ENGLISH DERBY DRAW TODAY AS FORMAT CHANGES
Ian Fortune
The draw for the opening round of the Star Sports & Orchestrate English Derby is scheduled for noon.
As always, the full draw will be streamed live on the Star Sports You Tube Page. You can watch the draw live by clicking the link: https://www.starsportsbet.co.uk/greyhound-derby-2026-first-round-draw-live/
A CHANGE IN NUMBER
There will be a slightly different format to the draw with 28 heats rather than the planned 32.
This means there will be more 6-dog races. It also means there will be a number of heats with four-to-qualify, while there will be just two nights in the opening round – Friday & Saturday – with Thursday night dropped. There will be 14 heats each evening.
James Chalkley, Towcester’s head of racing, explained the decision: “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.”
165 THE FINAL NUMBER
As we speak, a total of 165 names will go into the draw drum following the withdrawal of Con & Annie Kirby Memorial champion Bouncing Monarch.
There will be a separate draw following the original draw to determine which of the heats will see four to progress. These won’t include any of the 5-dog heats, which will be run on a three-to-qualify basis.
2026 English Greyhound Derby – Full Schedule
Round 1: Friday,May 1st& Saturday, May 2nd
Round 2: Friday May 8th& Saturday, May 9th
Round 3: Saturday, May 16th
Quarter Final: Saturday, May 23rd
Semi Final: Saturday, May 30th
Final: Saturday, June 6th
****Tickets for the Derby are available at derby26.co.uk