2025 in UK and Ireland greyhound racing | |
---|---|
2025 is the centenary year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland. [1] [2] [3] The year would see the opening of Dunstall Park Greyhound Stadium but the closure of Crayford, Perry Barr and Swindon and a ban on greyhound racing in Wales.
Following on from their November 2024 announcement, [4] Entain announced the date of 19 January as the final meeting to be held at Crayford Stadium. [5] [6] The impact of the closure also signalled the end of hurdle racing because it had been the last track to feature hurdles. The only other track to hold hurdle racing, Central Park Stadium, had recently stopped racing over hurdles, although there was hope that Star Pelaw would start due to the fact that they had taken delivery of Crayford's hurdles. [7]
Suffolk Downs remained closed following the 2024 fire and was expected to return in the late 2025 or early 2026. [8]
In February 2025, a ban on greyhound racing was announced in Wales, which would result in the closure of its only track at the Valley Greyhound Stadium in Ystrad Mynach. [9] [10] In response, GBGB CEO Mark Bird stated "This announcement has nothing to do with greyhound welfare and everything to do with pressure from the extreme animal rights movement. The Welsh Government’s own Summary of Consultation Responses highlighted the lack of evidence to support the case for a ban on the sport.". [11]
In March, Swindon Stadium announced that it would close at the end of the year. The announcement was not a surprise because it followed on from the previous closures relating to Clarke Osborne and Gaming International/Stadia UK (formerley BS Group). Bristol, Reading, Milton Keynes and Poole were all closed by the company. [12] [13]
Mark Wallis won his fifth Trainers Championship, held at Perry Barr on 29 March. [14] Wallis had an exceptional start to the year after changing his track attachment status to private, he won both the Cesarewitch and Blue Riband in January, the former with Garfiney Blaze again. This was followed by the TV Trophy [15] and Golden Sprint in March. [16] New Destiny won the Grand Prix and Proper Heiress won the Juvenile in April, defeating the wonder dog Bockos Diamond in the process. [17]
Droopys Plunge won the 2025 English Greyhound Derby for Patrick Janssens. The black dog was a surprise 10/1 shot and foiled Irish Derby champion Bockos Diamond from winning a dual Derby and De Lahdedah from retaining his Derby title. [18]
The completion of the build at Dunstall Park was on schedule [19] [20] and is due to open 19 September. [21]
Major Winners | |
---|---|
Award | Name of Winner |
2025 English Greyhound Derby | Droopys Plunge |
2025 Irish Greyhound Derby | |
Greyhound Trainer of the Year | |
UK Greyhound of the Year | |
Irish Greyhound of the Year |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date | Competition | Venue | 1st prize | Winner |
---|---|---|---|---|
24 Jan | Coral Essex Vase | Romford | £10,000 | Droopys Eunice [22] |
25 Jan | ARC Cesarewitch | Central Park | £12,500 | Garfiney Blaze [23] |
25 Jan | BGBF Puppy Cup | Oxford | £10,000 | Queen Sinead [24] |
26 Jan | Greyhound Racing UK Blue Riband | Towcester | £10,000 | Table Toppers [25] |
20 Feb | ARC Northern Puppy Derby | Newcastle | £12,500 | Droopys Deploy [26] |
22 Feb | Ladbrokes Winter Derby | Monmore | £10,000 | Proper Heiress [27] |
22 Feb | Tote Gold Cup | Shelbourne | €16,000 | Seven Beach [28] |
7 Mar | Juvenile Classic | Tralee | €11,000 | Droopys Patriot [29] |
9 Mar | Time Irish Cesarewitch | Mullingar | €10,000 | Singalong Dolly [30] |
15 Mar | Premier Greyhound Racing Puppy Derby | Monmore | £20,000 | Headford Dane [31] |
17 Mar | BGBF British Breeders Stakes | Nottingham | £12,500 | Romeo Control [32] |
21 Mar | Coral Golden Sprint | Romford | £10,000 | Union Rebel [33] |
21 Mar | The Deadly Kennels McCalmont Cup | Kilkenny | €15,000 | Lotto Other News [34] |
23 Mar | Time TV Trophy | Towcester | £15,000 | Mongys Wild [35] |
29 Mar | ARC Kent Plate | Central Park | £12,500 | Proper Heiress [36] |
5 Apr | Bresbet Easter Cup | Shelbourne | €25,000 | Hopes Teddy |
18 Apr | Arena Racing Company Grand Prix | Sunderland | £12,500 | New Destiny [37] |
