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Champion Hurdle (greyhounds)
The Champion Hurdle is a greyhound racing competition held annually at Crayford Stadium. Until 2017 it was held at Wimbledon Stadium but switched to Towcester Greyhound Stadium following the closure of Wimbledon. The event culminated on the evening of the English Greyhound Derby final and is over hurdles being the third most valuable hurdle race behind the Grand National and Springbok. The race was switched to Central Park following the closure of Towcester and because Nottingham (the new hosts of the Derby) did not run hurdles races it no longer featured on Derby final night. In 2023, the event was run at Crayford Stadium. Past winners Venues and distances *1990–2009 (Wimbledon, 460m hurdles) *2010–2016 (Wimbledon, 480m hurdles) *2017–2018 (Towcester, 480m hurdles) *2019–2022 (Central Park, 480m hurdles) *2023–2023 (Crayford, 380m hurdles) Sponsors *1994–2006 ( William Hill) *2007–2009 (Blue Square) *2010–2016 ( William Hill} *2017–2018 (Star Sports) *20 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Crayford Stadium
Crayford Stadium is a greyhound racing stadium located in the London Borough of Bexley in England. The stadium, which has featured races since 1986, has private suites, a restaurant and a number of bars. An evening meeting takes place every Tuesday, a matinée race meeting takes place on Thursday and morning meetings are held every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. Crayford is owned by Ladbrokes Coral. History 1980s In 1984 Ladbrokes announced that racing would cease at the Crayford & Bexleyheath Stadium to allow plans for rebuilding the entire stadium as part of a development project. The twenty-acre site would be redeveloped, with five acres of it being converted into a new greyhound track and sports stadium. Racing ended on 18 May 1985 and work began on the new stadium. Following sixteen months of development and construction, it was ready for action. The grand opening took place on 1 September 1986, and the new stadium would be called Crayford after the decision was made to ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1995 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
The 1995 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 69th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Roll of honour Summary The National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC) released the annual returns, with totalisator turnover at £77,837,828 and attendances recorded at 3,652,671 from 6391 meetings. Staplers Jo trained by Nick Savva was voted Greyhound of the Year after winning the Anglo Irish International, Produce Stakes, Guineas and Ladbrokes Puppy Derby. Dew Reward trained by Michael O'Donovan was voted Irish Greyhound of the Year after winning the Irish Champion Stakes. John Coleman won the Greyhound Trainer of the Year. While William Hill remained part of the doomed Brent Walker, the new owners of Hackney Wick Stadium Fleetfoot Racing (led by its Managing Director Ex- Lloyds broker and racing journalist Robert Parker) had announced an exciting redevelopment plan. However, before the end of the year the plans had turned into a fiasco. Work began on an a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
2005 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
The 2005 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 80th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Summary Westmead Hawk captured the public's imagination with his 'late charge' style of running and won the 2005 English Greyhound Derby. The Nick Savva trained greyhound was later voted as the Greyhound of the Year and Mark Wallis secured the Greyhound Trainer of the Year at the end of his maiden year as a trainer. The 2005 Irish Greyhound Derby was considered to be one of the best in modern times with 'He Said So' winning the final that included Westmead Hawk, Droopys Marco and Irish Dog of the Year Droopys Maldini. Tracks Gaming International/BS Group closed Milton Keynes Greyhound Stadium on Boxing Day despite earlier assurances that it would be rebuilt. The company had closed Bristol in 1997 in similar circumstances. Competitions Charlie Lister stopped Brian Clemenson from winning a fourth consecutive Trainers Championship. Robbie De Niro and Ballymac ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Oxford Stadium
Oxford Stadium is a greyhound racing and speedway venue in Oxford, located in Sandy Lane, Cowley. Races were historically held every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday evening with afternoon BAGS (Bookmakers Afternoon Greyhound Service) racing on Friday and Sunday. Race evenings also included Friday evenings at various times throughout the history of the stadium. Stadium facilities There was a 350-seater grandstand restaurant overlooking the track, with three executive suites and large general public areas named after some of Oxford's most successful greyhounds Sandwinder, Security Sam, Self Made and Perth Pat. Conference and business facilities were also available. There is a go-karting track enclosed within the speedway track, which is popular among Oxfordshire residents. Origins The stadium was constructed in 1938 on the site of a 'flapping' (unregulated) track where owners could turn up and run their greyhounds around an oval on the days selected for racing. The rear wheel of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
2004 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
The 2004 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 79th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Summary Irish racing was experiencing promising growth with increased prize money for competitions including the richest ever prize for a marathon event when the Corn Cuchulainn offered €50,000 for the winner at Harold's Cross. The situation in Britain was not as simple after Richard Caborn, the Minister for Sport announced that it had been agreed that the bookmakers levy fund would increase to 0.5% in 2004, 0.55% in 2005 and 0.6% in 2006 and therefore doubling the sports income to £16 million within the three years. However the statement was incorrect because a 0.1% increase after three years would mean only a one sixth increase (16.6%). The promise turned out to be false because the levy fund actually decreased significantly over the next five years. Droopys Scholes won the 2004 English Greyhound Derby and Like A Shot won the 2004 Irish Greyhound Derby. Char ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
2003 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
The 2003 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 78th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Summary The industry suffered a huge double blow with the closure of Catford and the English Greyhound Derby fiasco. Catford Stadium, owned by GRA was closed with little warning. The last meeting was on the 5 November leaving the staff, trainers and many others redundant. Trainers John Simpson, Tony Taylor, Maxine Locke and John Walsh moved to Wimbledon, Keston based Steve Gammon left for Crayford, Sonja Spiers and Kevin Connor went to Sittingbourne and Mark Lavender switched to Portsmouth. Racing Manager Derek Hope was able to take up the same position at Wimbledon soon after because Simon Harris had left for Coventry Stadium bookmaker John Humphreys, who had stood in the main ring since 1966 and sponsored the Gold Collar for 18 years, retired. The 2003 English Greyhound Derby took place as usual with the final being held on 28 June. The final resulted in the d ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Seamus Cahill
