Blue Riband (greyhounds)
| Category 1 race | |
 Dempsey Duke, winner in 1992 | |
| Location | Towcester Stadium |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1981 |
| Sponsor | Greyhound Racing UK |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 500 metres |
| Surface | Sand |
| Purse | £10,000 (winner) |
The Blue Riband is a greyhound racing competition held annually at Towcester Stadium.
History
[edit]It was inaugurated in 1981 at Wembley Stadium as a replacement competition for the Wembley Spring Cup which ended in 1980.[1][2]
Following the end of the Wembley Greyhounds the race transferred to Greyhound Racing Association (GRA) sister track Hall Green Stadium in 1999.[3] 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.[4]
Venues & distances
[edit]- 1981–1998 (Wembley, 490 metres)
- 1999–2012 (Hall Green, 480 metres)
- 2021–2025 (Towcester, 500 metres)
Sponsors
[edit]- 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)
Past winners
[edit]| Year | Winner | Breeding | Trainer | Time | SP | Notes/ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Arfur Mo | Carhumore Speech - Monalee Roman | John Honeysett (Crayford) | 29.47 | 20/1 | |
| 1982 | Master Darby | Sole Aim - Aglish Pilgrim | Jerry Fisher (Reading) | 29.88 | 7/2 | [5] |
| 1983 | Cross Times | Violet Hall - Full Circle | Jerry Fisher (Reading) | 30.01 | 7/2 | |
| 1984 | Living Trail | Ivy Hall Solo - Elimron | John Honeysett (Wembley) | 29.69 | 50/1 | |
| 1985 | Lulus Hero | Sail On II - Lulus Loner | Gunner Smith (Brighton) | 29.23 | 3/1 | [6] |
| 1986 | Fearless Champ | Special Account - Sarahs Bunny | Geoff De Mulder (Oxford) | 29.04 | 8/11f | [7] |
| 1987 | Sambuca | Pat Seamur - Lyons Flora | Gunner Smith (Brighton) | 29.08 | 16/1 | |
| 1988 | Pike Alert | Security Alert - PC Breda | Tom Foster (Wimbledon) | 29.18 | 7/1 | |
| 1989 | Ring Slippy | I'm Slippy - Westpark Chill | Derek Millen (Canterbury) | 29.64 | 3/1 | |
| 1990 | Westmead Harry | Fearless Champ - Westmead Move | Nick Savva (Milton Keynes) | 29.09 | 7/4f | |
| 1991 | Wuncross | Double Creamery Cross - Wuncoat | Derek Knight (Hove) | 29.02 | 33/1 | |
| 1992 | Dempsey Duke | Shanagarry Duke - Willowbrook Peg | Terry Kibble (Bristol) | 28.87 | 2/1jf | |
| 1993 | Hypnotic Stag | Greenpark Fox - Sister Moonshine | John Coleman (Walthamstow) | 28.85 | 8/13f | |
| 1994 | Ardilaun Bridge | Adraville Bridge - Cecilia One | Chris Duggan (Walthamstow) | 29.03 | 11/10f | [8] |
| 1995 | Heres Seanie | Ardfert Sean - Mindys Miracle | Pat Ryan (Perry Barr) | 28.85 | 2/7f | |
| 1996 | Quick Tune | Farloe Melody - Lady Be Fast | Gordon Hodson (Hove) | 29.75 | 5/1 | |
| 1997 | Blue Murlen | Murlens Abbey - Lovely Lovely | Mick Smith (Private) | 29.07 | 2/7f | |
| 1998 | He Knows | Slaneyside Hare - I Know You | Barrie Draper (Sheffield) | 29.22 | 11/4 | |
| 1999 | Droopys Merson | Frightful Flash - Lemon Miss | Nick Savva (Milton Keynes) | 28.53 | 1/1f | [9] |
| 2000 | Vintage Cleaner | Vintage Prince – Treasure Beo | John McGee Sr. (Private) | 28.20 | 9/4 | Track record |
| 2001 | Hollinwood Chief | Night Trooper – Hollinwood Major | Mick Clarke (Private) | 28.51 | 7/4f | |
| 2002 | Hollinwood Wiz | Night Trooper – Hollinwood Major | Mick Clarke (Private) | 28.45 | 8/1 | |
| 2003 | Farloe Verdict | Droopys Vieri – She Knew | Charlie Lister (Private) | 28.09 | 5/2 | Track record |
| 2004 | Droopys Oasis | Larkhill Jo – Droopys Graf | Brian Clemenson (Hove) | 28.28 | 5/4f | |
| 2005 | Tuttles Ronaldo | Droopys Kewell – By The Numbers | Frank Wright (Coventry) | 28.26 | 7/1 | [10] |
| 2006 | Westmead Joe | Larkhill Jo – Mega Delight | Nick Savva (Private) | 28.58 | 13/8f | [11] |
