Greyhound racing competition
Horse race
English Greyhound Derby Location Towcester Greyhound Stadium Inaugurated 1927 Sponsor Star Sports TRC Events Distance 500 metres Surface Sand Purse £175,000 (winner)
The English Greyhound Derby is the most prestigious race on the British greyhound racing calendar, with a history stretching back to 1927.
It was first held at White City Stadium , but moved to Wimbledon Stadium in 1985, and then Towcester Greyhound Stadium in 2017, Nottingham in 2019 and back to Towcester in 2021. Only four greyhounds have won the event twice, Mick the Miller , Patricias Hope , Rapid Ranger and Westmead Hawk . Trainer Charlie Lister OBE has won the event a record seven times.
History
Patricias Hope, twice winner in 1972 & 1973
Rapid Ranger, twice winner in 2000 & 2001
Dorotas Wildcat, 2018 champion
The first venue of the English Greyhound Derby was at White City Stadium , which had been built for the 1908 London Olympics . Greyhound racing had only recently started to take place there, with the first greyhound race only taking place a couple of weeks prior to the first Derby being run. Entry Badge won the first race to be held, winning a £1000 prize for the dog's trainer, Joe Harmon. Two years later, racing greyhound Mick the Miller became the first dog to win multiple Derbys.[ 1] The 1940 final was held at Harringay Stadium , due to the outbreak of war.[ 2]
In 1973, pet food manufacturer Spillers sponsored the race for the first time, the same year that Patricias Hope became the second dog to win the Derby on more than one occasion, one of only two dogs to achieve that at White City Stadium. Spillers continued to sponsor the race, increasing the prize money to £35,000 by 1980. The Daily Mirror took over sponsorship of the race in 1983; the following year the race was held at White City for the last time before that stadium closed, with Whisper Wishes becoming the final dog to win the Derby at its original location.[ 1]
The Derby was moved to Wimbledon Stadium in 1985, and remained there until 2016. The Daily Mirror continued to be the race's sole sponsor until 1990, when the Sporting Life became co-sponsor. In 1998, bookmaker William Hill became the sole sponsor; in 2006, bookmaker Blue Square took over. William Hill later renewed its involvement with greyhounds and the Wimbledon Stadium with a partnership that lasted until 2016.[ 3]
The 2016 Derby was the last to be held at Wimbledon following the stadium's closure on 25 March 2017 and the redevelopment of the site for housing by the owner Galliard Homes .[ 4] [ 5] This resulted in the Derby being located outside London for the first time as Wimbledon was the last greyhound stadium in the capital.[ 6]
Charlie Lister holds the record as the most successful trainer at the Derby, having won it on seven occasions. He is hailed as the greatest greyhound trainer of all time, and referred to as the 'Derby King'.[ 6] [ 7]
On 30 January 2017, it was announced that the event would relocate to the new greyhound stadium [ 8] at Towcester Racecourse , for a minimum period of five years but it was switched to Nottingham Greyhound Stadium in 2019 following the closure of Towcester Racecourse in 2018.[ 9] The 2020 event was rescheduled following a postponement due to the COVID-19 pandemic .[ 10] [ 11] [ 12]
Following the reopening of Towcester Greyhound Stadium, the English Greyhound Derby returned to Towcester for 2021.[ 13]
Statistics
