2004 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year

2004 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
Solid Money (trap 3) and Black Pear (trap 4) during the Cesarewitch heats

The 2004 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 79th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom[1] and the 78th year of greyhound racing in Ireland.[2]

Summary

Irish racing was experiencing promising growth with increased prize money for competitions including the richest ever prize for a marathon event when the Corn Cuchulainn offered €50,000 for the winner at Harold's Cross.[3]

The situation in Britain was not as simple after Richard Caborn, the Minister for Sport announced that it had been agreed that the bookmakers levy fund would increase to 0.5% in 2004, 0.55% in 2005 and 0.6% in 2006 and therefore doubling the sports income to £16 million within the three years.[4] However the statement was incorrect because a 0.1% increase after three years would mean only a one sixth increase (16.6%).[4] The promise turned out to be false because the levy fund actually decreased significantly over the next five years.[5]

Droopys Scholes won the 2004 English Greyhound Derby[6] and Like A Shot won the 2004 Irish Greyhound Derby.[7] Charlie Lister won the Greyhound Trainer of the Year and Derby finalist, Arc, East Anglian Derby and Oxfordshire Gold Cup winner Fire Height Dan won the Greyhound of the Year.[4]

Tracks

Coventry opened under new management after an 18-year absence.[4]

Competitions

English Derby champion Farloe Verdict won the Scottish Greyhound Derby setting a new track record in the final. Brian Clemenson claimed his third successive Trainers Championship at Coventry. A brindle bitch called Roxholme Girl won the St Leger and the Gold Collar, the latter in a new track record time at the competition's new home of Belle Vue Stadium.[4]

News

Trainer Tommy Foster retired from Wimbledon Stadium to concentrate on a small open race kennel and his son Jason joined Oxford Stadium.[4]

Roll of honour

Major Winners
Award Name of Winner
2004 English Greyhound Derby Droopys Scholes
2004 Irish Greyhound Derby Like A Shot
Greyhound Trainer of the Year Charlie Lister
Greyhound of the Year Fire Height Dan
Irish Dog and Bitch of the Year Premier Fantasy / Legal Moment

Principal UK finals

Principal Irish finals

References

  1. ^ "Greyhound Racing". South Gloucestershire Gazette. 24 July 1926. Retrieved 9 March 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  2. ^ "Belfast's New Sport". Northern Whig. 19 April 1927. Retrieved 9 March 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  3. ^ a b "Corn Cuchulainn Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Hobbs, Jonathan (2004). Greyhound Annual 2005. Raceform. ISBN 1-904317-58-8.
  5. ^ "INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF THE GREYHOUND INDUSTRY IN GREAT BRITAIN" (PDF). Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 June 2017. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  6. ^ "2004 English Derby final". Greyhound Data.
  7. ^ "Irish Derby Final". Greyhound Data.
  8. ^ "Easter Cup Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
  9. ^ "Produce Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
  10. ^ "600 Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
  11. ^ "St Leger Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
  12. ^ "Oaks Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
  13. ^ "Champion Stakes Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
  14. ^ "Puppy Derby Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
  15. ^ "Laurels Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
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