2025 in UK and Ireland greyhound racing was the 100th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and the 99th year of greyhound racing in Ireland. The year included a proposed prohibition on greyhound racing in Wales, the opening of Dunstall Park Greyhound Stadium, and the closures of Crayford Stadium, Perry Barr Stadium and Swindon Stadium (as it was known in the greyhound industry).
Summary The Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) category one and category two schedule was announced on 4 November 2024 and the Greyhound Racing Ireland (GRI) schedule was released during December 2024.
Following on from their November 2024 announcement, Entain announced the date of 19 January as the final meeting to be held at Crayford Stadium. The impact of the closure also signalled the end of hurdle racing because it had been the last track to feature hurdles. The only other track to hold hurdle racing, Central Park Stadium, had recently stopped racing over hurdles, although there was hope that Star Pelaw would start due to the fact that they had taken delivery of Crayford's hurdles.
Suffolk Downs remained closed following the 2024 fire and was expected to return in the late 2025 or early 2026.
In August 2025, the future of Wales' only track the Valley Greyhound Stadium was determined when the Welsh government announced plans to end racing sometime between 2027 and 2030. In response, GBGB CEO Mark Bird stated "This announcement has nothing to do with greyhound welfare and everything to do with pressure from the extreme animal rights movement. The Welsh Government’s own Summary of Consultation Responses highlighted the lack of evidence to support the case for a ban on the sport.". The Prohibition of Greyhound Racing (Wales) Bill was introduced to the Senedd on the 29 September 2025, with the aim of making it an offence to operate a stadium or similar venue for greyhound racing, or to be involved in organising greyhound racing.
In March, Swindon announced that it would close at the end of the year. The announcement was not a surprise because it followed on from the previous closures relating to Clarke Osborne and Gaming International/Stadia UK (formerley BS Group). Bristol, Reading, Milton Keynes and Poole were all closed by the company.
Mark Wallis won his fifth Trainers Championship, held at Perry Barr on 29 March. Wallis had an exceptional start to the year after changing his track attachment status to private, he won both the Cesarewitch and Blue Riband in January, the former with Garfiney Blaze again. This was followed by the TV Trophy and Golden Sprint in March. New Destiny won the Grand Prix and Proper Heiress won the Juvenile in April, defeating the wonder dog Bockos Diamond in the process. Mongys Wild who had won the TV Trophy went on to win both the Regency and St Leger. Proper Heiress would win his fifth title in November after winning the Eclipse in a track record time and finished the year with a sixth after securing victory in the Olympic.
Droopys Plunge won the 2025 English Greyhound Derby for Patrick Janssens. The black dog was a surprise 10/1 shot and foiled Irish Derby champion Bockos Diamond from winning a dual Derby and De Lahdedah from retaining his Derby title.
The completion of the build at Dunstall Park was on schedule and opened on 19 September.
Graham Holland claimed a record fifth Irish Greyhound Derby after Cheap Sandwiches won the 2025 Irish Derby.
On 1 November 2025 an organisation called Orchestrate took over the lease at Towcester from Kevin Boothby (Henlow Racing) but the move started badly with the English Puppy Derby not held due to unavailability of trials. Boothby also relinquished the lease at Suffolk Downs to the Arena Racing Company, who reverted the name back to Mildenhall Stadium. The lease was agreed with stadium landlords Spedeworth International Ltd and the management of the lease would be overseen by Simon Franklin, Director of Yarmouth Stadium.
