As we enter the six-week build-up to the 2026 Derby, there is a welcome opportunity to focus on the racing itself and allow the canine athletes to take the spotlight, writes Peter Walker.
With neither the Scottish nor Welsh Derby remaining on the calendar, the term British has never felt more appropriate for the sport’s premier occasion.
Yet alongside the excitement at Towcester, two matters require serious consideration from all who value the future of greyhound racing.
The first priority is for the sport’s key contributors to speak with a unified and credible voice to the betting industry and the authorities.
Significant loss
Trainers, owners, and breeders have been without union representation since the dissolution of the Greyhound Trainers Association in 2020. The resulting loss of influence has been significant.
The gradual decline in both owners and trainers shows that the current situation is unsustainable.
As we celebrate the sport’s centenary, it is clear that meaningful structural improvements are needed to redress the imbalance and protect those who keep the sport alive.
I have researched the feasibility of establishing a new representative trade union to give core professionals and owners the collective strength they currently lack.
Anyone wishing to review the findings is welcome to contact me at [email protected]. Please include ‘Union’ in the subject field, and I will forward the material.
Alongside this, another project now under consideration is a screenplay based on the remarkable story of Salad Dodger.
2014 Greyhound Derby triumph
His 2014 Greyhound Derby triumph under former trainer Bruno Berwick has all the ingredients of a dramatic and compelling film, and it deserves to be brought to a wider audience.
I am exploring ways to take this project forward and would still welcome any contact details for Bruno, or for anyone connected with the original campaign.
On the home front, we thought our retired racer Rebel was about to make his final run. Thanks to a dose of TLC and veterinary intervention, he’s not ready for the rainbow bridge just yet.
He hits the grand age of 13 in July – fingers crossed he reaches that milestone.
On the topic of retired racing greyhounds, a neighbour adopted ‘Reggie’ who raced under the name of Aughboy (13/9/15-10/4/26) is no longer with us.
He ran at Sheffield and Doncaster during his racing career.
On a lighter note, his owner was walking him along Roundhay Park Lake one afternoon last year and he fell into the water.
It wasn’t deep but she had to wade in to help him out – never a dull moment with a loveable greyhound!
First round
The traps were changed recently from the curved fronted design to the larger flat-fronted type with additional safety aspects.
This has resulted in quicker timings overall since their installation.
The ratings calculated in the first round onwards are therefore based on trials or races held on 10th March or later unless indicated historical in the rating status.
This year gave the organisers a dilemma with only 166 entries rather than the maximum field of 192 which used to be the norm.
As you already know, we now have 28 heats split over two nights and dispensed with Thursday’s scheduled event. This will probably suit most trainers (especially with dual kennelling times offered) and some owners.
It will cause a problem for people who have booked accommodation or transport in advance and cannot cancel cost free at this late juncture.
Reduced entries
With the likelihood of reduced entries in the future, a third meeting may never be needed again.
The other issue which has caused concern is how to whittle down to 96 qualifiers for the second round.
Under normal circumstances, three will usually qualify from each heat.
Two have already dropped out (Bouncing Monarch and Table Toppers) so we have four races with only five runners.
The remaining 24 heats with only three qualifiers created a shortage of 12 greyhounds. A decision was made to draw additional races where four will now qualify.
Surely with the principle of wanting the best greyhounds to progress into the next round, preference should have been given to the quickest fourth-placed finishers.
The luck of the draw obviously comes into the equation for every round, but this element of pure chance could have been avoided in the first round. A subject for future debate no doubt.
Ante-post selections
It is best to avoid any greyhounds that haven’t had a course and distance trial or race at the track recently at this stage. We could lose a few short-priced runners through lack of track experience.
It is a shame Droopys Plunge will not be defending his crown but his kennelmate Romeo Tomcat is probably connections’ best chance of keeping the trophy.
He won the Derby Plate at Towcester last year and has had a three-month winter break.
He then came back to form to win the BGBF British Breeders Stakes final and at 20/1 each-way is the call.
The Irish contingent is as strong as ever and the form of Glengar Silent is rock solid. He reached the equivalent Derby final at Shelbourne Park and trials at the track have been very promising.
The ante-post prices show how open the competition is this year and 18/1 each-way is the early Irish selection.
Good luck to connections of all greyhounds entered in this year’s Derby. I am sure it will give us all a much-needed boost to the sport in these uncertain times.
