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2020 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year

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2020 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
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The 2020 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year is the 95th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.[1][2]

The year was best known for the major disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2020 English Greyhound Derby was postponed and the Arena Racing Company tracks announced a behind closed doors policy from 24 March.[3][4] ARC's rivals SIS took advantage of the horse racing cancellations by increasing its own schedule by an extra 54 races per week to 532 in total. Henlow increased to eight meetings per week.[5] Racing in Ireland was seriously affected with the industry banning the public from attending meetings. The Irish Greyhound Board (IGB) enforced the ban from Thursday 12 March, with racing continuing with a behind closed doors policy.[6]

The situation worsened and following increased government restrictions all betting shops were closed from March and the open race calendar was suspended, meaning that only graded racing would take place until further notice. Following further announcements by the Prime Minister Boris Johnson on 23 March racing in the UK was suspended and this was followed by Ireland the following day.[7] The industry united with many tracks announcing financial help for every racing and retired greyhound attached to their track, the payments were in addition to the financial help pledged by the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB).[8]

When trials returned (18 May) following the lock-down Peterborough announced that they would not be re-opening until they sought further clarification from the GBGB.[9] The concerns over the financial implication of racing behind closed doors was evident and the following day (20 May) the Perkins family announced the permanent closure of the track.[10] [11] Although UK racing finally returned on 1 June (at Perry Barr) it was behind closed doors and both Poole Stadium and Belle Vue Stadium remained closed with the possibility of not re-opening being a serious consideration. Then on 1 August, Belle Vue announced that it had closed for good and this was followed by Poole on 22 September. Three tracks had now closed permanently, two of them as a consequence of the pandemic.[12]

As 2020 came to a close the pandemic continued to dramatically affect the industry with no immediate sign of crowds being allowed to return. One positive consequence of the pandemic was that many homing organisations including the Lincolnshire, Suffolk and Portsmouth Greyhound Trusts were reporting that all retired greyhounds were being homed and that there was a shortage. The shortage was caused by a combination of higher demand for pets and less race tracks, however concerns were raised that if the shortage of retired greyhounds continued it could force some homing organisations to close.[13]

Roll of honour

[edit]
Major Winners
Award Name of Winner
2020 English Greyhound Derby Deerjet Sydney
2020 Irish Greyhound Derby Newinn Taylor
Greyhound Trainer of the Year Patrick Janssens
UK Greyhound of the Year Aayamza Royale
Irish Greyhound of the Year Newinn Taylor

Summary

[edit]

News not dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic included the Belle Vue Stadium scenario. Following the demise of the GRA in 2019 the industry waited for imminent closure of Belle Vue Stadium. The first track to be built in the United Kingdom (1926) had been approved for housing planning permission and awaited the official closure date.[14] The stadium remained closed when racing returned following the virus ban, the economical impact of racing behind closed doors was quoted and then permanent closure was confirmed on 1 August.[12]

The Arena Racing Company (ARC) became the UK's largest greyhound racing operator following the purchase of Nottingham Greyhound Stadium from Nottingham Greyhound Stadium Ltd.[15][16]

2020 was noticeable for the continued recent trend of Irish greyhounds out performing their British opposition, a fact highlighted during the 2020 English Derby. Despite a reduced Irish entry, four greyhounds made the final for the second year in a row and third time in the history of the competition (2016, 2019 and 2020). The Irish duly won both of the sport's premier events with Deerjet Sydney taking the English Derby and Newinn Taylor winning the Irish Derby.[17][18]

Patrick Janssens won his maiden Trainer of the Year title ending the eight-year reign of Mark Wallis.[19] Wallis gained some compensation when his marathon star Aayamza Royale (a black bitch) won the 2020 Greyhound of the Year award, held as a virtual event in February 2021, due to the lockdown that was in place as a consequence of COVID-19.[20]

News

[edit]

The sport lost two of its most famous names when trainers George Curtis and Ernie Gaskin both died, Gentleman George as he was known died on 17 April [21] and Gaskin died on 24 February.[22]

Towcester Greyhound Stadium due to re-open on 20 March with a trial session had to wait until the end of the Coronavirus before finally opening with a trial session on 22 May.[23] The GBGB expressed its disappointment with the Greyhound Trust in an open letter, the Trust was reportedly on the verge of insolvency following a move to new offices that has cost somewhere in the region of £1.7 million. The GBGB were upset at the money used for new offices and argued that the money should have gone to re-homing greyhounds and warned that they could divert their £1.3 million funding to other homing areas.[24] Leading performer Ice on Fire was retired following an unsuccessful attempt to return from injury, the decision came after a September trial for the Derby.