19 Apr | Con & Annie Kirby Memorial | Limerick | €80,000 | Faypoint Ranger [38] |
19 Apr | Arena Racing Company Laurels | Perry Barr | £12,500 | Aayamza Sydney [39] |
19 Apr | bet365 Hunt Cup | Oxford | £10,000 | Hogans Hawk [40] |
19 Apr | Droopys Stud Select Stakes | Waterford | €10,000 | Seven Beach [41] |
20 Apr | Time Greyhound Nutrition Juvenile | Towcester | £10,000 | Proper Heiress [42] |
20 Apr | BresBet Gymcrack | Sheffield | £17,500 | Elusivenomore [43] |
20 Apr | BetGoodwin & JR Racing Maiden Derby | Towcester | £10,000 | Hello Diego [44] |
26 Apr | Coral Brighton Belle | Hove | £10,000 | Runaway Dior [45] |
3 May | Shelbourne 600 | Shelbourne | €15,000 | Ballyhooly Bruno [46] |
1 Jun | Carrick Aldo at stud National Produce | Clonmel | €20,000 | Lemon Joey [47] |
13 Jun | Callaway ProAm at Stud Race of Champions | Tralee | €15,000 | Seven Beach [48] |
14 Jun | Sporting Press Online Oaks | Shelbourne | €25,000 | Carrigmore Freya [49] |
14 Jun | Star Sports & TRC Events & Leisure English Greyhound Derby | Towcester | £175,000 | Droopys Plunge |
28 Jun | ARC Kent Silver Salver | Central Park | £12,500 | Rioja Oisin [50] |
28 Jun | Donal Beatty Memorial Corn Cuchulainn | Shelbourne | €10,500 | Braveheart Bambi [51] |
4 Jul | Coral Coronation Cup | Romford | £10,000 | Fabulous Sonique [52] |
5 Jul | Boylesports Champion Stakes | Shelbourne | €20,000 | Seven Beach [53] |
6 Jul | Time Three Steps to Victory | Sheffield | £10,000 | Wicky Ned [54] |
12 Jul | Time Dundalk International | Dundalk | €20,000 | Cheap Sandwiches [55] |
16 Jul | Centenary Agri Tipperary Cup | Thurles | €7,200 | Jim By Two [56] |
20 Jul | JR Juvenile Classic | Towcester | £10,000 | Romeo Alliance [57] |
24 Jul | Time Greyhound Feed Northern Flat | Newcastle | £12,500 | Naochra [58] |
24 Jul | ARC Angel of the North | Newcastle | £7,500 | Skeard Josie [58] |
26 Jul | BetGoodwin Pall Mall | Oxford | £10,000 | Gingers Prince [59] |
2 Aug | Coral Sussex Cup | Hove | £10,000 | Proper Heiress [60] |
2 Aug | Premier Greyhound Racing Regency | Hove | £20,000 | Mongys Wild [61] |
8 Aug | Time Juvenile Derby | Shelbourne | €25,000 | Getup The Boy [62] |
9 Aug | Callaway Pro Am at Stud Irish St Leger | Limerick | €30,000 | Drombeg Banner [63] |
15 Aug | Bar One Racing Irish Sprint Cup | Dundalk | €20,000 | Southwind Wild [64] |
23 Aug | Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic | Monmore | £10,000 | |
23 Aug | Ladbrokes Gold Cup | Monmore | £10,000 | |
25 Aug | JenningsBet Puppy Classic | Nottingham | £12,500 | |
25 Aug | JenningsBet Select Stakes | Nottingham | £12,500 | |
17 Sep | Click Competitions East Anglian Derby | Yarmouth | £15,000 | |
19 Sep | Coral Romford Puppy Cup | Romford | £10,000 | |
21 Sep | Empress Stakes | Towcester | £10,000 | |
27 Sep | Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby | Shelbourne | €125,000 | |
28 Sep | Yorkshire St Leger | Doncaster | £10,000 | |
22 Sep | ARC Birmingham Cup | Nottingham | £12,500 | |
22 Sep | ARC St Leger | Nottingham | £20,000 | |
25 Sep | 77th Produce Stakes | Swindon | £10,000 | |
17 Oct | Premier Greyhound Racing Champion Stakes | Romford | £20,000 | |
18 Oct | Premier Greyhound Racing Kent Derby | Central Park | £20,000 | |
19 Oct | BresBet Steel City Cup | Sheffield | £11,500 | |
24 Oct | ARC Scurry Gold Cup | Dunstall Park | £7,500 | |
24 Oct | Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks | Dunstall Park | £20,000 | |
25 Oct | Puppy Collar | Oxford | £10,000 | |
8 Nov | BarOne Racing Irish Laurels | Cork | €30,000 | |
21 Nov | Premier Greyhound Racing Classic | Sunderland | £20,000 | |
24 Nov | Premier Greyhound Racing Eclipse | Nottingham | £20,000 | |
30 Nov | English Puppy Derby | Towcester | £10,000 | |
13 Dec | bet365 Challenge Cup | Oxford | £10,000 | |
13 Dec | George Curtis/Ballyregan Bob Memorial | Hove | £10,000 | |
13 Dec | Coral Olympic | Hove | £10,000 | |
22 Dec | British Bred Breeders Forum Derby | Sheffield | £10,000 | |
22 Dec | ARC National Sprint | Nottingham | £7,500 | |
27 Dec | Premier Greyhound Racing All England Cup | Newcastle | £20,000 | |
28 Dec | bet365 Puppy Oaks | Towcester | £10,000 | |
TBA | Springbok | TBA | £5,000 |