Past winners
Year
Venue
Dist
Winner
Trainer
Odds
Time
1927
White City
500y
Entry Badge
Joe Harmon (White City )
1/4f
29.01
1928
White City
525y
Boher Ash
Tommy Johnston Sr. (Edinburgh )
5/1
30.48
1929
White City
525y
Mick the Miller
Paddy Horan (Dublin)
4/7f
29.96
1930
White City
525y
Mick the Miller
Sidney Orton (Wimbledon )
4/9f
30.24
1931
White City
525y
Seldom Led
Wally Green (West Ham )
7/2
30.04
1932
White City
525y
Wild Woolley
Jack Rimmer (White City)
5/2
29.72
1933
White City
525y
Future Cutlet
Sidney Probert (Wembley )
6/1
29.80
1934
White City
525y
Davesland
Jack Harvey (Harringay )
3/1
29.81
1935
White City
525y
Greta Ranee
Albert Jonas (White City)
4/1
30.18
1936
White City
525y
Fine Jubilee
Mrs Marjorie Yate (Private)
10/11f
29.48
1937
White City
525y
Wattle Bark
Jim Syder Sr. (Wembley)
5/2
29.26
1938
White City
525y
Lone Keel
Sydney W Wright (Private)
9/4
29.62
1939
White City
525y
Highland Rum
Paddy Fortune (Wimbledon)
2/1jf
29.35
1940
Harringay
525y
GR Archduke
Charlie Ashley (Harringay)
100/7
29.66
1941–1944, not run due to World War II
1945
White City
525y
Ballyhennessy Seal
Stan Martin (Wimbledon)
1/1f
29.56
1946
White City
525y
Mondays News
Fred Farey (Private)
5/1
29.24
1947
White City
525y
Trev's Perfection
Fred Trevillion (Private)
4/1
28.95
1948
White City
525y
Priceless Border
Leslie Reynolds (Wembley)
1/2f
28.78
1949
White City
525y
Narrogar Ann
Leslie Reynolds (Wembley)
5/1
28.95
1950
White City
525y
Ballymac Ball
Stan Martin (Wimbledon)
7/2
28.72
1951
White City
525y
Ballylanigan Tanist
Leslie Reynolds (Wembley)
11/4
28.62
1952
White City
525y
Endless Gossip
Leslie Reynolds (Wembley)
1/1f
28.50
1953
White City
525y
Daws Dancer
Paddy McEvoy (Private)
10/1
29.20
1954
White City
525y
Pauls Fun
Leslie Reynolds (Wembley)
8/15f
28.84
1955
White City
525y
Rushton Mac
Frank Johnson (Private)
5/2
28.97
1956
White City
525y
Dunmore King
Paddy McEvoy (Clapton )
7/2
29.22
1957
White City
525y
Ford Spartan
Dennis Hannafin (Wimbledon)
1/1F
28.84
1958
White City
525y
Pigalle Wonder
Jim Syder Jr. (Wembley)
4/5f
28.65
1959
White City
525y
Mile Bush Pride
Jack Harvey (Wembley)
1/1f
28.76
1960
White City
525y
Duleek Dandy
Bill Dash (Private)
25/1
29.15
1961
White City
525y
Palms Printer
Paddy McEvoy (Clapton)
2/1
28.84
1962
White City
525y
The Grand Canal
Paddy Dunphy (Ireland)
2/1f
29.09
1963
White City
525y
Lucky Boy Boy
Johnny Bassett (Clapton)
1/1f
29.00
1964
White City
525y
Hack Up Chieftain
Percy Stagg (Belle Vue )
20/1
28.82
1965
White City
525y
Chittering Clapton
Adam Jackson (Clapton)
5/2
28.82
1966
White City
525y
Faithful Hope
Paddy Keane (Clapton)
8/1
28.52
1967
White City
525y
Tric Trac
Jim Hookway (Owlerton )
9/2
29.00
1968
White City
525y
Camira Flash
Randolph Singleton (White City)
100/8
28.78
1969
White City
525y
Sand Star
Hamilton Orr (Ireland)
5/4f
28.78
1970
White City
525y
John Silver
Barbara Tompkins (Private)
11/4
29.01
1971
White City
525y
Dolores Rocket
Herbert White (Private)
11/4
28.74
1972
White City
525y
Patricias Hope
Adam Jackson (Clapton)
7/1
28.55
1973
White City
525y
Patricias Hope
Johnny O'Connor (Ireland)
7/2
28.68
1974
White City
525y
Jimsun
Geoff De Mulder (Hall Green )
5/2
28.76
1975
White City
500m
Tartan Khan
Gwen Lynds (Bletchley )
25/1
29.57
1976
White City
500m
Mutts Silver
Phil Rees Sr. (Wimbledon)
6/1
29.38
1977
White City
500m
Ballinska Band
Eddie Moore (Belle Vue)
1/1f
29.16
1978
White City
500m
Lacca Champion
Pat Mullins (Private)
6/4f
