Blue Riband (greyhounds)
{{Short description|Greyhound racing competition}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox horseraces
| surface = Sand
| class = Category 1
| horse race = Blue Riband
| image = 150px
| caption = Dempsey Duke, winner in 1992
| location = Towcester Stadium
| inaugurated = 1981
| last run =
| race type =
| sponsor = Greyhound Racing UK
| website =
| distance = 500 metres
| track =
| qualification =
| weight =
| purse = £10,000 (winner)
| bonuses =
}}
The Blue Riband is a greyhound racing competition held annually at Towcester Stadium.
History
It was inaugurated in 1981 at Wembley Stadium as a replacement competition for the Wembley Spring Cup which ended in 1980.{{cite book|last=Genders|first=Roy|title=The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing|page =82|year=1981|publisher=Pelham Books Ltd|isbn=07207-1106-1}}{{cite book|last=Genders|first=Roy|title=NGRC book of Greyhound Racing|page =40|year=1990|publisher=Pelham Books Ltd|isbn=0-7207-1804-X}}
Following the end of the Wembley Greyhounds the race transferred to Greyhound Racing Association (GRA) sister track Hall Green Stadium in 1999.{{cite book|last=Hobbs|first=Jonathan|title=Greyhound Annual 2008|page =119|year=2007|publisher=Raceform|isbn=978-1-905153-53-4}} The race was discontinued by the GRA after the 2012 running despite being a category one race.
In 2021, the race returned under the promotion of Kevin Boothby at Towcester Greyhound Stadium and has retained a category 1 status since.{{cite web|url=https://greyhoundstar.co.uk/blue-riband-preview-full-form/ |title=Blue Riband preview and full form |date=8 January 2023 | publisher=Greyhound Star |access-date=30 March 2024}}
Venues & distances
- 1981–1998 (Wembley, 490 metres)
- 1999–2012 (Hall Green, 480 metres)
- 2021–2025 (Towcester, 500 metres)
Sponsors
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- 1988–1998 (Wendy Fair Markets)
- 1999–2009 (William Hill)
- 2010–2010 (Stan James bookmakers)
- 2011–2011 (Betfair)
- 2012–2012 (Ladbrokes)
- 2021–2021 (TRC Health & Hygiene)
- 2022–2022 (Premarket Pets)
- 2023–2024 (Stadium Bookmakers)
- 2025–2025 (Greyhound Racing UK)
{{div col end}}
Past winners
References
{{Reflist}}
{{UK & Irish greyhound competitions}}
Category:Greyhound racing competitions in the United Kingdom
Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1981
Category:Sports events at Wembley Stadium
Category:Sport in the London Borough of Brent
Category:Greyhound racing in London