| Category 1 race | |
 Dempsey Duke, winner in 1992 | |
| Location | Towcester Stadium |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1981 |
| Sponsor | Stadium Bookmakers |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 500 metres |
| Surface | Sand |
The Blue Riband is a greyhound racing competition held annually at Towcester Stadium.
It was inaugurated in 1981 at Wembley Stadium as a replacement competition for the Wembley Spring Cup which ended in 1980. [1] [2]
Following the end of the Wembley Greyhounds the race transferred to Greyhound Racing Association (GRA) sister track Hall Green Stadium in 1999. [3] The race was discontinued by the GRA after the 2012 running despite being a category one race.
In 2021, the race returned under the promotion of Kevin Boothby at Towcester Greyhound Stadium and has retained a category 1 status since. [4]
| Year | Winner | Breeding | Trainer | Time | SP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Arfur Mo | Carhumore Speech - Monalee Roman | John Honeysett (Crayford) | 29.47 | 20-1 | |
| 1982 | Master Darby | Sole Aim - Aglish Pilgrim | Jerry Fisher (Reading) | 29.88 | 7-2 | |
| 1983 | Cross Times | Violet Hall - Full Circle | Jerry Fisher (Reading) | 30.01 | 7-2 | |
| 1984 | Living Trail | Ivy Hall Solo - Elimron | John Honeysett (Wembley) | 29.69 | 50-1 | |
| 1985 | Lulus Hero [5] | Sail On II - Lulus Loner | Gunner Smith (Brighton) | 29.23 | 3-1 | |
| 1986 | Fearless Champ | Special Account - Sarahs Bunny | Geoff De Mulder (Oxford) | 29.04 | 8-11F | |
| 1987 | Sambuca | Pat Seamur - Lyons Flora | Gunner Smith (Brighton) | 29.08 | 16-1 | |
| 1988 | Pike Alert | Security Alert - PC Breda | Tom Foster (Wimbledon) | 29.18 | 7-1 | |
| 1989 | Ring Slippy | I'm Slippy - Westpark Chill | Derek Millen (Canterbury) | 29.64 | 3-1 | |
| 1990 | Westmead Harry | Fearless Champ - Westmead Move | Nick Savva (Milton Keynes) | 29.09 | 7-4f | |
| 1991 | Wuncross | Double Creamery Cross - Wuncoat | Derek Knight (Hove) | 29.02 | 33-1 | |
| 1992 | Dempsey Duke | Shanagarry Duke - Willowbrook Peg | Terry Kibble (Bristol) | 28.87 | 2-1jf | |
| 1993 | Hypnotic Stag | Greenpark Fox - Sister Moonshine | John Coleman (Walthamstow) | 28.85 | 8-13f | |
| 1994 | Ardilaun Bridge [6] | Adraville Bridge - Cecilia One | Chris Duggan (Walthamstow) | 29.03 | 11-10f | |
| 1995 | Heres Seanie | Ardfert Sean - Mindys Miracle | Pat Ryan (Perry Barr) | 28.85 | 2-7f | |
| 1996 | Quick Tune | Farloe Melody - Lady Be Fast | Gordon Hodson (Hove) | 29.75 | 5-1 | |
| 1997 | Blue Murlen | Murlens Abbey - Lovely Lovely | Mick Smith (Private) | 29.07 | 2-7f | |
| 1998 | He Knows | Slaneyside Hare - I Know You | Barrie Draper (Sheffield) | 29.22 | 11-4 | |
| 1999 | Droopys Merson [7] | Frightful Flash - Lemon Miss | Nick Savva (Milton Keynes) | 28.53 | 1-1f | |
| 2000 | Vintage Cleaner | Vintage Prince – Treasure Beo | John McGee Sr. (Private) | 28.20 | 9/4 | Track record |
| 2001 | Hollinwood Chief | Night Trooper – Hollinwood Major | Mick Clarke (Private) | 28.51 | 7/4f | |
| 2002 | Hollinwood Wiz | Night Trooper – Hollinwood Major | Mick Clarke (Private) | 28.45 | 8/1 | |
| 2003 | Farloe Verdict | Droopys Vieri – She Knew | Charlie Lister (Private) | 28.09 | 5/2 | Track record |
| 2004 | Droopys Oasis | Larkhill Jo – Droopys Graf | Brian Clemenson (Hove) | 28.28 | 5/4f | |
| 2005 | Tuttles Ronaldo [8] | Droopys Kewell – By The Numbers | Frank Wright (Coventry) | 28.26 | 7/1 | |
| 2006 | Westmead Joe [9] | Larkhill Jo – Mega Delight | Nick Savva (Private) | 28.58 | 13/8f | |
| 2007 | Iceman Vader [10] | Top Honcho – Barrow Tune | Lance Burford (Coventry) | 28.56 | 4/1 | |
| 2008 | Farloe Reason [11] | Droopys Maldini – Farloe Oyster | Charlie Lister (Private) | 28.24 | 1/2f | |
| 2009 | Blonde Fern [12] | Hondo Black – Returned Fire | Tony Dean (Private) | 28.06 | 4/1 | |
