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. Star Sports sponsored the event for the first time. It 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

StatComment Most wins 2; Mick the Miller, Patricias Hope, Rapid Ranger, Westmead Hawk Winning trainer Charlie Lister (7), Leslie Reynolds (5) Winning bitches 5; 1935, 1949, 1971, 1979, 2003 British v Ireland British winners (76); Irish winners (19) Starting prices Shortest winner: 1927 (1/4f) Longest winner: 2017 (28/1) Dual derby winners Toms the Best

Winners YearVenueDistWinnerTrainerSPTime (sec)Note/ref1927White City500yEntry BadgeJoe Harmon (White City)1/4f29.011928White City525yBoher AshTommy Johnston Sr. (Edinburgh)5/130.481929White City525yMick the MillerPaddy Horan (Dublin)4/7f29.961930White City525yMick the Miller Sidney Orton (Wimbledon)4/9f30.241931White City525ySeldom LedWally Green (West Ham)7/230.041932White City525yWild WoolleyJack Rimmer (White City)5/229.721933White City525yFuture CutletSidney Probert (Wembley)6/129.801934White City525yDaveslandJack Harvey (Harringay)3/129.811935White City525yGreta RaneeAlbert Jonas (White City)4/130.181936White City525yFine JubileeMrs Marjorie Yate (Private)10/11f29.481937White City525yWattle BarkJim Syder Sr. (Wembley)5/229.261938White City525yLone KeelSydney W Wright (Private)9/429.621939White City525yHighland RumPaddy Fortune (Wimbledon)2/1jf29.351940Harringay525yGR ArchdukeCharlie Ashley (Harringay)100/729.661941–1944, not run due to World War II1945White City525yBallyhennessy SealStan Martin (Wimbledon)1/1f29.561946White City525yMondays NewsFred Farey (Private)5/129.241947White City525yTrev's PerfectionFred Trevillion (Private)4/128.951948White City525yPriceless BorderLeslie Reynolds (Wembley)1/2f28.781949White City525yNarrogar AnnLeslie Reynolds (Wembley)5/128.951950White City525yBallymac BallStan Martin (Wimbledon)7/228.721951White City525yBallylanigan TanistLeslie Reynolds (Wembley)11/428.621952White City525yEndless GossipLeslie Reynolds (Wembley)1/1f28.501953White City525yDaws DancerPaddy McEvoy (Private)10/129.201954White City525yPauls FunLeslie Reynolds (Wembley)8/15f28.841955White City525yRushton MacFrank Johnson (Private)5/228.971956White City525yDunmore KingPaddy McEvoy (Clapton)7/229.221957White City525yFord SpartanDennis Hannafin (Wimbledon)1/1F28.841958White City525yPigalle WonderJim Syder Jr. (Wembley)4/5f28.651959White City525yMile Bush PrideJack Harvey (Wembley)1/1f28.761960White City525yDuleek DandyBill Dash (Private)25/129.151961White City525yPalms PrinterPaddy McEvoy (Clapton)2/128.841962White City525yThe Grand CanalPaddy Dunphy (Ireland)2/1f29.091963White City525yLucky Boy BoyJohnny Bassett (Clapton)1/1f29.001964White City525yHack Up ChieftainPercy Stagg (Belle Vue)20/128.821965White City525yChittering ClaptonAdam Jackson (Clapton)5/228.821966White City525yFaithful HopePaddy Keane (Clapton)8/128.521967White City525yTric TracJim Hookway (Owlerton)9/229.001968White City525yCamira FlashRandolph Singleton (White City)100/828.781969White City525ySand StarHamilton Orr (Ireland)5/4f28.781970White City525yJohn SilverBarbara Tompkins (Private)11/429.011971White City525yDolores RocketHerbert White (Private)11/428.741972White City525yPatricias HopeAdam Jackson (Clapton)7/128.551973White City525yPatricias HopeJohnny O'Connor (Ireland)7/228.681974White