Star Sports/TRC English Derby first prize confirmed as £175,000
THE first prize for the 2025 Star Sports/TRC English Derby has been confirmed as remaining at £175,000 with the final on Saturday 14th June. The competition can be seen in its entirety on sisracing.tv
There had been suggestions that the huge sum had proved unviable for promoter Kevin Boothby but the figure was confirmed yesterday in a press release announcing the newly-branded English Derby Festival.
The world’s greatest greyhound race takes place over 500m at the Northamptonshire venue starting in May and a bumper entry is expected as owners and trainers set their sights on chasing canine immortality in the famous Classic, first run at White City, London, in 1927, and won last year for Ireland by Liam Dowling’s De Lahdedah.
Ticket details will shortly be announced for all nights of the festival including final night, where there will be a headline concert act performing before racing.
Trial stakes and entry details for the Star Sports/TRC English Greyhound Derby will shortly be advertised in the GBGB Calendar, while the undercards of all the track’s upcoming major competitions - the KAB Derby, Time Greyhound Nutrition TV Trophy and Juvenile Championship - will include 500m supporting contests.
The promotion and marketing of the world’s greatest greyhound race will be bigger than ever with big-race sponsors Star Sports and Towcester Racecourse pushing the event to more audiences through a widespread marketing campaign.
Ben Keith, owner of Star Sports, said: “This is fantastic news and we are delighted to be working closely with the good people at Towcester Racecourse.
“They share our passion for this great sport and Star Sports and myself are delighted to once again be involved - and hopefully driving further interest in the most famous greyhound race in the world. We love our greyhound racing here at Star Sports.”
Kevin Boothby of Towcester Racecourse added: “We are improving all of our facilities to once again make Towcester a world class venue that hosts world class racing. The Derby Festival will showcase the upgraded facilities and a fantastic entertainment experience.
“Our team have staged some fantastic English Greyhound Derbys over the years and this year promises to better than ever given the greyhounds already been touted as possible contenders - especially those set to travel over from Ireland.
“Myself and Ben have teamed up to spread the word still further and boost the promotion and marketing of the Derby, and maybe the sport in general, during this time.
“There is plenty more to announce over the coming weeks to demonstrate that greyhound racing is on the up so watch this space.”