The Arena Racing Company Grand Prix (formerly the William Hill Grand Prix) is a greyhound racing competition inaugurated in 2007. It was held at Sunderland over 640 metres and formed part of a festival of racing at the track which also included the Classic. The race is not to be confused with the defunct classic race The Grand Prix formerly held at Walthamstow before its closure.
Prize money levels were significant which propelled the race to Category One status but the new stadium owners Arena Racing Company (who bought the stadium in 2017) did not run the event during 2019 and 2020.
Distances & Venues 2007–present (Sunderland, 640 metres)
Sponsors 2007–2018 (William Hill) 2022–present (Arena Racing Company)
Past winners YearWinnerBreedingTrainerTime (sec)SPNotes/ref2007 Go Edie Honda Hondo Black – Mind The WayGraham Hutt (Private) 39.24 2/1f2008 Lenson Joker Kiowa Sweet Trey – Free To AirTony Collett (Sittingbourne) 39.29 4/6f2009 Crown Rover Hallucinate – Saleen ChloeJimmy Wright (Newcastle) 40.27 2/12010 England Expects Westmead Hawk – Move Over MarieJimmy Wright (Newcastle) 39.50 6/12011 Blonde Fletch Black Shaw – Glebe Stapler Mark Wallis (Yarmouth) 39.45 7/4f2012 Swabys Princess Westmead Hawk – Droopys RenaPaul Young (Romford) 40.49 6/12013 Hometown Honey+Calzaghe Lilly+ Hometown Boy Nga – Swift BlitzDroopys Scolari – Flying WinnerMark Wallis (Yarmouth)Ted Soppitt (Private) 39.9539.95 5/11/1f+dead heat2014 Farley Rio Head Bound – Yellow SubmarineKevin Boon (Yarmouth) 39.40 4/12015 Bubbly Gold Hondo Black – Spioraid CathPaul Young (Romford) 39.79 4/12016 Pinpoint Boom Shaneboy Lee – Newmarket WayKelly Macari (Sunderland) 39.27 2/5f2017 Cloran Paddy Kinloch Brae – Russelena BarbieCharlie Lister OBE (Private) 39.72 2/12018 Bombers Bullet Droopys Cain – Headford Hoe Mark Wallis (Towcester) 39.10 9/42019 to 2020 not held2021 Coolavanny Bani Droopys Sydney – Toms DelightAngela Harrison (Newcastle) 39.21 2022Coolavanny AuntyDroopys Sydney – Yahoo KatieAngela Harrison (Newcastle)39.07 4/9f2023Coonough CrowEden the Kid – Coonough Dolly Mark Wallis (Suffolk Downs) 39.40 9/4f2024Farneys WillieOut Of Range ASB – Rathronan Abbey Richard Wales (Private) 39.33 9/22025New Destiny Grangeview Ten – Coonough DollyMark Wallis (Private)38.792/9fTrack record
References