2022 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 97th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and the 96th year of greyhound racing in Ireland.
Summary Suffolk Downs was granted a Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) licence in January 2022. 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 Westminster Hall debate was held on the 28 March following a petition presented by Welsh Labour MP Christina Rees for the abolition of greyhound racing. Rees stated that the petitioner wished to remain anonymous and raised welfare concerns, including in relation to Valley Greyhound Stadium, which is not affiliated with the GBGB, and Hope Rescue in Wales. The House resolved that it had considered the petition Following the debate, GBGB CEO Mark Bird welcomed what he described as political support for the sport and said the government had no intention of banning greyhound racing.
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 Dogs Trust jointly called for a phased ban on greyhound racing within five years. The GBGB criticised the proposal, describing it as based on inaccurate data and influenced by "animal rights extremists".
Roll of honour Major Winners Award Name of Winner2022 English Greyhound Derby Romeo Magico2022 Irish Greyhound Derby Born WarriorGreyhound Trainer of the Year Mark WallisUK Greyhound of the Year Coolavanny AuntyIrish Greyhound of the YearBorn Warrior
Premier Greyhound Racing Trainers Championship, Monmore (30 Apr) Pos Name of Trainer Points1st Mark Wallis 522ndPatrick Janssens453rd Kevin Hutton 424th Angela Harrison355th David Mullins 266th Ricky Holloway11
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
Premier Greyhound Racing Golden Jacket, Crayford (19 Feb, 714m, £20,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1st Bellmore Sally45/4f44.81James Fenwick2nd Droopys Senorita518/145.23Claude Gardiner3rd Warzone Tom 3 15/845.61Liz McNair4th Piercestown Dove 26/145.67Derek Knight5th Burgess Hannah 6 25/145.68Anthony Gifkins6th Antigua Lava 16/145.74Mark Wallis
Coral TV Trophy, Brighton (9 April, 955m, £15,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1st Space Jet 44/9f58.86Matt Dartnall2nd Blueberry Bullet 111/459.17Mark Wallis3rd Droopys Senorita 6 40/159.79Claude Gardiner4th Bockos Brandy 2 14/159.89Patrick Janssens5th Aayamza Royale 5 14/159.98Mark Wallis6thAntigua Lava 3 N/R Mark Wallis
Arena Racing Company Laurels, Perry Barr (28 Apr, 480m, £10,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1st Signet Denver111/428.14Kevin Hutton2nd Chelms Yes314/128.28John Mullins3rd Lautaro59/4f28.30Patrick Janssens4th Headford Flash69/128.64Kevin Hutton5th Aussie Captain29/228.65Patrick Janssens6thTrionas Travel45/228.95Ernest Skeech
Premier Greyhound Racing Regency, Brighton (30 Jul, 695m, £20,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1st Troy Suzieeq528/142.14David Mullins2nd Bombardier22/1jf42.19Mark Wallis3rd Callmesteve62/1jf42.24John Mullins4th Chelms Club47/242.50Jason Heath5th Baggios Champ13/142.52Frank Bryce6thRussian Sammy350/142.88David Elcock
Premier Greyhound Racing St Leger, Perry Barr (29 Sep, 710m, £20,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1stHavana Lover511/10f43.10Liz McNair2ndSavana Volcano64/143.18Diane Henry3rd Savana Ruinart33/143.20Diane Henry4thChelms Cub118/143.36Jason Heath5th Droopys Jungle411/143.62Matt Dartnall6thCochise26/143.72Richard Rees
Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks, Perry Barr (27 Oct, 480m, £20,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1st Slick Sakina511/8f27.85 (TR)Patrick Janssens2nd Bonjour Bullet420/128.21Belinda Green3rd Distant Emma 610/328.23Barrie Draper4th Westwell Emer19/128.59Kevin Hutton5th Global Prima39/128.79Patrick Janssens6thFabulous Azurra29/428.87Patrick Janssens
