2017 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 92nd year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and the 91st year of greyhound racing in Ireland.
Summary Wimbledon and Hall Green The year was best known for the closure of the GRA operated tracks of Wimbledon Stadium and Hall Green Stadium. Wimbledon closed on 25 March. Wimbledon's sister track Hall Green, owned by Euro Property Investments Ltd, closed on 29 July and will be demolished.
Towcester Derby The premier competition of the year, the English Greyhound Derby, was held at Towcester on 1 July, the first time in the competition's history that it was held outside of London. It was won by 28-1 shot Astute Missile; the outsider of the six in the final.
Irish protests In Ireland continuing protests by the DGOBA resulted in a suspension of racing at Shelbourne Park for five months and the cancellation of several major events. The protest was over the February closure of Harold's Cross Stadium. The Irish Derby held in September was won by the Patrick Guilfoyle trained Good News.
Streaming Rights & Bookmakers The industry experienced a battle for broadcasting and streaming rights between Satellite Information Services (SIS) and the Arena Racing Company (ARC). Each signed up various tracks to enable them to produce fixtures for the bookmaking chains, the latter ARC even bought two tracks (Sunderland and Newcastle) from William Hill in May. Ladbrokes and Gala Coral merged to become Ladbrokes Coral.
Other News One of the sports leading events, the Laurels, switched from the GRA and Belle Vue to Newcastle. The move was seen as positive with high hopes that the race could regain some of its former glory and increase its prize fund. Mark Wallis extended his champion trainer trophy record to nine.
Roll of honour Major Winners Award Name of Winner2017 English Greyhound Derby Astute Missile (Seamus Cahill)2017 Irish Greyhound Derby Good News (Patrick Guilfoyle)Greyhound Trainer of the YearMark Wallis (Towcester)UK Greyhound of the Year King Elvis (Liz McNair)Irish Greyhound of the YearGood News (Patrick Guilfoyle)
GTA Trainers Championship, (Towcester) (Mar 28) Pos Name of Trainer Points1st Kevin Hutton 432ndMark Wallis 423rdJimmy Wright404thJohn Mullins365thSeamus Cahill 336thPaul Young 30
Principal UK finals
Ladbrokes Golden Jacket, Crayford (Feb 21, 714m, £17,500)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1stBoylesports Star 32-1jf45.18Dolores Ruth2ndRubys Razzle15-245.58Mark Wallis3rdJimbobjoe210-145.60Ricky Holloway4thJaytee Patriot45-2jf45.78Paul Hennessy5thFerryforth Fran614-145.79Mark Wallis6thRomany Rouge516-145.87Richard Devenish
RPGTV Scottish Derby, Shawfield (May 6, 480m, £20,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1stDorotas Woo Hoo 67-428.77 Charlie Lister OBE2ndCoolavanny Mason15-129.07Pat Buckley3rdDroopys Buick55-4f29.19Angela Harrison4thKnockard Spring225-129.41Kevin Boon5thGood News48-129.43Pat Guilfoyle6thAzzurri Genesis325-129.67Pat Rosney
William Hill Classic, Sunderland (Jul 19, 450m, £25,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1st Droopys Country 53-126.91Angela Harrison2ndToolmaker Obama 1 5-2 27.29 Robert Gleeson3rdNewinn Shadow 4 6-4f 27.37 Charlie Lister OBE4thRusselena Planet 3 25-1 27.40 Martin Cutler5thViking Jimmy 6 8-1 27.43 Jim Hayton6thBarricane Jack 2 10-1 27.57 Patrick Janssens
William Hill Grand Prix, Sunderland (Jul 19, 640m, £15,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1stCloran Paddy 12-139.72 Charlie Lister OBE2nd Swift Hansel 2 6-4f 39.90 Anneliese Thompson3rdGlamorous Sharif 5 5-1 40.02 Paul Young4thGeelo Jenga 3 12-1 40.05 Carl Perry5thGeelo Bullet 4 6-1 40.12 Carl Perry6thDroopys Tee 6 7-1 40.36 Robert Gleeson
Sunbets East Anglian Derby, Yarmouth (Sep 21, 462m, £15,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1stNewinn Shadow 58-127.23Charlie Lister OBE2nd Murrys Act 6 9-4 27.53 Kevin Boon3rd Hiya Butt 2 11-8f 27.63 Hayley Keightley4th Bubbly Bluebird 3 2-1 27.76 Paul Young5th Bubbly Turbo 1 5-1 28.11 Paul YoungN/R Knockard Spring 4 Kevin Boon
John Smiths Grand National, Central Park (Oct 3, 480mH, £8,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1st Razldazl Raidio 62-7f29.61Ricky Holloway2nd Razldazl Star 225-129.79Ricky Holloway3rd Ballymac Manix 48-130.15Seamus Cahill4th Ballymac Leo 512-130.31David Mullins5th Julius George 166-130.97Tony Taylor6th Mystical Charlie 38-1 Barry O'Sullivan
