Published 29th Jul 2026, 14:00 BSTPlacard-waving animal rights campaigners held a protest outside Wolverhampton Racecourse as guests arrived for a celebration event to mark 100 years of greyhound racing.The group of around a dozen activists stood with banners and posters at the entrance to Dunstall Park which hosted a 1920s night featuring six races, a three-course dinner and swing music organised by the Greyhound Board of Great Britain on Friday. (Far left)MPs Peter Bedford and Warinder Juss with a race winner and other guests. | ARCIt was 100 years to the day since the very first modern greyhound race was held in the UK at the Belle Vue Stadium in Manchester. Guests at Dunstall Park included Wolverhampton West MP Warinder Juss and former MP Angela Smith and outgoing GBGB board member. Greyhound Board of Great Britain chief executive Mark Bird said: “It was an absolute pleasure to welcome so many friends, supporters and guests from across the greyhound racing community and beyond to our Centenary Gala Night at Dunstall Park Stadium. “It was a brilliant event with some outstanding racing from our canine athletes, as well as an important opportunity to celebrate and share in our memories of all those who have contributed to our thriving, welfare-driven sport over the years. WMD Partnership with winner Strike it Skye. | Local Library“A very small number of protesters – less than 10 – chose to attend and stand outside the venue with placards but this had a negligible impact on what was a fantastic evening.”Campaigners have been calling for the struggling sport to be banned over complaints that the industry was doing not enough to protect the welfare of the breed and say they are hopeful that the sport will cease within the next decade. Dr Moe Kaur, of the Alliance Against Greyhound Racing which led Friday’s protest, said: “It is a national shame that greyhound racing has reached its centenary in England. It has been a century of cruelty to greyhounds and we continue to campaign for an end to greyhound racing. Green MP Hannah Spencer (centre) with actor Pauline Flynn (right) and a Alliance Against Greyhound Racing member protest in Manchester on July 25. | Local Library“Our primary concern is the damage repetitive racing on oval tracks in the same direction does to the bodies of greyhounds. Since records began to be published by the racing industry in 2017 there have been over 38,000 injuries resulting in 1,514 greyhounds being killed at the tracks and a total of 4,399 deaths of racing greyhounds. These injuries are specific to racing and rarely, if ever, seen in pet dogs.“They occur in greyhounds as young as two-years-old and can go on to cause lifelong pain and issues.”“Both Scotland and Wales are progressing with a ban on greyhound racing, based on the injuries and welfare concerns, and we hope that England will follow suit. Greyhound racing is in decline – decreased attendances at tracks, most races are held in empty stadiums purely for online streaming and betting, decrease in betting, decrease in number of trainers, closure of tracks and lack of financial support and general interest. We hope it will not see another 10 years in England.”
Arena Racing Company (ARC) opened a multi-million pound track at the racecourse off Gorsebrook Road in summer 2025 following the closure of Birmingham’s Perry Barr track to make way for the 2022 Commonwealth Games.Memorabilia display at the event. | Local LibrayARC’s head of racing operations Ian Smyth told gala guests: “It’s been less than a year since this track has been open, but we’ve invested in the first right kennels. They look as good as the day that they opened. We’ve been in there earlier this evening with some MPs along with some greyhound board people. There’s been huge investment in the track and the running surface. It’s probably the fairest running surface in the country now.” “It really is something that we can showcase and start to build on as we move forward in the next 12 months.” Fans can also follow the sport at the rival Monmore Green Stadium in Sutherland Avenue also in Wolverhampton.
Meanwhile, the Green MP Hannah Spencer, Coronation Street actor Pauline Flynn (pictured) took part in a protest held in Manchester on July 25.
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Animal welfare protest at Wolverhampton greyhound racing centenary event