City525yJimsunGeoff De Mulder (Hall Green)5/228.761975White City500mTartan KhanGwen Lynds (Bletchley)25/129.571976White City500mMutts SilverPhil Rees Sr. (Wimbledon)6/129.381977White City500mBallinska BandEddie Moore (Belle Vue)1/1f29.161978White City500mLacca ChampionPat Mullins (Private)6/4f29.421979White City500mSarahs BunnyGeoff De Mulder (Hall Green)3/129.531980White City500mIndian JoeJohn Hayes (Ireland)13/8jf29.681981White City500mParkdown JetGer McKenna (Ireland)4/5f29.571982White City500mLauries PantherTerry Duggan (Romford)6/4f29.601983White City500mI'm SlippyBarbara Tompkins (Coventry)6/129.401984White City500mWhisper WishesCharlie Coyle (Maidstone)7/4f29.431985Wimbledon480mPagan SwallowPhilip Rees Jr. (Wimbledon)9/129.041986Wimbledon480mTicoArthur Hitch (Slough)6/4jf28.691987Wimbledon480mSignal SparkGary Baggs (Walthamstow)14/128.831988Wimbledon480mHit The LidJohn McGee Sr. (Canterbury)3/128.531989Wimbledon480mLartique NoteGer McKenna (Ireland)1/1f28.791990Wimbledon480mSlippy BlueKenny Linzell (Walthamstow)8/128.701991Wimbledon480mBallinderry AshPatsy Byrne (Wimbledon)5/128.781992Wimbledon480mFarloe MelodyMatt O'Donnell (Ireland)6/4f28.881993Wimbledon480mRinga HustleTony Meek (Oxford)5/228.621994Wimbledon480mMoral StandardsTony Meek (Hall Green)9/4f28.591995Wimbledon480mMoaning LadTheo Mentzis (Private)5/228.661996Wimbledon480mShanless SlippyDolores Ruth (Ireland)4/9f28.661997Wimbledon480mSome PictureCharlie Lister (Nottingham)8/13f28.231998Wimbledon480mToms The BestNick Savva (Milton Keynes)4/5f28.751999Wimbledon480mChart KingKarl & Ralph Hewitt (Ireland)8/11f28.762000Wimbledon480mRapid RangerCharlie Lister (Private)7/4f28.712001Wimbledon480mRapid RangerCharlie Lister (Private)7/428.712002Wimbledon480mAllen GiftClaude Gardiner (Hove)16/129.062003Wimbledon480mFarloe VerdictCharlie Lister (Private)12/128.822004Wimbledon480mDroopys ScholesIan Reilly (Ireland)7/228.622005Wimbledon480mWestmead HawkNick Savva (Private)5/4f28.562006Wimbledon480mWestmead HawkNick Savva (Private)4/7f28.442007Wimbledon480mWestmead LordNick Savva (Private)6/128.472008Wimbledon480mLoyal HonchoSeamus Graham (Ireland)5/2jf28.602009Wimbledon480mKinda ReadyMark Wallis (Harlow)25/128.652010Wimbledon480mBandicoot TipokiCharlie Lister (Private)7/228.572011Wimbledon480mTaylors SkyCharlie Lister (Private)7/4f28.17Track Record2012Wimbledon480mBlonde SnapperMark Wallis (Yarmouth)8/128.652013Wimbledon480mSidaz JackCharlie Lister (Private)6/128.372014Wimbledon480mSalad DodgerBruno Berwick (Private)16/128.382015Wimbledon480mRio QuattroDanny Riordan (Harlow)5/128.242016Wimbledon480mJaytee JetPaul Hennessy (Ireland)15/8f28.222017Towcester500mAstute MissileSeamus Cahill (Hove)28/128.922018Towcester500mDorotas Wildcat Kevin Hutton (Towcester)2/128.852019 Nottingham500mPriceless Blake Paul Hennessy (Ireland) 6/1 29.32 2020 Nottingham500mDeerjet Sydney Pat Buckley (Ireland) 11/4 29.382021Towcester500m Thorn Falcon Patrick Janssens (Towcester)7/229.062022Towcester500m Romeo Magico Graham Holland (Ireland) 5/228.952023Towcester500m Gaytime Nemo Graham Holland (Ireland) 9/128.89 2024Towcester500m De Lahdedah Liam Dowling (Ireland) 5/128.58Track record2025Towcester500m Droopys Plunge Patrick Janssens (Towcester) 10/128.762026Towcester500m Lennies Eddie Paul Hennessy (Ireland) 10/128.20

References