Record prize Juvenile could be Easter Sunday race for the ages
THE Time Greyhound Nutrition Juvenile Championship over 500m at Towcester on Easter Sunday, 20th April will have a record first prize of £10,000 and promises to be a race for the ages.
The prestigious and lucrative one-off will share the stage with the BetGoodwin and JR Racing Syndicate Maiden Derby final for a major double-header at the home of the Star Sports/TRC English Greyhound Derby on Easter Sunday.
This year’s Juvenile Championship is set to feature a clash of the sport’s superstars with Irish Derby winner Bockos Diamond an intended runner along with Greyhound of the Year Wicky Ned while Kent Derby first and second Proper Heiress and March On Freddie are both said to be being targeted at it.
Time’s Willie Rigney is looking forward to the leading greyhound feed provider’s return to the Northamptonshire circuit having recently backed the TV Trophy won by Mongys Wild.
He said: “It was a real honour for us to sponsor the TV Trophy there and to once again support the Juvenile a Towcester is another example of our intention to give back to the sport.
“We continue to support major competitions on both sides of the Irish Sea and being the sponsors of the Juvenile Championship is, well, good timing for Time!
“This year’s race looks exceptional and it’s the right time to increase the first prize to £10,000. This is a record for the race I believe and will ensure we attract six of the best over the English Greyhound Derby trip.”
Towcester promoter Kevin Boothby said: “First off, I’d like to thank Time Greyhound Nutrition, BetGoodwin and the JR Racing Syndicate for supporting us.
“The Juvenile sponsorship has been arranged by Greyhound Racing UK who deserve great credit, too. It means we can stage two major events on the same day for a brilliant afternoon here on Easter Sunday.
Faypoint Harvey (T4) landed last year's Juvenile at Towcester
“The Maiden Derby is a race I brought to Towcester from Henlow and, right from the start when Thorn Falcon won before going on to win the Derby, it’s a race that trainers on both sides of the Irish Sea pinpoint as a way to prepare runners for the Derby itself.
“The Juvenile is a race which is special to everyone in the sport. It’s important that it’s staged at the home of the Derby and, as a one-off race, there is no better - and this year’s could be the best every. It’s potentially incredible.
“Graham [Holland] won it last year and, of course, he’s twice a Derby winner. And once he suggested the Juvenile as a target for Bockos Diamond, it was right the conditions were tweaked to allow runners in last year’s English Derby to also compete.
“We want the best races for our greyhounds - and this could be one of the best.”
Jonathan Kay