While Irish dog fixtures oftentimes piques the interest of those who are fond of greyhound betting, the UK also has its fair share of elite meetings that are highly-anticipated among fans – namely the PGR Oaks. For those unfamiliar with the PGR Oaks, it is one of greyhound racing’s oldest and most prestigious competitions for bitches.
It has found a new home at Dunstall Park in Wolverhampton — and with it, a fresh chapter in a storied legacy that stretches back nearly a century.
After decades hosted at venues such as White City, Belle Vue, Wimbledon, and most recently Perry Barr, the Oaks makes its debut at Dunstall Park GreyhoundStadium in 2025. The move comes following the closure of Perry Barr’s greyhound operations, with Dunstall Park — a newly built facility inside the existing Wolverhampton Racecourse — taking on its major fixtures under the stewardship of Arena Racing Company (ARC).
The relocation marks a significant moment for both the competition and the Midlands greyhound racing scene. With £20,000 on offer to the winner and a £5,000 bonus available for greyhounds that progress from the track’s trial stakes, the 2025 edition of the Oaks is being positioned as a centrepiece of Dunstall Park’s calendar.
This year’s running has attracted strong interest, with more than 70 entries submitted from top kennels across the UK. As always, the competition is open only to female greyhounds, continuing its role as a platform for identifying the best in their category — both as racers and, in time, as brood bitches.
Trial stakes in early September offered a chance to test the new circuit and provided insight into potential contenders for the final stages. The track — a tight, fast-turning layout — appears to suit early pace, though several staying types have impressed with strong finishes from behind.
With the above in mind, read on as we delve deeper into the overwhelming favourite to reign supreme in the PGR Oaks – Droopys Kathleen.
She has rapidly become one of the standout names in greyhound racing, thanks to a string of dazzling performances in Ireland and an impressive start to her UK campaign. Trained by Robert Gleeson and owned by a syndicate including Irish jockey Dylan Browne-McMonagle, she has already been dubbed by some as one of the best young bitches to grace the sport in recent years.
Born in May 2023, Droopys Kathleen burst onto the scene in late 2024 during the prestigious Puppy Oaks at Shelbourne Park. After a promising debut, it was in the semi-final where she truly announced herself. In just her fourth career start, she broke the 525-yard track record at Shelbourne, clocking a sensational 27.58 seconds and winning by more than 12 lengths.
The performance was widely praised across the industry, not just for the raw speed but for her powerful mid-race acceleration and dominant finish. She followed that up by winning the Puppy Oaks final with another classy display, justifying her odds-on status and confirming her as a leading juvenile.
What makes Droopys Kathleen so exciting is not just her raw pace, but the manner of her victories. When she wins, she tends to do so by large margins, often dominating races from the opening bend and putting daylight between herself and the field by halfway. Her consistency and calm racing style are rare for such a young bitch, and it’s no surprise that she’s being tipped as a future classic winner, not just in bitches-only races but in open company as well.
The road ahead may include deeper waters — tougher competition, more travel, and new track conditions — but Droopys Kathleen has already shown that she possesses the adaptability and class to thrive. With the Oaks final looming later this October, all eyes will be on whether she can reproduce the kind of display that made her a record-setter in Dublin. If she does, she won’t just win a major title — she’ll confirm her place as one of the stars of the sport.
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