Valley resurrecting Welsh Derby with backing from Star Sports
THE Welsh Greyhound Derby is to return to the racing schedule later this year with Star Sports agreeing to back the event at Valley Stadium.
The competition had a storied history under licensed rules beginning from inception at Welsh White City in Cardiff [1928 to 1937], then post-war switching to the old Arms Park in the city from 1945 to its closure in 1977 with the final seven runnings having Classic status.
The legendary Mick The Miller was the third Welsh Derby champion in 1930, while Trev's Perfection (1947), Mile Bush Pride (1959) and Patricias Hope (1972) all completed the then storied 'triple crown' of English, Scottish and Welsh Derby victories.
In more recent times before switching to GBGB racing three years ago, Valley maintained tradition by staging an independent Welsh Derby under the stewardship of the late Malcolm Tams with winners including Ice Hot in 2022 owned by darts star Gerwyn Price, a regular visitor to his local track.
The return of the Welsh Derby, which is set to be a Category Two event this year in late September and early October over the 460m trip due to the scarcity of available Category One slots, will be a major boost to a track currently operating with the probability of the sport being banned in Wales in the near future following a Senedd vote.
However, Kim Sanzone, Head of Greyhound Racing Operations for Star Sports, hopes the event will not prove a one-off with much uncertainty remaining over when and how any prohibition of greyhound in Wales will be implemented.
“If the ban is overturned for any reason, Star Sports would love to still be able to play a part in any future Derby held at Valley stadium," she said.
"It’s no secret that, as well as being the headline sponsor of the English Derby for the last decade, that Ben [Keith, Star Sports owner] had previously tried to get involved in both the Irish and Scottish Derbys so having the opportunity to be sponsor of the Welsh Derby is something that he is very excited about and I know he'd relish the chance to continue his sponsorship for years to come.”
