Towcester fighting to host the English Puppy Derby in 2026

Plans still working towards an English Puppy Derby in 2026

Towcester are reportedly keen to stage an English Puppy Derby in 2026 despite the event being missed from the schedule this year - and not on the list of Category One and Two events for next year released by the GBGB on Friday.

Seemingly a victim of the transfer of ownership from Kevin Boothby to Mike Davis’s company Orchestrate Ltd. last month - the event was originally slated to start on November 16, a week before the switch of promoter - the English Puppy Derby is still important to Towcester, as was the KAB Maiden Derby, which will switch to Oxford next year.

Towcester’s chief executive Richard Thomas said: “We were disappointed that the GBGB failed to approve our full application for Category One events at Towcester in 2026.

“While delighted to have been awarded the Star Sports & Orchestrate English Greyhound Derby for 2026 and events such as the Juvenile Classic and the 80th BGBF Produce Stakes, which will be staged at Towcester for the first time next year, the omission of the Maiden Derby and English Puppy Derby is disappointing.

“The Maiden Derby was introduced to Henlow and then Towcester by Kevin (Boothby) and has been one of the track’s success stories given it has proven the perfect way to introduce new dogs to Towcester with a view to the Greyhound Derby. It’s been a natural stepping stone - it certainly was for Thorn Falcon in 2021!

“It’s now lost the Derby connection and I know the racing staff have spoken to connections of some Irish-trained runners and trainers with runners coming across to UK trainers early next year who are now having to rethink their plans. That seems a shame if we’re all as a sport trying to boost the appeal and the profile of the Derby.

“And, like the Maiden Derby, the English Puppy Derby started at Henlow but is now very much established at Towcester - again making sense given the Derby connection.

“The timing of the change of ownership was unfortunate here given it was right across where the English Puppy Derby was scheduled and there was an issue with trainers getting trials, but we want it back in 2026. It has a great history and is important to us.

“We’ve made contact with the GBGB and expressed our disappointment and I’ve asked James (Chalkley, Towcester’s head of racing) and Scott (Harvey, Towcester’s head of commercial) to pick up the conversation with the Board this week.

“We’ve already seen tweaks to the 2026 schedule made where other tracks are concerned and hopefully we can get the changes we’ve asked for implemented.”