Greyhound Racing: Big races to look forward to in February

Like most sporting calendars around the end of the year, the festive period was an action-packed time for greyhound racing. There were major meetings literally up and down the country, with Brighton & Hove on the south coast hosting The Olympic, Towcester in the Midlands holding the Puppy Derby and Newcastle presenting the All England Cup — which will be changed to the North East Derby and increased to a huge £20,000-winning prize purse in the upcoming 2022 season. 

With the turn of the new year, now is the perfect time for the top owners and trainers to reflect back on 2021. However, they can’t rest on their laurels and ponder for too long as the Category One schedule gets back underway at the end of this month — starting with the £10,000 Essex Vase at Romford on January 28^th before The Blue Ribband final, worth £7,500, takes place at Towcester two days later. 

They get the season off to a great start and set the tone nicely for a very busy year. So, without further ado, let’s take a look at some of the big races to look forward to in February. Read on to find out more! 

Northern Puppy Derby – Newcastle

Taking place at Newcastle on February 16^th this year, more than a month earlier than it was pencilled into the calendar last season, the Northern Puppy Derby is the third Category One race of 2022. Inaugurated in 1994, the race was initially contested over 450 metres at Sunderland Stadium. However, in 2010 it was moved to Newcastle and extended by 30m. There was no renewal of the £6,500 Northern Puppy Derby in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, but Jaguar Macie made up for lost time last year as the favourite ensured there were no upsets in the Betdaq greyhounds markets.  

The Golden Jacket – Crayford

Sticking to its usual spot on the third Saturday of February, the Golden Jacket is due to take place at Crayford on the 19^th. First held at north London’s Harringay Stadium in 1975, like many races, the Golden Jacket has had its fair share of homes over the years — switching from Harringay to Hall Green and then moving to Monmore Green before finding a place at Crayford. Brighton & Hove trainers have enjoyed a wealth of success in south east London over the years, and that was no different last year as Punk Rock Mutley banked the £17,500 prize purse for Stuart Maplesden from 33/1 — making him the longest-priced winner in Golden Jacket history. 

Winter Derby – Monmore Green

Often held at Monmore Green on the same night as the Midland Puppy Derby final, the Category One Winter Derby won’t be playing second fiddle to the puppy race this year as it will take place at the Wolverhampton track on February 26^th — around three weeks prior to this year’s Midland Puppy Derby finale. The fantastic Signet Ace pocketed the £10,000 prize purse for Kevin Hutton last year. He wrapped up the season with another top-level victory in the Eclipse last month — helping Hutton secure third in the Trainer of the Year Championship. 

Northamptonshire Sprint – Towcester

The final Category One of the month sees racing return to Towcester, the home of the English Greyhound Derby, for the Northamptonshire Sprint. Moved to April last year due to a clash with the Golden Sprint at Romford, Bockos Jon Jo won the £5,000 top prize for Patrick Janssens as he stormed home a length and a half clear of Mr Roo in the 275m race. With the speed of these sprinters, blink and you’ll miss it — that’s for sure!