2017 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year

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2017 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 92nd year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom^[1] and the 91st year of greyhound racing in Ireland.^[2]

Quick facts

2017 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
← 2016 2018 →

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.^[3] Wimbledon's sister track Hall Green, owned by Euro Property Investments Ltd, closed on 29 July and will be demolished.^[4]

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.^[5] It was won by 28-1 shot Astute Missile; the outsider of the six in the final.^[6]

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.^[7]^[8] The Irish Derby held in September was won by the Patrick Guilfoyle trained Good News.^[9]

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,^[10] the latter ARC even bought two tracks (Sunderland and Newcastle) from William Hill in May.^[11] Ladbrokes and Gala Coral merged to become Ladbrokes Coral.^[12]

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.^[13] Mark Wallis extended his champion trainer trophy record to nine.^[14]

Roll of honour

More information Major Winners, Award ...

Major Winners
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)

More information GTA Trainers Championship, (Towcester) (Mar 28), Pos ...

GTA Trainers Championship, (Towcester) (Mar 28)
Pos	Name of Trainer	Points
1st	Kevin Hutton	43
2nd	Mark Wallis	42
3rd	Jimmy Wright	40
4th	John Mullins	36
5th	Seamus Cahill	33
6th	Paul Young	30

Principal UK finals

More information Ladbrokes Golden Jacket, Crayford (Feb 21, 714m, £17,500), Pos ...

Ladbrokes Golden Jacket, Crayford (Feb 21, 714m, £17,500)
Pos	Name of Greyhound	Trap	SP	Time	Trainer
1st	Boylesports Star ^[15]	3	2-1jf	45.18	Dolores Ruth
2nd	Rubys Razzle	1	5-2	45.58	Mark Wallis
3rd	Jimbobjoe	2	10-1	45.60	Ricky Holloway
4th	Jaytee Patriot	4	5-2jf	45.78	Paul Hennessy
5th	Ferryforth Fran	6	14-1	45.79	Mark Wallis
6th	Romany Rouge	5	16-1	45.87	Richard Devenish

RPGTV Scottish Derby, Shawfield (May 6, 480m, £20,000)
Pos	Name of Greyhound	Trap	SP	Time	Trainer
1st	Dorotas Woo Hoo ^[16]	6	7-4	28.77	Charlie Lister OBE
2nd	Coolavanny Mason	1	5-1	29.07	Pat Buckley
3rd	Droopys Buick	5	5-4f	29.19	Angela Harrison
4th	Knockard Spring	2	25-1	29.41	Kevin Boon
5th	Good News	4	8-1	29.43	Pat Guilfoyle
6th	Azzurri Genesis	3	25-1	29.67	Pat Rosney

More information William Hill Classic, Sunderland (Jul 19, 450m, £25,000), Pos ...

William Hill Classic, Sunderland (Jul 19, 450m, £25,000)
Pos	Name of Greyhound	Trap	SP	Time	Trainer
1st	Droopys Country ^[17]	5	3-1	26.91	Angela Harrison
2nd	Toolmaker Obama	1	5-2	27.29	Robert Gleeson
3rd	Newinn Shadow	4	6-4f	27.37	Charlie Lister OBE
4th	Russelena Planet	3	25-1	27.40	Martin Cutler
5th	Viking Jimmy	6	8-1	27.43	Jim Hayton
6th	Barricane Jack	2	10-1	27.57	Patrick Janssens

William Hill Grand Prix, Sunderland (Jul 19, 640m, £15,000)
Pos	Name of Greyhound	Trap	SP	Time	Trainer
1st	Cloran Paddy ^[18]	1	2-1	39.72	Charlie Lister OBE
2nd	Swift Hansel	2	6-4f	39.90	Anneliese Thompson
3rd	Glamorous Sharif	5	5-1	40.02	Paul Young
4th	Geelo Jenga	3	12-1	40.05	Carl Perry
5th	Geelo Bullet	4	6-1	40.12	Carl Perry
6th	Droopys Tee	6	7-1	40.36	Robert Gleeson

More information Sunbets East Anglian Derby, Yarmouth (Sep 21, 462m, £15,000), Pos ...

