOM IN A NEW ESCORT DOG IN THE FRONT SEAT, WITH A SET OF EAR PHONES ON THE DOG, SAT THEIR CONCENTRATING QUITE HAPPY UNTIL THE BATTERIES RAN OUT. THE DOG TOTALLY RIPPED THE DASHBOARD, SEATS, STEERING WHEEL OUT, THE CAR WAS ONLY A WEEK OLD. TOM DECIDED TO FIND THE DOG A NEW HOME AND A NEW CAR!

DAVID DOBSON, PLYMOUTH, DEVON