Ireland

[edit]

The Easter Cup was run behind closed doors and Wolfe made amends for his 2019 English Greyhound Derby problems by claiming the event for trainer Graham Holland. The quality of the competition was high with two Derby champions Priceless Blake and Ballyanne Sim both being eliminated in the semi-finals.[25] After the lockdown the Champion Stakes attracted a superb entry which resulted in a shock win for Pestana, the blue brindle dog's fast break was the decisive factor for winning the event. Derby champion Lenson Bocko had a bad start and encountered trouble in the final that included three Liam Dowling runners.[26]

A new star was seen in the final of the Larry O'Rourke National Produce, Newinn Taylor won his 12th successive race, the May 2018 whelp provided his trainer Graham Holland a third Produce champion in five years and then headed for the Irish Derby which he went on to win as well.[27] Unfortunately during the Race of Champions night on 5 December, at Shelbourne Park, Newinn Taylor broke down after suffering a serious injury and the very next race on the card saw Lenson Bocko win his farewell race. The two Derby champions were retired and sent to stud by trainer Graham Holland.[28]

The Social Democrat party campaigned to withdraw funding to greyhound racing but it came under criticism after it transpired that the abandoned greyhounds used part of the campaign to discredit the industry were found to be a lurcher and whippet (the latter from Denmark). The bill was defeated on the first motion vote.[29][30]

Newinn Taylor was named Irish Greyhound of the Year.[31]

Competitions

[edit]

The current Greyhound of the Year Ice On Fire continued his good form by winning the Juvenile at Sheffield.[32] The revised schedule of racing after COVID-19 lockdown resulted in a strange calendar events because of the rearranged English and Irish Derby competitions. Kilara Lion won the East Anglian Derby but no greyhound had won more than one major event in England going into the delayed Derby. However, after the Derby had finished Kilara Lion won the Kent Derby in November, winning the final by over 6 lengths.[33]

Smallmead trained by John Mullins had won both the Champion Stakes and St Leger by December and looked like a serious contender for greyhound of the year but suffered a major setback when a positive sample was returned which resulted in him being stripped of the Champion Stakes title. The Champion Stakes title was handed to runner-up Desperado Dan.[34] The greyhound of the year title would go to the Mark Wallis trained Aayamza Royale following two major successes towards the latter part of the year. After winning the returning Cesarewitch in September she went on to win the Coral TV Trophy in December.

Principal UK finals

[edit]
Property 192 Oaks, Swindon (20 Dec, 476m £15,000)[39]
Pos Name of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer
1st Ballymac Trend 3 25-1 28.41 Angie Kibble
2nd Queen Jessiej 2 5-6f 28.56 Liz McNair
3rd Lights Out 1 5-1 28.65 Kevin Hutton
4th Baggios Gem 4 33-1 29.13 Frank Bryce
5th Newinn Liz 6 15-8 29.31 Ernest Gaskin Jr.
6th Fantastical 5 16-1 29.49 John Mullins

Principal Irish finals

[edit]

