March 2023

MARCH 2023

NEW RULES IN RELATION TO REGISTRATION OF IRISH GREYHOUNDS IN GREAT BRITAIN

GRI

Rásaoícht Con Éireann / Greyhound Racing Ireland would like Irish greyhound owners to be aware of the recent changes to the requirements placed on Irish Dogs intent on registration to race in Great Britain on tracks operated by the Greyhound Board of Great Britain.

TALKING DOGS ON THURSDAY EPISODE 124: MICHAEL BUTLER

GRI

This week, Barry chats to Michael Butler following his family’s great success in Curraheen Park last weekend when Maries Wedding won the Apex Global Resources Ltd Cork Oaks.

VIDEO: 2023 RPGTV IRISH CESAREWITCH FINAL

GRI

Bobsleigh Dream added a second classic to her name and gave trainer Pat Buckley this 4th Cesarewitch title on Sunday when she won the 2023 RPGTV Irish Cesarewitch Final in Mullingar.

CAREER OPPORTUNITY: CONTROL STEWARD

GRI

A vacancy has arisen for the position of Control Steward (Part-time, 3 days per week)

CHICO STEALS HEADLINES AT ENNISCORTHY

Ian Fortune

After briefly fluffing his lines in the second round, Optic Chico returned to his brilliant best to set a blistering standard in the quarter finals of the Future Champion & Michael Fortune Memorial Unraced at Enniscorthy on Monday night.

BELOVED PET AND WONDERFUL RACER TOMPSON PASSES ON

Ian Fortune

Rose Buggy got in touch over the weekend to pass on the sad news that one of the best greyhounds to ever come out of the Kilgraney Kennels, Kilgraney Tomson, had sadly passed on not long before his twelfth birthday.

PETER BUILDING A NICE TEAM

Ian Fortune

It seems that each and every year around this time, Peter Cronin finds himself with a few bright prospects.

GRI LAUNCHES TENDER FOR GREYHOUND CARE CENTRES

GRI

As part of its ongoing commitment to finding a forever home for retired Irish greyhounds, Rásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) / Greyhound Racing Ireland (GRI) are calling for expressions of interest in running greyhound care centres.

VIDEO: ROUND 1 2023 CON & ANNIE KIRBY MEMORIAL

GRI

On Saturday night (25th March), the 2023 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial got underway in Limerick Greyhound Stadium.

FIVE WINS ON THE SPIN FOR KILVIL ROBERT IN BORNA DECIDER AT THURLES

Peter Farrell

Kindly sponsored by the Dwan Family, the final of the €2,000 to the winner Borna Kennels A4 525 was the highlight last Saturday night at Thurles Park and it was Kilvil Robert who maintained his unbeaten run in the stake with a narrow victory.

TALKING DOGS ON MONDAY 27TH MARCH

GRI

Join Ian Fortune, BresBet's Sam Tweed and Tom Fitzgerald as they sit down to chat about a busy weekend of top-class greyhound racing action.

DREAM NOW A DUAL CLASSIC WINNER AFTER CESAREWITCH STROLL

Ian Fortune

Bobsleigh Dream was always going to leave a strong legacy, but after capturing the RPGTV Irish Cesarewitch in some style at Mullingar on Sunday afternoon, she ensured that he will be remembered as one of the very fastest females to race this century.

HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL OPENING NIGHT AT LIFFORD

Peter Farrell

Lifford hosted their first race meeting since August 2019 last night and the soft-opening attracted a huge crowd which coincided with a number of top-class displays on the night.

MAGICAL ROMEO GOES FASTEST IN EASTER CUP

Ian Fortune

Those that followed Dave Firmager’s brilliant English Derby champion were richly rewarded at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night in the second round of the Bresbet Easter Cup.

ISABELLE TOPS A LIVELY KILKENNY SALE

Ian Fortune

There was a another very successful sale at Kilkenny on Saturday.

CLONA DUKE THE EARLY PACESETTER IN KIRBY OPENER

Peter Farrell

The eagerly anticipated opening round of the 2023 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial took centre stage at Limerick Greyhound Stadium last night and it certainly didn’t disappoint with a number of top-class performances on show.

MAGNIFICENT MARIES WEDDING STORMS TO VICTORY IN THE CORK OAKS FINAL

Barry Drake

MARIES WEDDING (Droopys Sydney-Ballymac Petsy) ran out a stunning winner of the €5,000 to the winner Apex Global Resources Ltd Cork Oaks Final at Curraheen Park on Saturday night.

