Laurels (English greyhound race)

Laurels
Original Classic race
1966 champion Super Fame
LocationPerry Barr Stadium
Inaugurated1930
SponsorArena Racing Company
Race information
Distance480 metres
SurfaceSand
Purse£12,500 (winner)

The Laurels is an original classic greyhound competition held at Perry Barr Stadium.[1] It was run at Wimbledon Stadium from 1930 until 1997. It then moved to Belle Vue Stadium in 1998 and remained there until 2017 when it switched to Newcastle Stadium. After two years at Newcastle and a cancellation in 2020 due to COVID-19 it switched to Perry Barr in 2021.[2][3]

competition lost its Category 1 status but was still regarded as one of the most valuable prizes during the racing year. The Arena Racing Company gained the prestigious competition in 2017 from the GRA and it returned to Category 1 status in 2022.[4][5][6]

  1. ^ "Home". thedogs.co.uk.
  2. ^ Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File, pages 178-180. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-15-5.
  3. ^ Hobbs, Jonathan (2007). Greyhound Annual 2008, pages 137-139. Raceform. ISBN 978-1-905153-53-4.
  4. ^ "Laurels for Newcastle". Greyhound Star. 27 October 2017.
  5. ^ "Towcester reveal schedule & prize money". Greyhound Star. 8 November 2017.
  6. ^ "NEWCASTLE CONFIRM LAURELS". Greyhound Star. 12 November 2019.