Ralph Topping of the Hills announces £125,000 prize money for 2012 williamhill.com Derby
The announcement of williamhill.com Derby 2012 to carry a £125,000 prize money has left the greyhound racing world shocked, yet fascinated.
Chief executive of the Hills, Ralph Topping, said that despite disagreements with Wimbledon following this year’s final, the event will still take place as per agreement.
He explained that they had reached to this decision after an internal review of the Derby.
The new prize money is £50,000 greater than 2011’s prize money and according to Topping they increased the prize money by such a dramatic amount because 2012 is the year of the Olympics and they wanted to do something grand for greyhound racing.
He said, “Never mind £ 75,000, or £100,000, the 2012 first prize for the williamhill.com Derby is to be £125,000 to the winner. It is now the world’s richest greyhound race”.
He expressed a desire to restore it to its status of the world’s greatest greyhound race as well.
This announcement marks the opening of the Hills’ Sunderland Festival.
This decision came primarily as a result of Topping’s apprehension about the race’s future. It was evident that he would either do something amazing to the race or give up. Seems like he decided on doing the former.
He said that at one point they were even considering increasing the prize money by £100,000 but given today’s economic constraints they could not do so.
The williamhill.com Derby is definitely a huge race, a dream for most greyhound owners.
This news is also great for the Greyhound Board because a prize money so grand will ensure the best of talent will compete for the Derby and will also heighten viewer’s interest in the Derby.
The announcement is great for Wimbledon too as it shows what an amazing event it will host next year, thanks to such an enthusiastic partner.
The track itself is brilliant and with this announcement, so will be the excitement surrounding next year’s Derby at the track.
This year’s williamhill.com Derby at Wimbledon was won by Charlie Lister’s Taylor Sky amid great excitement as he proved to be the best greyhound from among the 143 entrants.
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