William Hill St Leger, Perry Barr (Nov 8, 710m, £25,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1st Rubys Rascal 13-142.99Mark Wallis2ndKeplar Nine 65-143.35Charlie Lister OBE3rdGoldies Hotspur 510-143.39 Patrick Janssens4thSlippy Maska 28-143.49Hazel Kemp5thBubbly McCoy 37-243.69Paul Young6thAirmount Tess 42-1f43.70Gerald Kiely
ECC Timber Puppy Derby, Towcester (Nov 15, 500m, £20,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1st Magical Bale 211-10f29.10Kevin Hutton2nd Innocent Times 57-129.47Brendan Matthews3rd Affleck Bolt 38-129.48Patrick Janssens4th Headford Kev 66-129.77Kevin Hutton5th Roxholme Poppy 411-229.82Hayley Keightley6th Lightfoot King 17-230.02Elaine Parker
Colossus Bets TV Trophy, Towcester (Nov 29, 906m, £8,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1st Goldies Hotspur516-155.45Patrick Janssens2nd Rubys Rascal28-155.75Mark Wallis3rd Millroad Smokey16-155.84Stuart Buckland4th Roxholme Magic64-9f56.67Hayley Keightley5th Shellam Delano410-156.85Angela Harrison6th Clares Kyletaun320-156.96June Harvey
Greyhound Media Group Oaks, Belle Vue (Dec 13, 470m, £10,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1stWuheida 511-428.74Phil Simmonds2ndSwift Lucious 412-128.83Paul Harmes3rdBallydoyle Maura 16-4f28.85Hayley Keigthley4thSylvias Chloe 38-128.86Richard Baker5thDonation 67-429.05Heather DimmockN/RJumeirah Lolls 2*disq Gerry Holian Jumeirah Lolls disqualified from competing after positive sample
O'Tooles Boxing Health & Fitness Byker Newcastle Laurels, Newcastle (Dec 16, 480m, £6,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1stThe Other Reg 4 3-1 28.38Pat Rosney2ndDroopys Expert 3 1-2f 28.54 Angela Harrison3rdWestway O Neill 1 50-1 28.57 Peter Aitken4thCappoquin Al 2 20-1 28.66James Fenwick5thNadurra Ross 67-1 28.82 John McLachlan6thKooga Klammer 5 8-1 29.00David Pruhs
Principal Irish finals
Kirby Memorial Stakes, Limerick (Apr 8, 525y, €80,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1stBentekes Bocko 42-1f28.39Pat Buckley2ndNative Chimes55-128.49Johnny O'Sullivan3rdCoolavanny Pet66-128.70Liam Dowling4thRathnasare Champ19-228.81Francis Murray5thDrive On Tipp25-228.88Graham Holland6thBorsalino33-128.91Liam Dowling
B.I.F National Produce, Clonmel (May 21, 525y, €20,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1stClonbrien Hero 35-4jf28.22Graham Holland2ndLughill Robbie45-4jf28.64Graham Holland3rdDog Mac Arthure27-228.71Barney Mooney4thKilgraney Master15-128.88Thomas Buggy5thCrossfield Kate64-129.02Brendan O'Shea6thBallybough Dad54-129.04Martin 'Murt' Leahy
Racing Post Dundalk International, Dundalk (Jul 12, 550y, €20,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1stJaytee Jet 5 3-1 30.01 Paul Hennessy2ndBubbly Bluebird1 2-1jf 30.04Paul Young3rdDroopys Wilbury2 6-1 30.31 Pat Buckley4thMurrys Act 6 12-130.34 Kevin Boon5thGood News4 2-1jf 30.67 Patrick Guilfoyle6thDroopys Acrobat37-2 30.85 Seamus Cahill
Irish Independent Laurels, Cork (Jul 22, 525y, €30,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1stClonbrien Hero 45-228.00Graham Holland2ndAway Jet 28-128.21Paul Hennessy3rdChawke It Down 13-128.24Paul Hennessy4thKilgraney Denver 66-428.26Thomas Buggy5thBennacht Tagdh 311-228.30Gerry Holian6thUnknown Vision 512-128.51Tony Hegarty
Boylesports Champion Stakes, Shelbourne (Aug 5, 550y, €20,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1stJaytee Yankee 37-129.58Paul Hennessy2ndWhoops Jack56-4f29.72Peter Cronin3rdGood News27-229.82Patrick Guilfoyle4thKilgraney Ace610-129.83Thomas Buggy5thDrive On Tipp13-129.87Graham Holland6thCoolavanny Mason410-129.97Pat Buckley
Dublin Coach Juvenile Derby, Shelbourne (Oct 20, 550y, €22,500)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1st Skywalker Rafa 4 10-1 28.40Michael J O'Donovan2nd Droopys Noah 2 6-4 28.47 John Linehan3rd Man Twenty One 1 11-10f 28.71 Brendan Maunsell4th Borna Gin 3 6-1 28.82 Pat Buckley5th Blockthiscaller 6 20-1 28.83 David Flanagan6th Portmageewiseguy 5 9-2 28.90 Owen McKenna
Sporting Press Oaks, Shelbourne (Oct 21, 525y, €25,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1st Forest Natalee 6 28.37 3-1 Martin Lanney2nd Tibet 2 28.44 5-2jf Patrick Norris3rd Cabra Angel 4 28.51 5-2jf Patrick Guilfoyle4th Coolavanny Pet 3 28.53 4-1 Liam Dowling5th Ardrahan Zindi 1 28.74 8-1 Graham Holland6th Mrs Chippy 5 28.77 8-1 Barney Mooney
Kerry Agribusiness Irish St Leger, Limerick (Nov 4, 550y, €25,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1stClonbrien Hero 35-2jf29.60Graham Holland2nd Jaytee Yankee27-229.81Paul Hennessy3rd Sonic55-2jf29.83Graham Holland4th Ballybough Dad47-129.90Martin 'Murt' Leahy5th Black Eyed Peppa18-129.91Michael J O'Donovan6th Droopys Cabaye69-230.08Graham Holland
UK Category 1 & 2 competitions