2016 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 91st year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and the 90th year of greyhound racing in Ireland.
Summary The year commenced with the category 2 Coronation Cup at Romford Greyhound Stadium which was shown live on Sky Sports. The final event was the Olympic at Brighton & Hove Greyhound Stadium.
The year was overshadowed by the ongoing saga regarding the uncertain future of the Greyhound Racing Association operated tracks of Wimbledon Stadium and Hall Green Stadium. An announcement was made that Wimbledon would close after the running of the 2016 English Greyhound Derby before a six-month reprieve arrived. However it was announced that the stadium would close in March 2017.
Wimbledon's sister track Hall Green remained in danger of being closed following the 2014 sale to Euro Property Investments Ltd.
The premier competition of the year, the English Greyhound Derby, was won by Jaytee Jet and the Irish Derby was taken by Rural Hawaii. Kevin Hutton secured his second successive trainers championship. Mark Wallis won the champion trainer trophy for a record eighth time passing the previous record of seven set by John 'Ginger' McGee Sr.
The year ended with two notable successes for Towcester, the first was being crowned BAGS/SIS Track Champions (greyhound racing's equivalent to footballs FA Cup and within days it was announced that the track would host the English Greyhound Derby for five years.
Roll of honour
Major Winners Award Name of Winner2016 English Greyhound Derby Jaytee Jet - Paul Hennessy2016 Irish Greyhound Derby Rural Hawaii - Graham HollandGreyhound Trainer of the YearMark Wallis (Towcester)UK Greyhound of the YearDroopys Buick - Jimmy Wright (Newcastle)Irish Greyhound of the YearJaytee Jet - Paul Hennessy
Chelsea Glass Trainers Championship, Sittingbourne (16 February) Pos Name of Trainer Points1st Kevin Hutton 532ndSeamus Cahill 403rdPaul Young 384thMark Wallis 335thDean Childs 316thHayley Keightley29
BAGS/SIS Track Championship, Perry Barr (23 December) Pos Track Points1st Towcester 562nd Romford 543rd Sheffield544th Peterborough 445th Newcastle 406th Nottingham 32
Principal UK finals
Ladbrokes Golden Jacket, Crayford (23 February, 714m, £17,500)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1stPatchys Kerry12-5f44.94Mark Wallis2ndDiesel Flo27-145.46Michael Fawsitt3rdOneco Sky55-145.86Kevin Boon4thRacenight Jenny314-146.00June Harvey5thClonmoyle Shane620-146.22Jennifer March6thDroopys Alberta420-146.28Jim Daly
Racing Post Scottish Derby, Shawfield (9 April, 480m, £20,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1stHot Pipe625-129.09Jim Brown2ndFair Taxes55-129.10Francie Murray3rdBallymac Matt14-5f29.12Kelly Macari4thEden The Kid33-129.29Liz Mcnair5thDroopys Buick47-229.31Jimmy Wright6thLeave At Dawn210-129.39Brendan Matthews
William Hill Classic, Sunderland (13 July, 450m, £25,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1stRoxholme Scolari38-126.75Hayley Keightley2ndCoolavanny Rebel67-226.90Elaine Parker3rdToolmaker Scot15-4f27.05Robert Gleeson4thSouthfield Jock27-227.11Seamus Cahill5thBaran Jack533-127.31Claude Gardiner6thJaytee Spartacus45-127.33Paul Young
William Hill Grand Prix, Sunderland (13 July, 640m, £15,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1stPinpoint Boom12-5f39.27Kelly Macari2ndMustang Golden36-139.55Paul Young3rdFarley Rio514-139.88Kevin Boon4thFearsome Code625-140.50Debbie Calvert5thSwift Leonard214-140.60Gary Carmichael6thZulu Baran45-141.06Claude Gardiner
Colossus Bets TV Trophy, Towcester (3 August, 906m, £8,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1stBorna Mindy27-256.57Diane Henry2ndBallymac Bonnie54-6f56.68Liam Dowling3rdRibble Atom47-257.07Mark Wallis4thLemon Lyric140-157.30Paul Young5thSpa Road Piper316-157.31Kevin Boon6thKilfane King640-157.36Pat Doocey
