British greyhound racing will celebrate a century of sporting excellence with a landmark Centenary Gala at Dunstall Park, the UK’s newest greyhound track.

On 24 July, the Wolverhampton venue will mark the sport’s centenary by hosting the Centenary Gala, recreating the first-ever race meeting held at Belle Vue Stadium on 24 July 1926. Designed to capture the atmosphere of that historic evening, the event will feature a specially curated six-race card reflecting the original programme, alongside celebrations of 100 years of greyhound racing tradition in Britain.

A limited number of tickets remain available. Alongside the racing, guests will enjoy a three-course meal and themed 1920s entertainment throughout the evening, including a live swing band. The Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) will also display a range of items from its archive collection – from photographs of royal racegoers to historic trophies – showcasing the rich history of greyhound racing throughout the decades.

Race entries close at 11 am on 20th July. To commemorate the centenary year, winners of each race will receive £1,926 in prize money, while all other runners will receive £192.60. Winning connections will also receive a commemorative trophy and racing jacket.

The six-race card comprises: 480m Puppy (sponsored by ARC), 660m (Entain), 270m (Racecourse Promoters Association), 480m British Bred (Sports Information Services), 925m (Jennings Bet) and 480m (Premier Greyhound Racing).

Martin Seal, Racing Manager at Dunstall Park, said:

“This is a fixture the like of which we will not witness again in our lifetimes.

“We have a fantastic variety of races, which no doubt connections of greyhounds in training would be proud to be represented in. We encourage those interested in being part of this historic night to contact our racing office stating which greyhounds they would like to enter in each race.

“It’s fantastic each race will be worth £1,926 to the winner, and even better that the evening will help support our various homing partners who do fantastic work to find greyhounds their perfect retirement home.”

Cress Lee, GBGB Marketing Manager, said:

“The Centenary Gala is an opportunity to celebrate 100 years of our sport, recognise the remarkable dogs that have been at its heart throughout that time, and bring together everyone who has played a part in its story.

“We’ve worked closely with Dunstall Park and our partners to create an evening that honours our heritage while looking confidently to the future, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone to what promises to be a memorable occasion.”

While Dunstall Park will be the centrepiece of celebrations on the anniversary itself, all GBGB-licensed greyhound tracks will host special events and promotions to mark the occasion. This includes Arena Racing Company’s five greyhound venues, which are offering a group-wide offer on Monday and Friday nights throughout July, with a three-course meal at their restaurants costing £19.26.

Romford Greyhound Stadium, winner of the inaugural GBGB Track of the Year award, introduced as part of the centenary celebrations, is releasing “Free Entry Friday” vouchers for 10 weeks until the end of August – one week for every decade of the sport’s history.

Celebrations across the country will culminate during the sport’s annual National Greyhound Week, which will run from 24–31 August this year.

Tickets for the Centenary Gala are priced at £75 per person. To purchase, contact info@gbgb.org.uk or call 020 7822 0920.