2022 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year | |
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The 2022 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 97th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland. [1] [2]
The year started well for the industry when Kevin Boothby's Suffolk Downs was granted a Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) licence. [3] The first trial session took place on 12 January [4] and the first meeting was held on 8 February 2022, with the primary race distance being 388 metres. [5]
A parliamentary debate took place on the 28 March discussing a petition presented by Welsh Labour MP Christina Rees to abolish greyhound racing in Wales. The anonymous petitioner referred largely to the Valley Greyhound Stadium (not affiliated to the GBGB) and a stray and abandoned dogs centre called Hope Rescue (both in Wales). Parliament voted for no further action. [6] [7]
Mark Wallis won his fourth Trainers Championship (marketed as Judgement Night), which was held at Monmore Green. [8] He would go on to win the Greyhound Trainer of the Year for a 13th time. [9]
The major open race circuit saw a significant increment in prize money levels. Premier Greyhound Racing (the collaboration between the Arena Racing Company and Entain increased the winning prize of two original classics, the St Leger and Oaks to £20,000. Additionally, the Golden Jacket, Champion Stakes, Regency and Eclipse also offered a £20,000 first prize. Towcester continued to hold events with a £10,000 winner's prize. [10] The addition of the new category 1 competitions resulted in the GBGB changing the rules in relation to the number of rounds held. The new ruling (from 2023) would see category 1 events, except the classics, held over three rounds instead of four. [11]
The industry was split on the new GBGB rule that stated a greyhound not to run more than once in a four day period (this included trials). This upset many of the leading figures within the industry who argued that trainers were in the best position to establish when a greyhound should race or trial. The rule was seen by some as an appeasement to welfare groups but others argued that it was a way to eliminate any excessive racing demands of a greyhound. [12]
Oxford Stadium reopened after a ten year absence, the track saw a capacity attendance for the meeting held on 2 September. The reopening of one of the sports most popular tracks was another boost for the industry. Just ten days later at the track, during the sales trials on 13 September the British sales record for a greyhound was broken when Drumcrow Mini was sold for £16,300. [13] However, Oxford still remained in the ownership of a property developer and was only operated on a lease.
Major Winners | |
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Award | Name of Winner |
2022 English Greyhound Derby | Romeo Magico |
2022 Irish Greyhound Derby | Born Warrior |
Greyhound Trainer of the Year | Mark Wallis |
UK Greyhound of the Year | Coolavanny Aunty |
Irish Greyhound of the Year | Born Warrior |
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The St Leger champion Space Jet continued her fine form from 2021, when winning the prestigious Coral TV Trophy at Brighton in April. Coolavanny Aunty claimed a significant double when winning the Essex Vase and Grand Prix, as did Signet Denver who took the Laurels and Produce Stakes.
The 2021 Irish Greyhound Derby champion Susie Sapphire impressed again when winning the Easter Cup, she started at odds of 1/3 for the final (the shortest price in the modern era). [14]
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Competition | Date | Venue | Winning Greyhound |
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Coral Essex Vase | 28 Jan | Romford | Coolavanny Aunty [21] |
Premarket Pets Blue Riband | 30 Jan | Towcester | Ivy Hill Skyhigh [22] |
ARC Northern Puppy Derby | 15 Feb | Newcastle | Freedom Alibi [23] |
Ladbrokes Winter Derby | 26 Feb | Monmore | Burnchurch Mick |
Northamptonshire Sprint | 27 Feb | Towcester | Crossfield Dusty [24] |
Coral Golden Sprint | 18 Mar | Romford | Rail Mccoy [25] |
Premier Greyhound Racing Puppy Derby | 19 Mar | Monmore | Deelish Frankie [26] |
BGBF British Breeders Stakes | 21 Mar | Nottingham | Signet Otis [27] |
George Ing St Leger | 26 Mar | Yarmouth | Blueberry Bullet [28] |
Arena Racing Company Northern Flat | 29 Mar | Newcastle | Jaguar Macie [29] |
RPGTV Juvenile | 3 Apr | Towcester | Bubbly Apache [30] |
Arena Racing Company Springbok | 4 Apr | Central Park | Lenson Doolin [31] |
ARC Silver Salver | 4 Apr | Central Park | Tintreach Jet [31] |
Coral Brighton Belle | 9 Apr | Hove | Whats Up Eva [32] |
Arena Racing Company Grand Prix | 21 Apr | Sunderland | Coolavanny Aunty [33] |
