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The 2022 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 97th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Summary

The year started well for the industry when Kevin Boothby's Suffolk Downs was granted a Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) licence. The first trial session took place on 12 January and the first meeting was held on 8 February 2022, with the primary race distance being 388 metres.

A parliamentary debate took place on the 28 March discussing a petition presented by Welsh Labour MP Christina Rees to abolish greyhound racing in Wales. The anonymous petitioner referred largely to the Valley Greyhound Stadium (not affiliated to the GBGB) and a stray and abandoned dogs centre called Hope Rescue (both in Wales). Parliament voted for no further action.

Mark Wallis won his fourth Trainers Championship (marketed as Judgement Night), which was held at Monmore Green. He would go on to win the Greyhound Trainer of the Year for a 13th time.

The major open race circuit saw a significant increment in prize money levels. Premier Greyhound Racing (the collaboration between the Arena Racing Company and Entain increased the winning prize of two original classics, the St Leger and Oaks to £20,000. Additionally, the Golden Jacket, Champion Stakes, Regency and Eclipse also offered a £20,000 first prize. Towcester continued to hold events with a £10,000 winner's prize. The addition of the new category 1 competitions resulted in the GBGB changing the rules in relation to the number of rounds held. The new ruling (from 2023) would see category 1 events, except the classics, held over three rounds instead of four.

The industry was split on the new GBGB rule that stated a greyhound not to run more than once in a four day period (this included trials). This upset many of the leading figures within the industry who argued that trainers were in the best position to establish when a greyhound should race or trial. The rule was seen by some as an appeasement to welfare groups but others argued that it was a way to eliminate any excessive racing demands of a greyhound.

Oxford Stadium reopened after a ten year absence, the track saw a capacity attendance for the meeting held on 2 September. The reopening of one of the sports most popular tracks was another boost for the industry. Just ten days later at the track, during the sales trials on 13 September the British sales record for a greyhound was broken when Drumcrow Mini was sold for £16,300. However, Oxford still remained in the ownership of a property developer and was only operated on a lease.

On 27 September 2022, the RSPCA, Blue Cross and The Dogs Trust jointly announced that greyhound racing in the UK should come to an end as soon as possible, proposing phasing out the activity over a period of five years. In response the GBGB stated that "It is ludicrous that the agenda of animal rights extremists are being given credence within these charities" and "quoting data that is inaccurate and making claims that do not stand up to challenge".

Roll of honour

Competitions

United Kingdom

The St Leger champion Space Jet continued her fine form from 2021, when winning the prestigious Coral TV Trophy at Brighton in April. Coolavanny Aunty claimed a significant double when winning the Essex Vase and Grand Prix, as did Signet Denver who took the Laurels and Produce Stakes.

Ireland

The 2021 Irish Greyhound Derby champion Susie Sapphire impressed again when winning the Easter Cup, she started at odds of 1/3 for the final (the shortest price in the modern era).

Principal UK finals

Principal Irish finals

UK Category 1 & 2 competitions

+ delayed and then cancelled

Irish feature competitions

References

1. "CAT 1 & CAT 2 EVENTS 2022". Greyhound Star. 12 November 2021. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
2. "GBGB announces 2022 Category One Schedule". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. 12 November 2021. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
3. "Suffolk Downs granted GBGB licence". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. 7 January 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
4. "Suffolk Downs first trial session". Greyhound Star. 12 January 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
5. "Suffolk Downs is up and running". Greyhound Star. 8 February 2022. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
6. "Volume 711: debated on Monday 28 March 2022". Hansard. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
7. "GBGB RESPOND TO PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE". Greyhound Star. 29 March 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
8. "Mark Wallis: 21 Years in Judgement". Greyhound Star. 3 May 2022. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
9. "Latest Trainer of the Year Championship Standings, up to and including Tuesday 27th December 2022". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. 28 December 2022. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
10. "Arc and Entain to launch Premier Greyhound Racing". Greyhound Star. December 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
11. "THREE-ROUND CATEGORY ONE LIMIT TO ALLOW FOR MORE COMPETITIONS". Greyhound Star. 16 September 2022. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
12. "Rule 147 – Greyhound not to run more than once in a four day period". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. 16 February 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
13. "British Sales record smashed at Oxford". Greyhound Star. 14 September 2022. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
14. "Charities call for end to greyhound racing in the UK". RSPCA. 27 September 2022.
15. "GBGB Respond to Charity Ban Statements". Greyhound Star. 27 September 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
16. "The 2022 Breset Easter Cup Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
17. "2022 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial 525 Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
18. "2022 Larry O'Rourke National Produce Stakes". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
19. "2022 Dundalk International Open 550". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
20. "One Time Only does it twice to win Champion Stakes at Shelbourne". Australian Racing Greyhound. 5 August 2022. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
21. "The 2022 RPGTV Juvenile Derby 525 Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
22. "The 2022 Irish Greyhound Laurels Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
23. "Coral Essex Vase Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
24. "THE PREMARKET PETS BLUE RIBAND - FINAL". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
25. "The ARC Northern Puppy Derby Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
26. "Northamptonshire Sprint Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
27. "2022 CORAL GOLDEN SPRINT FINAL". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
28. "PREMIER GREYHOUND RACING PUPPY DERBY 2022 FINAL". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
29. "BGBF British Breeders Stakes - Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
30. "The George Ing St Leger - Grand Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
31. "The Arena Racing Company Northern Flat Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
32. "TRPGTV Juvenile". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
33. ^ "Arena Racing Company Springbok Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
34. "CORAL BRIGHTON BELLE FINAL". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
35. "The Arena Racing Company Grand Prix Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
36. "THE MATCHBOOK BETTING EXCHANGE MAIDEN DERBY FINAL". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
37. ^ "Crayford, Saturday 21 May". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
38. "CORAL CORONATION CUP FINAL". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
39. "Coral Sussex Cup Final Greyhound Racing YouTube". You Tube. 3 August 2022. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
40. "BresBet Steel City Cup Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
41. "PREMIER GREYHOUND RACING CHAMPION STAKES FINAL". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
42. "STADIUM BOOKMAKERS HUNT CUP - FINAL". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
43. "ARENA RACING COMPANY SCURRY GOLD CUP FINAL". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
44. "Premier Greyhound Racing Kent Derby". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
45. "Gain Greyhound Nutrition 3 Steps To Victory Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
46. "The ARC Classic Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
47. ^ "Ladbrokes Gold Collar Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
48. "Bobbing Gnavatar game as ever for Barry O'Sullivan in £10,000 Ladbrokes Grand National Final, Crayford". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. 28 November 2022. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
49. "The 2022 Waterford Select Stakes Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
50. "The Shelbourne Open 600 Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
51. "RPGTV Irish Cesarewitch Open 600 Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
52. "Callaway Rambler @ StudRace Of Champions". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
53. "The Shelbourne Champion 550 Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
54. "The 2022 Corn Cuchulainn Open 750 Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
55. "2022 Centenary Agri Tipperary Cup Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 15 August 2022.

• Greyhound racing in the United Kingdom
• Greyhound racing in the Republic of Ireland
• 2022 in British sport
• 2022 in Irish sport
• 2022 in greyhound racing