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Premier Greyhound Racing, the media rights company created to provide the best greyhound racing for the betting industry and to sports fans, announced today its schedule of fixtures that will be available to all of its digital, retail, and international subscribers. Premier Greyhound Racing will now stage 59 meetings a week on its portfolio of tracks. This new schedule provides long-term security and confidence to owners, bookmakers and racegoers, more than six month ahead of the 1 st January 2024 service launch date.
Premier Greyhound Racing Board is proud to announce its 2024 schedule. This will provide a product that is market-leading and meets the needs of all subscribers. The board promises to keep dog lovers at the center of the action with racing scheduled all day and night on its various tracks. The PGR-aligned stadiums will also host additional Friday and Saturday night fixtures.
Lord Lipsey said, “This schedule is Premier Greyhound Racing’s plan for the Future.” Bookmakers will be able to offer their customers a race each few minutes. Fans will be able to enjoy the best greyhound racing across multiple platforms and receive top-quality entertainment at their local track. We will deliver a bolder, more sustainable and bigger vision for our sport .”
Mark Kingston, Director, Media & Technology at Arena Racing Company said:
“We are delighted to announce that this schedule meets the needs and expectations of all stakeholders in the sport. Retail bookmakers are included, who have all signed contracts to accept PGR as of 1 January 2024. Additional fixtures will be added to support our international and digital partners. Entain and we are committed to maintaining high welfare standards across all our venues .”.
Premier Greyhound Racing was formed as a joint-venture between Arena Racing Company (which also operates racecourses) and Entain (the global sports betting and gaming group). The two companies jointly own nine out of 20 licensed British Greyhound Tracks – Crayford Hove Monmore Romford Central Park Perry Barr Newcastle Sunderland and Nottingham. Arena Racing Company manages the media rights to five independent tracks, Kinsley Pelaw Grange Sheffield Swindon Yarmouth.
Premier Greyhound Racing, which was launched 1 the first of December 2021, is already active. Its shareholders have already invested more than PS2.5 million in prize money for open racing across its nine stadiums. This includes sponsorship of a series of current PS20,000-to-the-winner Open Races, including the Premier Greyhound Racing Regency, St Leger, Oaks and Eclipse competitions.
Premier Greyhound Racing has committed to setting industry-leading welfare standards. It has pledged to contribute PS100,000.00 towards the research identified by The Greyhound Board of Great Britain Welfare Strategy: A good life for every greyhound, which is the sport’s governing organization. Premier Greyhound Racing has committed to contributing PS100,000 towards research identified in the sport’s governing body, The Greyhound Board of Great Britain’s Welfare Strategy: A Good Life for Every Greyhound.
Premier Greyhound Racing announced earlier this year partnerships with William Hill, Paddy Power and Betfred, as well as independent bookmakers, to provide images from their British tracks in the shops of the operators. This will begin at the beginning of 2024.