Roll of honour Major Winners Award Name of Winner2025 English Greyhound Derby Droopys Plunge2025 Irish Greyhound Derby Cheap SandwichesGreyhound Trainer of the Year Mark WallisUK Greyhound of the Year Proper HeiressIrish Greyhound of the Year
Principal UK finals
Time Greyhound Nutrition TV Trophy, Towcester (23 March, 942m, £15,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SPTime (sec)Trainer1st Mongys Wild 1 11/8 57.41 Mark Wallis2ndAlright Patricia 6 20/1 57.94 David Lewis3rdAlright Gordy 5 20/1 57.99 David Lewis4thBallymac Taylor 4 10/11f 58.16 Mark Wallis5thSwift Delta 2 40/1 59.11 Daniel Brabon6th Bubbly Linferno 37/1 00.00 Paul Young
PGR Trainers' Judgement Night, Perry Barr (29 March)PosTrainerTrackPts1stMark Wallis Private 412nd Nathan Hunt Romford 393rd Tom Heilbron Newcastle 364th Patrick Janssens Towcester 335th Maxine Locke Romford 266thKevin Hutton Oxford 25
Arena Racing Company Laurels, Perry Barr (19 Apr, 480m, £12,500)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1stAayamza Sydney 3 7/2 27.78 John Mullins2nd Druids Say Go 4 5/4f 27.92 Patrick Janssens3rd Churchfield Syd 67/4 28.10 Richard Rees4th Wrighty 1 20/1 28.38 John Mullins5thArmagh Daithi 5 9/1 28.44 Mark Wallis6thCoppice Trophy 233/1 28.48 Kevin Hutton
Premier Greyhound Racing Regency, Brighton (2 Aug 695m, £20,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1stMongys Wild 3 1/4f 41.19 Mark Wallis2nd Romeo Empire 2 6/1 41.51 Patrick Janssens3rd Droopys Invent 5 33/1 41.71 Seamus Cahill4thArt Riddler 4 10/1 41.79 Seamus Cahill5th Bombay Nutty 6 8/1 41.80 Mark WallisN/R Garfiney Blaze 1 Mark Wallis
Premier Greyhound Racing St Leger, Nottingham (22 Sep, 730m, £20,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1stMongys Wild 3 5/6f 43.85 Mark Wallis2ndDroopys Flare 1 13/8 43.95 Sean Parker3rd Vhagar 6 10/1 44.13 Mark Wallis4thFabulous Heka 5 9/1 44.17 Patrick Janssens5th Garfiney Blaze 2 16/1 44.45 Mark Wallis6thDaring Moaner 4 33/1 44.85 David Fradgley
Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks, Dunstall Park (24 Oct, 480m, £20,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SPTime Trainer1stButlers Lane 5 7/2 27.95 Barry Denby2ndKilwest Diva 3 9/2 28.09 Kim Billingham3rdRaebella Bullet 4 6/1 28.15 Belinda Green4thFabulous Aria 1 15/8f 28.21 Patrick Janssens5thBridefort Lady 2 14/1 28.31 Nathan Hunt6thAvongate Venus 6 3/1 28.61 Philip Milner
Principal Irish finals
Bresbet Easter Cup, Shelbourne (5 Apr, 550y, €25,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SPTime (sec)Trainer1stHopes Teddy 1 13/8f 29.81 Pat Buckley2ndRandolph Scotts 3 5/2 30.02 Peter Cronin3rd Barefoot On Song 4 25/1 30.05 Paul Hennessy4th Tarsna Maasai 6 6/1 30.23Geoff Parnaby5th Da Bold Falcon2 10/3 00.00 John McGee6th Hawkfield Blue5 7/1 dnf John McGee
Con & Annie Kirby Memorial, Limerick (19 Apr, 525y, €80,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1stFaypoint Ranger 4 4/6f 28.05 Graham Holland2ndSole Mio 2 8/1 28.36 Peter Cronin3rdBubbly Charger 1 10/3 28.64 Brendan Matthews4thSkywalker Schar 5 28/1 28.78 Michael J O'Donovan5thPain Barrier 3 16/1 28.79 Brendan Matthews6th Droopys Deploy 6 11/2 28.90 Robert G. Gleeson
