Dunstall Park confirms Scurry to return to Cat One status
The Arena Racing Company Scurry Gold Cup will return to Category One status this year, Dunstall Park's racing manager Martin Seal has confirmed.
Scurry returns to Cat One status
Dunstall Park has confirmed that this year's Arena Racing Company Scurry Gold Cup will return to its original Category One status this year.
The traditional sprinter's Classic has as rich a history as any big-race in the sport but has been a Category Two for a number of years.
However, Dunstall Park racing manager Martin Seal is delighted to see the race back to its original status when it is staged once again at greyhound racing's newest venue at Wolverhampton Racecourse in October.
"It's great to have the Scurry back as a Category One," he said.
"It was almost a standalone sprint competition for many years, even though it was originally a short four-bend contest at places like Catford and before then Slough.
"But for many years it's been a two-bend sprint now and we were delighted to run it at Perry Barr and then for the first time here at Dunstall Park last year shortly after the track opened. Shadow Storm was a brilliant first Dunstall winner of the Scurry.
"We introduced the Dunstall Dash earlier this year which ran alongside the Laurels, also over 270m. I just felt in terms of the Calendar there was a place for another substantial sprint event. That was a Cat Two, won by another superb sprinter in Good Acclaim, and I said at the time that we hoped those who entered for the Dash would be back for the Scurry.
"Now we can say it's a Cat One with a first prize of £12,500 and will run side by side with the Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks."
Until this year, the Arena Racing Company Silver Salver was the sole Category One sprint event in the GBGB Calendar.
Saturday sees the start of a busy time for Dunstall Park with heats of the BGBF British Bred Puppies over 480, another Category One event, which will run alongside the Arc Stayers over 660, a Category Two. The track will stage the finals of both events on Saturday, July 18.
Six days later on Friday, July 24, it hosts a special centenary gala meeting with six races each worth £1926 - reflecting the start of greyhound racing under rules in the UK in 1926.