Matchbook Betting Maiden Derby | 1 May | Towcester | Hellofakerfuffle [34] |
Jay & Kay Kent St Leger | 21 May | Crayford | Rising Coco [35] |
Ladbrokes Guys and Dolls | 21 May | Crayford | Icaals Rocco [35] |
Ladbrokes Kent Vase | 21 May | Crayford | Bandicoot Sammy [35] |
BGBF British Bred Maiden Derby | 31 May | Newcastle | Witton Razl |
Coral Coronation Cup | 10 June | Romford | Baby Bullet [36] |
RPGTV Derby Plate | 25 June | Towcester | Chelms Switch |
ARC Puppy Cup | 30 Jun | Sunderland | Biscuit Billy |
ARC Angel of the North | 26 Jul | Newcastle | Crystal Alice |
Coral Sussex Cup | 30 Jul | Hove | Ninja Kerry [37] |
Stadium Bookmakers Juvenile Classic | 7 Aug | Towcester | Antigua Sugar |
Ladbrokes Gold Cup | 27 Aug | Monmore | Move Over Cha |
Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic | 27 Aug | Monmore | Warzone Tom |
JenningsBet Puppy Classic | 29 Aug | Nottingham | Distant Podge |
JenningsBet Select Stakes | 29 Aug | Nottingham | Brookside Richie |
BresBet East Anglian Derby | 14 Sep | Yarmouth | Hopes Paddington |
76th Produce Stakes | 25 Sep | Swindon | Signet Denver |
Bet365 Empress Stakes | 25 Sep | Towcester | Fabulous Azurra |
ARC Champion Hurdle | 25 Sep | Central Park | Borna Rhythm |
M Lambe Construction Birmingham Cup | 29 Sep | Perry Barr | Ivanexile |
Coral Romford Puppy Cup | 30 Sep | Romford | Romeo Hotshot |
BresBet Steel City Cup | 15 Oct | Sheffield | Signet Goofy [38] |
Premier Greyhound Racing Champion Stakes | 21 Oct | Romford | Warzone Tom [39] |
Stadium Bookmakers Hunt Cup | 23 Oct | Towcester | Chelms Cub [40] |
ARC Scurry Gold Cup | 27 Oct | Perry Barr | Gougane Jet [41] |
RPGTV Cowley Puppy Collar | 28 Oct | Oxford | Fromposttopillar |
Premier Greyhound Racing Kent Derby | 30 Oct | Central Park | Arkady [42] |
Gain Nutrition 3 Steps to Victory | 1 Nov | Sheffield | Coolavanny Aunty [43] |
ARC Classic | 17 Nov | Sunderland | Move Over Cha [44] |
Gain Nutrition Sovereign Stakes | 20 Nov | Towcester | Ballymac Slapup |
Gain Nutrition Maiden Vase | 25 Nov | Oxford | Outdoor Ice |
Gain Nutrition Oxfordshire Gold Cup | 25 Nov | Oxford | Swift Iconic |
Ladbrokes Gold Collar | 26 Nov | Crayford | Savana Ruinart [45] |
Ladbrokes Kent Rosebowl | 26 Nov | Crayford | Adeles Duke [45] |
Ladbrokes Grand National | 26 Nov | Crayford | Bobbing Gnavatar [46] |
Bet365 Puppy Oaks | 27 Nov | Towcester | Minnie Bullet |
Premier Greyhound Racing Eclipse | 5 Dec | Nottingham | Slick Sakina |
Coral Olympic | 17 Dec | Hove | Fromposttopillar |
George Curtis & Ballyregan Bob Memorial | 17 Dec | Hove | Clongeel Ozzie |
ARC National Sprint | 19 Dec | Nottingham | Gougane Jet |
British Bred Derby | 20 Dec | Sheffield | Fabulous Azurra |
Bet365 Challenge Cup | 23 Dec | Oxford | Chelms Cub |
ARC All England Cup | 27 Dec | Newcastle | Mickys Barrett |
RPGTV Puppy Derby | 2 Jan+ | Towcester | n/a |
+ delayed and then cancelled
Competition | Date | Venue | Winning Greyhound |
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RCETS Gold Cup | 5 Feb | Shelbourne Park | Skywalker Barry |
Greyhound & Petworld Juvenile Classic | 11 Mar | Tralee | Wi Can Dream |
Ballymac Anton at Stud McCalmont Cup | 25 Mar | Kilkenny | Zoom |
Waterford Select Stakes | 3 Apr | Waterford | Explosive Boy [47] |
Shelbourne 600 | 9 Apr | Shelbourne Park | Fast Fit Paddy [48] |
RPGTV Irish Cesarewitch | 15 May | Mullingar | Magical Mary [49] |
Callaway Ramber at Stud Race of Champions | 17 Jun | Tralee | Bockos Budsit [50] |
Champion 550 | 9 Jul | Shelbourne Park | Vincenzo [51] |
Corn Cuchulainn | 16 Jul | Shelbourne Park | Crafty Kokoro [52] |
Centenary Agri Tipperary Cup | 6 Aug | Thurles | Bobsleigh Dream [53] |
Shelbourne Park is a greyhound racing stadium in the south Dublin inner city suburb of Ringsend.
Greyhound racing is a sport in the United Kingdom. The industry uses a parimutuel betting tote system with on-course and off-course betting available. Attendances have declined in recent years, mainly due to the decrease in evening fixtures with the majority of fixtures being held in the daytime.
Perry Barr Stadium (also known as Perry Barr Greyhound Stadium and previously as Alexander Sports Ground(s)) is a greyhound racing and motorcycle speedway stadium on Aldridge Road in Perry Barr, Birmingham, England. The track is operated by the Arena Racing Company (ARC), who lease it from owners the National Asset Management Agency. Racing takes place every Saturday evening, in addition to their four ARC fixtures.
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Monmore Green Stadium is a greyhound racing and former motorcycle speedway stadium located in Wolverhampton. The stadium has private suites, a restaurant and a number of bars. The venue is owned and operated by the Ladbrokes Coral group.
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