2025 in UK and Ireland greyhound racing

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.

Summary

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]

Roll of honour

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

Principal UK finals

Principal Irish finals

Calendar & results

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 Greyhound Nutrition Juvenile Derby Shelbourne €25,000
9 Aug Willwego Irish St Leger Limerick €30,000
15 Aug Bar One Racing Irish Sprint Cup Dundalk €20,000
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

References

  1. ^ "GBGB publishes full Open Race calendar for 2025 ahead of schedule". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. 4 November 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  2. ^ "2025 Classics and Features Calendar Released". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  3. ^ "GBGB releases 2025 Competition Calendar". Greyhound Star. 3 November 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  4. ^ "Crayford greyhound track to close after Christmas". BBC. 22 November 2024. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
  5. ^ "Entain UK and Ladbrokes confirm closing date for dog racing track, Crayford Greyhound Stadium". Kent Online. 15 January 2025. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  6. ^ "Axe falls on Crayford greyhound track as imminent closure is confirmed". Racing Post. 15 January 2025. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  7. ^ "Holloway calls on Central Park to re-introduce Hurdle Racing nearly six months since Crayford closure". Greyhound News UK. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  8. ^ "Suffolk Downs work ongoing but second half 2025 earliest return". SIS TV. 3 December 2024. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
  9. ^ "Greyhound racing to be banned in Wales". www.bbc.com. 18 February 2025. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
  10. ^ "Welsh government sets out plans to ban greyhound racing". Sky News. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
  11. ^ "Mark Bird responds to Welsh Greyhound Racing ban announcement". Greyhound News UK. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
  12. ^ "Swindon Trainer's informed of Stadium closure- 17 March 2025". Greyhound News UK. 17 March 2025. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
  13. ^ "Gaming International's history with other speedway stadiums". Swindon Advertiser. 23 February 2025. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
  14. ^ "Mark Wallis lands a fifth PGR Trainers Judgement Night win". Greyhound News UK. Retrieved 2 April 2025.
  15. ^ "Record-breaker Mongys Wild is fifth TV Trophy winner for Wallis". SIS Racing. Retrieved 29 March 2025.
  16. ^ "The Greyhound Racing UK Blue Riband Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 2 February 2025.
  17. ^ "Arena Racing Company Grand Prix Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  18. ^ "Star Sports & TRC English Derby 2025 - FINAL". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  19. ^ "Greyhounds are under starter's orders for opening of newest racing track Dunstall Park". Express and Star. 30 July 2025. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
  20. ^ "New greyhound track set for late autumn opening". BBC News. 13 April 2025. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
  21. ^ "Opening Date set for Dunstall Park". Greyhound News UK. 1 August 2025. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
  22. ^ "Coral Essex Vase Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 2 February 2025.
  23. ^ "Garfiney Blaze retains £12,500 Arena Racing Company Cesarewitch crown at Central Park Stadium with local hope Head Count finishing sixth". Kent Online. Retrieved 2 February 2025.
  24. ^ "B.G.B.F Puppy Cup final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 2 February 2025.
  25. ^ "The Greyhound Racing UK Blue Riband Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 2 February 2025.
  26. ^ "Irish Glee as Droopys Deploy lands the ARC Northern Puppy Derby". Greyhound News UK. Retrieved 22 February 2025.
  27. ^ "Ladbrokes Winter Derby Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  28. ^ "The 2025 Tote Gold Cup 525 Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  29. ^ "T Nolan C.V.R.T Centre Juvenile Classic Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
  30. ^ "Time Irish Cesarewitch Open 600 2025 Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
  31. ^ "2025 Premier Greyhound Racing Puppy Derby". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 23 March 2025.
  32. ^ "2025 BGBF British Breeders Stakes - Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 23 March 2025.
  33. ^ "Coral Golden Sprint Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 23 March 2025.
  34. ^ "€15,000 Deadly Kennels McCalmont Cup A1 Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 23 March 2025.
  35. ^ "Record-breaker Mongys Wild is fifth TV Trophy winner for Wallis". SIS Racing. Retrieved 29 March 2025.
  36. ^ "Arena Racing Company Kent Plate Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
  37. ^ "Arena Racing Company Grand Prix Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  38. ^ "Faypoint Ranger our 2025 Con and Annie Kirby Memorial champion:". Limerick GAAA. 19 April 2025. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
  39. ^ "Arena Racing Company Laurels Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
  40. ^ "Bet365 Hunt Cup Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
  41. ^ "Droopys Stud Select Stake Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
  42. ^ "Time Greyhound Nutrition Juvenile Championship 2025". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
  43. ^ "BresBet Gymcrack Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
  44. ^ "BetGoodwin & J R Racing Maiden Derby Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
  45. ^ "Coral Brighton Belle final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  46. ^ "The Shelbourne Open 600 Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
  47. ^ "Carrick Aldo @ Stud National Produce Stakes Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
  48. ^ "2025 Callaway Pro Am @Stud Race of Champions Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  49. ^ "2025 Sporting Press OnLine Edition Irish Oaks Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  50. ^ "Arena Racing Company Kent Silver Salver Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
  51. ^ "2025 BoyleSports Champion Stakes 550 Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
  52. ^ "2025 Coronation Cup Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
  53. ^ "2025 BoyleSports Champion Stakes 550 Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
  54. ^ "2025 Time Greyhound Nutrition 3 Steps To Victory Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
  55. ^ "2025 TIME Dundalk International Open 550". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
  56. ^ "Centenary Agri Tipperary Cup 2025 Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
  57. ^ "2025 JR Racing Juvnile Classic - Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  58. ^ a b "2025 Time Greyhound Nutrition Northern Flat Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  59. ^ "Prince pounces to land first Cat 1 for owner Lucas & trainer Browne". SIS Racing. 27 July 2025. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
  60. ^ "2025 Coral Sussex Cup Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
  61. ^ "2025 PGR Regency Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
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