👀 GENERAL NEWS in 2022 👀

[SALFORD GIRL]

Smyth quits as Entain director of stadia

BY JONATHAN KAY OF THE RACING POST


IAN SMYTH, director of stadia at Entain, is to vacate the role at the end of October when he will also leave the company.

A statement said: "Entain today announce that Ian Smyth is moving on from his role as director of stadia and leaves the business on October 31 after 27 years with the company.

"The process to replace Ian is currently progressing and an announcement on his successor will be made in due course."

Smyth will also step down at the Racecourse Promoters' Association having already left his role as a GBGB director earlier this year.

He was appointed to the new role as director of stadia in 2018 at a time when Romford was in a state of flux, with the subsequently-demolished main stand out of use and temporarily facilities in use.

He was responsible among other things for revamping and improving Entain's open-race schedule and introduced the company's Track Championship, won for the first two years by Hove.

It is understood personal reasons are behind his decision to leave.

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The Greyhound is a noble, loyal, and loving companion.

Let one race into your life....

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OCTOBER 2022

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💌 Just In Case Your Waiting For Any Important Mail! 💌

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Lifford has finally been granted its GRI licence to re-open as a greyhound track, after more than a year in legal delays.

Shareholder and spokesman Cathal Magee – whose father James was granted the first Bord na gCon licence in in 1959 – said: “This has been a long and complicated process and follows a considerable period during which Greyhound Racing Ireland carried out its due checks and processes, as is required by law.

“Thankfully we are at the end of that long journey and now have our licence, as issued by GRI’s Interim CEO John Tuohey. We would like to thank John and his team for getting this over the line and we now look forward to the appointment of stewards and managers.

“We would also like to thank the local greyhound community for keeping patience with us throughout the last year. We have chosen not to attempt to launch the new venture coming into the winter months but with the public trials going well and the track already in perfect condition, this licence means that we can guarantee all prospective dog owners that we will open on the first weekend in April 2023.”

Jamie Hart, Racing Director at the UK Tote, was enthused by the announcement. He said: “The UK Tote Group are excited to support Lifford and RCE in this exciting development in greyhound racing and betting. The market is crying out for a lower margin, highly liquid alternative to the current greyhound betting offer across UK and Ireland, and Lifford are leading the charge to provide it.”

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2023 ENGLISH DERBY, OAKS AND ST LEGER DATES ANNOUNCED



The GBGB Open Race Planning Committee is pleased to announce that it has approved dates for three major events in the 2023 open race calendar.



Following confirmation of the schedule for the 2023 English Greyhound Derby, the GBGB has now received and approved details for the St Leger and the English Oaks. The dates and sponsors for the championship events have been confirmed as follows:

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Star Sports & TRC English Greyhound Derby, Towcester, 500m

Commences: 1st Round – Thursday/Friday/Saturday 18th/19th/20th May

2nd Round – Friday/Saturday 26th/27th May

3rd Round – Saturday June 3rd

Quarter-finals – Saturday June 10th

Semi-finals – Saturday June 17th

Final – Saturday June 24th

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Premier Greyhound Racing St Leger, Perry Barr, 710m

Heats: Saturday 9th September

Semi-finals: Saturday 16th September

Final: Saturday 23rd September

♦♦♦

Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks, Perry Barr, 480m

Commences: 1st round – Saturday 7th October

2nd round – Saturday 14th October

Semi-finals – Saturday 21st October

Final – Saturday 28th October

GBGB Racing Operations Executive Scott Harvey said:

“The Open Race Planning Committee agreed that the dates for the English Derby, St Leger and Oaks should be set as soon as possible to allow owners and trainers to plan for these cornerstone events and the racing year ahead. This will also assist tracks and the Committee with scheduling, using these competitions as the sport’s foundations in 2023.”

Towcester Racecourse Managing Director Kevin Boothby said: “We are excited once again to stage the world’s most premier event, namely the English Greyhound Derby. We will continue to strive to make it a festival of racing culminating in a Finals night that has grown year on year and 2023 will be no exception.”

Star Sports’ owner Ben Keith said: “We are delighted to be the headline sponsors for the English Greyhound Derby for the 7th consecutive year. It is without doubt the greatest event in our sporting calendar. Myself and all of us at Star Sports feel honoured to be involved in this historic competition and we are very much looking forward to seeing what 2023 brings.”

Rachel Corden, Greyhound Operations Director for ARC, said: “It is great to have the dates confirmed early so owners and trainers can plan. We are delighted that the Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks and Premier Greyhound Racing St Leger will be held on Saturday evenings for 2023, which should make them accessible to all.”

Harvey further commented: “Towcester and ARC have again shown their commitment to the open race calendar. The switch to a Saturday format for both the finals of the Oaks and St Leger at Perry Barr is hugely welcomed and will allow more people to come racing and enjoy these Classic races up close.”

GBGB are now asking all tracks to submit details for ‘established’ and ‘new’ events. These will then be announced once they have been organised into a cohesive schedule. Any new events for 2023, will be incorporated into the schedule wherever possible and the GBGB will aim to publish a calendar for the racing year by mid-November.

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TAKEN FROM THE RACING POST
FRIDAY 7-10-22

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ALTERATIONS ON THE ROMFORD RACE CARD
THIS EVENING {Fri 7-10-22}

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TAKEN FROM THE RACING POST
SATURDAY 8-10-22

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