2023 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 98th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and the 97th year of greyhound racing in Ireland.

Summary Open race competitions increased again, in terms of prize money and frequency, with no less than ten UK events (not including the Derby) offering a first prize of £20,000 or more, including the returning Pall Mall Stakes at Oxford Stadium and a series of events sponsored by Premier Greyhound Racing. It equalled the Irish open race calendar in terms of number of races above £20,000 or €20,000.

A petition titled The Welsh Government should support greyhound racing in Wales was due to be debated by the Senedd because over 10,000 signatures were received in support. The petition was in response to the 2022 petition. A main subject of the debate was the Valley Greyhound Stadium and in August 2023, Valley received a licence from the Greyhound Board of Great Britain. The move from independent racing to GBGB rules meant that only one track Thornton Stadium remained with independent status.

The long running saga over live broadcast rights continued and with Entain and ARC nearing the new 2024 deal, their rival SIS published a schedule. The schedule included Oxford, Towcester, Harlow, Suffolk Downs, Henlow, Doncaster and the Valley in addition to Askern Greyhound Stadium, which would require re-opening and a GBGB licence to be included in the schedule.

Mark Wallis won his 14th Greyhound Trainer of the Year title after recording 1591 points. The year ended with the death of former Northern Sports group manager Mick Wheble MBE.

Following a GBGB inspection of trainer Rebecca Perkins' kennels, they contacted the RSPCA reporting offences contrary to the Animal Welfare Act. Perkins' received a jail sentence and was banned from keeping animals for life after "causing unnecessary suffering to more than 30 dogs".

Roll of honour Major Winners Award Name of Winner2023 English Greyhound Derby Gaytime Nemo2023 Irish Greyhound Derby The Other KobeGreyhound Trainer of the Year Mark WallisUK Greyhound of the Year Droopys ClueIrish Greyhound of the YearThe Other Kobe

Premier Greyhound Racing Trainers Championship, Perry Barr (6 Apr) Pos Name of Trainer Points1st Patrick Janssens 462nd Kevin Hutton 443rd Mark Wallis 404th John Mullins 345th Matt Dartnall 276th Richard Rees 12

Principal UK finals

Premier Greyhound Racing Golden Jacket, Crayford (18 Feb, 714m, £20,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1st Bellmore Sally 4 9/4jf 44.77Jimmy Fenwick2nd Roll On Sydney 1 6/1 45.01 Paul Young3rdOlga5 6/1 45.31Paddy Curtin4th Minnie Bullet 2 9/4jf45.39 Mark Wallis5th Burgess Hannah 611/2 45.85 Tony Gifkins6th Coonough Crow 38/1 45.75 Mark Wallis

Ladbrokes TV Trophy, Crayford (15 April, 874m, £15,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1st Bellmore Sally 410/11f 56.38James Fenwick2nd Ower Smasher 3 13/8 56.66June Harvey3rd A Mystial Love 612/1 56.98 Lee Pearce 4th Beach Babe 528/1 57.56Tom Levers 5thSavana Queen 214/1 57.90Diane Henry6thQueen Pink 19/1 57.96Liz McNair

Arena Racing Company Laurels, Perry Barr (29 Apr, 480m, £12,500)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1stHawkfield Ozark 1 15/8f28.03 Patrick Janssens2nd Goldies Perryman 34/1 28.05 Paul Foster3rd Hurry Up Jordan 6 3/1 28.27John Lambe4th Arkady 4 11/428.35 David Mullins5th Ivanexile 5 7/128.45 Matt DartnallN/R Coolavanny Shado 2 Patrick Janssens

Premier Greyhound Racing Regency, Brighton (29 Jul, 695m, £20,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1stSpace Jet 3 2/1jf41.69 Matt Dartnall2nd Swiper 1 11/141.85 Matt Dartnall 3rd Lively Lauren 22/1jf 41.88 Matt Dartnall 4th Jacktavern Magic 612/1 41.99Mark Wallis 5th Bubbly Scorcher 5 11/2 42.01Paul Young 6thSavana Heross 4 4/142.05 Diane Henry

Stadium Bookmakers Pall Mall, Oxford (29 Jul, 450m, £20,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1st Links Maverick 3 8/11f 26.72Tom Heilbron 2nd Eze 4 8/1 26.96 Angie Kibble3rd Hawkfield Ozark 17/227.11 Patrick Janssens4th Ivanexile 5 10/3 27.21 Matt Dartnall5th Coppice Tenzin 5 14/1 27.24Kevin Hutton6th Moments of Magic 2 33/1 27.28 Kevin Hutton

Premier Greyhound Racing St Leger, Perry Barr (23 Sep, 710m, £20,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1st Droopys Clue 2 4/9f 42.33 (TR)Seamus Cahill2nd Jacktavern Bella 5 5/242.81 Graham Holland 3rd Millridge Tanic 6 8/1 43.51 Paddy Curtin 4th Lightfoot Clark 125/1 43.79James Fenwick 5thCoonough Crow 3 16/1 43.89 Mark WallisN/R Garfiney Blaze 4 Graham Holland

Premier Greyhound Racing Champion Stakes, Romford (21 Oct, 575m, £20,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1stHollow Man 4 8/13f 34.96Derek Knight 2nd Ninja Kerry 6 11/2 35.19Belinda Green 3rd Whyaye Man 510/1 35.23 Mark Wallis4thHavana Top Note 3 11/1 35.24 Liz McNair5th Droopys Google 1 9/2 35.32 Nathan Hunt6thBallintee Noshow 2 12/1 35.60Maxine Locke

Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks, Perry Barr (27 Oct, 480m, £20,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1st No Rush 6 15/8f28.18 Carol Weatherall2nd Jet Stream Angel 45/1 28.22 Kevin Hutton3rd Droopys Ailsa 5 4/1 28.28 Robert Gleeson4th Whats Up Eva 2 4/1 28.32 Richard Rees5thStarshinestunner 1 7/228.42 Richard Rees6th Droopys Request 3 14/1 28.84Christopher Fereday

Principal Irish finals

Bresbet Easter Cup, Shelbourne (8 Apr, 550y, €25,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1st Swords Rex 1 11/8f29.71 Graham Holland2nd Tooklmaker Wilde 622/1 29.99 Robert G Gleeson3rd Trinity Junior 2 8/130.02 Peter Cronin4th Romeo Magico 5 4/1 30.09 Graham Holland5th Galloping Sydney 4 6/1 30.16 Graham Holland6thBockos Crystal 3 3/1 30.23 Graham Holland

Con & Annie Kirby Memorial, Limerick (21 Apr, 525y, €80,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1stClonbrien Treaty 15/2 28.05 Graham Holland2ndBogger Lucky 6 6/1 28.64 Liam Peacock3rd Scaglietti 3 6/128.75 Patrick Guilfoyle4thGaytime Hugo 4 4/1 28.92 Graham Holland5th Ryhope Beach 5 9/4f 29.13 Michael J O'Donovan6th Hovex Tommy 2 10/129.31 Graham Holland

Sporting Press Oaks, Shelbourne Park (17 Jun, 525y, €25,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1st Crafty Shivoo 1 3/1 28.14 Peter & Brian Divilly2nd Scooby Duchess 6 8/1 28.38Jennifer O'Donnell3rd Glengar Martha 5 10/1 28.42Pat Buckley4th Bobsleigh Dream 36/4f 28.49 Pat Buckley5thQuivers Magic 27/2 29.47 Adam Dunford6thDroopys Timing 45/1 00.00Paul Conin

Thatch Bar & Restaurant National Produce, Clonmel (25 Jun, 525y, €20,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1st Burgess Supreme 5 20/128.52 Sheila Spillane2ndHukum 2 4/128.56 Adam Dunford3rdOwer Mystery 4 7/228.57 Pat Buckley4thClonbrien Treaty 6 13/8f28.74 Graham Holland5th Mendelson 3 20/1 28.85 Thomas O'Donovan6th Clona Shadow 1 11/4 28.99 Graham Holland

Boylesports Champion Stakes, Shelbourne Park (8 Jul, 550y, €20,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1st Trinity Junior 1 5/2f 29.34 Peter Cronin 2nd The Other Kobe 54/1 29.48 Jennifer O'Donnell3rdBoylesports Gift 412/1 29.72 Paul Hennessy4th Droopys Nice One 6 11/2 29.73 Murt Leahy5th Hawkfield Blue 3 9/2 30.64 Keeley McGee6th Scaglietti 2 11/431.41Patrick Guilfoyle

Time Dundalk International, Dundalk (12 Jul, 550y, €20,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1st Raha Mofo 5 4/129.98 Murt Leahy2ndBallinabola Ed 64/6f 29.99 Pat Buckley3rd Brookside Richie 37/1 30.11James Fenwick (UK)4th Cochise 120/1 30.25Richard Rees (UK)5th Bobsleigh Dream 4 11/2 30.37 Pat Buckley6th Ballymac Whispa 2 25/1 30.44Liam Dowling

Bar One Racing Irish Sprint Cup, Dundalk (15 Aug, 400y, €20,000) PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1st Carrick Aldo 5 -20.80 David Murray2nd Who Have I 4- 20.99 Michael J. O'Donovan3rd Ballymac Samuel 1 -21.04 Liam Dowling4thChelms Skippy 6 -21.08 Peter Cronin5thRathdown Molly 3 - 21.22 Marie Gilbert6th Radical Hero 2 -21.27 Thomas O'Donovan

Time Greyhound Nutrition Juvenile Derby, Shelbourne Park (30 Sep, 525y, €25,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1st Droopys Flytline 6 15/8f27.93 Robert G. Gleeson 2nd Short Grip 1 7/2 28.00Patrick Cocoman3rd Droopys Zelda 3 12/1 28.28John A. Linehan4th Unmatched 4 16/1 28.38 John A. Linehan5th Highview Splash 54/1 28.63Gerry Merriman6th Ballinakill Alf 25/2 28.66Graham Holland

Bar One Racing Irish Laurels, Cork (14 Oct, 525y, €30,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1stHigh Trend 2 8/1 28.31 Graham Holland2nd Easy Razzle 5 6/1 28.34 John A. Linehan3rdRole Model 4 22/128.52 Owen McKenna 4th Jacktavern Bolt 1 2/1jf 28.83 Graham Holland 5th Carrick Aldo 6 2/1jf28.87 David Murray6th Glory Baz 3 4/128.89 Graham Holland

Will We Go Irish St Leger, Limerick (25 Nov, 550y, €30,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1st Clonbrien Treaty 6 5/4f29.51 Graham Holland 2nd Swords Rex 3 10/3 29.54 Graham Holland3rd Sober Glory 2 4/1 29.61Karol Ramsbottom4thMr Chelm 5 14/1 29.62 Peter Cronin5thBallinabola Una 1 6/1 29.69 Pat Buckley6th Beepers Lariat 412/1 29.80 Jack Kennelly

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