# Blue Riband (greyhounds)

The Blue Riband is a greyhound racing competition held annually at Towcester Stadium.

## History

It was inaugurated in 1981 at Wembley Stadium as a replacement competition for the Wembley Spring Cup which ended in 1980.
Following the end of the Wembley Greyhounds the race transferred to Greyhound Racing Association (GRA) sister track Hall Green Stadium in 1999. The race was discontinued by the GRA after the 2012 running despite being a category one race.
In 2021, the race returned under the promotion of Kevin Boothby at Towcester Greyhound Stadium and has retained a category 1 status since.

## Venues & distances

* 1981–1998 (Wembley, 490 metres)
* 1999–2012 (Hall Green, 480 metres)
* 2021–2025 (Towcester, 500 metres)

## Sponsors

* 1988–1998 (Wendy Fair Markets)
* 1999–2009 (William Hill)
* 2010–2010 (Stan James bookmakers)
* 2011–2011 (Betfair)
* 2012–2012 (Ladbrokes)
* 2021–2021 (TRC Health & Hygiene)
* 2022–2022 (Premarket Pets)
* 2023–2024 (Stadium Bookmakers)
* 2025–2025 (Greyhound Racing UK)

## Past winners

| Year | Winner | Breeding | Trainer | Time | SP | Notes/ref |
| 1981 | Arfur Mo | Carhumore Speech - Monalee Roman | John Honeysett (Crayford) | 29.47 | 20/1 | |
| 1982 | Master Darby | Sole Aim - Aglish Pilgrim | Jerry Fisher (Reading) | 29.88 | 7/2 | |
| 1983 | Cross Times | Violet Hall - Full Circle | Jerry Fisher (Reading) | 30.01 | 7/2 | |
| 1984 | Living Trail | Ivy Hall Solo - Elimron | John Honeysett (Wembley) | 29.69 | 50/1 | |
| 1985 | Lulus Hero | Sail On II - Lulus Loner | Gunner Smith (Brighton) | 29.23 | 3/1 | |
| 1986 | Fearless Champ | Special Account - Sarahs Bunny | Geoff De Mulder (Oxford) | 29.04 | 8/11f | |
| 1987 | Sambuca | Pat Seamur - Lyons Flora | Gunner Smith (Brighton) | 29.08 | 16/1 | |
| 1988 | Pike Alert | Security Alert - PC Breda | Tom Foster (Wimbledon) | 29.18 | 7/1 | |
| 1989 | Ring Slippy | I'm Slippy - Westpark Chill | Derek Millen (Canterbury) | 29.64 | 3/1 | |
| 1990 | Westmead Harry | Fearless Champ - Westmead Move | Nick Savva (Milton Keynes) | 29.09 | 7/4f | |
| 1991 | Wuncross | Double Creamery Cross - Wuncoat | Derek Knight (Hove) | 29.02 | 33/1 | |
| 1992 | Dempsey Duke | Shanagarry Duke - Willowbrook Peg | Terry Kibble (Bristol) | 28.87 | 2/1jf | |
| 1993 | Hypnotic Stag | Greenpark Fox - Sister Moonshine | John Coleman (Walthamstow) | 28.85 | 8/13f | |
| 1994 | Ardilaun Bridge | Adraville Bridge - Cecilia One | Chris Duggan (Walthamstow) | 29.03 | 11/10f | |
| 1995 | Heres Seanie | Ardfert Sean - Mindys Miracle | Pat Ryan (Perry Barr) | 28.85 | 2/7f | |
| 1996 | Quick Tune | Farloe Melody - Lady Be Fast | Gordon Hodson (Hove) | 29.75 | 5/1 | |
| 1997 | Blue Murlen | Murlens Abbey - Lovely Lovely | Mick Smith (Private) | 29.07 | 2/7f | |
| 1998 | He Knows | Slaneyside Hare - I Know You | Barrie Draper (Sheffield) | 29.22 | 11/4 | |
| 1999 | Droopys Merson | Frightful Flash - Lemon Miss | Nick Savva (Milton Keynes) | 28.53 | 1/1f | |
| 2000 | Vintage Cleaner | Vintage Prince – Treasure Beo | John McGee Sr. (Private) | 28.20 | 9/4 | Track record |
| 2001 | Hollinwood Chief | Night Trooper – Hollinwood Major | Mick Clarke (Private) | 28.51 | 7/4f | |
| 2002 | Hollinwood Wiz | Night Trooper – Hollinwood Major | Mick Clarke (Private) | 28.45 | 8/1 | |
| 2003 | Farloe Verdict | Droopys Vieri – She Knew | Charlie Lister (Private) | 28.09 | 5/2 | Track record |
| 2004 | Droopys Oasis | Larkhill Jo – Droopys Graf | Brian Clemenson (Hove) | 28.28 | 5/4f | |
| 2005 | Tuttles Ronaldo | Droopys Kewell – By The Numbers | Frank Wright (Coventry) | 28.26 | 7/1 | |
| 2006 | Westmead Joe | Larkhill Jo – Mega Delight | Nick Savva (Private) | 28.58 | 13/8f | |
| 2007 | Iceman Vader | Top Honcho – Barrow Tune | Lance Burford (Coventry) | 28.56 | 4/1 | |
| 2008 | Farloe Reason | Droopys Maldini – Farloe Oyster | Charlie Lister (Private) | 28.24 | 1/2f | |
| 2009 | Blonde Fern | Hondo Black – Returned Fire | Tony Dean (Private) | 28.06 | 4/1 | |
| 2010 | Eye Onthe Storm | Droopys Vieri – Bower Louise | Mark Wallis (Yarmouth) | 28.02 | 8/13f | Track record |
| 2011 | Express Shuttle | Kiowa Sweet Trey – Express Mist | Chris Allsopp (Monmore) | 28.42 | 11/8f | |
| 2012 | Young Sid | Killahan Panther – Marwood Review | Paul Young (Romford) | 28.31 | 6/4f | |
| 2013 to 2020 not held |||||||
| 2021 | Kilara Lion | Droopys Jet – Kilara Lizzie | Patrick Janssens (Towcester) | 29.73 | 11/8f | |
| 2022 | Ivy Hill Skyhigh | Taylors Sky – Yahoo Perlena | Mark Wallis (Monmore) | 29.91 | 7/1 | |
| 2023 | Hopes Paddington | Good News – Charity Anna | Nathan Hunt (Romford) | 29.15 | 9/4 | |
| 2024 | Signet Goofy | Magical Bale – Forest Natalee | John Mullins (Towcester) | 29.39 | 9/2 | |
| 2025 | Table Toppers | Droopys Sydney – Dolce Vita | Mark Wallis (Private) | 28.72 | 9/4f | |