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There is no bigger race in the sport of greyhound racing than the Greyhound Derby. The British Classic is the most prestigious event in the sport, with the winner scooping $190,000 in prize money.
To win the Greyhound Derby, the participants must qualify through a series of rounds in the competition. They do this by finishing either first or second in their race. Once the six greyhounds qualify for the final, they compete to add their name to the history books.
When Is the Next Renewal?
The 2024 Greyhound Derby begins on May 23 with round one. These heats will take place over three consecutive days. Links Maverick and King Memphis are the +1600 joint favorites for those looking to place bets on dog racing before the competition begins.
There are five rounds before the final. The six finalists will then race for the trophy on June 29 on a card that also features prestigious events from other divisions in the sport.
Where Does the Greyhound Derby Take Place?
The Greyhound Derby stretches back to 1927 when it was first run at White City in London. Since then, it has had various homes, including Harringay, Nottingham, and Wimbledon. It now takes place at Towcester Racecourse in Northamptonshire, England.
Towcester is a venue that will be familiar to horse racing fans, as there is also a National Hunt course at the venue. They host Jump Racing throughout the year.
The Greyhound Derby takes place over a distance of 500 meters. Since the competition was moved to Towcester in 2017, the fastest time the final has been run came in 2018 when Dorotas Wildcat prevailed in 28.85.
Ireland Have Had a Lot of Recent Success
Although British-trained greyhounds have had more success in the Greyhound Derby since 1927, Ireland has dominated the most recent renewals. An Irish-trained greyhound has won five of the last six finals, including in 2023 when Gaytime Nemo scored for Graham Holland.
The quality of Irish greyhound racing has improved significantly over the last couple of decades. The best greyhounds also feature in the Irish Greyhound Derby at Shelbourne Park in November. No greyhound has yet to complete the double in those two Classics.
Greatest Greyhounds in History
With back-to-back victories in the Greyhound Derby in 1929 and 1930, Mick The Miller was the first big star of the sport. So huge was his popularity, he featured in films, books, and at various award ceremonies.
At the peak of his talent, Mick The Miller won 19 consecutive races, an impressive feat at any level. His racing career spanned three years and he still holds several records in the sport, despite retiring in 1932.
The most recent major star of greyhound racing is Westmead Hawk. He was successful in the Greyhound Derby in 2005 and 2006 for trainer Charlie Lister. Since retiring, he has produced two new Greyhound Derby winners with his offspring (Taylors Sky and Sidaz Jack).
Westmead Hawk was known for his style of racing. He was often slow out of traps, handing his opponents a head start. However, he more than made up for that in the second half of his races, coming out much faster than his rivals to prevail.
If you are planning to attend this year’s Greyhound Derby or set to watch it on television, enjoy the competition across the six different stages.
