2022 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year

Last updated
2022 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
  2021
2023  

The 2022 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 97th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland. [1] [2]

Contents

Summary

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.

Roll of honour

Major Winners
AwardName 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

Competitions

United Kingdom

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.

Ireland

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]

Principal UK finals

Principal Irish finals

UK Category 1 & 2 competitions

CompetitionDateVenueWinning Greyhound
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 Derby26 FebMonmoreBurnchurch Mick
Northamptonshire Sprint27 FebTowcesterCrossfield Dusty [24]
Coral Golden Sprint 18 MarRomfordRail Mccoy [25]
Premier Greyhound Racing Puppy Derby 19 MarMonmoreDeelish Frankie [26]
BGBF British Breeders Stakes 21 Mar Nottingham Signet Otis [27]
George Ing St Leger26 Mar Yarmouth Blueberry Bullet [28]
Arena Racing Company Northern Flat 29 MarNewcastleJaguar Macie [29]
RPGTV Juvenile 3 AprTowcesterBubbly Apache [30]
Arena Racing Company Springbok 4 Apr Central Park Lenson Doolin [31]
ARC Silver Salver 4 AprCentral ParkTintreach 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 Derby1 MayTowcesterHellofakerfuffle [34]
Jay & Kay Kent St Leger 21 May Crayford Rising Coco [35]
Ladbrokes Guys and Dolls 21 MayCrayfordIcaals Rocco [35]
Ladbrokes Kent Vase 21 MayCrayfordBandicoot Sammy [35]
BGBF British Bred Maiden Derby31 MayNewcastleWitton Razl
Coral Coronation Cup 10 JuneRomfordBaby Bullet [36]
RPGTV Derby Plate25 JuneTowcesterChelms Switch
ARC Puppy Cup30 JunSunderlandBiscuit Billy
ARC Angel of the North26 JulNewcastleCrystal Alice
Coral Sussex Cup 30 JulHoveNinja Kerry [37]
Stadium Bookmakers Juvenile Classic7 AugTowcesterAntigua Sugar
Ladbrokes Gold Cup 27 AugMonmoreMove Over Cha
Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic 27 AugMonmoreWarzone Tom
JenningsBet Puppy Classic 29 AugNottinghamDistant Podge
JenningsBet Select Stakes 29 AugNottinghamBrookside Richie
BresBet East Anglian Derby 14 Sep Yarmouth Hopes Paddington
76th Produce Stakes 25 Sep Swindon Signet Denver
Bet365 Empress Stakes25 SepTowcesterFabulous Azurra
ARC Champion Hurdle 25 SepCentral ParkBorna Rhythm
M Lambe Construction Birmingham Cup 29 Sep Perry Barr Ivanexile
Coral Romford Puppy Cup 30 SepRomfordRomeo Hotshot
BresBet Steel City Cup 15 OctSheffieldSignet Goofy [38]
Premier Greyhound Racing Champion Stakes 21 OctRomfordWarzone Tom [39]
Stadium Bookmakers Hunt Cup 23 OctTowcesterChelms Cub [40]
ARC Scurry Gold Cup 27 Oct Perry Barr Gougane Jet [41]
RPGTV Cowley Puppy Collar28 OctOxfordFromposttopillar
Premier Greyhound Racing Kent Derby 30 OctCentral ParkArkady [42]
Gain Nutrition 3 Steps to Victory 1 Nov Sheffield Coolavanny Aunty [43]
ARC Classic 17 NovSunderlandMove Over Cha [44]
Gain Nutrition Sovereign Stakes20 NovTowcesterBallymac Slapup
Gain Nutrition Maiden Vase25 NovOxfordOutdoor Ice
Gain Nutrition Oxfordshire Gold Cup 25 NovOxfordSwift 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 Oaks27 NovTowcesterMinnie Bullet
Premier Greyhound Racing Eclipse 5 DecNottinghamSlick Sakina
Coral Olympic 17 DecHoveFromposttopillar
George Curtis & Ballyregan Bob Memorial17 DecHoveClongeel Ozzie
ARC National Sprint 19 DecNottinghamGougane Jet
British Bred Derby20 DecSheffieldFabulous Azurra
Bet365 Challenge Cup23 DecOxfordChelms Cub
ARC All England Cup 27 DecNewcastleMickys Barrett
RPGTV Puppy Derby 2 Jan+Towcestern/a

+ delayed and then cancelled

Irish feature competitions

CompetitionDateVenueWinning Greyhound
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 AprShelbourne ParkFast Fit Paddy [48]
RPGTV Irish Cesarewitch 15 May Mullingar Magical Mary [49]
Callaway Ramber at Stud Race of Champions 17 JunTraleeBockos Budsit [50]
Champion 5509 JulShelbourne ParkVincenzo [51]
Corn Cuchulainn 16 JulShelbourne ParkCrafty Kokoro [52]
Centenary Agri Tipperary Cup 6 Aug Thurles Bobsleigh Dream [53]

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