2023 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
98th year of UK and Irish greyhound racing
2023 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year Category 1 finalists Millridge Tanic (left) and Olga with trainer Pat Curtin
The 2023 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 98th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.[ 1]
Summary
Open race competitions increased again, in terms of prize money and frequency, with no less than ten UK events (not including the Derby) offering a first prize of £20,000 or more, including the returning Pall Mall Stakes at Oxford Stadium and a series of events sponsored by Premier Greyhound Racing. It equalled the Irish open race calendar in terms of number of races above £20,000 or €20,000.
A petition titled The Welsh Government should support greyhound racing in Wales was due to be debated by the Senedd because over 10,000 signatures were received in support. The petition was in response to the 2022 petition.[ 2] A main subject of the debate was the Valley Greyhound Stadium and in August 2023, Valley received a licence from the Greyhound Board of Great Britain . The move from independent racing to GBG rules meant that only one track Thornton Stadium remained with independent status.[ 3]
The long running saga over live broadcast rights continued and with Entain and ARC nearing the new 2024 deal, their rival SIS published a schedule. The schedule included Oxford, Towcester, Harlow, Suffolk Downs, Henlow, Doncaster and the Valley in addition to Askern Greyhound Stadium , which would require re-opening and a GBGB licence to be included in the schedule.[ 4]
Mark Wallis won his 14th Greyhound Trainer of the Year title after recording 1591 points.[ 5] The year ended with the death of former Northern Sports group manager Mick Wheble MBE.[ 6] [ 7]
Roll of honour
Principal UK finals
Premier Greyhound Racing Golden Jacket , Crayford (18 Feb, 714m, £20,000)[ 9]
Pos
Name of Greyhound
Trap
SP
Time
Trainer
1st
Bellmore Sally
4
9/4jf
44.77
Jimmy Fenwick
2nd
Roll On Sydney
1
6/1
45.01
Paul Young
3rd
Olga
5
6/1
45.31
Paddy Curtin
4th
Minnie Bullet
2
9/4jf
45.39
Mark Wallis
5th
Burgess Hannah
6
11/2
45.85
Tony Gifkins
6th
Coonough Crow
3
8/1
45.75
Mark Wallis
Ladbrokes TV Trophy , Crayford (15 April, 874m, £15,000)
Pos
Name of Greyhound
Trap
SP
Time
Trainer
1st
Bellmore Sally
4
10/11f
56.38
James Fenwick
2nd
Ower Smasher
3
13/8
56.66
June Harvey
3rd
A Mystial Love
6
12/1
56.98
Lee Pearce
4th
Beach Babe
5
28/1
57.56
Tom Levers
5th
Savana Queen
2
14/1
57.90
Diane Henry
6th
Queen Pink
1
9/1
57.96
Liz McNair
Arena Racing Company Laurels , Perry Barr (29 Apr, 480m, £12,500)
Pos
Name of Greyhound
Trap
SP
Time
Trainer
1st
Hawkfield Ozark
1
15/8f
28.03
Patrick Janssens
2nd
Goldies Perryman
3
4/1
28.05
Paul Foster
