• GBGB announce that there is a near 9% decline in the number of new registrations for the year at 7,392. It is the second lowest number recorded in 34 years. Meanwhile the Irish Coursing Club reports a fall of 4.1% in the number of litters born in 2018. The figure is 2,344.
  • The Friend of Belle Vue launch an on-line petition to save the stadium being turned into 243 dwellings.
  • RPGTV announce a £100K race sponsorship package for 2019. The main beneficiaries will be the Scottish and East Anglian Derbys and Select Stakes, the Steel City Cup at Sheffield and the St.Leger at Perry Barr which will boast a £15,000 first prize. The news is not so promising at Kinsley who are unable to raise a sponsor for the Gymcrack.
  • Nottingham announce that there will be no ban on greyhounds previously disqualified, but cleared for their first English Derby.
  • John Watson takes over the running of Doncaster from Yvonne Freeborn. Alex Hopkins is the latest recruit to the trainers strength.
  • GBGB announce that Betfred, William Hill, Skybet and Paddy Power Betfair have signed a voluntary arrangement to contribute to the BGRF. It is estimated that the net benefit will be in the region of £3m annually. Bet365 and Ladbroke Coral already contribute. The move comes just over a year after the appointment of GBGB MD Mark Bird. Meanwhile the BGRF announce that income from the previous year was down roughly £100K to £7.4m
  • Drumbo Park’s owners announce that the track is to close with immediate effect. It re-opens six months later.
  • Owner Gary Noble writes one of the most entertaining pieces seen on the site during the year – The Gamble http://greyhoundstar.co.uk/gary-noble-gamble/
  • A study on this website compares the percentage share of open races by way of race distances, between 1998 and 2018. It shows that the number of open races staged between 451m-600m has increased from 41% to 59%. http://greyhoundstar.co.uk/20-years-open-race-dumbing/
  • GBGB announce that the launch a 12 month trial of the Injury Recovery Scheme at Monmore.