| 2010 | Eye Onthe Storm [13] | Droopys Vieri – Bower Louise | Mark Wallis (Yarmouth) | 28.02 | 8/13f | Track record |
| 2011 | Express Shuttle [14] | Kiowa Sweet Trey – Express Mist | Chris Allsopp (Monmore) | 28.42 | 11/8f | |
| 2012 | Young Sid [15] | Killahan Panther – Marwood Review | Paul Young (Romford) | 28.31 | 6/4f | |
| 2013 to 2020 not held | ||||||
| 2021 | Kilara Lion [16] | Droopys Jet – Kilara Lizzie | Patrick Janssens (Towcester) | 29.73 | 11/8f | |
| 2022 | Ivy Hill Skyhigh [17] | Taylors Sky – Yahoo Perlena | Mark Wallis (Monmore) | 29.91 | 7/1 | |
| 2023 | Hopes Paddington [18] | Good News – Charity Anna | Nathan Hunt (Romford) | 29.15 | 9/4 | |
| 2024 | Signet Goofy [19] | Magical Bale – Forest Natalee | John Mullins (Towcester) | 29.39 | 9/2 | |
Wimbledon Stadium, also known as Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium, was a greyhound racing track located in Wimbledon in southwest London, England.
Belle Vue Stadium was a greyhound racing track in Belle Vue, Manchester, England, where the first race around an oval track in Britain was held on 24 July 1926. It has also been used for motorcycle speedway, as the home ground of Elite League team Belle Vue Aces from 1988 until 2015, and from 1999 until 2019 for stock car racing and banger racing.
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.
Nottingham Greyhound Stadium is a greyhound racing track and stadium on the outskirts of Nottingham, England.
Hall Green Stadium was a greyhound racing stadium located in the Birmingham suburb of Hall Green, which existed from 1927 until 2017.
Oxford Stadium is a greyhound racing and speedway venue in Oxford, located in Sandy Lane, Cowley.
The Pall Mall Stakes is a prestigious greyhound racing competition held at Oxford Stadium. The event is classified as a category one race.
The Cesarewitch is a greyhound racing competition held at Central Park Stadium. It was originally one of the classic races held in the British racing calendar and was inaugurated in 1928 and held at West Ham Stadium until its closure in 1972.
The Oaks is an original classic greyhound competition, held at Perry Barr Stadium.
The St Leger is an original classic greyhound competition.
The Puppy Derby is a British greyhound competition held at Towcester Greyhound Stadium.
Towcester Greyhound Stadium is a greyhound racing track located within Towcester Racecourse at Towcester in Northamptonshire, England. It has been the home of the English Greyhound Derby since 2021, having previously hosted the event from 2017 to 2018.
The Television Trophy is a greyhound racing competition held annually. It was inaugurated in 1952 and shown on the BBC. A different venue was chosen each year over the marathon distance of the relevant track. The competition consisted of heats and a final one week later.
The Champion Hurdle is a greyhound racing competition held annually at Crayford Stadium. Until 2017 it was held at Wimbledon Stadium but switched to Towcester Greyhound Stadium following the closure of Wimbledon.
The Northern Flat is a greyhound racing competition held annually at Newcastle Stadium. The event was switched to Newcastle in 2021 following the closure of Belle Vue Stadium where it had been held from 1927 until 2018.
Wembley Greyhounds was the greyhound racing operation held at Wembley Stadium in London.
The English Greyhound Derby Invitation formerly the Derby Consolation Stakes was a long standing competition for greyhounds eliminated during the later stages of the English Greyhound Derby.
The 1958 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 32nd year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
The 1981 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 55th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
The Hunt Cup is a greyhound racing competition held at Oxford Stadium in England.