The 2018 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 93rd year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Quick Facts
2018 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year |
---|
Dorotas Wildcat, the English Greyhound Derby champion |
|
Close
More information Major Winners, Award ...
Close
More information Gain GTA Trainers Championship, (Towcester) (21 Apr), Pos ...
Close
The year revolved around two major events, the first was the ongoing battle for broadcasting rights between Satellite Information Services (SIS) and the Arena Racing Company (ARC). The second was the devastating news that Towcester racecourse, headed by Lord Hesketh[2] was put into administration. On 23 August KPMG were appointed as administrators and 134 out of 137 members of staff at the racecourse were made redundant, many having to claim statutory redundancy from the government.[3] The last greyhound meeting was on 12 August.
On 13 November it was announced by the administrators that the racecourse's assets were being sold to a company called Fermor Land LLP.[4][5] This company was formed on 18 October (26 days before the sale) and is headed by Lord Hesketh's brother-in-law Mark Westropp, a trustee of the Hesketh Family trusts.[4][6]
Dorotas Wildcat won the last Derby at Towcester and then following a rest came back to win the Eclipse in late November. The Kevin Hutton trained black dog was the first Derby champion to win a competition (post Derby) since Taylors Sky in 2011.
On 9 April bookmakers and betting exchanges informed the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport whether they were going to contribute to the British Greyhound Racing Fund. The fund which is pivotal for the welfare of greyhounds involved in Greyhound Board of Great Britain licensed racing is voluntary and based on the profits. Betfair and Sky Betting & Gaming were the high profile companies that refused to contribute which attracted criticism from the industry.[7][8] One month later on 17 May, it was announced by Culture secretary Matt Hancock that betting stakes on fixed-odds betting terminals (known as FOBTs) would be reduced to £2 maximum. Consequently income generated by betting shops could reduce, which could affect the general health of both the horse racing and greyhound racing industries and lead to an uncertain period ahead.[8][9]
Eight ex-Towcester trainers joined Henlow, including Mark Wallis and Nick Savva while Kevin Hutton joined Monmore and Patrick Janssens joined Central Park Stadium. Wallis would go on to extend his record number of wins as Greyhound Trainer of the Year by securing a tenth success and a seventh in succession despite a late challenge from Kevin Hutton.[10]
John Gilburn died after a heart attack aged 65, the Sheffield director was an extremely popular figure within the industry.[11] Former BGRB Chief Executive Geoffrey Thomas also died, he was best known for the 'New Deal', a failed attempt in 2002 to gain a better deal for the tracks from the bookmakers.[12][13]
Mildenhall Stadium closed to greyhound racing on 15 January following the ongoing problems experienced by the track, leaving 22 registered stadia with the Greyhound Board of Great Britain. The proposed Swindon Stadium development showed no further progress in relation to a new track layout, new housing now bordered the existing track and it had now passed the three year mark since Clarke Osborne (MD) had informed the greyhound connections that work was due to start.[14]
Mark Wallis won a third Trainers Championship stopping Kevin Hutton from winning a fourth consecutive title.[15] The Other Reg secured the Scottish Greyhound Derby title.[16] Hutton then made amends by winning his first Derby title with Dorotas Wildcat.[17]
As a result of the Towcester administration three major events, the ECC Timber Puppy Derby, the Oaks and the TV Trophy were left uncontested in the racing schedule. The rights for the TV Trophy held by Greyhound Board of Great Britain was rescheduled for Crayford in December. Both the Oaks and Puppy Derby received new homes in Swindon and Henlow respectively.[18]
Principal UK finals
More information Ladbrokes Golden Jacket, Crayford (27 Feb, 714m, £17,500), Pos ...
|
Racing Post Scottish Derby, Shawfield (14 April, 480m, £20,000) |
Pos |
Name of Greyhound |
Trap |
SP |
Time |
Trainer |
1st |
The Other Reg [20] | 4 | 5-2 | 28.87 | Pat Rosney |
2nd |
Dropzone | 5 | 8-1 | 29.01 | Elaine Parker |
3rd |
Borna Account | 3 | 4-1 | 29.05 | Pat Buckley |
4th |
Lightfoot King | 6 | 5-1 | 29.08 | Elaine Parker |
5th |
Dorotas Vic | 1 | 6-4f | 29.16 | Charlie Lister OBE |
6th |
Black Farren | 2 | 5-1 | 29.24 | Mark Wallis |
|
Close
More information John Smith's Grand National, Central Park (27 April, 480mH, £8,000), Pos ...