Sunbets East Anglian Derby, Yarmouth (Sep 21, 462m, £15,000)
Pos	Name of Greyhound	Trap	SP	Time	Trainer
1st	Newinn Shadow ^[19]	5	8-1	27.23	Charlie Lister OBE
2nd	Murrys Act	6	9-4	27.53	Kevin Boon
3rd	Hiya Butt	2	11-8f	27.63	Hayley Keightley
4th	Bubbly Bluebird	3	2-1	27.76	Paul Young
5th	Bubbly Turbo	1	5-1	28.11	Paul Young
N/R	Knockard Spring	4			Kevin Boon

John Smiths Grand National, Central Park (Oct 3, 480mH, £8,000)
Pos	Name of Greyhound	Trap	SP	Time	Trainer
1st	Razldazl Raidio ^[20]	6	2-7f	29.61	Ricky Holloway
2nd	Razldazl Star	2	25-1	29.79	Ricky Holloway
3rd	Ballymac Manix	4	8-1	30.15	Seamus Cahill
4th	Ballymac Leo	5	12-1	30.31	David Mullins
5th	Julius George	1	66-1	30.97	Tony Taylor
6th	Mystical Charlie	3	8-1		Barry O'Sullivan

More information William Hill St Leger, Perry Barr (Nov 8, 710m, £25,000), Pos ...

William Hill St Leger, Perry Barr (Nov 8, 710m, £25,000)
Pos	Name of Greyhound	Trap	SP	Time	Trainer
1st	Rubys Rascal ^[21]	1	3-1	42.99	Mark Wallis
2nd	Keplar Nine	6	5-1	43.35	Charlie Lister OBE
3rd	Goldies Hotspur	5	10-1	43.39	Patrick Janssens
4th	Slippy Maska	2	8-1	43.49	Hazel Kemp
5th	Bubbly McCoy	3	7-2	43.69	Paul Young
6th	Airmount Tess	4	2-1f	43.70	Gerald Kiely

ECC Timber Puppy Derby, Towcester (Nov 15, 500m, £20,000)
Pos	Name of Greyhound	Trap	SP	Time	Trainer
1st	Magical Bale	2	11-10f	29.10	Kevin Hutton
2nd	Innocent Times	5	7-1	29.47	Brendan Matthews
3rd	Affleck Bolt	3	8-1	29.48	Patrick Janssens
4th	Headford Kev	6	6-1	29.77	Kevin Hutton
5th	Roxholme Poppy	4	11-2	29.82	Hayley Keightley
6th	Lightfoot King	1	7-2	30.02	Elaine Parker

More information Colossus Bets TV Trophy, Towcester (Nov 29, 906m, £8,000), Pos ...

Colossus Bets TV Trophy, Towcester (Nov 29, 906m, £8,000)
Pos	Name of Greyhound	Trap	SP	Time	Trainer
1st	Goldies Hotspur	5	16-1	55.45	Patrick Janssens
2nd	Rubys Rascal	2	8-1	55.75	Mark Wallis
3rd	Millroad Smokey	1	6-1	55.84	Stuart Buckland
4th	Roxholme Magic	6	4-9f	56.67	Hayley Keightley
5th	Shellam Delano	4	10-1	56.85	Angela Harrison
6th	Clares Kyletaun	3	20-1	56.96	June Harvey

Greyhound Media Group Oaks, Belle Vue (Dec 13, 470m, £10,000)
Pos	Name of Greyhound	Trap	SP	Time	Trainer
1st	Wuheida ^[22]	5	11-4	28.74	Phil Simmonds
2nd	Swift Lucious	4	12-1	28.83	Paul Harmes
3rd	Ballydoyle Maura	1	6-4f	28.85	Hayley Keigthley
4th	Sylvias Chloe	3	8-1	28.86	Richard Baker
5th	Donation	6	7-4	29.05	Heather Dimmock
N/R	Jumeirah Lolls	2	*disq		Gerry Holian

Jumeirah Lolls disqualified from competing after positive sample

More information O'Tooles Boxing Health & Fitness Byker Newcastle Laurels, Newcastle (Dec 16, 480m, £6,000), Pos ...

