RPGTV CONFIRM BUMPER IRISH SCHEDULE FOR 2022

GRI

Racing Post Greyhound TV, in conjunction with Greyhound Racing Ireland, has announced a significant increase in coverage for 2022 with a minimum of 19 major meetings to be shown live.

The figure, which may yet be added to, represents a near 50 per cent increase on last year and will see finals such as the Shelbourne 600 and Juvenile Derby, Tralee's Juvenile Classic and Mullingar's Cesarewitch shown live for the first time as well as the now traditional coverage of the Irish Derby from the third-round stage.

Additionally, Saturday, November 5 will be a watershed evening when RPGTV will have a first-ever Irish double-header with the feature event being Cork's Laurels final supported by the Shelbourne Puppy Oaks decider.

And Shelbourne's Winter Racing Festival, which has a new slot between Christmas and the New Year, will see coverage of both nights up from just the Saturday in 2020.

Dearbhla O’Brien, CEO of Greyhound Racing Ireland, said: “We are delighted to have the team from RPGTV broadcast live from our venues nationwide for 2022.

"This is building on the success of the free-to-air coverage of top-class Irish greyhound racing over the past year.  The schedule is extensive to say the least, featuring events from across the country which offers supporters and sponsors alike the opportunity to showcase the very best of Irish greyhound racing.”

RPGTV executive producer Clive Lawrence said: "We had a very positive reaction to our extended Irish coverage in 2021 and are delighted to be able to expand it again this year.  We now feature a regular weekly Irish meeting in the shape of Mullingar on Sunday afternoons and, as part of the Irish Cesarewitch coverage, it is tremendous news that the whole of that famous competition will be run at those fixtures.

"Our weekly Irish Focus segment on a Wednesday is must-see in terms of keeping up with the Irish greyhound scene and we will continue to show all the relevant major action in that leading up to our live finals."

Richard Brankley, head of greyhound operations for SIS which holds rights to Irish greyhound racing and helped facilitate the new RPGTV schedule, said: "Once again we are delighted to be able to offer top class Irish greyhound racing to our subscribers both domestically and worldwide. Mullingar's Sunday meetings have been very well received since their arrival on RPGTV last August and, from last weekend, are now shown in HD making the action even sharper for viewers."