2017 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
The 2017 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 92nd year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
2017 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year | |
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Summary
Wimbledon and Hall Green
The year was best known for the closure of the GRA operated tracks of Wimbledon Stadium and Hall Green Stadium. Wimbledon closed on 25 March.[1] Wimbledon's sister track Hall Green, owned by Euro Property Investments Ltd, closed on 29 July and will be demolished.[2]
Towcester Derby
The premier competition of the year, the English Greyhound Derby, was held at Towcester on 1 July, the first time in the competition's history that it was held outside of London.[3] It was won by 28-1 shot Astute Missile; the outsider of the six in the final.[4]
Irish protests
In Ireland continuing protests by the DGOBA resulted in a suspension of racing at Shelbourne Park for five months and the cancellation of several major events. The protest was over the February closure of Harold's Cross Stadium.[5][6] The Irish Derby held in September was won by the Patrick Guilfoyle trained Good News.[7]
Streaming Rights & Bookmakers
The industry experienced a battle for broadcasting and streaming rights between Satellite Information Services (SIS) and the Arena Racing Company (ARC). Each signed up various tracks to enable them to produce fixtures for the bookmaking chains,[8] the latter ARC even bought two tracks (Sunderland and Newcastle) from William Hill in May.[9] Ladbrokes and Gala Coral merged to become Ladbrokes Coral.[10]
Other News
One of the sports leading events, the Laurels, switched from the GRA and Belle Vue to Newcastle. The move was seen as positive with high hopes that the race could regain some of its former glory and increase its prize fund.[11] Mark Wallis extended his champion trainer trophy record to nine.[12]
Roll of honour
Major Winners | |
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Award | Name of Winner |
2017 English Greyhound Derby | Astute Missile (Seamus Cahill) |
2017 Irish Greyhound Derby | Good News (Patrick Guilfoyle) |
Greyhound Trainer of the Year | Mark Wallis (Towcester) |
UK Greyhound of the Year | King Elvis (Liz McNair) |
Irish Greyhound of the Year | Good News (Patrick Guilfoyle) |
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Principal UK finals
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Principal Irish finals
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UK Category 1 & 2 competitions
Competition | Date | Venue | Winning Greyhound | Winning Trainer | Time | SP | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Coral Coronation Cup | Jan 11 | Romford | Roswell Romanov [29] | Mark Wallis (Towcester) | 35.10 | 4-5f | |
Greyhound Media Group Prestige | Jan 27 | Hall Green | Rubys Razzle [30] | Mark Wallis (Towcester) | 39.31 | 3-1 | |
WJ & JE Cearns Invitation | Jan 31 | Central Park | Brinkleys King [31] | Seamus Cahill (Hove) | 31.01 | 9-4 | |
Silver Salver | Jan 31 | Central Park | Clondoty Alex [32] | Mark Wallis (Towcester) | 27.72 | 3-1 | |
Cearnsport Springbok | Mar 7 | Central Park | Yassoo Martin [33] | George Andreas (Central Park) | 29.88 | 8-1 | |
Racing Post Juvenile | Mar 7 | Central Park | Murrys Act [34] | Kevin Boon (Yarmouth) | 28.99 | 12-1 | |
Ladbrokes Puppy Derby | Mar 16 | Monmore | Forest Con [35] | Seamus Cahill (Hove) | 28.22 | 5-2jf | |
Coral Golden Sprint | Mar 17 | Romford | Clondoty Alex [36] | Mark Wallis (Towcester) | 24.09 | 6-4f | |
Calne Racing Arc | Mar 23 | Swindon | Garryvoe Bobby [37] | Graham Holland (Ireland) | 28.35 | 11-10f | |
Coors Three Steps to Victory | Apr 4 | Sheffield | Geelo Sapphire [38] | Carl Perry (Sheffield) | 38.86 | 7-1 | |
Tiger Loans Gold Cup | Apr 18 | Harlow | Rubys Razzle [39] | Mark Wallis (Towcester) | 37.69 | 5-4f | |
Golden Crest | Apr 22 | Poole | Crossfield Giles [40] | Seamus Cahill (Hove) | 26.27 | 9-2 | |
Bresmed Northern Sprint | Apr 25 | Sheffield | Mashmad Eyebrows [41] | Kevin Hutton (Towcester) | 16.09 | 10-1 | |
Coral Regency | May 3 | Hove | Tyrap Dragi [42] | Jason Heath (Hove) | 41.94 | 8-1 | |
Betfred Gymcrack | May 16 | Kinsley | Cometwopass [43] | Peter Cronin (Ireland) | 27.18 | 11-10f | |
Star Sports Champion Hurdle | Jul 1 | Towcester | Ballymac Manix [44] | Seamus Cahill (Hove) | 28.92 | 28-1 | |