RAMPANT RAMONA THE STAR AT NEWBRIDGE

Ian Fortune

The latest star name to emerge from the Brownstown Tango & NTSC Open Unraced Bitch 525 is that of Chelms Ramona.

MCCALMONT GLORY FOR LYNCHY BOY

Ian Fortune

Lynchy Boy has been a real star for TJ and Paraic Campion through his long career and he added silverware to his tally at Kilkenny on Friday evening when running out a tremendous winner of the Frightful Flash Kennels McCalmont Cup.

ORLANDO SOARS IN GALWAY FEATURE

Peter Farrell

With €4,000 up for grabs to the winner, the Galway A3/A4 525 certainly was a prize worth winning and Crafty Orlando was to justify his outright favouritism with a blistering performance last night for Shane Divilly.

IAN PREVIEWS SUNDAY’S RPGTV IRISH CESAREWITCH FINAL

GRI

With the countdown on to Sunday’s RPGTV Irish Cesarewitch Final, Ian Fortune joined the studio team to preview it.

GREYHOUND RACING IRELAND ANNOUNCE HALL OF FAME & SPECIAL MERIT AWARD WINNERS

GRI

In advance of the National Greyhound Racing Awards on the 5th May, Greyhound Racing Ireland have announced the winners of two of the Human Award categories.

RPGTV Chat To The Finalists

GRI

As we look forward to the Final of the 2023 RPGTV Irish Cesarewitch, the sponsors caught up with connections of each of the six finalists for their thoughts ahead of Sunday.

RPGTV HAS MOVED SKY CHANNEL

GRI

The channel that brings you Racing Post Greyhound TV has moved Sky channels

TALKING DOGS ON THURSDAY EPISODE 123: DAVID LYNCH

GRI

This week Barry chats to a man who has been involved with greyhounds his whole life, David Lynch.

OLIVER HEAVEY

It’s with real sadness we must report the passing on St Patricks Day of Oliver Heavey.

GREYHOUND & PETWORLD SUPERSPRINT LAUNCHED AT CURRAHEEN PARK

Barry Drake

The Supersprint in Curraheen Park which is kindly sponsored by Greyhound & Petworld Store.

HUGE PRIZEMONEY BONUS FOR KILKENNY’S CHAMPION UNRACED

Ian Fortune

News came through yesterday that the Kilkenny Track Champion Open Unraced would receive a real boost with increased prizemoney, making it the most valuable unraced competition on the calendar.

“AEROPLANE” SYD OUT OF EASTER CUP AND RETIRED

Ian Fortune

Murt Leahy was downbeat yesterday afternoon when confirming that the hugely exciting Here Comes Syd will be an absentee from the second round of the Bresbet Easter Cup and will sadly be retired from racing action after picking up an injury to his stopper bone.

MAGIC MARTHA SETS THE PACE AT ENNISCORTHY

Ian Fortune

A week on from recording 28.79 in an impressive opening round success, Glengar Martha followed up in the second round of the Future Champions & Michael Fortune Memorial Open Unraced at Enniscorthy on Monday evening, recording a rapid 28.72 on her way to success in Heat 3.

TALKING DOGS ON MONDAY: 20TH MARCH 2023

GRI

Ian Fortune and Tommy Lyons are joined by Carl Perry from BresBet, sponsors of the Easter Cup in Shelbourne Park

WATCH THE 2023 CON & ANNIE KIRBY MEMORIAL FIRST ROUND DRAW LIVE

GRI

Watch the 1st Round draw for the 2023 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial live on Facebook.

BELLA AND BOBSLEIGH SHINE IN CESAREWITCH

Ian Fortune

Both Bobsleigh Dream and Magical Mary will be chasing further classic glory in the final of the RPGTV Irish Cesarewitch next weekend after finishing first and second in the red-hot second heat yesterday afternoon at Mullingar.

SUCCESSFUL MATINEE MEETING AT CLONMEL

Peter Farrell

Clonmel hosted their Matinee benefit meeting yesterday afternoon and with no fewer than five finals down for decision, it's fair to say that it proved quite a success.

FINN FASTEST AS EASTER CUP BEGINS WITH A BANG

Ian Fortune

The opening round of the Bresbet Easter Cup provide some tremendous racing at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night.