Seamus Augustine Cahill is an Irish born greyhound trainer. He is a British champion trainer and winner of the English Greyhound Derby. Career Seamus Cahill is from Mullinhoe, County Waterford and joined Catford Stadium in 1994 working for Paddy Milligan. In 1997 he took control of Milligan's Catford Stadium racing kennels in Keston and established himself as a leading trainer. He reached the final of the Laurels in his maiden year of 1997. One year later he moved from Catford to Wimbledon Stadium. In 2002 finished runner-up in the 2002 English Greyhound Derby final with Call Me Baby and Shevchenko provided the first Classic win when sealing a Gold Collar triumph in the same year. A short lived move to Walthamstow Stadium was followed by a switch to Brighton & Hove Greyhound Stadium before he won his first Trainers Championship at Wimbledon in 2008 and became Greyhound Trainer of the Year in 2010. He trained the brilliant sprinter and 2010 Greyhound of the Year Jimmy Lollie ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
2002 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
The 2002 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 76th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Roll of honour Summary The National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC) released the annual returns, with totalisator turnover at £92,723,060 from 6190 meetings. Droopys Rhys trained by Ted Soppitt was voted Greyhound of the Year. The blue dog had finished third in the Scottish Greyhound Derby behind Priceless Rebel before travelling to Ireland and staying with Reggie Roberts when finishing runner up in the Irish Greyhound Derby behind Bypass Byway. He had missed the English Derby before winning the Steel City Cup and Select Stakes. It had transpired that during that Irish Derby final Droopys Rhys had sustained a fracture on the hock and was later retired. Linda Jones was voted Greyhound Trainer of the Year for the second successive year. An opportunity was missed by the track promoters as the British Greyhound Racing Board announced they were looking for a 'N ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
2001 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
The 2001 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 75th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Roll of honour Summary The National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC) released the annual returns, with totalisator turnover at £91,969,298 and attendances recorded at 3,887,265 from 6180 meetings. Rapid Ranger trained by Charlie Lister was voted Greyhound of the Year after winning his second English Greyhound Derby. The brindle dog joined an elite band of three greyhounds to win the Derby twice. Only Mick the Miller and Patricias Hope had previously achieved the feat. Linda Jones won the Greyhound Trainer of the Year but it was fellow trainer John McGee Sr. that once again hit the headlines, with a controversy regarding the trainer's championship to be held at Hove. McGee qualified for the top six Trainers' Championship by virtue of finishing fifth in the 2000 standings but was upset at the fact that John Mullins was allowed to take the place of his mother ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
2000 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
The 2000 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 74th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Roll of honour Summary The National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC) released the annual returns, with totalisator turnover at £86,014,070 and attendances recorded at 3,697,939 from 6643 meetings. Palace Issue trained by Linda Mullins was voted Greyhound of the Year after winning the St Leger at Wimbledon Stadium, defending his Grand Prix title at Walthamstow, winning a third successive Hunt Cup and second WJ & JE Cearns Invitation. Mullins also won the Greyhound Trainer of the Year for the fifth successive year and then announced her retirement, the kennels and licence was switched to one of her sons John. El Tenor owned by Mario Lanfranchi and trained by Mullins brought up the magical 100 open race wins to write his name in the history books as one of the greatest hurdlers. Rising star Rapid Ranger was third in the Scottish Greyhound Derby behind Knockeevan ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1999 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
The 1999 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 73rd year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Roll of honour Summary The National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC) released the annual returns, with totalisator turnover at £80,268,946 and attendances recorded at 3,511,847. Chart King was voted Greyhound of the Year after winning the 1999 Scottish Greyhound Derby and 1999 English Greyhound Derby. He also picked up the Irish Greyhound of the Year award. Chart King a brindle dog was owned and trained by brothers Karl and Ralph Hewitt from Lurgan in Northern Ireland. He also won the Easter Cup in a record-breaking 28.40 at Shelbourne Park. Linda Mullins won the Greyhound Trainer of the Year for the fourth successive year. Sky Sports increased their TV coverage to show major events on Tuesday nights at Wimbledon including the Springbok and the Grand National, the latter now held at Wimbledon instead of Hall Green. They also wanted to show the Pall Mall St ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1998 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
The 1998 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 72nd year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Roll of honour Summary The National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC) released the annual returns, with totalisator turnover at £78,981,066 and attendances recorded at 3,606,704. Irish Greyhound Derby champion Toms The Best trained by Nick Savva was voted Greyhound of the Year after finishing runner-up in the Scottish Greyhound Derby at Shawfield Stadium and winning the 1998 English Greyhound Derby. Linda Mullins won Greyhound Trainer of the Year for the third successive year. The industry lost Wembley when it was announced that greyhound racing would no longer take place there. The last race was held on Friday 18 December. A twist of fate resulted in a no race on that final night after a hare failure, just like 71 years previous when on the opening night in 1927 the same happened. Tracks Independent track Long Eaton in the hands of the receivers Grant Thomps ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