British Bred Produce Stakes | Jul 22 | Swindon | King Elvis [45] | Liz McNair (Private) | 28.74 | 1-1f | |
Betfred Select Stakes | Jul 26 | Nottingham | Dorotas Wildcat [46] | Kevin Hutton (Towcester) | 29.61 | 5-4f | |
Coral Sussex Cup | Aug 3 | Hove | Shaneboy Freddie [47] | Kevin Boon (Yarmouth) | 29.94 | 9-2 | |
George Curtis Trafalgar Cup | Aug 17 | Monmore | King Elvis [48] | Liz McNair (Private) | 27.96 | 4-6f | |
Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic | Aug 17 | Monmore | Buckos Lass [49] | Corren Price (Monmore) | 38.00 | 16-1 | |
Ladbrokes Gold Cup | Aug 17 | Monmore | Droopys Buick [50] | Angela Harrison (Newcastle) | 27.63 | 5-4f | |
William Hill Peterborough Derby | Aug 23 | Peterborough | Hiya Butt [51] | Hayley Keightley (Private) | 25.77 | 1-2f | |
Lowther Stakes | Aug 27 | Towcester | Geelo Sapphire [52] | Carl Perry (Sheffield) | 29.36 | 9-1 | |
GMG Puppy Classic | Aug 28 | Nottingham | Wildfire Lord [53] | Paul Young (Romford) | 29.66 | 12-1 | |
Coral Champion Stakes | Aug 30 | Romford | Murrys Act [54] | Kevin Boon (Yarmouth) | 35.15 | 5-2jf | |
Betfred Steel City Cup | Sep 5 | Sheffield | Tynwald Baz [55] | Lawrence Tuffin (Nottingham) | 28.79 | 6-4f | |
Doncaster St Leger | Sep 13 | Doncaster | Keplar Nine [56] | Charlie Lister OBE (Private) | 41.36 | 5-1 | |
Ladbrokes Gold Collar | Sep 26 | Crayford | Mayshighlandreel [57] | Martyn Wiley (Romford) | 33.09 | 5-2jf | |
Ladbrokes Guys and Dolls | Sep 26 | Crayford | Pure Placere [58] | Arun Green (Crayford) | 23.09 | 3-1cf | |
Romford Puppy Cup | Sep 29 | Romford | Roxholme Nidge [59] | Hayley Keightley (Private) | 23.70 | 2-5f | |
Cearnsport Kent Derby | Oct 3 | Central Park | Bockos Alfie [60] | Patrick Janssens (Towcester) | 28.84 | 12-1 | |
William Hill All England Cup | Oct 19 | Newcastle | Droopys Expert [61] | Angela Harrison (Newcastle) | 28.10 | 6-4f | |
William Hill Northern Puppy Derby | Oct 19 | Newcastle | Droopys Zephyr [62] | Angela Harrison (Newcastle) | 28.50 | 8-1 | |
BAPP Group Scurry Cup | Oct 21 | Belle Vue | Roxholme Hat [63] | Hayley Keightley (Private) | 14.82 | 1-1f | |
BAPP Group Northern Flat | Oct 21 | Belle Vue | Dropzone [64] | Elaine Parker (Sheffield) | 28.10 | 6-4f | |
British Breeders Stakes | Oct 24 | Nottingham | Candlelight Fire [65] | Elaine Parker (Sheffield) | 29.70 | 9-4 | |
RPGTV Henlow Derby | Oct 29 | Henlow | King Elvis [66] | Liz McNair (Private) | 27.11 | 6-4f | |
Coral Brighton Belle | Nov 9 | Hove | Away Shelly [67] | Matt Dartnall (Towcester) | 29.85 | 5-4f | |
Betfred Eclipse | Nov 21 | Nottingham | Bubbly Bluebird [68] | Paul Young (Romford) | 29.62 | 4-1 | |
British Bred Derby | Nov 29 | Towcester | King Elvis [69] | Liz McNair (Private) | 29.46 | 9-4 | |
Jay & Kay Coach Tours Kent St Leger | Dec 9 | Crayford | Maireads Ivy [70] | Derek Knight (Hove) | 45.28 | 2-1f | |
National Sprint | Dec 18 | Nottingham | Queen Anna [71] | Liz McNair (Private) | 17.83 | 9-4 | |
Coral Olympic | Dec 28 | Hove | Bruisers Bullet [72] | Mark Wallis (Towcester) | 29.90 | 6-4f | |
Essex Vase+ | Mar 16 | Romford | Murrys Act [73] | Kevin Boon (Yarmouth) | 35.34 | 2-1 |
+ held in 2018
Irish feature competitions
Competition | Date | Venue | Winning Greyhound | Winning Trainer | Time | SP | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Best Car Parks Gold Cup | Feb 11 | Shelbourne | Cancelled [74] | ||||
GMHD.ie Juvenile Classic | Mar 3 | Tralee | Paradise Marco [75] | Sean Meade | 29.20 | 4-1 | |
Wallace & Murray Cesarewitch | Apr 8 | Mullingar | Vivaro Swift [76] | Kenneth Busteed | 33.23 | 2-1f | |
McCalmont Cup | Apr 14 | Kilkenny | Karlow Crean [77] | Henry Kelly | 29.08 | 7-2 | |
Gain Open 600 | May 6 | Shelbourne | Cancelled [78] | ||||
Kerry GAA Race of Champions | Jun 16 | Tralee | Killinan Rosie [79] | Pat Buckley | 29.62 | 7-1 | |
Gain Corn Cuchulainn | Jul 28 | Shelbourne | Airmount Tess [80] | Gerald Kiely | 41.80 | 4-5f | |
Thurles Fresh Milk Tipperary Cup | Aug 12 | Thurles | Crohane Ronnie [81] | Declan Byrne | 28.68 | 5-2 | |
Bar One Racing Irish Sprint Cup | Aug 18 | Dundalk | Heisman [82] | Laurence Jones | 20.96 | 3-1 | |
Texacloth Juvenile Derby | Sep 15 | Newbridge | Man Twenty One [83] | Brendan Maunsell | 28.37 | ||
Gain Feeds Select Stakes | Nov 11 | Waterford | Lughill Robbie [84] | Graham Holland | 28.56 | 3-1 | |
Greyhound & Petworld Luxury Transport Grand National | Dec 16 | Cork | Offshore Bound [85] | Patrick Fitzgerald | 29.07 | 2-1 |
References
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