John Smith's Grand National, Central Park (27 April, 480mH, £8,000) |
Pos |
Name of Greyhound |
Trap |
SP |
Time |
Trainer |
1st |
Parkers Dynamite [21] | 3 | 7-4 | 29.46 | Mark Wallis |
2nd |
Razldazl Raidio | 5 | 5-4f | 29.90 | Ricky Holloway |
3rd |
Barricane Jack | 2 | 12-1 | 30.02 | Ricky Holloway |
4th |
Young Coumbus | 1 | 33-1 | 30.16 | Paul Young |
5th |
Swift Dartmoor | 4 | 8-1 | 30.20 | Mark Wallis |
6th |
The Alickadoo | 6 | 8-1 | 30.36 | Barry O'Sullivan |
|
William Hill Grand Prix, Sunderland (18 Jul, 640m, £15,000) |
Pos |
Name of Greyhound |
Trap |
SP |
Time |
Trainer |
1st |
Bombers Bullet [22] | 4 | 9-4 | 39.10 | Mark Wallis |
2nd |
Swift Hansel | 3 | 10-1 | 39.13 | Anneliese Thompson |
3rd |
Donation | 6 | 5-1 | 39.14 | Heather Dimmock |
4th |
Lightfoot King | 2 | 6-4f | 39.36 | Elaine Parker |
5th |
Looking Sharp | 1 | 12-1 | 39.58 | Pat Rosney |
6th |
Ballymac Twitter | 5 | 4-1 | 40.08 | Kelly Macari |
|
Close
More information William Hill Classic, Sunderland (18 Jul, 450m, £25,000), Pos ...
William Hill Classic, Sunderland (18 Jul, 450m, £25,000) |
Pos |
Name of Greyhound |
Trap |
SP |
Time |
Trainer |
1st |
Allowdale Bruno [23] | 6 | 10-1 | 26.75 | Harry Williams |
2nd |
Bubbly Bluebird | 4 | 5-1 | 26.94 | Paul Young |
3rd |
King Elvis | 3 | 1-1jf | 27.16 | Liz McNair |
4th |
Holdem Zidane | 5 | 20-1 | 27.20 | Carol Weatherall |
5th |
King Turbo | 1 | 1-1jf | 27.37 | Liz McNair |
6th |
Azzurri Genesis | 2 | 14-1 | 27.41 | Pat Rosney |
|
RPGTV East Anglian Derby, Yarmouth (20 Sep, 462m, £15,000) |
Pos |
Name of Greyhound |
Trap |
SP |
Time |
Trainer |
1st |
Affane Party [24] | 3 | 9-4 | 27.32 | John Lambe |
2nd |
Seaglass Phantom | 4 | 6-1 | 27.59 | Patrick Janssens |
3rd |
King Elvis | 6 | 2-1f | 27.88 | Liz McNair |
4th |
Kilmore Lemon | 5 | 7-2 | 27.98 | Patrick Janssens |
5th |
Dog Mac Arthure | 2 | 12-1 | 28.01 | David Pruhs |
6th |
Bubbly Bluebird | 1 | 13-2 | 28.16 | Paul Young |
|
Close
More information GRA St Leger, Perry Barr (17 Nov, 710m, £5,500), Pos ...