3rd
Hurry Up Jordan
6
3/1
28.27
John Lambe
4th
Arkady
4
11/4
28.35
David Mullins
5th
Ivanexile
5
7/1
28.45
Matt Dartnall
N/R
Coolavanny Shado
2
Patrick Janssens
Premier Greyhound Racing Regency , Brighton (29 Jul, 695m, £20,000)[ 10]
Pos
Name of Greyhound
Trap
SP
Time
Trainer
1st
Space Jet
3
2/1jf
41.69
Matt Dartnall
2nd
Swiper
1
11/1
41.85
Matt Dartnall
3rd
Lively Lauren
2
2/1jf
41.88
Matt Dartnall
4th
Jacktavern Magic
6
12/1
41.99
Mark Wallis
5th
Bubbly Scorcher
5
11/2
42.01
Paul Young
6th
Savana Heross
4
4/1
42.05
Diane Henry
Premier Greyhound Racing Champion Stakes , Romford (21 Oct, 575m, £20,000)
Pos
Name of Greyhound
Trap
SP
Time
Trainer
1st
Hollow Man
4
8/13f
34.96
Derek Knight
2nd
Ninja Kerry
6
11/2
35.19
Belinda Green
3rd
Whyaye Man
5
10/1
35.23
Mark Wallis
4th
Havana Top Note
3
11/1
35.24
Liz McNair
5th
Droopys Google
1
9/2
35.32
Nathan Hunt
6th
Ballintee Noshow
2
12/1
35.60
Maxine Locke
Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks , Perry Barr (27 Oct, 480m, £20,000)
Pos
Name of Greyhound
Trap
SP
Time
Trainer
1st
No Rush
6
15/8f
28.18
Carol Weatherall
2nd
Jet Stream Angel
4
5/1
28.22
Kevin Hutton
3rd
Droopys Ailsa
5
4/1
28.28
Robert Gleeson
4th
Whats Up Eva
2
4/1
28.32
Richard Rees
5th
Starshinestunner
1
7/2
28.42
Richard Rees
6th
Droopys Request
3
14/1
28.84
Christopher Fereday
Principal Irish finals
Bresbet Easter Cup , Shelbourne (8 Apr, 550y, €25,000)
Pos
Name of Greyhound
Trap
SP
Time
Trainer
1st
Swords Rex
1
11/8f
29.71
Graham Holland
2nd
Tooklmaker Wilde
6
22/1
29.99
Robert G Gleeson
3rd
Trinity Junior
2
8/1
30.02
Peter Cronin
4th
Romeo Magico
5
4/1
30.09
Graham Holland
5th
Galloping Sydney
4
6/1
30.16
Graham Holland
6th
Bockos Crystal
3
3/1
30.23
Graham Holland
Sporting Press Oaks , Shelbourne Park (17 Jun, 525y, €25,000)
Pos
Name of Greyhound
Trap
SP
Time
Trainer
1st
Crafty Shivoo
1
3/1
28.14
Peter & Brian Divilly
2nd
Scooby Duchess
6
8/1
28.38
Jennifer O'Donnell
3rd
Glengar Martha
5
10/1
28.42
Pat Buckley
4th
Bobsleigh Dream
3
6/4f
28.49
Pat Buckley
5th
Quivers Magic
2
7/2
29.47
Adam Dunford
6th
Droopys Timing
4
5/1
00.00
Paul Conin
Thatch Bar & Restaurant National Produce , Clonmel (25 Jun, 525y, €20,000)
Pos
Name of Greyhound
Trap
SP
Time
Trainer
1st
Burgess Supreme
5
20/1
28.52
Sheila Spillane
2nd
Hukum
2
4/1
28.56
Adam Dunford
3rd
Ower Mystery
4
7/2
28.57
Pat Buckley
4th
Clonbrien Treaty
6
13/8f
28.74
Graham Holland
5th
Mendelson
3
20/1
28.85
Thomas O'Donovan
6th
Clona Shadow
1
11/4
28.99
Graham Holland
Boylesports Champion Stakes , Shelbourne Park (8 Jul, 550y, €20,000)
Pos
Name of Greyhound
Trap
SP
Time
Trainer
1st
Trinity Junior
1
5/2f
29.34
Peter Cronin
2nd
The Other Kobe
5
4/1
29.48
Jennifer O'Donnell
3rd
Boylesports Gift
4
12/1
29.72
Paul Hennessy
4th
Droopys Nice One
6
11/2
29.73
Murt Leahy
5th
Hawkfield Blue
3
