GREYHOUND DERBY 2026: Round One Schedule Update

TOWCESTER RACECOURSE will now stage next week’s first round of the Star Sports Orchestrate English Greyhound Derby across two nights – Friday 1 May and Saturday 2 May – after a 166-strong entry produced 28 heats, with bumper 14-race Derby cards on each night.

Three nights had originally been scheduled for Round 1, but the entry figure gave Towcester the opportunity to restructure the competition, with the Thursday 30 April fixture now reverting to a standard afternoon meeting.

The decision was made in consultation with the Greyhound Board of Great Britain and Towcester is confident the revised format will deliver two of the most action-packed opening nights the Derby has seen.

The two-night structure is also expected to ease the travel burden for trainers, a number of whom could otherwise have faced trips to Towcester across three separate evenings.

The draw for Round 1 takes place on Friday 24 April.

Explaining the decision, Towcester’s head of racing James Chalkley said: “Three nights are always set aside, but having ‘just’ 28 heats certainly gave us an option which we felt might suit everyone. However, until knowing the exact numbers in terms of entries, we couldn’t even consider that. Thursday bookings had been taken but we are now in touch with those who booked to explain the situation – and, of course, to those who have made travel arrangements.

We are still racing that day, however, as part of our commitment to Premier Greyhound Racing. And in terms of making it two first-round nights as opposed to three, we are hopefully helping trainers in terms of travel to and from Towcester on possibly three nights for some.”

Of the 28 heats, 26 will be six-runner contests and two will be five-runner races. A separate draw will determine which of the six-runner heats will be four-to-qualify; the remainder, including both five-runner heats, will be three-to-qualify – producing 96 qualifiers for Round 2.

Round 2 remains scheduled across two nights – Friday 8 May and Saturday 9 May – as planned.

2026 English Greyhound Derby – Full Schedule

Round 1 – Friday 1 May & Saturday 2 May

Round 2 – Friday 8 May & Saturday 9 May

Round 3 – Saturday 16 May

Quarter Final – Saturday 23 May

Semi Final – Saturday 30 May

🏆 Final – Saturday 6 June

Tickets for the Derby are available at derby26.co.uk

Stay tuned for the Star Sports preview night on the 28th April!

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