English Derby, Oaks and St Leger Dates Announced   

The GBGB Open Race Planning Committee is pleased to announce that it has approved dates for three major events in the 2023 open race calendar.   

Following confirmation of the schedule for the 2023 English Greyhound Derby, the GBGB has now received and approved details for the St Leger and the English Oaks. The dates and sponsors for the championship events have been confirmed as follows:

 

Star Sports & TRC English Greyhound Derby, Towcester, 500m 

Commences: 1st Round – Thursday/Friday/Saturday 18^th/19^th/20^th May 

2nd Round – Friday/Saturday 26^th/27^th May 

3rd Round – Saturday June 3rd 

Quarter-finals – Saturday June 10th 

Semi-finals – Saturday June 17th 

Final – Saturday June 24th 

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Premier Greyhound Racing St Leger, Perry Barr, 710m  

Heats: Saturday 9th September  

Semi-finals: Saturday 16th September  

Final: Saturday 23rd September  

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Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks, Perry Barr, 480m 

Commences: 1^st round – Saturday 7^th October  

2^nd round – Saturday 14^th October  

Semi-finals – Saturday 21^st October 

Final – Saturday 28^th October 

 

GBGB Racing Operations Executive Scott Harvey said:  

“The Open Race Planning Committee agreed that the dates for the English Derby, St Leger and Oaks should be set as soon as possible to allow owners and trainers to plan for these cornerstone events and the racing year ahead. This will also assist tracks and the Committee with scheduling, using these competitions as the sport’s foundations in 2023.”

Towcester Racecourse Managing Director Kevin Boothby said: “We are excited once again to stage the world’s most premier event, namely the English Greyhound Derby.  We will continue to strive to make it a festival of racing culminating in a Finals night that has grown year on year and 2023 will be no exception.” 

Star Sports’ owner Ben Keith said: “We are delighted to be the headline sponsors for the English Greyhound Derby for the 7^th consecutive year. It is without doubt the greatest event in our sporting calendar. Myself and all of us at Star Sports feel honoured to be involved in this historic competition and we are very much looking forward to seeing what 2023 brings.” 

Rachel Corden, Greyhound Operations Director for ARC, said: “It is great to have the dates confirmed early so owners and trainers can plan. We are delighted that the Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks and Premier Greyhound Racing St Leger will be held on Saturday evenings for 2023, which should make them accessible to all.” 

Harvey further commented: “Towcester and ARC have again shown their commitment to the open race calendar. The switch to a Saturday format for both the finals of the Oaks and St Leger at Perry Barr is hugely welcomed and will allow more people to come racing and enjoy these Classic races up close.”

GBGB are now asking all tracks to submit details for ‘established’ and ‘new’ events. These will then be announced once they have been organised into a cohesive schedule. Any new events for 2023, will be incorporated into the schedule wherever possible and the GBGB will aim to publish a calendar for the racing year by mid-November.