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2018 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year

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2018 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
Dorotas Wildcat, the English Greyhound Derby champion
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The 2018 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 93rd year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Roll of honour

[edit]
Major Winners
Award Name of Winner
2018 English Greyhound Derby Dorotas Wildcat (Kevin Hutton)
2018 Irish Greyhound Derby Ballyanne Sim (James Robinson)
Greyhound Trainer of the Year Mark Wallis
UK Greyhound of the Year Dorotas Wildcat
Irish Greyhound of the Year Ballyanne Sim [1]

Summary

[edit]

The year revolved around two major events, the first was the ongoing battle for broadcasting rights between Satellite Information Services (SIS) and the Arena Racing Company (ARC). The second was the devastating news that Towcester racecourse, headed by Lord Hesketh[2] was put into administration. On 23 August KPMG were appointed as administrators and 134 out of 137 members of staff at the racecourse were made redundant, many having to claim statutory redundancy from the government.[3] The last greyhound meeting was on 12 August.

On 13 November it was announced by the administrators that the racecourse's assets were being sold to a company called Fermor Land LLP.[4][5] This company was formed on 18 October (26 days before the sale) and is headed by Lord Hesketh's brother-in-law Mark Westropp, a trustee of the Hesketh Family trusts.[4][6]

Dorotas Wildcat won the last Derby at Towcester and then following a rest came back to win the Eclipse in late November. The Kevin Hutton trained black dog was the first Derby champion to win a competition (post Derby) since Taylors Sky in 2011.

News

[edit]

On 9 April bookmakers and betting exchanges informed the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport whether they were going to contribute to the British Greyhound Racing Fund. The fund which is pivotal for the welfare of greyhounds involved in Greyhound Board of Great Britain licensed racing is voluntary and based on the profits. Betfair and Sky Betting & Gaming were the high profile companies that refused to contribute which attracted criticism from the industry.[7][8] One month later on 17 May, it was announced by Culture secretary Matt Hancock that betting stakes on fixed-odds betting terminals (known as FOBTs) would be reduced to £2 maximum. Consequently income generated by betting shops could reduce, which could affect the general health of both the horse racing and greyhound racing industries and lead to an uncertain period ahead.[8][9]

Eight ex-Towcester trainers joined Henlow, including Mark Wallis and Nick Savva while Kevin Hutton joined Monmore and Patrick Janssens joined Central Park Stadium. Wallis would go on to extend his record number of wins as Greyhound Trainer of the Year by securing a tenth success and a seventh in succession despite a late challenge from Kevin Hutton.[10]

John Gilburn died after a heart attack aged 65, the Sheffield director was an extremely popular figure within the industry.[11] Former BGRB Chief Executive Geoffrey Thomas also died, he was best known for the 'New Deal', a failed attempt in 2002 to gain a better deal for the tracks from the bookmakers.[12][13]

Tracks

[edit]

Mildenhall Stadium closed to greyhound racing on 15 January following the ongoing problems experienced by the track, leaving 22 registered stadia with the Greyhound Board of Great Britain. The proposed Swindon Stadium development showed no further progress in relation to a new track layout, new housing now bordered the existing track and it had now passed the three year mark since Clarke Osborne (MD) had informed the greyhound connections that work was due to start.[14]

Competitions

[edit]

Mark Wallis won a third Trainers Championship stopping Kevin Hutton from winning a fourth consecutive title.[15] The Other Reg secured the Scottish Greyhound Derby title.[16] Hutton then made amends by winning his first Derby title with Dorotas Wildcat.[17]

As a result of the Towcester administration three major events, the ECC Timber Puppy Derby, the Oaks and the TV Trophy were left uncontested in the racing schedule. The rights for the TV Trophy held by Greyhound Board of Great Britain was rescheduled for Crayford in December. Both the Oaks and Puppy Derby received new homes in Swindon and Henlow respectively.[18]

Principal UK finals

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Principal Irish finals

[edit]
Barking Buzz App Irish St Leger, Limerick (3 Nov, 550y, €25,000)
Pos Name of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer
1st Blastoff Jet [36] 5 5-1 29.65 Philip Buckley
2nd Lenson Blinder 4 6-4jf 29.79 Graham Holland
3rd Nice Charmer 1 6-1 29.81 Graham Holland
4th Clonbrien Prince 3 6-4jf 30.02 Graham Holland
5th Crohane Prince 2 12-1 30.02 Declan Byrne
6th Urban Jet 6 16-1 30.16 Robert Roberts

