2024 Open Race schedule could help boost weekend attendances at UK greyhound stadia
The publication of the 2024 Open Competition schedule earlier in the week has been mostly well received. Once the TV Trophy, which is currently out to tender, is confirmed, there will be 57 Category 1 competitions scheduled across 15 venues next year. We explored some of the key talking points.
The publication of the 2024 Open Competition schedule earlier in the week has been mostly well received. Once the TV Trophy, which is currently out to tender, is confirmed, there will be 57 Category 1 competitions scheduled across 15 venues next year. We explored some of the key talking points.
Falling attendances at the tracks should be given a welcome boost with 86% of Category 1 finals being scheduled on weekends. As a result, punters have four ‘Super Saturdays’ and one ‘Super Sunday’ to look forward to. The BGBF Puppy Cup at Oxford kicks things off on Saturday the 20th January, alongside the ARC Cesarewitch at Central Park.
Super Saturdays
Sat 20 Jan Oxford BGBF Puppy Cup 450m Flat Sat 20 Jan Central Park Arena Racing Company Cesarewitch 731m Flat
Sat 30 Mar Central Park Arena Racing Company Kent Plate 491m Flat Sat 30 Mar Monmore Premier Greyhound Racing Puppy Derby 480m Flat
Sat 27 Apr Hove Coral Brighton Belle 515m Flat Sat 27 Apr Perry Barr Arena Racing Company Laurels 480m Flat
Sat 27 Jul Hove Coral Sussex Cup 515m Flat Sat 27 Jul Hove Premier Greyhound Racing Regency 695m Flat Sat 27 Jul Oxford Stadium Bookmakers Pall Mall 450m Flat
Super Sunday
Sun 26 May Sheffield 3 Steps to Victory Tri Distance Sun 26 May Kinsley BresBet Gymcrack 450m Flat
GBGB Racing Operations Executive, Scott Harvey was compelled to answer questions about the lack of marathon competitions on the calendar, with only two on the whole schedule. One of those is the TV Trophy which has not yet been confirmed. Jack Levers raised his concerns on X/Twitter. “Could have put a couple in the cat2 [schedule]. This is supposed to allow us to plan ahead. Might as well send the marathon dogs over to Ireland. Joke tbh”.
Harvey responded to the tweet saying that he would “love for more marathon comps to materialise. You might have seen @bet365 are putting on a Cat 2 Winter Marathon on at Towcester in December. Let’s hope we see more in 2024.”
Promoters have been given added prize money to incentivise participation in Category 2 competitions. Scott Harvey declared that “The maximum added prize money threshold for Cat Two competitions is also set to increase in 2024 to £15,999 allowing promoters to pay more out in the qualifying stages, should they choose to do so.”
Exactly how much additional prize money that will find its way into trainers’ pockets is yet to be seen and some are sceptical. Nevertheless, the increased threshold is well intentioned and likely to lead to some increased prize money being shared.
The North-East does not have a Saturday Category 1 final on the 2024 schedule. The ARC Grand Prix and ARC Classic are both scheduled on Fridays at Sunderland. At Newcastle, The ARC Northern Puppy Derby and The ARC Northern Flat finals will both be run on Thursday evenings. At the same venue, December’s All England Cup will be run on a Friday.
Towcester has the lion’s share of Cat 1 finals with 8 being held at the Northamptonshire Derby venue. Oxford and Hove have 6 apiece; Romford has 5. Of the tracks without Category 1 competitions in 2024, Doncaster, Henlow and Suffolk Downs are rewarded with 9 Category 2 competitions between them.
The Grand National switches to Hove in 2024. Hurdling has returned to the Sussex track with great success this year and should prove to be an excellent host for the competition that will celebrate it’s centenary in 2027. Coppice Fox won the competition in 2023 and he may attempt to defend his crown on the South Coast. Only 3 greyhounds have returned to win the competition twice since its inception, Blossom of Annagura in 1949/1950, Topothetide in 1978/79, and possibly the greatest hurdler of all time, Sherrys Prince, who won three-in-a-row in 1970/71/72.
The use of “trialstakes” to extend the field of entries to competitions has been outlawed by the GBGB. The practice has effectively increased field sizes above the permitted 36 and extended competitions to 4 rounds instead of the stipulated 3.
