Britain’s First Horse and Greyhound Racing Dual Fixture Set for Wolverhampton
Historic combined meeting to take place at Dunstall Park in March
Britain will stage its first-ever combined day of horse and greyhound racing next month, with Wolverhampton’s Dunstall Park set to host a landmark dual fixture in UK sporting history.
The pioneering event will take place on Saturday, 7 March, with greyhound racing following the conclusion of Wolverhampton racecourse’s BetMGM Lady Wulfruna Stakes card. Dunstall Park’s purpose-built greyhound track sits within the all-weather horseracing circuit and opened last September.
Chris Black, General Manager at Dunstall Park Greyhound Stadium, said the dual fixture aligns closely with the venue’s long-term strategy.
“Tapping into Wolverhampton racecourse’s existing customer base and engaging more people with greyhound racing has always been a key part of our strategy,” Black said. “It’s fantastic to have the opportunity to showcase both disciplines on one day, and we’re expecting a bumper turnout for what will be a great event.
“Just like racehorses, greyhounds adore their racing. The sport gives them the chance to fulfil their natural instincts before enjoying a well-earned retirement, something we’re proud to support in partnership with our homing partners. We’re looking forward to welcoming plenty of new faces trackside.”
Wolverhampton racecourse Executive Director David Ideson described the addition of greyhound racing as a natural extension of the venue’s wider vision.
“The Lady Wulfruna Stakes is always a highlight on our racing calendar,” he said. “Adding a greyhound fixture to this year’s entertainment is a real bonus and reflects our ambition to create a true seven-day-a-week, multi-purpose sports, entertainment and leisure hub.”
The evening programme will feature a 12-race greyhound card, with the first race scheduled for 6.20pm, following the afternoon’s horseracing. Entertainment is planned between fixtures, including live music from Irish folk band Radio Murphy in The Ringside Suite.
Dual racing fixtures are already well established in Ireland, particularly at Dundalk, which regularly stages horse and greyhound double-headers. Wolverhampton’s event marks the first time such a format has been attempted in Britain.
Dunstall Park staged its inaugural greyhound meeting in September last year and went on to host its first major competition, the Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks, in October. The project was developed following the closure of Perry Barr, with the racing operation relocating to Wolverhampton.
The venue is only the second greyhound track to be built at a British horseracing course, underlining the significance of March’s dual fixture as a potential blueprint for future multi-discipline racing events.