O'Tooles Boxing Health & Fitness Byker Newcastle Laurels, Newcastle (Dec 16, 480m, £6,000)
Pos	Name of Greyhound	Trap	SP	Time	Trainer
1st	The Other Reg ^[23]	4	3-1	28.38	Pat Rosney
2nd	Droopys Expert	3	1-2f	28.54	Angela Harrison
3rd	Westway O Neill	1	50-1	28.57	Peter Aitken
4th	Cappoquin Al	2	20-1	28.66	James Fenwick
5th	Nadurra Ross	6	7-1	28.82	John McLachlan
6th	Kooga Klammer	5	8-1	29.00	David Pruhs

Principal Irish finals

More information Kirby Memorial Stakes, Limerick (Apr 8, 525y, €80,000), Pos ...

Kirby Memorial Stakes, Limerick (Apr 8, 525y, €80,000)
Pos	Name of Greyhound	Trap	SP	Time	Trainer
1st	Bentekes Bocko ^[24]	4	2-1f	28.39	Pat Buckley
2nd	Native Chimes	5	5-1	28.49	Johnny O'Sullivan
3rd	Coolavanny Pet	6	6-1	28.70	Liam Dowling
4th	Rathnasare Champ	1	9-2	28.81	Francis Murray
5th	Drive On Tipp	2	5-2	28.88	Graham Holland
6th	Borsalino	3	3-1	28.91	Liam Dowling

B.I.F National Produce, Clonmel (May 21, 525y, €20,000)
Pos	Name of Greyhound	Trap	SP	Time	Trainer
1st	Clonbrien Hero ^[25]	3	5-4jf	28.22	Graham Holland
2nd	Lughill Robbie	4	5-4jf	28.64	Graham Holland
3rd	Dog Mac Arthure	2	7-2	28.71	Barney Mooney
4th	Kilgraney Master	1	5-1	28.88	Thomas Buggy
5th	Crossfield Kate	6	4-1	29.02	Brendan O'Shea
6th	Ballybough Dad	5	4-1	29.04	Martin 'Murt' Leahy

More information Racing Post Dundalk International, Dundalk (Jul 12, 550y, €20,000), Pos ...

Racing Post Dundalk International, Dundalk (Jul 12, 550y, €20,000)
Pos	Name of Greyhound	Trap	SP	Time	Trainer
1st	Jaytee Jet ^[26]	5	3-1	30.01	Paul Hennessy
2nd	Bubbly Bluebird	1	2-1jf	30.04	Paul Young
3rd	Droopys Wilbury	2	6-1	30.31	Pat Buckley
4th	Murrys Act	6	12-1	30.34	Kevin Boon
5th	Good News	4	2-1jf	30.67	Patrick Guilfoyle
6th	Droopys Acrobat	3	7-2	30.85	Seamus Cahill

Irish Independent Laurels, Cork (Jul 22, 525y, €30,000)
Pos	Name of Greyhound	Trap	SP	Time	Trainer
1st	Clonbrien Hero ^[27]	4	5-2	28.00	Graham Holland
2nd	Away Jet	2	8-1	28.21	Paul Hennessy
3rd	Chawke It Down	1	3-1	28.24	Paul Hennessy
4th	Kilgraney Denver	6	6-4	28.26	Thomas Buggy
5th	Bennacht Tagdh	3	11-2	28.30	Gerry Holian
6th	Unknown Vision	5	12-1	28.51	Tony Hegarty

More information Boylesports Champion Stakes, Shelbourne (Aug 5, 550y, €20,000), Pos ...

Boylesports Champion Stakes, Shelbourne (Aug 5, 550y, €20,000)
Pos	Name of Greyhound	Trap	SP	Time	Trainer
1st	Jaytee Yankee ^[28]	3	7-1	29.58	Paul Hennessy
2nd	Whoops Jack	5	6-4f	29.72	Peter Cronin
3rd	Good News	2	7-2	29.82	Patrick Guilfoyle
4th	Kilgraney Ace	6	10-1	29.83	Thomas Buggy
5th	Drive On Tipp	1	3-1	29.87	Graham Holland
6th	Coolavanny Mason	4	10-1	29.97	Pat Buckley

Dublin Coach Juvenile Derby, Shelbourne (Oct 20, 550y, €22,500)
Pos	Name of Greyhound	Trap	SP	Time	Trainer
1st	Skywalker Rafa	4	10-1	28.40	Michael J O'Donovan
2nd	Droopys Noah	2	6-4	28.47	John Linehan
3rd	Man Twenty One	1	11-10f	28.71	Brendan Maunsell
4th	Borna Gin	3	6-1	28.82	Pat Buckley
5th	Blockthiscaller	6	20-1	28.83	David Flanagan
6th	Portmageewiseguy	5	9-2	28.90	Owen McKenna

More information Sporting Press Oaks, Shelbourne (Oct 21, 525y, €25,000), Pos ...

