BAGS ANNOUNCE REMAINING SKY DATES IN 2017

There is plenty in store for greyhound fans in the second half of 2017 after Bookmakers’ Afternoon Greyhound Services (BAGS) today announced their Sky Sports schedule.

BAGS, as programme commissioners, continue to work closely with SIS, Sky Sports, the GBGB and sponsors to produce the best possible coverage.

July could not start any better with the Star Sports Greyhound Derby Final coming live from Towcester on Saturday 1^st. The competition looks to have everything this year, including a new sponsor.

The William Hill Festival of Racing at Sunderland takes place on Wednesday 19^th and is likely to attract some big name entries, with Bubbly Bluebird’s win in the final of the Puppy Plate at this meeting last year making the sport sit up and take note.

The cameras then head back down to Nottingham for the final of the Betfred Select Stakes on Wednesday 26^th.

The Coral Sussex Cup kicks August off with this £10,000 to-the-winner decider over 515m reaching its conclusion on Thursday 3rd. And you can guarantee a bumper entry for this year’s Ladbrokes Gold Cup at Monmore, the final of which takes place on Thursday 17^th. Following last year’s successful joint sponsorship of the Peterborough Puppy Derby, William Hill are throwing their weight behind the Peterborough Derby proper this year, and you can watch the final live on Sky Sports and in betting shops in the UK and Ireland on Wednesday 23^rd. The decider of the Coral Champion Stakes brings the curtain down on August on Wednesday 30^th.

The Betfred Steel City Cup, referred to by some as the Derby of the North, is first up in September with the decider staged on Tuesday 5^th, then it’s all about the stars of the staying scene when the cameras move to Doncaster on Wednesday 13th for the final of the Yorkshire St Leger, won last year by the gutsy Rubys Rascal.

Clondoty Alex ended a run of bad luck when winning last year’s East Anglian Derby at Yarmouth. This year’s renewal of this £15,000 to-the-winner event on Thursday 21st could again see seven times champion trainer Mark Wallis play a strong hand at the finish. The Final of the Ladbrokes Gold Collar takes central stage at Crayford on Tuesday 26^th, and will also feature the finals of the Guys and Dolls and Kent Cesarewitch.

Stars of the hurdling ranks take centre stage at Sittingbourne with the final of the Grand National on Tuesday October 3^rd, alongside the final of the Kent Derby. There are two more live-on-Sky fixtures in October, the William Hill All England Cup at Newcastle on Thursday 19th, before the spotlight focuses on the best of British with the final of the British Breeders’ Stakes from Nottingham on Tuesday 24th.

Just when you thought this year’s coverage couldn’t get any better, November promises to be a quality month of action and offers something for everyone in every division. William Hill continue their sponsorship of the St Leger. And following the closure of Wimbledon, this historic six-bend race now takes root at Perry Barr with the decider takes place on Wednesday 8^th.

In the past the final of the Puppy Derby has featured as a double header with the St Leger but in a new move this showcase race for youngsters will now go as a standalone event at Towcester with the final on Wednesday 15^th.

The Betfred Eclipse always attracts a solid entry and this year’s renewal should be no different, with the final taking place on Tuesday 21^st.

Towcester will again welcome the titans of the marathon scene in November with the TV Trophy reaching its conclusion on Wednesday 29th, won last year by Diane Henry’s Borna Mindy.

The Coral Essex Vase reaches its conclusion at Romford on Wednesday, December 7th and the Oaks/Laurels finals night takes place at Belle Vue on Wednesday 13^th.

“The coverage that is still to come is the best we’ve had,” said Scott Harvey, race programme controller for BAGS. “The final of the Greyhound Derby from Towcester, the return of the Peterborough Derby and William Hill St Leger from its new home at Perry Barr are just a few of the highlights.”

“It is vital that we keep this, the sport’s shop window, wide open for all to see, and thanks to the continued support of bookmakers for allowing this to happen. Everyone dreams of seeing their dog run on Sky Sports. It doesn’t get any bigger and these competitions present owners and trainers with their best chance of a spot in the limelight.”

BAGS chairman Dominic Ford added: “We are delighted that our partnership with Sky continues to deliver top class Greyhound Racing into people’s living rooms.”