GRA St Leger, Perry Barr (17 Nov, 710m, £5,500) |
Pos |
Name of Greyhound |
Trap |
SP |
Time |
Trainer |
1st |
Calico Ranger [25] | 6 | 9-4 | 43.09 | Carol Weatherall |
2nd |
Slippy Maggie | 4 | 5-2 | 43.15 | Hazel Kemp |
3rd |
Ridgedale Gold | 1 | 7-1 | 43.51 | Phil Simmonds |
4th |
Minnies Highway | 3 | 12-1 | 43.53 | John Mullins |
5th |
Token Memory | 2 | 20-1 | 43.59 | Ian Bradford |
6th |
Magical Icarus | 5 | 11-8f | 43.71 | David Jeans |
|
Ladbrokes TV Trophy, Crayford (8 Dec, 874m, £9,000) |
Pos |
Name of Greyhound |
Trap |
SP |
Time |
Trainer |
1st |
Savana Winner | 4 | 4-1 | 56.87 | Diane Henry |
2nd |
Goldies Hotspur | 5 | 7-1 | 56.95 | Patrick Janssens |
3rd |
Tellhersomething | 6 | 20-1 | 56.97 | John Blencowe |
4th |
Slippy Maggie | 2 | 6-4jf | 57.19 | Hazel Kemp |
5th |
Maireads Ivy | 1 | 6-4jf | 57.20 | Derek Knight |
6th |
Slippy Maska | 3 | 50-1 | 57.92 | Hazel Kemp |
|
Close
More information Conlon Family and Pin-Point Recruitment Laurels, Newcastle (13 Dec, 480m, £5,000), Pos ...
|
Oaks, Swindon (22 Dec, 480m, £15,000) |
Pos |
Name of Greyhound |
Trap |
SP |
Time |
Trainer |
1st |
Ravenswood Flo[27] | 1 | 3-1 | 28.82 | Kevin Hutton |
2nd |
Magical Vera | 6 | 3-1 | 28.91 | Kevin Hutton |
3rd |
Emers Cookie | 2 | 10-1 | 29.09 | Paul Meek |
4th |
Ballynabee Lucy | 3 | 8-1 | 29.16 | Barry O'Sullivan |
5th |
Jumeirah Charm | 4 | 5-2f | 29.28 | Gerry Holian |
6th |
Chubbys Caviar | 5 | 7-2 | 2958 | Mark Wallis |
|
Close
Principal Irish finals
More information Ladbrokes Easter Cup, Shelbourne (10 Mar, 550y, €25,000), Pos ...
Ladbrokes Easter Cup, Shelbourne (10 Mar, 550y, €25,000) |
Pos |
Name of Greyhound |
Trap |
SP |
Time |
Trainer |
1st |
Colarhouse Gerry [28] | 1 | 9-2 | 29.56 | Owen McKenna |
2nd |
Kilgraney Master | 6 | 7-1 | 29.84 | Thomas Buggy |
3rd |
Fast Fit Alex | 5 | 25-1 | 29.86 | Noel Walker |
4th |
Karlow Joe | 3 | 14-1 | 29.91 | Henry Kelly |
5th |
Good News | 2 | 1-1f | 29.96 | Patrick Guilfoyle |
6th |
Droopys Noah | 4 | 9-4 | 30.21 | John Linehan |
|
Kirby Memorial Stakes, Limerick (21 Apr, 525y, €80,000) |
Pos |
Name of Greyhound |
Trap |
SP |
Time |
Trainer |
1st |
Droopys Davy [29] | 6 | 4-5f | 28.10 | Pat Buckley |
2nd |
Da Head Hunter | 2 | 6-1 | 28.52 | Peter Cronin |
3rd |
Slippy Cian | 4 | 9-2 | 28.66 | Graham Holland |
4th |
Master Jingles | 1 | 10-1 | 28.97 | Francis Murray |
5th |
Lemon Shane | 3 | 7-2 | 29.08 | Gerry Holian |
6th |
Blue East | 5 | 8-1 | 29.53 | Graham Holland |
|
Close
More information Pos, Name of Greyhound ...
