GBGB publishes full Open Race calendar for 2025 ahead of schedule
GBGB has today published its Open Race calendar for 2025 again ahead of schedule giving Owners and Trainers more time to plan for the racing year ahead.
A comprehensive approach to planning of Category One and Two events has helped to provide a full roadmap for the third consecutive year, and better facilitates existing events while managing potential clashes.
Working in collaboration with tracks, sponsors and promoters, this joined-up approach has maintained the number of Category One competitions around the country, creating an even spread across each of the sport’s categories.
Racing operations executive Scott Harvey said: “The action on the track this year has been nothing short of sensational, and we are all still drawing breath from Druids Say Go’s run in the Oaks, Droopys Clue’s historic defence of his St Leger crown, and the wonderful Wicky Ned landing a third Cat One title in a thriller from Links Maverick in the Steel City Cup at Sheffield just a few weeks ago.
“Watching Ned on his exciting journey from puppy status highlights exactly why youngsters should be given every opportunity at top-flight success. So, in 2025, there will be a Cat One Puppy competition every month, excluding January, and May and June when the Star Sports & TRC Greyhound Derby takes centre stage.”
Harvey also confirmed that the Cat One Juvenile Classic at Towcester and Oxford Puppy Collar, which did not go ahead this year due to a lack of sponsor, were set to return in 2025.
Next year’s open race schedule increases to 55 Cat One events from 54 and will again feature a series of Super Saturdays, and Sundays, giving racegoers the chance to get up close to the big race action to maximise attendance.
Harvey added: “Getting a Category One list as structured and as varied as this out now has been made possible by tracks and promoters working in collaboration. It also allows Trainers to plan properly for the year ahead and identify the best opportunities for their greyhounds.
“We think the schedule offers a comprehensive programme and if next year’s open race action is half as good as this year’s, we should have plenty to look forward to.”
Cat One events 2025
Sat 18 Jan Central Park Arena Racing Company Cesarewitch 731m Flat
Fri 24 Jan Romford Coral Essex Vase 575m Flat
Sat 25 Jan Oxford BGBF Puppy Cup 450m Flat
Sun 26 Jan Towcester Blue Riband 500m Flat
Thu 20 Feb Newcastle Arena Racing Company Northern Puppy Derby 480m Flat
Sat 22 Feb Monmore Ladbrokes Winter Derby 480m Flat
Sat 22 Feb Crayford Premier Greyhound Racing Golden Jacket 714m Flat
Fri 14 Mar Romford Coral Golden Sprint 400m Flat
Sat 15 Mar Monmore Premier Greyhound Racing Puppy Derby 480m Flat
Mon 17 Mar Nottingham BGBF British Breeders Stakes 500m Flat
Sun 23 Mar Towcester TV Trophy 943m Flat
Sat 29 Mar Central Park Arena Racing Company Kent Plate 491m Flat
Sun 13 Apr Towcester Juvenile 500m Flat
Fri 18 Apr Sunderland Arena Racing Company Grand Prix 640m Flat
Sat 19 Apr Perry Barr Arena Racing Company Laurels 480m Flat
Sat 19 Apr Oxford bet365 Hunt Cup 650m Flat
Sun 20 Apr Towcester KAB Maiden Derby 500m Flat
Sun 20 Apr Sheffield Gymcrack 500m Flat
Sat 26 Apr Hove Coral Brighton Belle 515m Flat
Sun 18 May Crayford Ladbrokes Kent St Leger 714m Flat
Sat 14 Jun Towcester Star Sports/TRC English Greyhound Derby 500m Flat
