2025 in UK and Ireland greyhound racing

The Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) category one and category two schedule was announced on 4 November 2024^[7][8] and the Greyhound Racing Ireland (GRI) schedule was released during December 2024.^[9]

Following on from their November 2024 announcement,^[10] Entain announced the date of 19 January as the final meeting to be held at Crayford Stadium.^[5][11] 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.^[12]

Suffolk Downs remained closed following the 2024 fire and was expected to return in the late 2025 or early 2026.^[13]

In August 2025, the future of Wales' only track the Valley Greyhound Stadium was determined when the Welsh government announced plans to end racing sometime between 2027 and 2030.^[3] 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.".^[14] The Prohibition of Greyhound Racing (Wales) Bill was introduced to the Senedd on the 29 September 2025, with the aim of making it an offence to operate a stadium or similar venue for greyhound racing, or to be involved in organising greyhound racing.^[15]

In March, Swindon 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.^[16][17]

Mark Wallis won his fifth Trainers Championship, held at Perry Barr on 29 March.^[18] 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^[19] and Golden Sprint in March.^[20] New Destiny won the Grand Prix and Proper Heiress won the Juvenile in April, defeating the wonder dog Bockos Diamond in the process.^[21] Mongys Wild who had won the TV Trophy went on to win both the Regency and St Leger. Proper Heiress would win his fifth title in November after winning the Eclipse in a track record time and finished the year with a sixth after securing victory in the Olympic.

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.^[22]

The completion of the build at Dunstall Park was on schedule^[23][24] and opened on 19 September.^[4]

Graham Holland claimed a record fifth Irish Greyhound Derby after Cheap Sandwiches won the 2025 Irish Derby.^[25]

On 1 November 2025 an organisation called Orchestrate took over the lease at Towcester from Kevin Boothby (Henlow Racing)^[26] but the move started badly with the English Puppy Derby not held due to unavailability of trials.^[27] Boothby also relinquished the lease at Suffolk Downs to the Arena Racing Company, who reverted the name back to Mildenhall Stadium. The lease was agreed with stadium landlords Spedeworth International Ltd and the management of the lease would be overseen by Simon Franklin, Director of Yarmouth Stadium.^[28][29]