MARIES WEDDING GOES QUICKEST IN SEMI FINALS OF THE CORK OAKS

Barry Drake

Tamara Butler's Maries Wedding made it back-to-back wins in the Apex Global Resources Ltd Cork Oaks at Curraheen Park on Saturday night.

SKYE QUICKEST IN BORNA SEMIS AT THURLES

Peter Farrell

The semi finals of the €2,000 to the winner Borna Kennels A4 525 featured on last night’s Thurles Park card and both semis went pretty much to script with the favourite coming out on top.

SHOCKS APLENTY IN GALWAY SEMIS

Peter Farrell

The semi finals of the €4,000 to the winner Galway A3/A4 525 served as the highlight on last night’s Galway card and both resulted in shock outcomes.

BEACH WARMS UP IN SENSATIONAL STYLE AT LIMERICK

Peter Farrell

Despite being knocked out of the Tralee’s Juvenile Classic in unfortunate circumstances, Ryhope Beach was arguably the one to take out of the prestigious unraced and he stretched his legs brilliantly in a preparation trial for the Con & Annie Kirby last night at Limerick.

TWO WONDERFUL SEMI-FINALS AT NEWBRIDGE

Ian Fortune

Both semi-finals of the Brownstown Tango & NTSC Open Unraced Bitch 525 provided a tremendous finish with Crafty Shivoo and Burgess Orlaith seeing off more fancied rivals in their respective heats.

TREMENS SETS THE PACE IN MCCALMONT CUP

Ian Fortune

While he may have missed the kick, Delirium Tremens displayed fine early dash to slip around in front in the second heat of the Frightful Flash McCalmont Cup at Kilkenny on Thursday night.

TROOPER THUMPS RIVALS IN TRAP 1 UNRACED AT CLONMEL

Peter Farrell

The second round heats of the Trap 1 Greyhound Supplies Unraced 525 dominated proceedings at Clonmel Greyhound Stadium last night and it was Chasing Trooper who stole the show with an emphatic performance in the opening heat.

BRILLIANT DEBUT FROM FUTURE STAR IVY HILL JAGUAR

Peter Farrell

Galway was another track to reschedule their Friday meeting to last night and there was a really notable display from debutant, Ivy Hill Jaguar.

CAREER OPPORTUNITY: WELFARE OFFICER / GREYHOUND REHOMING CO-ORDINATOR

GRI

Applications are currently invited for the following position: Welfare Officer/Greyhound Rehoming Co-ordinator

OUR PEOPLE THE GENERATIONS - MEET THE O'REGANS

GRI

The O’Regans of Waterford can trace the start of their love of greyhound racing back to Michael O’Regan, a butcher in Waterford who has a dog listed in the Stud Book of 1923. Once his grand-nephews Pa & Donal came along in the 1940’s & 1950’s they became part of the support team spending every weekend racing at Kilcohan Park Greyhound Stadium.

VIDEO: 2023 GREYHOUND & PET WORLD JUVENILE CLASSIC FINAL

BALLYMAC MARINO made it four wins from as many starts when running out a sensational winner of the €11,000 to the winner Greyhound & Petworld Juvenile Classic at the Kingdom Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night.

STUNNING CHICO THE FUTURE CHAMPION STAR

Ian Fortune

Optic Chico stole the headlines at Enniscorthy on Monday evening, running out a facile winner of his opening round heat in the Future Champion and Michael Fortune Memorial Unraced 525.

TALKING DOGS ON MONDAY: 13TH MARCH 2023

GRI

On the back of another jam-packed weekend of racing action across the country - Ian Fortune, Tommy Lyons & Barry Drake are talking dogs.

PLENTY OF TOP PERFORMANCES AT CURRAHEEN PARK

Barry Drake

Following up on last week's impressive winning success, Liosgarbh Lila went quickest in the opening round of the Apex Global Resources Ltd Cork Oaks at Curraheen Park on Saturday night.

VINEGAR JOE A BRILLIANT MIDLANDS DERBY WINNER

Ian Fortune

Seamus Reilly had reason to celebrate at Mullingar on Saturday evening as his Vinegar Joe completed his foot-perfect path through the Kilbride Kennels Midland’s Derby with a typically professional display of front running to land the €3,200 prize.

