August 2024

TALKING DOGS ON THURSDAY EPSIODE 176: PAUL HENNESSEY

GRI

Barry chats to trainer Paul Hennessey this week after enjoying great success last Saturday in Kilcohan Park when Barefoot On Song won the John Fitzgerald Memorial Mini Open Bitch Final for owners Bryan & Kathleen Murphy. They also chat about the Will We Go Irish St. Leger Final this Saturday night.

IRISH SPRINT CUP THRILLER TO LIGHT UP DUNDALK

Ian Fortune

It’s August 15th. That can mean only one thing.

WATCH: 2024 BAR ONE RACING IRISH LAURELS LAUNCH

GRI

Join us in Curraheen Park for the launch as Orla spoke with Barney O'Hare, CEO of Bar One Racing about the sponsorship and the exciting new bonus on offer. We also speak to Tim Lucey, CEO of Greyhound Racing Ireland, on the importance of such sponsorships and Darren Hogan, Curraheen Park Racing Office, on trial stakes, racing and trials ahead of the Laurels entries closing.

SHELBOURNE PARK GREYHOUND STADIUM REFURBISHMENT NEARS COMPLETION: A NEW ERA FOR GREYHOUND RACING IN DUBLIN

GRI

Greyhound Racing Ireland (GRI) is thrilled to announce that the comprehensive refurbishment project at Shelbourne Park Greyhound Stadium is nearing completion. This transformative initiative, which began on February 14th, 2024, is set to elevate the experience for all greyhound racing enthusiasts and spectators.

THE 2024 BAR ONE RACING IRISH LAURELS IS LAUNCHED!

GRI

The Irish Greyhound Laurels, one of Ireland’s most prestigious greyhound racing competitions, has been officially launched. Now in its second year of an innovative four-year partnership, this event brings together two fantastic supporters of greyhound racing: Bar One Racing, a well-known name in the industry, and The Friends & Supporters of Cork Greyhound Racing, led by Chairman Jimmy Barry Murphy.

WATCH: 2024 WILL WE GO IRISH ST. LEGER SEMI-FINALS

GRI

Join us now to look back on the action in Limerick for the two Semi-Finals of the Will We Go Irish St. Leger. We've also got a quick chat with connections of our two Semi-Final winners, Jim Murphy owner of Clonbrien Treaty and Owen McKenna trainer of Ventry Faith. Don't miss the Final on Saturday 17th August in Limerick Greyhound Stadium.

BENEFIT NIGHT AND FUNDRAISERS LEAD TO GREAT CROWDS AT ENNISCORTHY

Ian Fortune

While there is plenty of quality action on offer at Enniscorthy these days, there is also great work going on behind the scenes to bring crowds in.

ROXY THE STAR AT ENNISCORTHY

Ian Fortune

Her task may have been made somewhat easier by the absence of the exciting Proper Heiress after he was sold following his superb semi-final victory, but Unanimous Roxy couldn’t have been any more impressive in the final of the Kiltrea Kennels Open Unraced, posting a stunning 28.58 on her way to a wide margin success.

TALKING LEGER 2024 EPISODE 4 MONDAY 12TH AUGUST

GRI

Join Ian Fortune, Tommy Lyons & Joe Sheahan now for some great greyhound racing chat!

TREATY BACK TO HIS BEST AS VENTRY GOES QUICKEST IN ST. LEGER SEMIS

Peter Farrell

The eagerly anticipated semi finals of the 2024 Willwego.com Irish St. Leger featured on a top-class card at Limerick on Saturday night and defending champion Clonbrien Treaty was back to his very best in landing the opening semi, while Ventry Faith went quickest in the second semi.

SYD AND EXILE EXPLOSIVE IN IRISH SPRINT CUP

Ian Fortune

The stage is set for the most incredible finish to the Bar One Racing Irish Sprint Cup on Thursday next after two stunning semi-final displays at Dundalk on Saturday night.

SUPERB DISPLAYS ACROSS THE SHELBOURNE CARD

Ian Fortune

There was a bit of everything at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night but the common factor across the eleven-race card was quality. From start to finish, the racing was of a wonderful standard and we saw some notable performances including a couple of massive runs in the four finals up for decision, a top- class debut and potentially a few classic clues.

SUCCESSFUL BENEFIT NIGHT FOR BABY CHELSIE AT GALWAY

Peter Farrell

Galway hosted a benefit night in aid of the Jack & Jill foundation, which was in memory of baby Chelsie McDonagh, on Saturday night and the performances were fitting of a thoroughly worthy cause.

13 AND COUNTING FOR TUONO CHARLIE IN FEATURE MCP GROUP 750 FINAL

Barry Drake

It's not often you see it, but TUONO CHARLIEmade it the perfect 13 straight wins in the Kingdom on Saturday night, winning the €7,000 to the winner MCP Group 750 for trainer Sharon Hunt and owner Paul Dyer.

