2023 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year

The 2023 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 98th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.[1]

2023 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
Category 1 finalists Millridge Tanic (left) and Olga with trainer Pat Curtin
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Summary

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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

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Major Winners
Award Name of Winner
2023 English Greyhound Derby Gaytime Nemo
2023 Irish Greyhound Derby The Other Kobe
Greyhound Trainer of the Year Mark Wallis
UK Greyhound of the Year Droopys Clue
Irish Greyhound of the Year The Other Kobe

Principal UK finals

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Principal Irish finals

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Calendar

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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

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  1. ^ "Category One Schedule". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  2. ^ "Sened petitions number 245373". Senedd Cymru. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  3. ^ "Wales's Valley Stadium granted GBGB licence". Greyhound Star. 18 August 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  4. ^ "Relentless Treadmill". Greyhound Star. 8 November 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  5. ^ "Trainer of the Year final standings 2023". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. 3 January 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  6. ^ "New Years Day Round Up – The Editor". Greyhound Star. January 2024. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  7. ^ "Notice of death". Mick Wheble’s U.K.And Worldwide Boxing Site And Blog on Facebook. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  8. ^ "PATRICK WAS WAITING ON FINAL JUDGEMENT". Greyhound Star. 7 April 2023. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  9. ^ "2023 PREMIER GREYHOUND RACING GOLDEN JACKET - Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  10. ^ a b c d "PREMIER GREYHOUND RACING REGENCY FINAL". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  11. ^ "STADIUM BOOKMAKERS PALL MALL FINAL". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  12. ^ "ARENA RACING COMPANY CESAREWITCH FINAL". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  13. ^ "2023 Greyhound & Petworld Juvenile Classic Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  14. ^ "CORAL GOLDEN SPRINT - FINAL". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  15. ^ "CORAL CORONATION CUP - FINAL". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  16. ^ "PREMIER GREYHOUND RACING PUPPY DERBY 2023 FINAL". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  17. ^ "BGBF British Breeders Stakes 2023 - Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  18. ^ "2023 Frightful Flash Kennels McCalmont Cup Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  19. ^ "RPGTV Irish Cesarewitch Open 600". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  20. ^ "Arena Racing Company Northern Flat Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  21. ^ "RPGTV JUVENILE". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  22. ^ "2023 BRESBET Easter Cup 550 Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  23. ^ "LADBROKES TV TROPHY - Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  24. ^ "2023 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  25. ^ "bet365 HUNT CUP FINAL". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  26. ^ "ARENA RACING COMPANY LAURELS FINAL". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  27. ^ "The RPGTV Open 600 Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  28. ^ "The BresBet Gymcrack Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  29. ^ "Arena Racing Company Kent Silver Salver Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  30. ^ "THE 2023 NATIONAL PRODUCE STAKES". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  31. ^ "Bar One Racing Irish Sprint Cup Open 400". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  32. ^ a b "Ladbrokes meeting". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  33. ^ a b "Ladbrokes Monmore meeting". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  34. ^ a b "Nott meeting Aug 28". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  35. ^ "THE CLICK COMPETITIONS 77TH E.A. GREYHOUND DERBY - GRAND FINAL". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  36. ^ "Joni always had star potential". Greyhound Star. 22 September 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  37. ^ a b "Perry Barr meeting 23 Sep". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  38. ^ "2023 CORAL ROMFORD PUPPY CUP FINAL". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  39. ^ "The TIME Greyhound Nutrition Juvenile Derby Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  40. ^ "The 2023 Bar One Racing Irish Laurels Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  41. ^ "2023 BresBet Steel City Cup Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  42. ^ "2023 Premier Greyhound Racing Chapion Stakes Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  43. ^ a b "Perry Barr, Saturday 28 October". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  44. ^ "Premier Greyhound Racing Kent Derby 2023 Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  45. ^ a b "LADBROKES GOLD COLLAR - Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  46. ^ "BGBF St Leger Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  47. ^ "Willwego.com Irish St Leger 2023 Final". Irish Greyhound Racung Ireland.
  48. ^ "Meeting". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  49. ^ "Meeting". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 27 November 2023.