UK Category 1 & 2 competitions

[edit]
Competition Date Venue Winning Greyhound Winning Trainer Time SP Notes
Coral Coronation Cup 19 Jan Romford Shotgun Bullet Derek Knight (Hove) 35.25 10-11f [37]
Racing Post Juvenile 6 Mar Sheffield Bull Run Button Barrie Draper (Sheffield) 28.86 9-4 [38]
Cearnsport Springbok 9 Mar Central Park Lenson Wilson Ricky Holloway (Central Park) 29.63 4-9f [39]
Coral Essex Vase+ 16 Mar Romford Murrys Act Kevin Boon (Yarmouth) 35.34 2-1 [40]
Coral Golden Sprint 16 Mar Romford Forest Chunk Kevin Hutton (Towcester) 24.03 11-10f [41]
Ladbrokes Puppy Derby 21 Mar Monmore Rising Brandy Matt Dartnall (Towcester) 27.82 7-4 [42]
Astute Electronics Gold Cup 25 Mar Towcester King Turbo Liz McNair (Private) 27.92 7-4jf [43]
Kent Silver Salver 30 Mar Central Park Roxholme Hat Hayley Keightley (Doncaster) 16.36 1-2f [44]
Bresmed Northern Sprint 17 Apr Sheffield Cotton Pants Mark Wallis (Towcester) 15.98 10-1 [45]
Golden Crest 17 Apr Poole Headford Kev Kevin Hutton (Towcester) 26.81 5-2 [46]
Betfred Gymcrack 22 Apr Kinsley Brinkleys Poet Matt Dartnall (Towcester) 26.95 4-7f Track Record [47]
Coral Regency 10 May Hove Clares Kyletaun June Harvey (Swindon) 41.05 1-2f [48]
BGBF Puppy Cup 15 May Sheffield Roxhill Mystique Paul Sallis (Monmore) 29.21 9-2 [49]
Star Sports Champion Hurdle 2 Jun Towcester Lenson Wilson Ricky Holloway (Central Park) 28.40 6-5f [17]
Ladbrokes Gold Collar 26 Jun Crayford Droopys Dresden Phil Simmonds (Romford) 33.93 9-4 [50]
RPGTV Select Stakes 2 Jul Nottingham Brinkleys Poet Matt Dartnall (Towcester) 29.56 2-1f [51]
British Bred Produce Stakes 21 Jul Swindon Zenas Zeus Jenny March (Central Park) 28.90 3-1 [52]
Coral Sussex Cup 3 Aug Hove Sporting Dave Seamus Cahill (Hove) 29.79 5-4 [53]
William Hill Northern Puppy Derby 9 Aug Newcastle Droopys Trawler Andrew Wood (Shawfield) 28.76 8-1 [54]
Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic 9 Aug Monmore Ela Juliet Matt Dartnall (Towcester) 37.77 7-4jf [55]
Ladbrokes Guys and Dolls 21 Aug Crayford Kilmore Lemon Patrick Janssens (Towcester) 22.89 1-2f [56]
Ladbrokes Gold Cup 23 Aug Monmore King Turbo Liz McNair (Private) 28.30 5-4f [57]
GMG Puppy Classic 27 Aug Nottingham Blue Trooper Nigel Saunders (Belle Vue) 30.29 4-1 [58]
Coral Champion Stakes 31 Aug Romford Bombers Bullet Mark Wallis (Henlow) 34.97 5-2f [59]
GMG Three Steps to Victory 4 Sep Sheffield Swift Hansel Anna Thompson (Nottingham) 39.42 9-4 [60]
Lowther Stakes 10 Sep Nottingham Donation Heather Dimmock (Henlow) 28.78 7-4f [61]
Jay & Kay Coach Tours Kent St Leger 15 Sep Crayford Slippy Maggie Hazel Kemp (Peterborough) 45.72 9-4 [62]
BAPP Group Scurry Cup 15 Sep Belle Vue Troy Bella David Mullins (Romford) 15.07 7-1 [63]
BAPP Group Northern Flat 15 Sep Belle Vue Fernhill Rex Lee Field (Doncaster) 27.56 5-2 [64]
Slim Somerville/Rhys Bramwell Trafalgar Cup 22 Sep Monmore King Sheeran Liz McNair (Private) 28.34 11-10 [65]
GMG Steel City Cup 2 Oct Sheffield Roxholme Nidge Hayley Keightley (Doncaster) 28.53 1-2f [66]
Ladbrokes Kent Derby 7 Oct Central Park King Turbo Liz McNair (Private) 28.96 4-6f [67]
S.I.S Yorkshire St Leger 8 Oct Doncaster Roxholme Poppy Hayley Keightley (Doncaster) 41.74 5-2jf [68]
William Hill All England Cup 25 Oct Newcastle Droopys Verve Angela Harrison (Newcastle) 28.24 1-2f [69]
The Hawk Henlow Derby 28 Oct Henlow Bubbly Turbo Paul Young (Romford) 27.36 8-1 [70]
British Breeders Stakes 29 Oct Nottingham Let Me Tell You Angie Kibble (Swindon) 29.96 9-2 [71]
Coral Brighton Belle 1 Nov Hove Ballymac Miscula Kim Billingham (Monmore) 30.00 2-1 [72]
Coral Romford Puppy Cup 23 Nov Romford Grays Cup Winner Phil Simmonds (Romford) 24.08 2-1 [73]
MSCM Eclipse 26 Nov Nottingham Dorotas Wildcat Kevin Hutton (Monmore) 29.35 4-6f [74]
Coral Essex Vase 7 Dec Romford Prime Time Phil Simmonds (Romford) 35.34 7-1 [75]
BGBF British Bred Derby 11 Dec Sheffield Geelo Monty Carl Perry (Sheffield) 29.05 5-2 [76]
Gain Nutrition Puppy Derby 16 Dec Henlow Argentina Kevin Hutton (Monmore) 27.50 4-1 [77]
Local Parking Security National Sprint 17 Dec Nottingham Calzaghe Flash Ted Soppitt (Newcastle) 17.55 1-1f [78]
Coral Olympic 27 Dec Hove King Turbo Liz McNair (Private) 29.90 6-4f [79]