29.42
1979
White City
500m
Sarahs Bunny
Geoff De Mulder (Hall Green)
3/1
29.53
1980
White City
500m
Indian Joe
John Hayes (Ireland)
13/8jf
29.68
1981
White City
500m
Parkdown Jet
Ger McKenna (Ireland)
4/5f
29.57
1982
White City
500m
Lauries Panther
Terry Duggan (Romford )
6/4f
29.60
1983
White City
500m
I'm Slippy
Barbara Tompkins (Coventry )
6/1
29.40
1984
White City
500m
Whisper Wishes
Charlie Coyle (Maidstone)
7/4f
29.43
1985
Wimbledon
480m
Pagan Swallow
Philip Rees Jr. (Wimbledon)
9/1
29.04
1986
Wimbledon
480m
Tico
Arthur Hitch (Slough )
6/4jf
28.69
1987
Wimbledon
480m
Signal Spark
Gary Baggs (Walthamstow )
14/1
28.83
1988
Wimbledon
480m
Hit The Lid
John McGee Sr. (Canterbury )
3/1
28.53
1989
Wimbledon
480m
Lartique Note
Ger McKenna (Ireland)
1/1f
28.79
1990
Wimbledon
480m
Slippy Blue
Kenny Linzell (Walthamstow)
8/1
28.70
1991
Wimbledon
480m
Ballinderry Ash
Patsy Byrne (Wimbledon)
5/1
28.78
1992
Wimbledon
480m
Farloe Melody
Matt O'Donnell (Ireland)
6/4f
28.88
1993
Wimbledon
480m
Ringa Hustle
Tony Meek (Oxford )
5/2
28.62
1994
Wimbledon
480m
Moral Standards
Tony Meek (Hall Green)
9/4f
28.59
1995
Wimbledon
480m
Moaning Lad
Theo Mentzis (Private)
5/2
28.66
1996
Wimbledon
480m
Shanless Slippy
Dolores Ruth (Ireland)
4/9f
28.66
1997
Wimbledon
480m
Some Picture
Charlie Lister OBE (Nottingham )
8/13f
28.23
1998
Wimbledon
480m
Toms The Best
Nick Savva (Milton Keynes )
4/5f
28.75
1999
Wimbledon
480m
Chart King
Karl & Ralph Hewitt (Ireland)
8/11f
28.76
2000
Wimbledon
480m
Rapid Ranger
Charlie Lister OBE (Private)
7/4f
28.71
2001
Wimbledon
480m
Rapid Ranger
Charlie Lister OBE (Private)
7/4
28.71
2002
Wimbledon
480m
Allen Gift
Claude Gardiner (Hove )
16/1
29.06
2003
Wimbledon
480m
Farloe Verdict
Charlie Lister OBE (Private)
12/1
28.82
2004
Wimbledon
480m
Droopys Scholes
Ian Reilly (Ireland)
7/2
28.62
2005
Wimbledon
480m
Westmead Hawk
Nick Savva (Private)
5/4f
28.56
2006
Wimbledon
480m
Westmead Hawk
Nick Savva (Private)
4/7f
28.44
2007
Wimbledon
480m
Westmead Lord
Nick Savva (Private)
6/1
28.47
2008
Wimbledon
480m
Loyal Honcho
Seamus Graham (Ireland)
5/2jf
28.60
2009
Wimbledon
480m
Kinda Ready
Mark Wallis (Harlow )
25/1
28.65
2010
Wimbledon
480m
Bandicoot Tipoki
Charlie Lister OBE (Private)
7/2
28.57
2011
Wimbledon
480m
Taylors Sky
Charlie Lister OBE (Private)
7/4f
28.17 (Track Record)
2012
Wimbledon
480m
Blonde Snapper
Mark Wallis (Yarmouth )
8/1
28.65
2013
Wimbledon
480m
Sidaz Jack
Charlie Lister OBE (Private)
6/1
28.37
2014
Wimbledon
480m
Salad Dodger
Bruno Berwick (Private)
16/1
28.38
2015
Wimbledon
480m
Rio Quattro
Danny Riordan (Harlow)
5/1
28.24
2016
Wimbledon
480m
Jaytee Jet
Paul Hennessy (Ireland)
15/8f
28.22
2017
Towcester
500m
Astute Missile
Seamus Cahill (Hove)
28/1
28.92
2018
Towcester
500m
Dorotas Wildcat
Kevin Hutton (Towcester )
2/1
28.85
2019
Nottingham
500m
Priceless Blake
Paul Hennessy (Ireland)
6/1
29.32
2020
Nottingham
500m
Deerjet Sydney
Pat Buckley (Ireland)
11/4
29.38
2021
Towcester
500m
Thorn Falcon
Patrick Janssens (Towcester)
7/2
29.06
2022
Towcester
500m
Romeo Magico
Graham Holland (Ireland)
5/2
28.95
2023
Towcester
500m
Gaytime Nemo
Graham Holland (Ireland)
9/1
28.89
2024
Towcester
500m
De Lahdedah
Liam Dowling (Ireland)
5/1
28.58 (=Track record)[ 14]
References
UK & Irish greyhound competitions
English competitions
Current competitions
Former competitions
Irish competitions
Current competitions
Former competitions
UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Years
Years