UK Category 1 & 2 competitions

[edit]
Competition Date Venue Winning Greyhound Winning Trainer Time SP Notes
Coral Coronation Cup 18 Jan Romford Antigua Rum Mark Wallis (Henlow) 35.06 8-1 [44]
Racing Post GTV Juvenile 29 Feb Sheffield Ice on Fire James Fenwick (Newcastle) 29.21 2-5f [45]
Cearnsport Springbok 1 Mar Central Park Burgess Doc Lee Field (Monmore) 30.06 6-4f [46][47]
British Bred Maidens 13 Mar Romford Go Pat Go Nathan Hunt (Romford) 24.21 4-1 [48]
Coral Golden Sprint 13 Mar Romford Goldies Hoddle Patrick Janssens (Central Park) 23.86 3-1 [49]
Ladbrokes Puppy Derby 21 Mar Monmore Newinn Jacko Ernest Gaskin Jr. (Private) 28.72 11-4 [50]
RPGTV Steel City Cup 21 Mar Sheffield Headford Ranger Kevin Hutton (Monmore) 28.63 11-8f [51]
Colossus Bets Silver Salver 19 Jul Central Park Shrewd Call David Mullins (Romford) 16.12 7-4f [52]
RPGTV All England Cup 30 Jul Newcastle Bower Luke Pat Rosney (Belle Vue) 28.23 11-2 [53]
Coral Sussex Cup 1 Aug Hove Bockos Doomie Patrick Janssens (Central Park) 29.69 1-1f [54]
Coral Regency 1 Aug Hove Zascandil Kevin Boon (Yarmouth) 41.74 7-2 [54]
Racing Post GTV Champion Hurdle 2 Aug Central Park Swift Loki James Turner (Crayford) 29.65 6-1 [55]
British Bred Oaks 24 Aug Doncaster Fearsome Encore Chris Akers (Sheffield) 29.58 5-2jf [56]
Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic 29 Aug Monmore Kingsbrook Glyn Kevin Hutton (Monmore) 37.66 5-1 [57]
Ladbrokes Gold Cup 29 Aug Monmore Gonzo Julie Bateson (Private) 28.31 9-2 [57]
British Bred Sprint 30 Aug Towcester King Drake Liz McNair (Private) 16.24 8-15f [58]
Coral Champion Stakes 18 Sep Romford Desperado Dan Patrick Janssens (Central Park) 34.93 10-3 [59][34]
Coral Romford Puppy Cup 18 Sep Romford Tenpin David Mullins (Romford) 23.71 9-4 [60]
74th British Bred Produce Stakes 20 Sep Swindon Queen Jessiej Liz McNair (Private) 27.95 8-11f [61]
Coral Guys and Dolls 25 Sep Romford Melodys Secret Spencer Mavrias (Harlow) 24.32 11-1 [62]
Gain Nutrition 3 Steps to Victory 29 Sep Sheffield Roxholme Kristof Hayley Keightley (Private) 38.57 4-9f [63]
Henlow Maiden Derby 11 Oct Henlow Roxholme Olaf Hayley Keightley (Private) 27.02 4-5f [64]
BGBF Scurry Cup 14 Oct Harlow Dundee June David Lewis (Swindon) 26.88 9-1 [65]
BGBF Northern Maiden Standard 15 Oct Newcastle Acomb Jenny Kevin Ferguson (Kinsley) 28.54 1-2f [66]
Kent National Hurdle 17 Oct Crayford Roxholme Biscuit Ricky Holloway (Central Park) 34.58 2-5f [67]
Jay & Kay Coach Tours Kent St Leger 17 Oct Crayford Droopys Bird Simon Harms (Private) 45.51 10-1 [67]
Ladbrokes Gold Collar 17 Oct Crayford Desperado Dan Patrick Janssens (Central Park) 33.64 1-2f [67]
Crayford Rosebowl 17 Oct Crayford Signature Callum Michelle Brown (Henlow) 23.43 6-4f [67]
Derby Plate 30 Oct Nottingham Doolin Duke Pat Buckley (Ireland) 29.21 10-11f
M Lambe Construction Birmingham Cup 26 Nov Perry Barr Droopys Carat Angela Harrison (Newcastle) 28.74 8-1 [68]
Ladbrokes Kent Derby 29 Nov Central Park Kilara Lion Patrick Janssens (Central Park) 28.90 7-1 [33]
Coral Essex Vase 4 Dec Romford Kilmessan Puma David Mullins (Romford) 35.47 16-1 [69]
BGBF British Bred Derby 15 Dec Sheffield Elderberry Sky Patricia Cowdrill (Monmore) 28.74 5-4f [70]
Star Sports Puppy Deby 18 Dec Towcester Surprising Seamus Cahill (Hove) 29.35 11-4cf [71]
Coral Olympic 19 Dec Hove Newinn Jacko Ernest Gaskin Jr. (Private) 31.43 7-2 [38]
Coral Brighton Belle 19 Dec Hove Droopys Aoife Ernest Gaskin Jr. (Private) 31.48 13-8 [38]
RPGTV National Sprint 21 Dec Nottingham Loggies Lito Simon Harms (Private) 17.88 11-8f [72]
Scottish Greyhound Derby Shawfield cancelled+
Golden Crest Poole cancelled+
Crayford Vase Crayford cancelled+
Classic Sunderland cancelled+
Select Stakes Nottingham cancelled+
Puppy Classic Nottingham cancelled+
British Breeders Stakes Nottingham cancelled+
Yorkshire St Leger Doncaster cancelled+
Carling Eclipse Nottingham cancelled+
Trafalgar Cup Monmore cancelled+
Laurels Newcastle cancelled+
Northern Puppy Derby Newcastle cancelled+