+Delayed 2017 edition

Irish feature competitions

[edit]
Competition Date Venue Winning Greyhound Winning Trainer Time SP Notes
Best Car Parks Gold Cup 10 Feb Shelbourne Chespirito [80] Liam Dowling 28.52 7-1
GMHD Insurances Juvenile Classic 9 Mar Tralee Ballymac Bolger [81] Liam Dowling 28.53 4-1
All Pet Supplies Irish Cesarewitch 7 Apr Mullingar Master Grizzly [82] Declan Byrne 33.21 8-1
Frightful Flash Kennels McCalmont Cup 6 Apr Kilkenny Ballybough Dad [83] Martin 'Murt' Leahy 29.06 5-4f
Gain Open 600 28 Apr Shelbourne Javielenko [84] Pat Buckley 32.61 12-1
Kerry GAA Race of Champions 8 Jun Tralee Clonbrien Hero [85] Graham Holland 29.99 5-2
Thurles Fresh Milk Tipperary Cup 4 Aug Thurles Skywalker Rafa [86] Michael J O'Donovan 28.81 1-1f
Gain Corn Cuchulainn 5 Aug Shelbourne Javielenko [87] Pat Buckley 41.26 7-4
Bar One Racing Irish Sprint Cup 15 Aug Dundalk Ardnasool Jet [88] Cathal McGhee 21.07 3-1
Texacloth Juvenile Derby 14 Sep Newbridge Ulysses [89] Leonard O'Hanlon 28.58 7-2
Cox Cup 14 Sep Newbridge Kylehill Strauss [90] Raymond Dowling 30.41 3-1
Gain Greyhound Nutrition Select Stakes 10 Nov Waterford Cabra Hurricane [91] Patrick Guilfoyle 28.29 4-6f
Greyhound & Petworld Luxury Transport Irish Grand National 15 Dec Cork Lightfoot Prince [92] Pat Kiely 28.81 2-1

References

[edit]
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