Sporting Press Oaks, Shelbourne (26 May, 525y, €25,000)[30] |
Pos |
Name of Greyhound |
Trap |
SP |
Time |
Trainer |
1st |
Jaytee Jordan | 2 | 7-2 | 28.47 | Paul Hennessy |
2nd |
Droopys Loom | 1 | 6-1 | 28.52 | John Linehan |
3rd |
Ballinakil Clare | 5 | 9-4f | 28.77 | Graham Holland |
4th |
Aayamza Express | 4 | 9-2 | 28.80 | Karol Ramsbottom |
5th |
Tibet | 6 | 5-1 | 28.98 | Patrick Norris |
6th |
Nice Mystery | 3 | 9-2 | 29.15 | Pat Buckley |
|
Larry O'Rourke National Produce, Clonmel (3 June, 525y, €20,000) |
Pos |
Name of Greyhound |
Trap |
SP |
Time |
Trainer |
1st |
Cash Is King [31] | 6 | 6-4f | 28.43 | Brendan Maunsell |
2nd |
Nice Charmer | 2 | 7-2 | 28.78 | Graham Holland |
3rd |
Pennylane Masara | 1 | 5-2 | 28.89 | Pat Buckley |
4th |
Uncle Wexford | 3 | 5-2 | 29.31 | James Robinson |
5th |
Blue East | 5 | 5-2 | 29.41 | Graham Holland |
6th |
Ballyanne Sim | 4 | 4-1 | 29.87 | James Robinson |
|
Close
More information EOS IT Solutions Dundalk International, Dundalk (12 Jul, 550y, €20,000), Pos ...
EOS IT Solutions Dundalk International, Dundalk (12 Jul, 550y, €20,000) |
Pos |
Name of Greyhound |
Trap |
SP |
Time |
Trainer |
1st |
Droopys Verve [32] | 3 | 1-1f | 29.39+ | Angela Harrison (UK) |
2nd |
Borna Gin | 1 | 5-2 | 29.40 | Pat Buckley |
3rd |
Jumeirah Charm | 2 | 14-1 | 29.73 | Gerry Holian |
4th |
Slippery Jade | 4 | 20-1 | 30.01 | Larry Dunne |
5th |
Whoops Jack | 5 | 4-1 | 30.06 | Peter Cronin |
6th |
Cabra Angel | 6 | 7-1 | 30.34 | Patrick Guilfoyle |
+ Track record |
Irish Independent Laurels, Cork (14 Jul, 525y, €30,000) |
Pos |
Name of Greyhound |
Trap |
SP |
Time |
Trainer |
1st |
Rockybay Foley [33] | 3 | 4-5f | 28.37 | Kieran Lynch |
2nd |
Native Chimes | 2 | 5-2 | 28.58 | Johnny O'Sullivan |
3rd |
Rockybay Rover | 1 | 5-1 | 28.61 | Kieran Lynch |
4th |
Clearly Written | 6 | 7-1 | 28.82 | Denis P O'Malley |
5th |
Away Jet | 5 | 20-1 | 28.89 | Paul Hennessy |
6th |
Nice Mystery | 4 | 7-1 | 29.03 | Pat Buckley |
|
Close
More information Boylesports Champion Stakes, Shelbourne (28 July, 550y, €20,000), Pos ...
|
Dublin Coach Juvenile Derby, Shelbourne (19 Oct, 550y, €22,500) |
Pos |
Name of Greyhound |
Trap |
SP |
Time |
Trainer |
1st |
Balline Kyle [35] | 6 | 4-1 | 28.60 | John Byrne |
2nd |
Sliabh Liag | 4 | 6-1 | 28.77 | Karol Ramsbottom |
3rd |
Ballymac Anton | 2 | 5-4f | 28.91 | Liam Dowling |
4th |
Budgie Wudgie | 1 | 10-1 | 28.98 | Paul Hennessy |
5th |
Ballymac Trinkle | 5 | 8-1 | 29.04 | Liam Dowling |
6th |
Ulysses | 3 | 7-2 | 29.35 | Leonard O'Hanlon |
|
Close
More information Barking Buzz App Irish St Leger, Limerick (3 Nov, 550y, €25,000), Pos ...
Close
UK Category 1 & 2 competitions
More information Competition, Date ...
Close
+Delayed 2017 edition
Irish feature competitions
More information Competition, Date ...
Close
"Juvenile". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 10 March 2018. Retrieved 10 March 2018.