Oxford and Towcester have been awarded the TV Trophy for 2024 and 2025, the Greyhound Weekly can reveal.
In a Press Release made by the GBGB this evening, which is due to go out in the print version of the Racing Post tomorrow, Oxford have been named as the hosts for the 2024 event. There will be two heats on the 16th March, over the 847m marathon trip, from which the first three will qualify from each one. The final will be held on Saturday 23rd March.
Next year’s renewal at Oxford will mark 37 years since the race was last staged at the Cowley track, when Dick Hawke’s Glenowen Queen took the honours.
Kevin Boothby, managing director of both Oxford Stadium and Towcester Racecourse, expressed his pleasure about the announcement. “We’re really pleased to bring the competition to Oxford for 2024 and Towcester a year later with finals night at Oxford coinciding with a spectacular St Patrick’s Day celebration of which we’ll be confirming full details very soon.”
Tonight’s announcement comes amid speculation on social media that the GBGB would be releasing an update on the investigation into the alleged exportation of Gougane Jet to China.
Tonight’s GBGB Press Release in Full:
The GBGB is pleased to announce that a two-year deal has been secured to stage the TV Trophy at Oxford in 2024, and Towcester in 2025.
The TV Trophy, inaugurated in 1958, will consist of two rounds over the marathon distance at both tracks.
Oxford will host the £15,000 to-the-winner event over 847m, consisting of two heats on Saturday March 16 with the first three from each going through to the final a week later.
The Sandy Lane circuit last held this historic event over the old 845m trip in 1987, won by Dick Hawkes’s fawn bitch Glenowen Queen, who famously took part in the John Power Showdown with Ballyregan Bob and Scurlogue Champ at Wembley in December two years earlier.
GBGB Commercial Director Mark Moisley said: “We are delighted that Henlow Racing Ltd will be hosting the TV Trophy at Oxford in 2024 and Towcester in 2025. This is in keeping with the aim for the event to move around the country, which has historically been a key aspect of the competition.
“We also thank Entain for their previous sponsorship following the hosting of the competition at all four of their tracks in recent years. We look forward to an exciting renewal of the competition at Sandy Lane in March.”
Towcester Racecourse and Oxford Stadium Managing Director Kevin Boothby said: “The TV Trophy is one of UK greyhound racing’s great events. My first memories of greyhound racing as a child are centred around the TV Trophy – it’s a fantastic spectacle and one of my greatest achievements as an owner was winning it with Savana Winner in 2018.
“We’re really pleased to bring the competition to Oxford for 2024 and Towcester a year later with finals night at Oxford coinciding with a spectacular St Patrick’s Day celebration of which we’ll be confirming full details very soon.”