Ladbrokes Cesarewitch, Crayford (26 Nov, 874m, £10,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1st Savana Volcano 52/1f56.04Diane Henry2nd Beach Babe 614/156.44Tom Levers3rd Blueberry Bullet2 5/256.72Mark Wallis4th Savana Regera414/156.78Diane Henry5th Antiqua Lava15/256.84Mark Wallis6thKilshannig Marie36/156.96Julie Luckhurst
Principal Irish finals
Bresbet Easter Cup, Shelbourne (19 Mar, 550y, €25,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1st Susie Sapphire 11/3f29.48Owen McKenna2nd Beach Avenue 614/129.79Paul Hennessy3rd Priceless Jet 516/130.00Paul Hennessy4th Darbys Delight 433/130.21Neilus O'Connell5th Knight Tornado 29/130.27Graham Holland6th Romeo Magico 39/230.41Graham Holland
Con & Annie Kirby Memorial, Limerick (22 Apr, 525y, €80,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1stSwords Rex19/4f28.27Graham Holland2ndMagical Kuba611/228.58Patrick Guilfoyle3rdKildare47/228.69Peter Cronin4thBallinabola Ed55/228.72Pat Buckley5thDroopys Edison36/128.73Robert G. Gleeson6thScooby Prince214/128.87Jennifer O'Donnell
Larry O'Rourke National Produce, Clonmel (5 Jun, 525y, €17,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1st Gaston Pecas 1 6/128.36 Pat Buckley2nd Serene Tiger510/128.39 Michael J O'Donovan3rd Newinn Homer2 4/128.78 Graham Holland4thSunshine Dream 4 10/128.88 Brendan Maunsell5th Swords Rex 32/5f29.23 Graham Holland6th Radical Hero 6 8/129.72 Thomas O'Donovan
Sporting Press Oaks, Shelbourne Park (18 Jun, 525y, €25,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1st Raha Mofo33/128.14Martin 'Murt' Leahy2nd Scooby Duchess111/10f28.17Jennifer O'Donnell3rd Droopys Nextone53/128.28John A.Linehan4th Ballymac Art28/128.56Liam Dowling5th Ballymac Miranda420/128.58Kieran Lynch6th Tullovin Vita620/128.86James Wade
Dundalk International, Dundalk (12 Jul, 550y, €20,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1st Explosive Boy2-29.68Patrick Guilfoyle2nd Singalong Sally4-29.77Pat Buckley3rd Good Cody1-29.94Patrick Guilfoyle4th Raha Mofo6-30.05Martin 'Murt' Leahy5th Gaston Pecas3-30.17Pat Buckley6th Ballymac Fairone5-30.40Liam Dowling
Boylesports Champion Stakes, Shelbourne Park (30 Jul, 550y, €20,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1st One Time Only13/129.67Thomas O'Donovan2nd Twoinarow29/229.77Pat Kiely3rd Sentimental Lad69/4f29.83Eimear Heeney4th Droopys Nice One48/129.97Martin 'Murt' Leahy5th Beach Avenue312/130.04Paul Hennessy6thBockos Budsit53/130.25Graham Holland
Bar One Racing Irish Sprint Cup, Dundalk (15 Aug, 400y, €20,000) PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1st Hawkfield Ozark 3 -20.89Keeley McGee2nd Serene Ace 2 -21.05Michael J O'Donovan3rd Flashing Willow 6 -21.10Pat Buckley4th Runninta Shay 1 -21.22John A Linehan5th Westside Frank 4 -21.47Martin Lanney6th Manuone 5 -21.54Tony Maxwell
SIS Juvenile Derby, Shelbourne Park (22 Oct, 525y, €20,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1stClona Duke420/128.23Graham Holland2ndDroopys Got It211/10f28.58Ian Reilly3rdThree Canons314/128.75Patrick Norris4thBogger Hunter15/129.00Liam Peacock5thTrinity Junior59/229.07Peter Cronin6thAnother Holiday67/229.14Michael J O'Donovan
Irish Laurels, Cork (5 Nov, 525y, €30,000) PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1stGood Cody 2 5/128.20 Patrick Guilfoyle2ndBallymac Whispa 1 5/2 28.25 Liam Dowling3rd Swords Rex 69/4f 28.26 Graham Holland4th Serene Ace 3 7/228.37 Michael J O'Donovan5thDroopys Edison 4 7/1 28.47Robert Gleeson6thGalloping Sydney 5 16/1 28.93Graham Holland
Matchbook Irish St Leger, Limerick (18 Dec, 550y, €30,000)PosName of Greyhound Trap SP Time Trainer1stBobsleigh Dream 1 11/8f29.84 Pat Buckley2ndMustang Jet 6 6/1 29.89 Dolores Ruth3rdRomeo Magico 4 11/430.42 Graham Holland4thWi Can Dream 2 6/130.47Patrick Guilfoyle5thTrinity Junior 3 11/130.48 Peter Cronin6thAnnagh Bailey 58/1 30.58Rachel Wheeler
UK Category 1 & 2 competitions