9/2
30.64
Keeley McGee
6th
Scaglietti
2
11/4
31.41
Patrick Guilfoyle
Time Dundalk International , Dundalk (12 Jul, 550y, €20,000)
Pos
Name of Greyhound
Trap
SP
Time
Trainer
1st
Raha Mofo
5
4/1
29.98
Murt Leahy
2nd
Ballinabola Ed
6
4/6f
29.99
Pat Buckley
3rd
Brookside Richie
3
7/1
30.11
James Fenwick (UK)
4th
Cochise
1
20/1
30.25
Richard Rees (UK)
5th
Bobsleigh Dream
4
11/2
30.37
Pat Buckley
6th
Ballymac Whispa
2
25/1
30.44
Liam Dowling
Bar One Racing Irish Sprint Cup , Dundalk (15 Aug, 400y, €20,000)
Pos
Name of Greyhound
Trap
SP
Time
Trainer
1st
Carrick Aldo
5
-
20.80
David Murray
2nd
Who Have I
4
-
20.99
Michael J. O'Donovan
3rd
Ballymac Samuel
1
-
21.04
Liam Dowling
4th
Chelms Skippy
6
-
21.08
Peter Cronin
5th
Rathdown Molly
3
-
21.22
Marie Gilbert
6th
Radical Hero
2
-
21.27
Thomas O'Donovan
Time Greyhound Nutrition Juvenile Derby , Shelbourne Park (30 Sep, 525y, €25,000)
Pos
Name of Greyhound
Trap
SP
Time
Trainer
1st
Droopys Flytline
6
15/8f
27.93
Robert G. Gleeson
2nd
Short Grip
1
7/2
28.00
Patrick Cocoman
3rd
Droopys Zelda
3
12/1
28.28
John A. Linehan
4th
Unmatched
4
16/1
28.38
John A. Linehan
5th
Highview Splash
5
4/1
28.63
Gerry Merriman
6th
Ballinakill Alf
2
5/2
28.66
Graham Holland
Bar One Racing Irish Laurels , Cork (14 Oct, 525y, €30,000)
Pos
Name of Greyhound
Trap
SP
Time
Trainer
1st
High Trend
2
8/1
28.31
Graham Holland
2nd
Easy Razzle
5
6/1
28.34
John A. Linehan
3rd
Role Model
4
22/1
28.52
Owen McKenna
4th
Jacktavern Bolt
1
2/1jf
28.83
Graham Holland
5th
Carrick Aldo
6
2/1jf
28.87
David Murray
6th
Glory Baz
3
4/1
28.89
Graham Holland
Will We Go Irish St Leger , Limerick (25 Nov, 550y, €30,000)
Pos
Name of Greyhound
Trap
SP
Time
Trainer
1st
Clonbrien Treaty
6
5/4f
29.51
Graham Holland
2nd
Swords Rex
3
10/3
29.54
Graham Holland
3rd
Sober Glory
2
4/1
29.61
Karol Ramsbottom
4th
Mr Chelm
5
14/1
29.62
Peter Cronin
5th
Ballinabola Una
1
6/1
29.69
Pat Buckley
6th
Beepers Lariat
4
12/1
29.80
Jack Kennelly
Calendar
Date
Competition
Venue
1st prize
Winner
15 Jan
Cesarewitch
Central Park
£12,500
Cochise[ 12]
20 Jan
Diamond Stakes
Oxford
£10,000
Mohican Tara
27 Jan
Coral Essex Vase
Romford
£10,000
Aayamza Magic
27 Jan
BGBF Puppy Cup
Oxford
£10,000
Watchhall Sid
29 Jan
Stadium Bookmakers Blue Riband
Towcester
£10,000
Hopes Paddington
16 Feb
Northern Puppy Derby
Newcastle
£12,500
Links Maverick
18 Feb
Golden Jacket
Crayford
£20,000
Bellmore Sally
25 Feb
Shelbourne Gold Cup
Shelbourne
€16,000
Bogger Hunter
4 Mar
Ladbrokes Winter Derby
Monmore
£10,000
Coolavanny Shado
11 Mar
Greyhound & Petworld Juvenile Classic
Tralee
€11,000
Ballymac Marino[ 13]
17 Mar
Coral Golden Sprint
Romford
£10,000
Droopys Good[ 14]
17 Mar
Coral Coronation Cup
Romford
£10,000
Antigua Sugar[ 15]
18 Mar
Premier Greyhound Racing Puppy Derby
Monmore
£20,000
Bradys Bullet[ 16]
20 Mar