Sporting Press Oaks, Shelbourne (Oct 21, 525y, €25,000)
Pos	Name of Greyhound	Trap	SP	Time	Trainer
1st	Forest Natalee ^[29]	6	28.37	3-1	Martin Lanney
2nd	Tibet	2	28.44	5-2jf	Patrick Norris
3rd	Cabra Angel	4	28.51	5-2jf	Patrick Guilfoyle
4th	Coolavanny Pet	3	28.53	4-1	Liam Dowling
5th	Ardrahan Zindi	1	28.74	8-1	Graham Holland
6th	Mrs Chippy	5	28.77	8-1	Barney Mooney

Kerry Agribusiness Irish St Leger, Limerick (Nov 4, 550y, €25,000)
Pos	Name of Greyhound	Trap	SP	Time	Trainer
1st	Clonbrien Hero ^[30]	3	5-2jf	29.60	Graham Holland
2nd	Jaytee Yankee	2	7-2	29.81	Paul Hennessy
3rd	Sonic	5	5-2jf	29.83	Graham Holland
4th	Ballybough Dad	4	7-1	29.90	Martin 'Murt' Leahy
5th	Black Eyed Peppa	1	8-1	29.91	Michael J O'Donovan
6th	Droopys Cabaye	6	9-2	30.08	Graham Holland

UK Category 1 & 2 competitions

More information Competition, Date ...