MTS Grand National, Sittingbourne (4 October, 480mH, £8,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1stBallymac Manix29-429.32Seamus Cahill2ndRazldazl Raidio62-5f29.41Ricky Holloway3rdCoolavanny Bono133-129.65Bob Pattinson4thFridays Sean425-129.78Julie Luckhurst5thBua Frank540-129.93Barry O'Sullivan6thSidarian Blitz333-100.00Heather Dimmock
William Hill St Leger, Wimbledon (8 November, 687m, £25,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1stFerryforth Fran 6 20-1 41.90 Mark Wallis2nd Fizzypop Buddy 5 13-8 42.05 June Harvey3rd Cloran Paddy 1 11-8f 41.17 Charlie Lister OBE4th Huarache Madison 4 9-1 41.23 Kevin Hutton5th Rubys Rascal 3 6-1 41.24 Mark Wallis6th Billys Bullet 2 20-1 41.37 Mark Wallis
RPGTV Oaks, Belle Vue (14 December, 470m, £10,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1stForest Twilight 2 6-4f 27.79Hayley Keightley2ndDomino Storm 4 7-4 27.91 Mark Wallis3rdDroopys Two 6 6-1 27.97Dean Childs4thBarnagrane Glen 5 14-1 28.30 Chris Allsopp5thHuarache Madison 3 6-128.37 Kevin Hutton6thSteely Charm 1 10-1 28.43 John Walton
RPGTV Laurels, Belle Vue (14 December, 470m, £6,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1stHiya Butt 3 5-4f 27.49Hayley Keightley2ndOscar Junior 4 11-4 27.63 Charlie Lister OBE3rdDroopys Country 6 4-1 28.30 Jimmy Wright4thCharity Dragon 5 10-1 28.70Pat Rosney5thKillieford Kane 2 25-1 28.78 Neil Black6thDorotas Tiger 1 6-1 28.83Kevin Hutton
Principal Irish finals
Ladbrokes Easter Cup, Shelbourne (19 March, 550y, €25,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1st Jaytee Jet56-429.45Paul Hennessy2nd Skywalker Rory47-129.62Graham Holland3rdLenson Sanchez36-130.08Pat Buckley4thSlippery Fred27-230.09Larry Dunne5thPeregrine Falcon13-130.14Pat Curtin6thOnly For Life633-130.19James Melia
Kirby Memorial Stakes, Limerick (9 April, 525y, €80,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1stDroopys Roddick47-228.09Pat Buckley2nd Riverside Oscar520-128.65Graham Holland3rdWitches Belle35-228.86Liam Twomey4thRiverside Chip120-128.87Graham Holland5thClares Rocket24-6f29.43Graham Holland6thMaytown Eclipse68-130.20Peadar Woods
B.I.F National Produce, Clonmel (22 May, 525y, €30,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1st Clares Rocket61-2f28.00Graham Holland2ndAnopheles310-128.45Liam Dowling3rdCrohane Ronnie525-128.49Declan Byrne4thJo Jo Fantasy25-128.50Graham Holland5thEscapism44-128.81Owen McKenna6thMountaylor Queen114-129.09Jennifer O'Donnell
Sporting Press Oaks, Shelbourne (11 June, 525y, €25,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1stWitches Belle 66-128.44Liam Twomey2ndLeamaneigh Mags56-128.61Owen McKenna3rdSidarian Pearl21-2f28.79Graham Holland4thHolycross Leah44-128.81James Melia5thHigh St Jesse114-128.86Rachel Wheeler 6thBallymac Sarahjo320-128.97Liam Dowling
Irish Independent Laurels, Cork (16 July, 525y, €30,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1stSkywalker Manner25-128.29Graham Holland2ndFarloe Rumble42-1f28.39Owen McKenna3rdEla Alecko15-228.50Peter Cronin4thRural Hawaii66-128.57 Graham Holland5thMust Be Jack55-228.64Peter Cronin6thBorna Candy314-128.88Ruairi Dwan
Doire Construction Champion Stakes, Shelbourne (30 July, 550y, €15,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1stClares Rocket 51-6f29.29Graham Holland2ndDroopys Awesome112-129.46Fraser Black3rdFarloe Joey28-129.67Owen Mckenna4thMucho Macho Man320-129.92Paul Hennessy5thSwords Ace410-130.20Marie Gilbert N/RHighway Event6 Graham Holland
Dublin Coach Juvenile Derby, Harolds Cross (14 October, 525y, €22,500)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1stDroopys Wilbury 2 3-128.21 Pat Buckley2ndMustang Kasco 1 6-1 28.28 Peter Cronin3rdBull Run Bolt 5 6-4f 28.38 Patrick Norris4thCoolio 6 4-1 28.44 Thomas Burke &John Byrne5thDroopys Smasher 39-2 28.72 Pat Buckley6thDroopys Jack 4 10-1 28.89 John Linehan
Kerry Agribusiness Irish St Leger, Limerick (29 October, 550y, €25,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1stPriceless Brandy 4 4-5f29.30 Paul Hennessy2ndNative Chimes 2 8-129.75 Johnny O'Sullivan3rdJaytee Dutch 55-1 29.93Paul Hennessy4th Swithins Brae1 2-129.96 Peter Cronin5thCountry Legend 3 10-130.00 Maurice Heffernan6thLeave At Dawn 6 6-130.07 Brendan Matthews