BGBF British Breeders Stakes
Nottingham
£12,500
Romeo Command[ 17]
24 Mar
Frightful Flash Kennels McCalmont Cup
Kilkenny
€5,000
Lynchy Boy[ 18]
26 Mar
RPGTV Irish Cesarewitch
Mullingar
€6,000
Bobsleigh Dream[ 19]
29 Mar
Arena Racing Company Kent Plate
Central Park
£12,500
Fromposttopillar
30 Mar
Arena Racing Company Northern Flat
Newcastle
£12,500
Brookside Richie[ 20]
2 Apr
RPGTV Juvenile
Towcester
£5,000
Arkady[ 21]
8 Apr
Bresbet Easter Cup
Shelbourne
€25,000
Swords Rex[ 22]
15 Apr
Steel City Puppy Derby
Sheffield
£15,000
Droopys Fidget
15 Apr
Ladbrokes TV Trophy
Crayford
£15,000
Bellmore Sally[ 23]
15 Apr
Champion Hurdle
Crayford
£10,000
Lenson Doolin
21 Apr
Arena Racing Company Grand Prix
Sunderland
£12,500
Coonough Crew
21 Apr
Con & Annie Kirby Memorial
Limerick
€80,000
Clonbrien Treaty[ 24]
22 Apr
bet365 Hunt Cup
Oxford
£10,000
Havana Lover[ 25]
23 Apr
KAB Maiden Derby
Towcester
£10,000
Drive On Lad
29 Apr
Coral Brighton Belle
Hove
£10,000
Betsys Bullet
29 Apr
TIME Greyhound Nutrition Waterford Select Stakes
Waterford
€10,000
Clona Duke
29 Apr
Arena Racing Company Laurels
Perry Barr
£12,500
Hawkfield Ozark[ 26]
6 May
RPGTV Open
Shelbourne
€15,000
Ballinabola Ed[ 27]
7 May
BresBet Gymcrack
Kinsley
£9,000
Stormy News[ 28]
27 May
Ladbrokes Kent Vase
Crayford
£1,000
Beebee Bianco
27 May
Jay & Kay Coach Tours Kent St Leger
Crayford
£10,000
Low Pressure
30 May
Three Steps to Victory
Sheffield
£10,000
Distant Emma
11 June
ARC Kent Silver Salver
Central Park
£12,500
Flashing Willow[ 29]
16 Jun
Callaway Ramber at Stud Race of Champions
Tralee
€15,000
Ballinabola Ed
17 Jun
Sporting Press Oaks
Shelbourne
€25,000
Crafty Shivoo
25 Jun
Thatch Bar & Restaurant National Produce
Clonmel
€20,000
Burgess Supreme[ 30]
1 Jul
Star Sports & TRC Events & Leisure English Greyhound Derby
Towcester
£235,000
Gaytime Nemo
8 Jul
Boylesports Champion Stakes
Shelbourne
€20,000
Trinity Junior
12 Jul
Time Dundalk International
Dundalk
€20,000
Raha Mofo
15 Jul
RPGTV Corn Cuchulainn
Shelbourne
€10,500
Kinturk Road
16 Jul
Centenary Agri Tipperary Cup
Thurles
€7,500
Pape Di Oro
27 Jul
ARC Angel of the North
Newcastle
£6,000
Magical Camilla
29 Jul
Pall Mall Stakes
Oxford
£20,000
Links Maverick
29 Jul
Premier Greyhound Racing Regency
Hove
£20,000
Space Jet[ 10]
29 Jul
Coral Springbok
Hove
£5,000
Droopys Chaser[ 10]
29 Jul
Coral Sussex Cup
Hove
£10,000
Candolim Monsson[ 10]
30 Jul
Juvenile Classic
Towcester
£10,000
Droopys Clue
15 Aug
Bar One Racing Irish Sprint Cup
Dundalk
€20,000
Carrick Aldo[ 31]
26 Aug
Ladbrokes Guys and Dolls
Crayford
£5,000
Swift Daisy[ 32]
26 Aug
Ladbrokes Grand National
Crayford
£10,000
Coppice Fox[ 32]
26 Aug
Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic
Monmore
£10,000
Fromposttopillar[ 33]
26 Aug
Ladbrokes Gold Cup
Monmore
£10,000
Links Maverick[ 33]
28 Aug
