It has been 57 years since a Yorkshire-based trainer last won the Greyhound Derby. Those involved in the sport in the county will be hoping that comes to an end in 2024, especially now the race is the most lucrative in the competition’s history.
Entries will be made over the next few months ahead of the 2024 Greyhound Derby beginning in May. The leading Yorkshire trainers must decide before that stage which of their greyhounds are good enough to enter the race.
Ireland Have Dominated the Competition
It is not just Yorkshire trainers that have struggled to win the Greyhound Derby, but all British trainers have had to sit back and watch Irish trainers lift the trophy. Four of the last five renewals have been won by Irish-based greyhounds.
The greyhounds racing betting suggests Ireland’s record could continue again this year. De Lahdedah is at the top end of the betting at 20/1 to give Irish trainer Liam Dowling a first victory in the competition.
Another trainer greyhound fans will be keeping an eye out for in the list of entries is Graham Holland. He has won the last two renewals of the final with Romeo Magico and Gaytime Nemo respectively. Only one trainer in history has won the race in three consecutive years and that was Nick Savva between 2005 and 2007.
Jim Hookway The Last Yorkshire Trainer to Prevail
Sheffield-based trainer Jim Hookway was the last Yorkshireman to win the Greyhound Derby. The two-time Greyhound Trainer of the Year achieved that feat in 1967 with Tric Trac and he also had the runner-up, Spectre II.
Hookway’s duo of greyhounds beat some strong challengers from Ireland, including The Grand Silver. The pair got off to an excellent start to the race and they were left to battle for the first prize in the home straight at the London venue.
The multiple Champion Greyhound Trainer, who was based at Owlerton in Sheffield, also won the Scottish Greyhound Derby and Cesarewitch. However, his 1-2 in the 1967 Greyhound Derby Final was the highlight of his career and it remains one of the greatest achievements in the sport by any trainer.
Leading Yorkshire Trainers Today
Barrie Draper is one of the leading Yorkshire trainers who will be bidding to follow in Hookway’s footsteps this year. He leads the standings at Owlerton this year with the most winners at the Sheffield track.
Draper is a Category Three winner, and he reached the quarter-finals in 2023 with Distant Podge. He will be hoping one of his kennel stars can go two steps further this year and book their place in the final.
Lisa Stephenson is another trainer who has made an excellent start to the new year at Owlerton. She had two entries in last year’s competition in Jumeirah Jimmy and Sandwood Buster. Given how much stronger her kennel is now, she will be expected to be represented by more runners this time around.
The 2024 Greyhound Derby Final is set to take place on Saturday, 29th June at Towcester Racecourse. The winner will scoop a first prize of £175,000.