| 2007 | Iceman Vader | Top Honcho – Barrow Tune | Lance Burford (Coventry) | 28.56 | 4/1 | [12] |
| 2008 | Farloe Reason | Droopys Maldini – Farloe Oyster | Charlie Lister (Private) | 28.24 | 1/2f | [13] |
| 2009 | Blonde Fern | Hondo Black – Returned Fire | Tony Dean (Private) | 28.06 | 4/1 | [14] |
| 2010 | Eye Onthe Storm | Droopys Vieri – Bower Louise | Mark Wallis (Yarmouth) | 28.02 | 8/13f | Track record[15] |
| 2011 | Express Shuttle | Kiowa Sweet Trey – Express Mist | Chris Allsopp (Monmore) | 28.42 | 11/8f | [16] |
| 2012 | Young Sid | Killahan Panther – Marwood Review | Paul Young (Romford) | 28.31 | 6/4f | [17] |
| 2013 to 2020 not held | ||||||
| 2021 | Kilara Lion | Droopys Jet – Kilara Lizzie | Patrick Janssens (Towcester) | 29.73 | 11/8f | [18] |
| 2022 | Ivy Hill Skyhigh | Taylors Sky – Yahoo Perlena | Mark Wallis (Monmore) | 29.91 | 7/1 | [19] |
| 2023 | Hopes Paddington | Good News – Charity Anna | Nathan Hunt (Romford) | 29.15 | 9/4 | [20] |
| 2024 | Signet Goofy | Magical Bale – Forest Natalee | John Mullins (Towcester) | 29.39 | 9/2 | [21] |
| 2025 | ||||||
References
[edit]- ^ Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. p. 82. ISBN 07207-1106-1.
- ^ Genders, Roy (1990). NGRC book of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. p. 40. ISBN 0-7207-1804-X.
- ^ Hobbs, Jonathan (2007). Greyhound Annual 2008. Raceform. p. 119. ISBN 978-1-905153-53-4.
- ^ "Blue Riband preview and full form". Greyhound Star. 8 January 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
- ^ "Wembley". Daily Mirror. 30 November 1982. Retrieved 23 January 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Greyhound Star (Remember When - April)". Greyhound Star. 14 April 2019.
- ^ "Top money winners open the battle for data classic". Birmingham Mail. 8 May 1986. Retrieved 23 January 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ Fry, Paul (1995). The Official NGRC Greyhound Racing Yearbook. Ringpress Books. pp. 20–21. ISBN 186054-010-4.
- ^ "Dogs". Daily Record. 17 April 1999. Retrieved 2 April 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "2005 final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 4 November 2018. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
- ^ "2006 final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 5 November 2018. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
- ^ "2007 final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 4 November 2018. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
- ^ "2008 final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 4 November 2018. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
- ^ "2009 final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 4 November 2018. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
- ^ "2010 final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 4 November 2018. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
- ^ "2011 final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 4 November 2018. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
- ^ "2012 Result". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 14 November 2016. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
- ^ "Towcester Blue Riband". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
- ^ "THE PREMARKET PETS BLUE RIBAND - FINAL". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
- ^ "The Stadium Bookomakers Blue Riband final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
- ^ "Blue Riband final 2024". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 30 March 2024.