Irish feature competitions

[edit]
Competition Date Venue Winning Greyhound Winning Trainer Time SP Notes
Best Car Parks Gold Cup 8 Feb Shelbourne Ballymac Anton Liam Dowling 28.87 7-4f [73]
Corn Cuchulainn 1 Aug Shelbourne Ballymac Kingdom Liam Dowling 41.41 5-2jf [74]
Centenary Agri Tipperary Cup 8 Aug Thurles Riverside Leo Graham Holland 28.65 6-4f [75]
Bar One Racing Irish Sprint Cup 15 Aug Dundalk Grangeview Ten Patrick Guilfoyle 20.88 5-4jf [76]
Kilkenny Track Champion Open Unraced 11 Sep Kilkenny Deadly Samuri Karol Ramsbottom 28.62 NB [77]
Emerald Isle Casino Cambridgeshire 12 Sep Limerick Skywalker Logan Patrick Guilfoyle 41.41 NB Track record[78]
Dave Collins Memorial Munster Oaks 12 Sep Waterford Risk of Thunder Lorraine Moore 28.41 NB [79]
Irish Cesarewitch 24 Oct Mullingar Meenagh Miracle Michael Corr 32.75 NB Track record[80]
IGOBF National Puppy 5 Dec Shelbourne Ballymac Ariel Liam Dowling 28.19 13-8 [81]
Irish Grand National 12 Dec Cork Razldazl Annie Neilus O'Connell 29.37 NB [82]
Kingdom Derby 22 Dec Tralee Knocknaboul Syd Pat Buckley 28.30 4-1 [83]
Kirby Memorial Stakes Limerick cancelled+
Dundalk International Dundalk cancelled+
Juvenile Classic Tralee cancelled+
Shelbourne 600 Shelbourne cancelled+
McCalmont Cup Kilkenny cancelled+
Select Stakes Waterford cancelled+
Race of Champions Tralee cancelled+
Texacloth Juvenile Derby Newbridge cancelled+

+ Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Open Race Calendar". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
  2. ^ "Irish Calendar". Irish Greyhound Board.
  3. ^ "ALL ARC MEETINGS TO BE STAGED BEHIND CLOSED DOORS". Greyhound Star. 16 March 2020.
  4. ^ "Derby postponed". Greyhound Star. 16 March 2020.
  5. ^ "SIS extend race schedules". Greyhound Star. 18 March 2020.
  6. ^ "COVID 19 Update: Racing behind closed doors". Irish Greyhound Board. Archived from the original on 2020-03-20. Retrieved 2020-03-12.
  7. ^ "Greyhound racing suspended – Press release". Greyhound Star. 23 March 2020.
  8. ^ "GBGB EMERGENCY MEETING PRESS STATEMENT". Greyhound Star. 24 March 2020.
  9. ^ "PETERBOROUGH STATEMENT TO TRAINERS". Greyhound Star. 13 May 2020.
  10. ^ "PETERBOROUGH CLOSES- FULL STATEMENT". Greyhound Star. 19 May 2020.
  11. ^ "Coronavirus: Peterborough greyhound track to close". BBC. 19 May 2020.
  12. ^ a b "Belle Vue closure confirmed". Greyhound Star. August 2020.
  13. ^ "RE-HOMING 2020". Greyhound star. 17 December 2020. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  14. ^ "Belle Vue Planning Approved". Greyhound Star. 19 December 2019.
  15. ^ "ARC Confirms Acquisition Of Nottingham Greyhound Stadium". Arena Racing Company.
  16. ^ "Press Release". Greyhound Star. 21 February 2020.
  17. ^ "Historic English Derby Greyhound title victory for Limerick trainer Pat Buckley". Limerick Leader. 31 October 2020. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  18. ^ "Nottingham 31 October 2020". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  19. ^ "Trainer's of the Year standings". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. 16 December 2020. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  20. ^ "GBGB Greyhound of the Year 2020 Award Winners". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. 17 February 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  21. ^ "Ballyregan Bob trainer George Curtis passes away at 96". Brighton & Hove News. 17 April 2020.
  22. ^ "Ernie Gaskin: 100% a dog man". Greyhound Star. 25 February 2020.
  23. ^ "TOWCESTER DECISION ON FRIDAY". Greyhound Star. 19 March 2020.
  24. ^ "GBGB issue Trust Ultimatum". Greyhound Star. 20 April 2020.
  25. ^ "2020 Easter Cup final". Irish Greyhound Board.
  26. ^ a b "2020 Champion Stakes final". Irish greyhound Board.
  27. ^ a b "2020 Produce final". Irish Greyhound Board.
  28. ^ "Two derby champions retired". Greyhound Star. 6 December 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  29. ^ "Trump style deception Irish politicians/". Greyhound Star. 25 November 2020. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  30. ^ "Social Democrats Cock up Again!". Greyhound Star. 28 November 2020. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  31. ^ "Tipperary greyhound named Supreme Greyhound of the Year at National Awards". Tipp FM. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  32. ^ "Ice On Fire defies water to land Juvenile". Greyhound Star. March 2020.
  33. ^ a b "Ladbrokes Kent Derby final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  34. ^ a b "Smallmead loses Champion Stakes final". Greyhound Star. 2 December 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  35. ^ "2020 Golden Jacket final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
  36. ^ "Coral Cesarewitch Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
  37. ^ "Colossus Bets Grand National Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  38. ^ a b c "19 Dec, Meeting Hove". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  39. ^ "The Property192 Oaks 2020 Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  40. ^ "2020 Shelbourne Juvenile Derby 525 Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland.
  41. ^ "The 2020 Irish Greyhound Laurels Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  42. ^ "The 2020 Sporting Press Oaks Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  43. ^ "The 2020 St Leger Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  44. ^ "2020 Coronation Cup final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
  45. ^ "2020 Juvenile". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
  46. ^ "Cearnsport Springbok Final meeting". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
  47. ^ "Doc's Bok". Greyhound Star. 2 March 2020.
  48. ^ "British Bred Maiden Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
  49. ^ "Golden Sprint Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
  50. ^ "2020 Ladbrokes Puppy Derby Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
  51. ^ "2020 Steel City Cup Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
  52. ^ "2020 Silver Salver Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
  53. ^ "2020 All England Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
  54. ^ a b "2020 Sussex Cup and Regency Finals". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
  55. ^ "2020 Champion Hurdle". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
  56. ^ "2020 British Bred Oaks". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
  57. ^ a b "2020 Gold Cup & Stayers Classic". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
  58. ^ "2020 British Bred sprint final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
  59. ^ "2020 Champions Stakes final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
  60. ^ "2020 Coral Puppy Cup final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
  61. ^ "2020 produce final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
  62. ^ "2020 Guys and Dolls final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
  63. ^ "Three Steps final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
  64. ^ "Henlow Maiden Derby Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  65. ^ "BGBF British Bred Scurry Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  66. ^ "BGBF British Bred Northern Maiden Standard Finall". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  67. ^ a b c d "Crayford 17 October 2020". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  68. ^ "Birmingham Cup final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  69. ^ "2020 Coral Essex Vase Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  70. ^ "2020 British Bred Derby". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  71. ^ "2020 English Puppy Derby final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  72. ^ "RPGTV National Sprint - Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  73. ^ "2020 Best Car Park Gold Cup final". Irish Greyhound Board.
  74. ^ "2020 Corn Cuchulainn". Irish Greyhound Board.
  75. ^ "2020 Tipperary Cup". Irish Greyhound Board.
  76. ^ "2020 Bar One Irish Sprint Cup". Irish Greyhound Board.
  77. ^ "Kilkenny Track Champion Open Unraced 525 Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
  78. ^ "Irish performances of the week". Greyhound Star. 13 September 2020.
  79. ^ "Dave Collins Memorial Munster Oaks Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
  80. ^ "The 2020 Irish Cesarewitch Open 600 final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  81. ^ "The 2020 IGOBF National Puppy". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  82. ^ "Greyhound & PetWorld Luxury Transport Irish Grand National Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  83. ^ "Kingdom Derby final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
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