Greyhound Racing Is Preparing for Its Centennial Celebration

by Roy Brindley, 28 January 2026

British greyhound racing is set to party as the sport celebrates its centenary year this summer.

Towcester Racecourse will stage the Greyhound Derby throughout May and into early June. © Steve Nash

Key Facts:

• Centennial celebrations are planned for greyhound racing this summer.
• A six-race replica 1926 card will take place on July 26 at the sport’s newest venue, Dunstall Park.
• 50 Category One competitions are on the calendar for the anniversary year.
• Wonder pup, Magical Luka, is the favourite for the biggest race of all, the showpiece Derby.

British Greyhound racing is preparing to celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2026. The sport’s first race was staged at Belle Vue Stadium in Manchester on July 24 1926, when a greyhound named Mistley led home his six rivals to score by eight lengths.

Deeply rooted in working‑class communities, greyhound racing thrived until High Street bookmakers were legalised in the UK on May 1, 1961. At its peak, there were 70–80 licensed tracks and hundreds more independent venues across the British Isles.

“The centenary year offers a chance not just to reflect on the past, but to look confidently to the future,” says greyhound racing’s governing body, the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB), which regulates the 19 stadiums still operating in the UK.

Promising events throughout the year to celebrate the milestone, the GBGB’s official website reports, “The sport will honour legends such as Mick The Miller, Ballyregan Bob, Scurlogue Champ and Westmead Hawk, while highlighting why greyhound racing continues to thrive in the 21st century.”

2026 Will Meet 2006 at Dunstall Park Birthday Bash

A major highlight will be a special commemorative dinner at Dunstall Park on the exact anniversary of the first race. The event will include a six‑race card replicating the original Belle Vue meeting, complete with a 1920s theme to mark the early days of the sport.

“Held at our newest and most modern venue, the gala will also spotlight the sport’s future – showcasing state‑of‑the‑art spectator facilities, exceptional kennel and veterinary areas, and advanced track‑maintenance standards,” says the GBGB.

To help mark the centenary, GBGB will also host an online exhibition of historic greyhound memorabilia and produce a video celebrating 100 years of racing. In December, the GBGB’s social media channels highlighted key moments and memories from its racks. It promises to “share much more throughout 2026.”

It’s Greyhound Racing’s Award Season

The regulator’s next major date will be the annual GBGB Awards on March 5, when 2025’s Sprinter, Standard Distance, Stayer, Marathon, British Bred, and Newcomer of the Year winners – decided by an Awards Panel made up of representatives from across the industry – will be announced.

Other awards will go to the sport’s leading Owner, Trainer, Track and Kennel-Hand. There is also a brand‑new Track of the Year Award, where the key judging criteria will be spectator experience and recognising the increasing expectations of modern audiences.

Betting Is Open on June 6 Derby

On the track, 2026’s calendar boasts 50 Category One competitions and 27 Category Two races spread across a range of tracks, distances and categories, including seven events solely for British Bred greyhounds. The highlight is the Star Sports Greyhound Derby, which will conclude on June 6 at Towcester Racecourse.

The UK’s online betting sites currently make Magical Luka 14/1 favourite for the classic contest. The October 2023 puppy was on an unbeaten sequence of 11 races before tasting defeat in the semi-finals of the Romford Puppy Cup, at odds of 1/8, on his most recent outing.

Proper Heiress, a shoo-in for Greyhound of the Year honours following a host of Category One victories in 2025, follows in the betting at 18/1. Cheap Sandwiches, the 2025 Irish Greyhound Derby winner, is the third favourite priced on 20/1 odds.