The Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) is today announcing the panel that will decide the venue for the 2021 English Greyhound Derby.  

Three stadia – Central Park, Nottingham and Towcester – have submitted expressions of interest in staging the annual event and are now required to submit detailed proposals by 28th December. The panel’s role will be to judge the suitability of these bids, with the successful stadium expected to be announced on 31st December.

The Derby panel will comprise:

  • John Coleman, GBGB Owners’ Representative;
  • Kevin Hutton, Professional Trainer (in lieu of Trainers’ Representative Peter Harnden, who will not be involved due to his attachment to Nottingham Stadium);
  • Steve Fluin, Head of the Champagne Club Syndicate;
  • Mark Moisley, GBGB Commercial Director;
  • Peter Cadman, Chair of the Greyhound Regulatory Board.

GBGB Quality Manager Amanda Duplock and Senior Stipendiary Steward Paul Illingworth will also be in attendance during the panel’s meeting to advise on regulatory matters and open race planning.

Criteria used to assess the bids will include: ease of access for trainers, owners and spectators; crowd capacity; experience for owners; financial guarantees and sponsorship partners. Stadia have also been asked to submit proposed dates and levels of prize money as part of their proposals.

GBGB Commercial Director Mark Moisley, said:

“As the pinnacle of the greyhound racing calendar, we are very much looking forward to seeing the detailed Derby submissions put forward by stadia in just under two weeks’ time. Following what was a different, but still very special, occasion this year due to the Covid-19 restrictions, we remain hopeful that the 2021 event will be able to run in near-normal circumstances now that a vaccine roll-out is underway nationwide. What is clear, however, is that the Derby represents the best and brightest talent from across our industry and we are confident that whichever stadium is chosen will once again do justice to the event on behalf of all our trainers, owners and fans everywhere.”