The 2019 Star Sports, ARC & LPS Greyhound Derby takes place during May and June with the final being held on 29 June 2019 at Nottingham Greyhound Stadium.[1]
It is the first time time that the event is being held at Nottingham following the shock closure of Towcester Greyhound Stadium in 2018.[2] The event will be sponsored by Star Sports, ARC and LPS (Local Parking Security Services).
The dates of the competition are: [3] First Round (24/25 May), Second Round (31 May/1 June), Third Round (7 June), Quarter Finals (15 June), Semi Finals (22 June) and Final (29 June).
Final Result
At Nottingham (over 500 metres): Winner £100,000
Pos
Name of Greyhound
Breeding
Trap
Sectional
Race comment
SP
Time
Trainer
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
Final Distances
(lengths) 0.08 sec = one length
Quarter finals
Heat 1 (June 15, £1,000)
Pos
Name
SP
Time
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
Heat 2 (June 15, £1,000)
Pos
Name
SP
Time
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
Heat 3 (June 15, £1,000)
Pos
Name
SP
Time
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
Heat 4 (June 15, £1,000)
Pos
Name
SP
Time
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
Semi finals
First Semi Final (June 22, £2,500)
Pos
Name of Greyhound
SP
Time
Trainer
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
Second Semi Final (June 22, £2,500)
Pos
Name of Greyhound
SP
Time
Trainer
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
Competition Review
There were 209 entries of which 44 were from Ireland and the high number resulted in 17 greyhounds standing as reserves because the entry was restricted for the first time in over 30 years. The ante-post favourite was the defending champion Dorotas Wildcat at 12-1, followed by All England Cup and Dundalk International winner Droopys Verve (14-1), Lenson Blinder, Shelbourne 600 champion Clonbrien Prince and Irish Derby finalist Jaytee Taylor (all 20-1). A notable absentee was Easter Cup winner Clona Blaze.[4]
The first round got underway on 24 May with a 29.71 race win for Sporting Dave, a time bettered by Droopys Trapper in heat 3 (29.60). Three Irish winners then impressed; Clonbrien Prince eased to victory in heat 5 (29.70) before Lemon Shane recorded 29.59 in heat 6 and Droopys Davy recorded 29.46. It was not until heat 15 that Droopys Expert appeared and he survived a scare when qualifying in third place after suffering in an incident packed race. The final heat of the night was arguably the best as Graham Holland's Wolfe defeated Dorotas Wildcat by 1½ lengths, with the benefit of being drawn inside the defending champion in a time of 29.54.[5] The second batch of first round heats started with the shock defeat of Droopys Verve behind Desperado Dan but the black dog still progressed. Verve's kennelmate Droopys Nadal then impressed by setting a best time of 29.32, a time that was beaten by Queen Beyonce (29.27) one heat later. Irish hope Jaytee Taylor won heat 22 before Patrick Guilfoyle's Skywalker Logan broke the track record in heat 23 setting a new Nottingham record of 29.05. The brilliant King Turbo won his heat as did major contenders Ballyanne Sim (the Irish Derby champion), Boylesports Xtra and Lenson Blinder. Despite many troubled heats (caused by the large amount of greyhounds seeded rails) all of the major contenders made it through to round two and the trophy looked destined for an Irish victory.[6]
The second round started on 31 May with 8 heats; Magical Bale bounced back to winning ways in a very fast 29.30 comprehensively beating Ballyanne Sim. Second wins were sealed for Liberty Hawk, Clonbrien Prince who recorded the second fastest time of 29.42 for the first night of the second round, Desperado Dan, Lemon Shane and Queen Beyonce but Lenson Blinder and Boylesports Xtra both crashed out. Scottish Derby Champ Braveheart Bobby and King Sheeran completed the night's winners. The following night the big guns Dorotas Wildcat, Skywalker Logan and Droopys Expert all sealed wins but Wolfe sadly suffered a serious injury that left Roxholme Jim to win by over ten lengths. Remarkably Droopys Trapper and Jaytee Taylor became the ninth and tenth greyhounds to remain unbeaten.[7]