UK Category 1 & 2 competitions +CompetitionDate Venue Winning Greyhound Winning Trainer Time SPNotesCoral Coronation Cup 13 JanuaryRomfordMillwards Master Paul Young (Romford) 34.81 10-1Prestige27 JanuaryHall GreenDeanridge Pennys John Mullins (Yarmouth) 39.87 8-1William Hill Springbok8 MarchWimbledonBallymac Manix Seamus Cahill (Hove) 29.11 2-1Racing Post Juvenile8 MarchWimbledonBallymac Ramsey Barrie Draper (Sheffield) 28.65 7-2Ladbrokes Puppy Derby17 MarchMonmoreCastell Henry Philip Simmonds (Romford) 28.30 10-1Coral Golden Sprint18 MarchRomfordDroopys Story Paul Young (Romford) 24.13 5-2fCalne Racing Arc23 MarchSwindonBallymac Brogan Seamus Cahill (Hove) 28.49 9-4jfThree Steps to Victory 5 AprilSheffieldPatchys Kerry Mark Wallis (Towcester) 38.77 2-5fBetfred Gymcrack20 AprilKinsley Droopys Trapeze Jimmy Wright (Newcastle) 27.23 2-1Coral Regency4 MayHoveBillys Bullet Mark Wallis (Towcester) 41.31 4-1William Hill Champion Hurdle4 JuneWimbledonRazldazl Raidio Ricky Holloway (Sittingbourne) 28.90 11-8fGolden Crest 25 JunePooleCastlehyde King Bill Black (Poole) 26.36 9-2Betfred Select Stakes 5 JulyNottinghamDomino Storm Mark Wallis (Towcester) 29.34 6-1British Bred Produce Stakes 23 JulySwindonBansha Rooskey Dave Acott (Perry Barr) 28.83 7-1Coral Sussex Cup27 JulyHoveBarricane Tiger Patrick Janssens (Towcester) 29.79 8-1Ladbrokes Gold Cup 18 AugustMonmoreJaytee Spartacus Paul Young (Romford) 27.83 5-2Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic 18 AugustMonmoreFerryforth Fran Mark Wallis (Towcester) 37.86 14-1Kai Laidlaw Trafalgar Cup 18 AugustMonmoreCharity Dragon Pat Rosney (Private) 28.20 3-1Lowther Stakes 27 AugustTowcesterCrossfield Molly Seamus Cahill (Hove) 29.45 7-1 Puppy Classic29 AugustNottingham Bubbly Bluebird Paul Young (Romford) 29.75 4-5f Coral Champion Stakes31 AugustRomford Ascot Woodie John Mullins (Yarmouth) 35.408-1Betfred Steel City Cup6 SeptemberSheffield Pinpoint Den Kelly Macari (Sunderland) 28.56 7-2 East Anglian Derby14 SeptemberYarmouth Clondoty Alex Mark Wallis (Towcester) 27.79 9-2 Yorkshire St Leger21 SeptemberDoncasterRubys Rascal Mark Wallis (Towcester) 41.10 5-4f Ladbrokes Gold Collar27 SeptemberCrayford Yahoo Victor Barry O'Sullivan (Crayford) 33.54 9-2Guys and Dolls27 SeptemberCrayford Brick Mansions Katie O'Flaherty (Crayford) 23.22 4-1Romford Puppy Cup30 SeptemberRomford Kooga Klammer David Pruhs (Peterborough) 23.75 2-1BAPP Group Scurry Cup1 OctoberBelle Vue Walshes Hill Jimmy Wright (Newcastle) 15.14 4-7fBAPP Group Northern Flat1 OctoberBelle Vue Ballymac Galtee Brian Stuart (Private) 27.75 4-1Kent Derby4 OctoberSittingbourne Bubbly Bluebird Paul Young (Romford) 28.87 5-4fWilliam Hill All England Cup13 OctoberNewcastle Oscar Whisky Charlie Lister OBE (Private) 28.26 5-4f William Hill Northern Puppy Derby13 OctoberNewcastle Kildallon Bolt Heather Dimmock (Towcester) 28.65 1-2f British Breeders Stakes25 OctoberNottinghamBadabing John Mullins (Yarmouth) 29.94 8-1 Kai Laidlaw St Mungo Cup29 OctoberShawfield Killieford Kane Neil Black (Private) 29.30 1-1f RPGTV Henlow Derby30 OctoberHenlow Lenson Santi Tony Collett (Sittingbourne) 27.41 6-1 Brighton Belle3 NovemberHove Banabane Seamus Cahill (Hove) 29.69 4-5f RFS Puppy Derby8 NovemberWimbledon King Eden Liz McNair (Private) 28.46 20-1 Betfred Eclipse22 NovemberNottingham Droopys Buick Jimmy Wright (Newcastle) 30.14 7-4 Carlsberg Kent St Leger26 NovemberCrayford Jimbobjoe Ricky Holloway (Central Park) 45.60 9-4 British Bred Derby29 NovemberTowcester Russanda Rubin James Hayton (Kinsley) 29.93 11-4 Coral Essex Vase7 DecemberRomford Bubbly Torpedo Paul Young (Romford) 35.24 3-1National Sprint19 DecemberNottinghamTrapstyle Jet Jean Liles (Towcester) 17.64 5-2 Coral Olympic29 DecemberHove Droopys Buick Jimmy Wright (Newcastle) 29.89 2-5f
Irish feature competitions