BAREFOOT ON SONG LANDS THE JOHN FITZGERALD MEMORIAL BITCH STAKE

Barry Drake

Impressive the last twice, Barefoot On Song (Grangeview Ten-Jaytee Osprey) made it three straight wins when landing the feature at Kilcohan Park on Saturday night, the €5,000 to the winner John Fitzgerald Memorial Mini Open Bitch Final.

ROMEO CONTROL IMPRESSIVE IN THE A1 KASKO DERBY FINAL

Barry Drake

ROMEO CONTROL, trained by Graham Holland for owner David Firmager, completed a wonderful three-timer in the €6,000 to the winner A1 Kasko Derby Final at Curraheen Park on Saturday night.

TOM DUGGAN

The death occurred on Friday evening (August 9th) of Tom Duggan, Glenmore, County Kilkenny.

TREATY AND DAZZLER TO SERVE UP A SPECTACLE IN ST. LEGER SEMIS

Peter Farrell

It’s crunch time at Limerick later tonight as the semi finals of the Willwego.com Irish St. Leger take centre stage and connections will all be hoping to secure one of those all-important qualification spots ahead next week’s €30,000 Classic decider.

SYD AND ALDO SET TO LIGHT UP DUNDALK AGAIN

Ian Fortune

The battle for a place in the final of the Bar One Racing Irish Sprint Cup will light up Dundalk this evening.

A FEW SHOCKS BUT KNEGARE IMPRESSES IN JUVENILE DERBY

Ian Fortune

It was inevitable given the depth of quality on show that there would be a few surprise results and shock eliminations from the opening round of the TIME Juvenile Derby but Callaway Knegare had clearly read the script as he posted the fastest time of the round, charging home to clock a sizzling 28.14.

LASKARINA WINS A BOYLESPORTS THRILLER

Ian Fortune

The final of the €4,000 Boylesports A3 Bitch 525 went right down to the wire at Kilkenny on Friday night with Laskarina timing her challenge to perfection to get the better of Long Claudia and hot favourite Ballybough Olwyn by a narrowest of margins.

BIG CHAMP SETS STANDARD IN ENNISCORTHY

Ian Fortune

De Big Champ set a strong standard in the semi-finals of the valuable Slaneyside Kenels A2/A3 Tri Distance at Enniscorthy on Thursday night, charging home to win the opening heat in a quick 30.13 for the 550yd trip.

SPORTING GEMS DONATED TO MUSEUM – HAVE YOU ONE TO SHARE?

GRI

We’ve been blown away by the wonderful pieces of sporting history that have already been donated to the new Shelbourne Park Museum by the greyhound community. We’ve already allocated over 70% of the display spaces but there is still time to have your story and your family’s history immortalised within the museum.

PAT DORAN

We lost another great greyhound man in recent days with the sad news that Pat Doran had passed away.

TALKING LEGER EPISODE 3 TUESDAY 6 AUGUST

GRI

Plenty to chat about this week from the Leger and much more!

Castleisland Trained Knockeen Dazzles In St Leger Quarterfinals

Sarah Kinsella

The Daniel O’Rahilly trained Knockeen Dazzler clocked the fastest time in the quarterfinals of the Willwego.com Irish St Leger at Limerick Stadium on Saturday night.

BAREFOOT ON SONG IN THE JOHN FITZGERALD MEMORIAL OAKS IN WATERFORD

Barry Drake

Barefoot On Song went quickest on the clock in the €5,000 to the winner John Fitzgerald Memorial Mini Open Bitch Stake at Kilcohan Park on Saturday night.

FIREWORKS AT ENNISCORTHY AS YOUNGSTERS SHINE

Ian Fortune

There were more fireworks at Enniscorthy on Monday night as the second round of the Kiltrea Kennels Open Unraced produced two superb heat winners including Proper Heiress, who posted a stunning 28.69 to set a strong standard.

KNEGARE FLIES AGAIN

Ian Fortune

The expression goes ‘you win nothing in trials’ but when a greyhound breaks 28 seconds in two consecutive trials, it’s clear they have the ability to be a star.

HUGE CROWD ENJOY FAMILY FUN NIGHT AT YOUGHAL GREYHOUND STADIUM

Barry Drake

It was such a busy weekend we almost forgot to highlight what was a wonderful Family Fun Night at the Youghal Greyhound Stadium on Friday night.

AWESOME ALDO SENDS OUT A SPRINT CUP WARNING

Ian Fortune

The clash of Carrick Aldo and Broadstrand Syd in the quarter finals of the Bar One Racing Irish Sprint Cup at Dundalk on Saturday night only served to whet the appetite for a further potential clash of the two titans in the final of the sprint classic.