The Classic is a greyhound racing competition held at Sunderland Greyhound Stadium.[1] It was inaugurated in 2007[2] and initially formed part of a festival of racing which also included the William Hill Grand Prix. In 2019 the Classic was renamed, dropping the sponsor's name William Hill. The event was not run in 2020 but returned during 2021.[3]

The Classic
Category 2 race
Mahers Boy, inaugural winner in 2007
LocationSunderland
Inaugurated2007
SponsorArena Racing Company
Race information
Distance450 metres
SurfaceSand
Purse£12,500 (winner)

The prize money offered was a substantial first prize of £25,000, which meant that it was considered a major competition in United Kingdom greyhound racing at the time.[4] However, it dropped to just £6,500 before increasing to £10,000 in 2022, it attracts entries predominantly from the North of England.[3]

Distances & Venue

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  • 2007–2022 (Sunderland 450 metres)

Sponsors

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Past winners

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Year Winner Breeding Trainer Time SP Notes
2007 Mahers Boy Tucks Mein – Rons Luck Elaine Parker (Sheffield) 26.77 9/4jf
2008 Lenson Express Top Honcho – Gold Seacrest Tony Collett (Sittingbourne) 27.14 3/1
2009 Jogadusc Ace Brett Lee – Star of Dromin Mark Wallis (Harlow) 27.83 5/1
2010 Target Classic [5] Big Daddy Cool – Drumna Charm Craig Dawson (Newcastle) 26.94 7/2
2011 Blonde Snapper [6] Droopys Kewell – Rough Charley Mark Wallis (Yarmouth) 26.59 5/2 Track record
2012 Loughteen Blanco [7] Droopys Scolari – Loughteen Lassie Seamus Cahill (Hove) 26.95 5/1
2013 Pinpoint Maxi [8] Premier Fantasy – Kingsmill Abu Kelly Macari (Sunderland) 27.02 4/5f
2014 Mileheight Alba [9] Ballymac Maeve – Giddyup Girl Pat Rosney (Perry Barr) 26.79 7/2
2015 No But [10] Ace Hi Rumble – Westmead Cindyuk Julie Calvert (Sunderland) 27.00 5/2
2016 Roxholme Scolari[11] Droopys Scolari – Bellmore Ruby Hayley Keightley (Private) 26.75 8/1
2017 Droopys Country[12] Aero Majestic – Droopys Coast Angela Harrison (Newcastle) 26.91 3/1
2018 Allowdale Bruno[13] Scolari Me Daddy – Noelles Primco Harry Williams (Pelaw Grange) 26.75 10/1
2019 Velvet Juliet[14] Head Bound – Velvet All Jam Angela Harrison (Newcastle) 26.70 7/4jf
2020 Not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021 Narcos The Great[15] Droopys Jet – College Jade George Cunningham (Private) 26.84 13/2
2022 Move Over Cha[16] Gaytime Hawk – Move Over Eliza Angela Harrison (Newcastle) 26.76 2/1
2023 Jonny Whiskers[17] Skywalker Logan – Cudkevinbewrong Harry Burton (Newcastle) 26.82 13/8

References

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  1. ^ "Final Night". Greyhound Star. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
  2. ^ "Past Winners - William Hill Classic". UKdogracing.net. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  3. ^ a b "CLASSY THINKING AND A CLASSIC ASSESSMENT". Greyhound Star. 18 November 2021. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  4. ^ "Home". thedogs.co.uk.
  5. ^ "2010 Result". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 19 July 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  6. ^ "2011 Result". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 19 July 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  7. ^ "2012 final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 19 July 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  8. ^ "2013 final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 19 July 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  9. ^ "2014 Result". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 19 July 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  10. ^ "2015 Result". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 19 July 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  11. ^ "2016 Result". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  12. ^ "2017 Classic". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  13. ^ "William Hill Classic Final 20.51 Race". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  14. ^ "2019 Classic final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  15. ^ "The ARC Classic Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  16. ^ "The ARC Classic Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  17. ^ "The 2023 ARC Classic Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 25 November 2023.