JenningsBet Puppy Classic
Nottingham
£12,500
Glenvale Bill[ 34]
28 Aug
JenningsBet Select Stakes
Nottingham
£10,000
Clona Duke[ 34]
2 Sep
Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby
Shelbourne
€125,000
The Other Kobe
20 Sep
Click Competitions East Anglian Derby
Yarmouth
£15,000
Watch The Limo[ 35]
21 Sep
77th Produce Stakes
Swindon
£13,000
Queen Joni[ 36]
23 Sep
M Lambe Construction Birmingham Cup
Perry Barr
£12,500
Brookside Richie[ 37]
23 Sep
Premier Greyhound Racing St Leger
Perry Barr
£20,000
Droopys Clue[ 37]
24 Sep
Empress Stakes
Towcester
£10,000
Crafty Shivoo
29 Sep
Coral Romford Puppy Cup
Romford
£10,000
Romeo Crusade[ 38]
30 Sep
Time Greyhound Nutrition Juvenile Derby
Shelbourne
€25,000
Droopys Flytline[ 39]
14 Oct
Bar One Racing Irish Laurels
Cork
€30,000
High Trend[ 40]
17 Oct
BresBet Steel City Cup
Sheffield
£8,000
Swift Iconic[ 41]
20 Oct
Premier Greyhound Racing Champion Stakes
Romford
£20,000
Hollow Man[ 42]
27 Oct
Cowley Puppy Collar
Oxford
£10,000
Long Fellow
28 Oct
ARC Scurry Gold Cup
Perry Barr
£6,000
Quarteira[ 43]
28 Oct
Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks
Perry Barr
£20,000
No Rush[ 43]
29 Oct
Premier Greyhound Racing Kent Derby
Central Park
£20,000
Churchfield Syd[ 44]
17 Nov
ARC Classic
Sunderland
£12,500
Jonny Whiskers
25 Nov
Ladbrokes Gold Collar
Crayford
£10,000
Laughil Jess[ 45]
25 Nov
Kent Rosebowl
Crayford
£1,000
Oh Cosmopolitan[ 45]
25 Nov
Yorkshire St Leger
Doncaster
£3,000
Fabulous Dyna[ 46]
25 Nov
Willwego Irish St Leger
Limerick
€30,000
Clonbrien Treaty[ 47]
26 Nov
RPGTV Puppy Derby
Towcester
£10,000
King Memphis[ 48]
27 Nov
Premier Greyhound Racing Eclipse
Nottingham
£20,000
Newinn Syd[ 49]
17 Dec
bet365 Puppy Oaks
Towcester
£10,000
Queen Dusty
19 Dec
British Bred Breeders Forum Derby
Sheffield
£10,000
Queen Joni
22 Dec
bet365 Challenge Cup
Oxford
£10,000
Havana Top Note
23 Dec
George Curtis/Ballyregan Bob Memorial
Hove
£10,000
Droopys Clue
23 Dec
Coral Olympic
Hove
£10,000
King Memphis
26 Dec
ARC National Sprint
Nottingham
£6,000
Bombout Bullet
28 Dec
Premier Greyhound Racing All England Cup
Newcastle
£20,000
Swift Silly
References
UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Years
Years
UK & Irish greyhound competitions
English competitions
Current competitions
Former competitions
Irish competitions
Current competitions
Former competitions
Current greyhound stadiums in Great Britain licensed by the Greyhound Board of Great Britain
Licensed stadiums
English greyhound tracks
Unlicensed tracks (independent / flapping)
Greyhound stadiums in Ireland
Current (Republic of Ireland) Current (Northern Ireland) Former (Republic of Ireland) Former (Northern Ireland)
Scottish greyhound tracks
Unlicensed tracks (independent/flapping)
Welsh greyhound tracks
Unlicensed tracks (independent/flapping)