The Blue Riband is a greyhound racing competition held annually at Towcester Stadium.
History It was inaugurated in 1981 at Wembley Stadium as a replacement competition for the Wembley Spring Cup which ended in 1980.
Following the end of the Wembley Greyhounds the race transferred to Greyhound Racing Association (GRA) sister track Hall Green Stadium in 1999. The race was discontinued by the GRA after the 2012 running despite being a category one race.
In 2021, the race returned under the promotion of Kevin Boothby at Towcester Greyhound Stadium and has retained a category 1 status since.
Venues & distances 1981–1998 (Wembley, 490 metres) 1999–2012 (Hall Green, 480 metres) 2021–2025 (Towcester, 500 metres)
Sponsors
1988–1998 (Wendy Fair Markets) 1999–2009 (William Hill) 2010–2010 (Stan James bookmakers) 2011–2011 (Betfair) 2012–2012 (Ladbrokes) 2021–2021 (TRC Health & Hygiene) 2022–2022 (Premarket Pets) 2023–2024 (Stadium Bookmakers) 2025–2025 (Greyhound Racing UK)
Winners YearWinnerBreedingTrainerTimeSPNotes/ref1981 Arfur Mo Carhumore Speech - Monalee Roman John Honeysett (Crayford) 29.47 20/11982 Master Darby Sole Aim - Aglish Pilgrim Jerry Fisher (Reading) 29.88 7/21983 Cross Times Violet Hall - Full Circle Jerry Fisher (Reading) 30.01 7/21984 Living Trail Ivy Hall Solo - Elimron John Honeysett (Wembley) 29.69 50/11985 Lulus Hero Sail On II - Lulus Loner Gunner Smith (Brighton) 29.23 3/11986 Fearless Champ Special Account - Sarahs Bunny Geoff De Mulder (Oxford) 29.04 8/11f1987 Sambuca Pat Seamur - Lyons Flora Gunner Smith (Brighton) 29.08 16/11988 Pike Alert Security Alert - PC Breda Tom Foster (Wimbledon) 29.18 7/11989 Ring Slippy I'm Slippy - Westpark Chill Derek Millen (Canterbury) 29.64 3/11990 Westmead Harry Fearless Champ - Westmead Move Nick Savva (Milton Keynes) 29.09 7/4f1991 Wuncross Double Creamery Cross - Wuncoat Derek Knight (Hove) 29.02 33/11992 Dempsey Duke Shanagarry Duke - Willowbrook Peg Terry Kibble (Bristol) 28.87 2/1jf1993 Hypnotic Stag Greenpark Fox - Sister Moonshine John Coleman (Walthamstow) 28.85 8/13f1994 Ardilaun Bridge Adraville Bridge - Cecilia One Chris Duggan (Walthamstow) 29.03 11/10f1995 Heres Seanie Ardfert Sean - Mindys Miracle Pat Ryan (Perry Barr) 28.85 2/7f1996 Quick Tune Farloe Melody - Lady Be Fast Gordon Hodson (Hove) 29.75 5/11997 Blue Murlen Murlens Abbey - Lovely Lovely Mick Smith (Private) 29.07 2/7f1998 He Knows Slaneyside Hare - I Know You Barrie Draper (Sheffield) 29.22 11/41999 Droopys Merson Frightful Flash - Lemon Miss Nick Savva (Milton Keynes) 28.53 1/1f2000 Vintage Cleaner Vintage Prince – Treasure Beo John McGee Sr. (Private) 28.20 9/4Track record2001 Hollinwood Chief Night Trooper – Hollinwood Major Mick Clarke (Private) 28.51 7/4f2002 Hollinwood Wiz Night Trooper – Hollinwood Major Mick Clarke (Private) 28.45 8/12003 Farloe Verdict Droopys Vieri – She Knew Charlie Lister (Private) 28.09 5/2Track record2004 Droopys Oasis Larkhill Jo – Droopys Graf Brian Clemenson (Hove) 28.28 5/4f2005 Tuttles Ronaldo Droopys Kewell – By The Numbers Frank Wright (Coventry) 28.26 7/12006 Westmead Joe Larkhill Jo – Mega Delight Nick Savva (Private) 28.58 13/8f2007 Iceman Vader Top Honcho – Barrow Tune Lance Burford (Coventry) 28.56 4/12008 Farloe Reason Droopys Maldini – Farloe Oyster Charlie Lister (Private) 28.24 1/2f2009 Blonde Fern Hondo Black – Returned Fire Tony Dean (Private) 28.06 4/12010 Eye Storm Droopys Vieri – Bower Louise Mark Wallis (Yarmouth) 28.02 8/13fTrack record2011 Express Shuttle Kiowa Sweet Trey – Express Mist Chris Allsopp (Monmore) 28.42 11/8f2012 Young Sid Killahan Panther – Marwood Review Paul Young (Romford) 28.31 6/4f2013 to 2020 not held2021 Kilara LionDroopys Jet – Kilara LizziePatrick Janssens (Towcester) 29.7311/8f2022 Ivy Hill SkyhighTaylors Sky – Yahoo PerlenaMark Wallis (Monmore) 29.917/12023 Hopes PaddingtonGood News – Charity AnnaNathan Hunt (Romford)29.159/42024 Signet GoofyMagical Bale – Forest NataleeJohn Mullins (Towcester) 29.399/22025 Table Toppers Droopys Sydney – Dolce Vita Mark Wallis (Private)28.72 9/4f
References