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.

2025 in UK and Ireland greyhound racing
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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

Time Greyhound Nutrition TV Trophy, Towcester (23 March, 942m, £15,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trap SP Time (sec) Trainer 1st Mongys Wild 1 11/8 57.41 Mark Wallis 2nd Alright Patricia 6 20/1 57.94 David Lewis 3rd Alright Gordy 5 20/1 57.99 David Lewis 4th Ballymac Taylor 4 10/11f 58.16 Mark Wallis 5th Swift Delta 2 40/1 59.11 Daniel Brabon 6th Bubbly Linferno 3 7/1 00.00 Paul Young

PGR Trainers' Judgement Night, Perry Barr (29 March) Pos Trainer Track Pts 1st Mark Wallis Private 41 2nd Nathan Hunt Romford 39 3rd Tom Heilbron Newcastle 36 4th Patrick Janssens Towcester 33 5th Maxine Locke Romford 26 6th Kevin Hutton Oxford 25

Arena Racing Company Laurels, Perry Barr (19 Apr, 480m, £12,500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer 1st Aayamza Sydney 3 7/2 27.78 John Mullins 2nd Druids Say Go 4 5/4f 27.92 Patrick Janssens 3rd Churchfield Syd 6 7/4 28.10 Richard Rees 4th Wrighty 1 20/1 28.38 John Mullins 5th Armagh Daithi 5 9/1 28.44 Mark Wallis 6th Coppice Trophy 2 33/1 28.48 Kevin Hutton

Premier Greyhound Racing Regency, Brighton (2 Aug 695m, £20,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer 1st Mongys Wild 3 1/4f 41.19 Mark Wallis 2nd Romeo Empire 2 6/1 41.51 Patrick Janssens 3rd Droopys Invent 5 33/1 41.71 Seamus Cahill 4th Art Riddler 4 10/1 41.79 Seamus Cahill 5th Bombay Nutty 6 8/1 41.80 Mark Wallis N/R Garfiney Blaze 1 Mark Wallis

Premier Greyhound Racing St Leger, Nottingham (22 Sep, 730m, £20,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th

Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks, Dunstall Park (24 Oct, 480m, £20,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th

Pos Name of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th

Principal Irish finals

Bresbet Easter Cup, Shelbourne (5 Apr, 550y, €25,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trap SP Time (sec) Trainer 1st Hopes Teddy 1 13/8f 29.81 Pat Buckley 2nd Randolph Scotts 3 5/2 30.02 Peter Cronin 3rd Barefoot On Song 4 25/1 30.05 Paul Hennessy 4th Tarsna Maasai 6 6/1 30.23 Geoff Parnaby 5th Da Bold Falcon 2 10/3 00.00 John McGee 6th Hawkfield Blue 5 7/1 dnf John McGee

Con & Annie Kirby Memorial, Limerick (19 Apr, 525y, €80,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer 1st Faypoint Ranger 4 4/6f 28.05 Graham Holland 2nd Sole Mio 2 8/1 28.36 Peter Cronin 3rd Bubbly Charger 1 10/3 28.64 Brendan Matthews 4th Skywalker Schar 5 28/1 28.78 Michael J O'Donovan 5th Pain Barrier 3 16/1 28.79 Brendan Matthews 6th Droopys Deploy 6 11/2 28.90 Robert G. Gleeson

Kasko Petfood National Produce, Clonmel (1 Jun, 525y, €20,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer 1st Lemon Joey 5 9/4 28.60 Murt Leahy 2nd Flashing Saffron 2 2/1f 28.74 Pat Buckley 3rd Tetra Destiny 1 28/1 28.77 Benalmadena Syndicate 4th Born Braver 4 9/2 28.78 Jennifer O'Donnell 5th Blastoff Heffo 3 20/1 28.79 Philip Buckley 6th Snazzy Boss 6 5/2 28.86 Graham Holland

Sporting Press Oaks, Shelbourne Park (14 Jun, 525y, €25,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer 1st Carrigmore Freya 5 9/4 28.17 Graham Holland 2nd Sadies Lucy 3 10/3 28.66 Paul Duffy 3rd Blackeyed Turbo 4 20/1 29.50 Kevin Losty 4th Innfield Riddle 2 6/1 30.02 Barry Clancy 5th Lemon Orla 1 11/3 30.16 Tom O'Neill 6th Ballymac Marcia 6 20/1 00.00 Liam Dowling

Boylesports Champion Stakes, Shelbourne Park (5 Jul, 550y, €20,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer 1st Seven Beach 5 11/8f 29.39 Jennifer O'Donnell 2nd Cheque For Cash 2 9/1 29.44 Karol Ramsbottom 3rd Lennies Desire 6 4/1 29.55 Paul Hennessy 4th Ballymac Danica 4 5/2 29.58 Liam Dowling 5th Faypoint Harvey 1 6/1 29.83 Graham Holland N/R Ballyhooly Bruno 3 Tom O'Neill

Time Dundalk International, Dundalk (12 Jul, 550y, €20,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer 1st Cheap Sandwiches 6 30.06 Graham Holland 2nd Wicky Ned 1 30.09 James Fenwick (UK) 3rd Ballinabola Joe 5 30.10 Pat Buckley 4th Callaway Knegare 2 30.19 Owen McKenna 5th Lemon Joey 4 30.20 Murt Leahy 6th Daleroad Duke 3 30.21 Patrick Guilfoyle

Time Greyhound Nutrition Juvenile Derby, Shelbourne Park (8 Aug, 525y, €25,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th

WillWeGo.com Irish St Leger, Limerick (9 Aug, 550y, €30,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th

Bar One Racing Irish Sprint Cup, Dundalk (15 Aug, 400y, €20,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th

BarOne Racing Irish Laurels, Cork (8 Nov, 525y, €30,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th

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