Sat 21 Jun Central Park Arena Racing Company Kent Silver Salver 277m Flat
Fri 4 Jul Romford Coral Coronation Cup 575m Flat
Sun 6 Jul Sheffield 3 Steps to Victory Tri Distance
Sun 20 Jul Towcester Juvenile Classic 500m Flat
Thu 24 Jul Newcastle Arena Racing Company Northern Flat 480m Flat
Sat 26 Jul Oxford Pall Mall 450m Flat
Sat 2 Aug Hove Coral Sussex Cup 515m Flat
Sat 2 Aug Hove Premier Greyhound Regency 695m Flat
Sat 23 Aug Monmore Ladbrokes Gold Cup 480m Flat
Sat 23 Aug Monmore Ladbrokes Summer Stayers 630m Flat
Mon 25 Aug Nottingham Puppy Classic 500m Flat
Mon 25 Aug Nottingham Select Stakes 500m Flat
Wed 17 Sep Yarmouth Click Competitions East Anglian Derby 462m Flat
Fri 19 Sep Romford Coral Puppy Cup 400m Flat
Sun 21 Sep Towcester bet365 Empress Stakes 500m Flat
Mon 22 Sep Nottingham Premier Greyhound Racing St Leger 730m Flat
Mon 22 Sep Nottingham Arena Racing Company Birmingham Cup 480m Flat
Thu 25 Sep Swindon 79th BGBF Produce Stakes 476m Flat
Fri 17 Oct Romford Premier Greyhound Racing Champion Stakes 575m Flat
Sat 18 Oct Central Park Premier Greyhound Racing Kent Derby 491m Flat
Sun 19 Oct Sheffield Steel City Cup 500m Flat
Fri 24 Oct Wolverhampton Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks 480m Flat
Sat 25 Oct Oxford Puppy Collar 450m Flat
Sun 26 Oct Crayford Ladbrokes Grand National 380m Hurdle
Fri 21 Nov Sunderland Premier Greyhound Racing Classic 450m Flat
Sun 23 Nov Crayford Ladbrokes Gold Collar 540m Flat
Mon 24 Nov Nottingham Premier Greyhound Racing Eclipse 500m Flat
Sun 30 Nov Towcester English Puppy Derby 500m Flat
Sat 13 Dec Oxford bet365 Challenge Cup 650m Flat
Sat 13 Dec Hove Coral Olympic 515m Flat
Sat 13 Dec Hove George Curtis Ballyregan Bob Memorial 740m Flat
Sun 21 Dec Sheffield BGBF British Bred Derby 500m Flat
Sat 27 Dec Newcastle Premier Greyhound Racing All England Cup 480m Flat
Sun 28 Dec Towcester bet365 English Puppy Oaks 500m Flat
Cat Two events 2025
Fri 24 Jan Romford Coral Silver Maiden 400m Flat
Sun 23 Feb Towcester Northamptonshire Sprint 270m Flat
Sat 22 Feb Crayford Peter Bussey Memorial Trophy 540m Flat
Sun 30 Mar Sheffield Queen Mother Memorial Cup 660m Flat
Sun 30 Mar Crayford Ladbrokes Springbok 380m Hurdles
Sat 26 Apr Hove Hove Puppy Cup 500m Flat
Thu 22 May Newcastle BGBF British Bred Maiden Derby 480m Flat
Sat 14 June Towcester BGBF Champion Stakes 500m Flat
Sat 14 June Towcester Derby Plate 500m Flat
Sat 14 June Towcester Challenge Trophy 712m Flat
Sat 14 June Towcester Greyhoundtrader.com Stakes 500m Flat
Sat 14 June Towcester Derby Sprint Stakes 270m Flat
Sat 14 June Towcester Derby Bitches Stakes 500m Flat
Sat 14 June Towcester Derby Puppy Stakes 500m Flat
Fri 27 June Sunderland Arena Racing Company Puppy Trophy 450m Flat
Sun 20 July Crayford Ladbrokes Champion Hurdle 380m Hurdles
Thu 24 July Newcastle Arena Racing Company Angel of the North 480m Flat
Sat 2 Aug Hove Coral Sussex Cup Sprint Trophy 285m Flat
Sat 16 Aug Oxford BGBF British Bred Oaks 450m Flat
Sun 17 Aug Crayford Ladbrokes Guys & Dolls Trophy 380m Flat
Sep 28 Sep Doncaster BGBF St Leger 661m Flat
Fri 17 Oct Romford Coral Silver Standard 400m Flat
Fri 24 Oct Wolverhampton Arena Racing Company Scurry Gold Cup 270m Flat
Sun 2 Nov Towcester BGBF Stud Book Trophy 500m Flat
Fri 21 Nov Sunderland BGBF Future Stars Puppy Trophy 450m Flat
Mon 22 Dec Nottingham Arena Racing Company National Sprint 305m Flat