Champion greyhound Droopys Display will return to the scene of his finest hour on Saturday when starting the defence of his Premier Greyhound Racing Kent Derby title at Central Park.
The county’s richest greyhound racing competition begins this weekend with a full book of 36 dogs entered into the £20,000 competition, which climaxes with a sparkling final on Saturday, October 18.
A star line-up has been confirmed for Saturday’s heats, with English Greyhound Derby champion Droopys Plunge, Irish sensation Bombay Pat, Puppy Classic hero Romeo Alliance and duel Category One champion Headford Dane all entered.
The latter of those hounds is owned by the JR Racing Syndicate and trained by Essex handler Maxine Locke, who is also responsible for defending champ Droopys Display.
The partnership also have Ballymac Blanco and Razldazl Myway representing their name in Saturday’s heats where the first three greyhounds to past the post in each race will advance to the following week’s semi finals.
Jack Russell, founder of the JR Racing Syndicate, hopes their fortune from 12 months ago can be repeated at the Sittingbourne venue.
“We’re back, and we’re determined to defend our title,” said Jack. “We haven’t seen much of (Droopys) Display this year but he’s had a couple of trials at Central Park where he’s ran well so we’re hopeful.
“Winning this competition last year was an unreal feeling.
“We had waited a lifetime to win a Category One competition, and then suddenly four more came along almost at once.
“The way he trapped in last year’s final was almost like a one-off, but boy he did it at the right time and we hope for more of the same this year.
“We have a great team of runners representing us this year who all enter fit and healthy, so fingers crossed we can defend the Derby.”
To celebrate the start of the Premier Greyhound Racing Kent Derby, Central Park has launched a new Back On Track offer which will run through October and offer racegoers 25% off all admission packages – including restaurant reservations – when they book online.
Further information is available online via https://www.centralpark-greyhounds.co.uk/back-on-track. Doors open for Saturday’s heats at 4pm with the first of 12 races on the night off at 5.25pm.
