When looking for a new sport to follow, greyhound racing might not be the first example that pops into your head, but if you want something that’s fast-paced, energetic and full of high-octane drama, it might just be the sport for you.
With horse racing taking most of the headlines, greyhound racing often gets left behind, but if you’ve ever experienced a night at the dog tracks, you’ll know just how entertaining the sport can be.
There are plenty of high-profile races that take place across the country and beyond every year, and these are the kinds of events that can make you fall in love with greyhound racing. These are the races that get the heart beating, and have every racing fanatic placing a Betdaq greyhound bet on the dog they think will emerge triumphant.
There are so many great races and meetings during the course of the year, but here we’ve put together a list of the very best, which you cannot afford to miss!
English Greyhound Derby
In terms of British greyhound racing, there is no event that comes close to the English Greyhound Derby. The Derby is a tournament which runs over the course of a number of weeks, whittling down the field until only a select few remain to contest the final.
This year’s English Greyhound Derby is already underway, with the final set to take place on July 10th. Back at the famous Towcester racetrack for 2021, it’s a competitive field of entries, with the likes of Native Maestro, Deerjet Sydney and Knocknaboul Syd listed among the favourites to lay claim to the crown next month.
East Anglian Derby
Heading over to Norfolk, the East Anglian Cup takes place at the famous Yarmouth Stadium each year. It is one of the most hotly anticipated races of the season, and every trainer’s dream is to land a winner there and get their hands on the East Anglian Cup. These days, the winner will also receive a fat cheque for a cool £15,000.
Trainer Charlie Lister is the man who boasts the most success in the East Anglian Derby, having trained the winner on 12 occasions.
Melbourne Cup
Outside of the UK, the Melbourne Cup is one of the biggest greyhound racing events in Australia, and indeed the whole world. Held in November each year, the Melbourne Cup is run at the famous Sandown Park, with entrants trying to get their hands on the eye-popping prize money on offer.
Last year’s winner was Hard Style Rico, who landed a maiden triumph for trainer Luckie Karabitsakos and a moment of greyhound racing glory.
Sandown Cup
Staying Down Under, the Sandown Cup is one of the most lucrative greyhound races in the world, and is also held at the famous Sandown Park. It takes three weeks of top-class racing to crown a victor, but the dogs and trainers who do get their hands on the first prize are propelled into fame, not to mention fortune, with around a quarter of a million Australian dollars on offer.
