Bonus on offer from ARC for the PGR Oaks winner

£5k bonus confirmed for Oaks winner

Arena Racing Company has announced a £5,000 prize money bonus for this year’s Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks for the winner should it win any pre-competition trial stakes. 

The UK’s most prestigious event open exclusively to bitches will be held at Dunstall Park Greyhound Stadium in Wolverhampton for the first time this year, as part of the venue’s highly anticipated launch.

First held in 1927 at White City Stadium – host venue of the 1908 Olympic Games – the Oaks carries a prize fund of £20,000 for winning connections with this year’s final scheduled for Friday, October 24. 

To celebrate the competition’s relocation to Dunstall Park, an additional £5,000 will be won by winning connections should this year’s champion be successful in any pre-competition trial stakes organised by the track. 

It represents a further boost to this year’s Oaks which is set to draw its biggest crowd in recent times after Arena Racing Company announced all racegoers can enjoy the night for free by booking their tickets in advance. 

More than 1,500 people have already claimed their free ticket. 

Chris Black, General Manager at Dunstall Park Greyhound Stadium, said: “A lot of focus and anticipation has been placed on this year’s Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks as it coincides with the launch of Dunstall Park. 

“We want to make this year’s competition memorable for racegoers and attract the highest quality line-up. 

“Our £5,000 bonus will help achieve this and add some extra excitement to one of UK greyhound racing’s great occasions. Trial stakes begin later this month, so we encourage trainers and connections of greyhounds entering the competition to take advantage of this one-off opportunity.” 

Racegoers on the night will also be able to get up close and personal to 2024 Oaks champion Druids Say Go, who recently retired from racing. 

The dual Category One champion now lives in Bournville, Birmingham, with Mike Gould and his wife Rachel, daughter Hayley and two other retired greyhounds, Lexie and Stanley. Mike owned a share in Druids Say Go through the Value Racing Club and will showcase his star hound on the night. 

He said: “Every greyhound I’ve owned has been special – including Sally, aka Druids Say Go. 

“She brought me just as much enjoyment as the rest who either come home to live with me in retirement, or with a close friend so we can keep in touch. 

“She’s taken to her new life unbelievably well and I can’t wait for her to meet racegoers on finals night. It will be a special occasion.”

To book your ticket to this year’s Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks final on Friday, October 24, at Dunstall Park Greyhound Stadium, visit www.dunstallpark-greyhounds.co.uk. 

The track will hold its first customer fixture on Friday, September 19, where tickets have been slashed to £5.