2021 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year

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2021 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
 2020
2022 

2021 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 96th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom[1] and the 95th year of greyhound racing in Ireland.[2]

Major Winners
Award Name of Winner
2021 English Greyhound Derby Thorn Falcon
2021 Irish Greyhound Derby Susie Sapphire
Greyhound Trainer of the Year Mark Wallis
UK Greyhound of the Year Signet Ace
Irish Greyhound of the Year Susie Sapphire

Summary

The main news throughout the year was the announcement of a five-year deal between Entain and ARC for a new joint venture of live broadcast rights from 1 January 2024 until 31 December 2029. The deal was described in some news articles as revamping and revitalising greyhound racing's wider betting appeal but in truth the deal although inevitable (a bookmaker owned industry had been predicted 20 years previously) was potentially a serious problem for a third of the industry. The deal in detail meant that the Entain/Ladbrokes Coral owned tracks (Crayford, Hove, Monmore and Romford) and the ARC tracks (Newcastle, Nottingham, Perry Barr and Sunderland) would form eight of the tracks with broadcast rights and they would likely be joined by two to four more tracks. This would mean that a further six to eight tracks would be financially unstable with no broadcast rights and would face an uncertain future.[4][5][6] Shortly after the announcement Central Park Stadium was acquired by ARC, leaving Doncaster, Harlow, Henlow, Kinsley, Sheffield, Pelaw Grange, Shawfield, Swindon, Towcester and Yarmouth battling for rights before 2024.[7]

The major disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic continued with racing remaining behind closed doors until the return of crowds was allowed on 17 May. The Derby returned to Towcester Greyhound Stadium following two years at Nottingham.[8] The 2021 English Greyhound Derby was won by Thorn Falcon for Belgian born Patrick Janssens, thwarting an Irish attempt at a third consecutive success.[9]

News

Competitions

References

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