Competition	Date	Venue	Winning Greyhound	Winning Trainer	Time	SP
Coral Coronation Cup	Jan 11	Romford	Roswell Romanov ^[31]	Mark Wallis (Towcester)	35.10	4-5f
Greyhound Media Group Prestige	Jan 27	Hall Green	Rubys Razzle ^[32]	Mark Wallis (Towcester)	39.31	3-1
WJ & JE Cearns Invitation	Jan 31	Central Park	Brinkleys King ^[33]	Seamus Cahill (Hove)	31.01	9-4
Silver Salver	Jan 31	Central Park	Clondoty Alex ^[34]	Mark Wallis (Towcester)	27.72	3-1
Cearnsport Springbok	Mar 7	Central Park	Yassoo Martin ^[35]	George Andreas (Central Park)	29.88	8-1
Racing Post Juvenile	Mar 7	Central Park	Murrys Act ^[36]	Kevin Boon (Yarmouth)	28.99	12-1
Ladbrokes Puppy Derby	Mar 16	Monmore	Forest Con ^[37]	Seamus Cahill (Hove)	28.22	5-2jf
Coral Golden Sprint	Mar 17	Romford	Clondoty Alex ^[38]	Mark Wallis (Towcester)	24.09	6-4f
Calne Racing Arc	Mar 23	Swindon	Garryvoe Bobby ^[39]	Graham Holland (Ireland)	28.35	11-10f
Coors Three Steps to Victory	Apr 4	Sheffield	Geelo Sapphire ^[40]	Carl Perry (Sheffield)	38.86	7-1
Tiger Loans Gold Cup	Apr 18	Harlow	Rubys Razzle ^[41]	Mark Wallis (Towcester)	37.69	5-4f
Golden Crest	Apr 22	Poole	Crossfield Giles ^[42]	Seamus Cahill (Hove)	26.27	9-2
Bresmed Northern Sprint	Apr 25	Sheffield	Mashmad Eyebrows ^[43]	Kevin Hutton (Towcester)	16.09	10-1
Coral Regency	May 3	Hove	Tyrap Dragi ^[44]	Jason Heath (Hove)	41.94	8-1
Betfred Gymcrack	May 16	Kinsley	Cometwopass ^[45]	Peter Cronin (Ireland)	27.18	11-10f
Star Sports Champion Hurdle	Jul 1	Towcester	Ballymac Manix ^[46]	Seamus Cahill (Hove)	28.92	28-1
British Bred Produce Stakes	Jul 22	Swindon	King Elvis ^[47]	Liz McNair (Private)	28.74	1-1f
Betfred Select Stakes	Jul 26	Nottingham	Dorotas Wildcat ^[48]	Kevin Hutton (Towcester)	29.61	5-4f
Coral Sussex Cup	Aug 3	Hove	Shaneboy Freddie ^[49]	Kevin Boon (Yarmouth)	29.94	9-2
George Curtis Trafalgar Cup	Aug 17	Monmore	King Elvis ^[50]	Liz McNair (Private)	27.96	4-6f
Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic	Aug 17	Monmore	Buckos Lass ^[51]	Corren Price (Monmore)	38.00	16-1
Ladbrokes Gold Cup	Aug 17	Monmore	Droopys Buick ^[52]	Angela Harrison (Newcastle)	27.63	5-4f
William Hill Peterborough Derby	Aug 23	Peterborough	Hiya Butt ^[53]	Hayley Keightley (Private)	25.77	1-2f
Lowther Stakes	Aug 27	Towcester	Geelo Sapphire ^[54]	Carl Perry (Sheffield)	29.36	9-1
GMG Puppy Classic	Aug 28	Nottingham	Wildfire Lord ^[55]	Paul Young (Romford)	29.66	12-1
Coral Champion Stakes	Aug 30	Romford	Murrys Act ^[56]	Kevin Boon (Yarmouth)	35.15	5-2jf
Betfred Steel City Cup	Sep 5	Sheffield	Tynwald Baz ^[57]	Lawrence Tuffin (Nottingham)	28.79	6-4f
Doncaster St Leger	Sep 13	Doncaster	Keplar Nine ^[58]	Charlie Lister OBE (Private)	41.36	5-1
Ladbrokes Gold Collar	Sep 26	Crayford	Mayshighlandreel ^[59]	Martyn Wiley (Romford)	33.09	5-2jf
Ladbrokes Guys and Dolls	Sep 26	Crayford	Pure Placere ^[60]	Arun Green (Crayford)	23.09	3-1cf
Romford Puppy Cup	Sep 29	Romford	Roxholme Nidge ^[61]	Hayley Keightley (Private)	23.70	2-5f
Cearnsport Kent Derby	Oct 3	Central Park	Bockos Alfie ^[62]	Patrick Janssens (Towcester)	28.84	12-1
William Hill All England Cup	Oct 19	Newcastle	Droopys Expert ^[63]	Angela Harrison (Newcastle)	28.10	6-4f
William Hill Northern Puppy Derby	Oct 19	Newcastle	Droopys Zephyr ^[64]	Angela Harrison (Newcastle)	28.50	8-1
BAPP Group Scurry Cup	Oct 21	Belle Vue	Roxholme Hat ^[65]	Hayley Keightley (Private)	14.82	1-1f
BAPP Group Northern Flat	Oct 21	Belle Vue	Dropzone ^[66]	Elaine Parker (Sheffield)	28.10	6-4f
British Breeders Stakes	Oct 24	Nottingham	Candlelight Fire ^[67]	Elaine Parker (Sheffield)	29.70	9-4
RPGTV Henlow Derby	Oct 29	Henlow	King Elvis ^[68]	Liz McNair (Private)	27.11	6-4f
Coral Brighton Belle	Nov 9	Hove	Away Shelly ^[69]	Matt Dartnall (Towcester)	29.85	5-4f
Betfred Eclipse	Nov 21	Nottingham	Bubbly Bluebird ^[70]	Paul Young (Romford)	29.62	4-1
British Bred Derby	Nov 29	Towcester	King Elvis ^[71]	Liz McNair (Private)	29.46	9-4
Jay & Kay Coach Tours Kent St Leger	Dec 9	Crayford	Maireads Ivy ^[72]	Derek Knight (Hove)	45.28	2-1f
National Sprint	Dec 18	Nottingham	Queen Anna ^[73]	Liz McNair (Private)	17.83	9-4
Coral Olympic	Dec 28	Hove	Bruisers Bullet ^[74]	Mark Wallis (Towcester)	29.90	6-4f
Essex Vase+	Mar 16	Romford	Murrys Act ^[75]	Kevin Boon (Yarmouth)	35.34	2-1

+ held in 2018

Irish feature competitions