New £18k event a boost for British breeders

BRITISH breeding has received a huge boost with the GBGB confirming a new Category One competition with a total prize fund of £18,000 to be run at Nottingham this autumn.

The British Breeders’ Stakes effectively replaces the Nottingham Produce Stakes which was run for the final time last year over the same 500m course and distance as the new event.

It will be free to enter.

The Produce Stakes, which had been run at a number of venues since its inception at Harringay in 1983, was a victim of the declining number of British-bred litters with entry fees dwindling to the extent that it was no longer financially viable for the event to continue. In addition, there was much administration work – which fell on the host venue – with various entry stages.

However, a proposal was made to the British Greyhound Racing Fund by the Greyhound Breeders’ Forum about a substitute competition, with Breeders’ Forum honorary secretary Bob Gilling explaining: “While the number of litters bred has reduced, the quality of the British breeding is better than ever as is evident in the number of British-breds reaching Category One finals in the last few years."