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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

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. The 1940 final was held at Harringay Stadium, due to the outbreak of war.

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.

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.

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. This resulted in the Derby being located outside London for the first time as Wimbledon was the last greyhound stadium in the capital.

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'.

On 30 January 2017, it was announced that the event would relocate to the new greyhound stadium 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. The 2020 event was rescheduled following a postponement due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Following the reopening of Towcester Greyhound Stadium, the English Greyhound Derby returned to Towcester for 2021.

Statistics

Past winners

References

1. ^ Williams, Darrell (6 December 2007). "Remembering White City – 'the governor' of lost tracks". Betfair. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
2. Dack, Barrie (1990). Greyhound Derby, the first 60 years. Ringpress Books. pp. 79–80. ISBN 0-948955-36-8.
3. Dalgleish, Stuart (17 December 2009). "William Hill announces new deal with Wimbledon". William Hill. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
4. Oakes, Omar (18 May 2012). "Ambitious plans for brand new dog track in Plough Lane, Wimbedon". Wimbledon Guardian. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
5. "Two farewell Saturdays close Wimbledon curtain | Greyhound News | Racing Post". Racing Post. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
6. ^ Moody, Graham (22 May 2012). "Racing legend Charlie Lister slams plans to build housing on Wimbledon dog track in Plough Lane". Surrey Comet. Archived from the original on 21 April 2013. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
7. "Roll of Honour and Track Facts". William Hill. Archived from the original on 21 July 2012. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
8. "Crowds set to flock to Towcester for Greyhound derby as world's richest dog race comes to town". All Things Business. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
9. "Nottingham to stage 2019 English Derby". Greyhound Star. 13 December 2018.
10. "DERBY POSTPONED – ARC STATEMENT". Greyhound Star. 16 March 2020.
11. "Derby Goes Ahead". Greyhound Star. 12 June 2020.
12. "2020 Derby Dates". Nottingham Stadium. Archived from the original on 13 June 2020. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
13. "Greyhound racing news: Latest updates including 'new' Derby home". Sporting Life. 2 January 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
14. "The Star Sports & TRC English Greyhound Derby Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 30 June 2024.

• English Greyhound Derby
• Recurring sporting events established in 1927
• 1927 establishments in England
• Sports competitions in Nottingham
• Greyhound racing competitions in the United Kingdom
• Greyhound racing in London
• Sport in Northamptonshire