UK and Ireland’s biggest and most prestigious greyhound races

Greyhound racing is a sport with a rich history in the UK and Ireland, and while things have changed a great deal over the decades, there are still a number of prestigious races and events which attract a huge amount of interest. We’re talking about the occasions where sports fans eagerly peruse the greyhound tips from Betdaq to try and predict the winners.

There are numerous historic races throughout the UK and Ireland which are still going strong to this day, from the English Greyhound Derby to the Scottish Greyhound Derby, and everywhere in between. Nothing gets fans of this historic sport going in the same way that the following races do, so read on and check out the biggest occasions on the greyhound racing calendar each year.

English Greyhound Derby

What better place to start than the biggest of them all? The English Greyhound Derby continues to be the blue riband event of the greyhound racing calendar, and it’s every trainer and owner’s dream to land a winner in this famous old race. Now back at the historic venue of Towcester, after the track there was rescued following closure a few years ago, it takes a huge amount of talent and courage for a dog to emerge triumphant in this one.

There are a number of rounds to the competition, eventually culminating in the showpiece final. Simply getting to the final is an achievement in itself, but the dog that crosses the line in first place is entered into sporting folklore. This year, it was Thorn Falcon and trainer Patrick Janssens who enjoyed that special delight, and we already can’t wait for next year’s edition of the English Greyhound Derby. 

East Anglian Derby

The East Anglian Derby is one of the highlights of Norfolk’s sporting calendar, with Yarmouth Stadium playing host to the race each year. The first running of the event was in 1975, and since then it has become one of the most anticipated races in greyhound racing.

The great Charlie Lister boasts the most wins in the East Anglian Derby as a trainer, though in 2020 the honour went to Janssens, who earned the top prize with Kilara Lion.

Irish Greyhound Derby

Held at the famous Shelbourne Park in Dublin, the Irish Greyhound Derby is the biggest race in Ireland, and attracts plenty of sports fans and punters. The race boasts a long and rich history dating all the way back to the late 1920s, and rivals the English Greyhound Derby in terms of reputation and prestige. 

Graham Holland is the man who boasts recent success in the Irish Greyhound Derby, having won it with Lenson Bocko in 2019 and Newinn Taylor in 2020. The trainer will be hoping to make a hat-trick later this year.

Scottish Greyhound Derby

The Scottish Greyhound Derby is Scotland’s answer to the aforementioned English and Irish Greyhound Derbies. Although not quite as prestigious as those two, it is certainly a massive event on the greyhound racing calendar, and has a lot of history attached to it.

Unfortunately, the Scottish Greyhound Derby has not been run since 2019 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, with the race cancelled for both 2020 and 2021. Hopefully, come next year, we’ll be able to enjoy the event in all its glory once again.