Kasko Petfood National Produce, Clonmel (1 Jun, 525y, €20,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1stLemon Joey 5 9/4 28.60 Murt Leahy2nd Flashing Saffron 2 2/1f 28.74 Pat Buckley3rdTetra Destiny 1 28/1 28.77 Benalmadena Syndicate4thBorn Braver 4 9/2 28.78 Jennifer O'Donnell5thBlastoff Heffo 3 20/1 28.79 Philip Buckley 6thSnazzy Boss 6 5/2 28.86 Graham Holland
Sporting Press Oaks, Shelbourne Park (14 Jun, 525y, €25,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1st Carrigmore Freya 5 9/4 28.17 Graham Holland2nd Sadies Lucy 3 10/3 28.66 Paul Duffy3rd Blackeyed Turbo 4 20/1 29.50 Kevin Losty4th Innfield Riddle2 6/1 30.02 Barry Clancy5thLemon Orla 1 11/3 30.16 Tom O'Neill6thBallymac Marcia 6 20/1 00.00 Liam Dowling
Boylesports Champion Stakes, Shelbourne Park (5 Jul, 550y, €20,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1stSeven Beach5 11/8f 29.39 Jennifer O'Donnell2nd Cheque For Cash 2 9/1 29.44 Karol Ramsbottom3rdLennies Desire 6 4/1 29.55 Paul Hennessy4thBallymac Danica 4 5/2 29.58 Liam Dowling5thFaypoint Harvey 1 6/1 29.83 Graham HollandN/RBallyhooly Bruno3 Tom O'Neill
Time Dundalk International, Dundalk (12 Jul, 550y, €20,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1stCheap Sandwiches 6 30.06 Graham Holland2ndWicky Ned 1 30.09 James Fenwick (UK)3rdBallinabola Joe 5 30.10 Pat Buckley4thCallaway Knegare 2 30.19 Owen McKenna5thLemon Joey 4 30.20 Murt Leahy6thDaleroad Duke 3 30.21 Patrick Guilfoyle
Time Juvenile Derby, Shelbourne Park (8 Aug, 525y, €25,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1stGetup The Boy 1 16/1 28.31 Mark Robinson2ndUnanimous 2 6/1 28.36 Pat Buckley3rdDroopys Faithful 4 9/2 28.47 Daniel O'Rahilly4thBallymac Tibet 5 10/3 28.54 Liam Dowling5thRural Pest 6 5/4f 28.61 Graham Holland6thToolmaker King 3 9/2 28.78 Robert G.Gleeson
Callaway Pro Am Irish St Leger, Limerick (9 Aug, 550y, €30,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1stDrombeg Banner 2 20/1 29.57 Evan McAuliffe2ndFlight Club 6 12/1 29.58 Paul Hennessy3rdBlastoff Heffo 1 5/1 29.68 Philip Buckley4thClonbrien Treaty 4 13/8 29.75 Graham Holland5th Cagey Billy 3 25/1 29.82 Christopher Delaney6thHello Diego 5 11/10f 29.86 Paul Hennessy
Bar One Racing Irish Sprint Cup, Dundalk (15 Aug, 400y, €20,000) PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1stSouthwind Wild 5 - 21.08 Pat Bckley 2ndDroopys Patriot 2 - 21.09 Robert G. Gleeson3rd Broadstrand Syd 3 - 21.14 John A. Linehan4thBallymac Brandan 1 - 21.30 Liam Dowling5thEpic Ace 6 - 21.51 Patrick Guilfoyle6th Stopnepark Browne4 - 21.63 Michael J. O'Donovan
BarOne Racing Irish Laurels, Cork (8 Nov, 525y, €30,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1st Magical On Fire 4 13/2 27.93 Patrick Guilfoyle 2ndSolo And Go 1 7/4jf 27.94 Liam Dowling 3rd Lemon Joey 6 5/1 28.04 Murt Leahy4th Trionas Tribe 5 50/1 28.67 Michael Wren5thBallymac Setanta 3 7/4jf 28.74 Liam Dowling6thBallymac Brandan 2 13/2 28.99 Liam Dowling
Calendar and results The Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) Category One and category Two schedule was announced on 4 November 2024. The Greyhound Racing Ireland (GRI) schedule was released during November 2024.