SOME FINE DISPLAYS AT SHELBOURNE

Ian Fortune

It was a low-key Saturday night at Shelbourne Park with the start of the Bresbet Easter Cup only days away but there were still some notable displays including a 28.52 return from the thoroughly likeable Hello Mom as she finally got things her own way.

TINAHUE BRODIE IMPRESSIVE IN KILCOHAN PARK FEATURE

Barry Drake

Owned by the Foxcall-Syndicate, TINAHUE BRODIE landed the feature in Kilcohan Park on Saturday night as the 6-4 favourite stroke gold in the final of the €2,800 Paddy & Ciara Sharkey Bookmakers A2/A3 final.

ORLANDO BLOOMS IN GALWAY A3 SECOND ROUND

Peter Farrell

The second round heats of the Galway A3/A4 525 featured on last night’s card at the Connacht venue and despite being turned over at short odds last weekend, Crafty Orlando bounced back emphatically to go quickest.

TEDDY QUICKEST AS LIMERICK HAND OUT SIX KIRBY TICKETS

Peter Farrell

There were six golden tickets for the upcoming Con & Annie Kirby Memorial on offer at Limerick Greyhound Stadium last night and Pat Buckley accounted for 50% of the qualifiers with Bens Teddy the unsurprising standout performer.

KING QUICKEST IN BORNA KENNELS SECOND ROUND ACTION

Peter Farrell

The second round heats of the €2,000 to the winner Borna Kennels A4 525 took place at Thurles Greyhound Stadium last night and it was Epic King who went quickest of all in heat three as made every yard of the running to make it back-to-back wins in the stake.

SENSATIONAL PERFORMANCE FROM BALLYMAC MARINO IN THE KINGDOM

Barry Drake

BALLYMAC MARINO (Vulturi-Jamaica Joy) made it four wins from as many starts when running out a sensational winner of the €11,000 to the winner Greyhound & Petworld Juvenile Classic at the Kingdom Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night.

A COMPETITIVE MCCALMONT CUP AT KILKENNY

Ian Fortune

Both Lynchy Boy and Delirium Tremens posted 29.14 to set the standard in the second round of the McCalmont Cup at Kilkenny on Friday evening.

COCO POPS AT NEWBRIDGE

Ian Fortune

Boylesports Coco may have been handed a tricky second round assignment in the Brownstown Tango & NTSC Open Unraced Bitch 525 but a flying start, allied with a tremendous display of pace, saw her set a strong standard as she came home clear in a rapid 28.60 in the last of the three heats.

HI HAVING A HOOLY IN TRI-DISTANCE

Ian Fortune

The ‘Ballyhooly’ prefix has been carried by some talented greyhounds in recent years, most notably by Shelbourne Open 600 winner Ballyhooly Henry.

PHYLLIS MCKENNA

It’s with sadness we must report the passing of a member of the first family of Irish greyhound racing, Phyllis McKenna.

NEWINN DOUBLE IN TRAP 1 OPENER AT CLONMEL

Peter Farrell

The opening round heats of the Trap 1 Greyhound Supplies Unraced took place at Clonmel Greyhound Stadium and there was a nice double in the heats for Kevin O’Brien as both Newinn Syd and Newinn Sensation scored in style.

GRI RE-LAUNCH THE KENNEL IMPROVEMENT SCHEME FOR 2023

GRI

Greyhound Racing Ireland is delighted to announce the re-launch of the Kennel Improvement Scheme.

CORDON ORGANISING AN AUSTRIALIA TRIP

Ian Fortune

So many of those involved in Irish greyhound racing went on the annual trips to Australia back in the late 2000’s.

JERSEYS AT THE DOGS LAUNCHED AT GREYHOUND STADIA NATIONWIDE

GRI

Greyhound stadia across Ireland have joined forces to launch a new fundraising initiative in aid of the Dillon Quirke Foundation. The foundation was set up in honour of Dillon Quirke who collapsed during a hurling match and died of SADS on the 5th August 2022 in Semple Stadium, Thurles.

BRILLIANT HAMMOND HANGS UP HIS BOOTS

Ian Fortune

After retiring Priceless Jet and Beach Avenue in recent months, Paul Hennessy has decided to also call it a day with another of his brilliant veterans, the hugely popular and extremely talented Hello Hammond.

THE CON AND ANNIE KIRBY MEMORIAL RETURNS FOR 2023

GRI

All roads lead to Limerick Greyhound Stadium this March and April for the 10th annual Con and Annie Kirby Memorial, one of the world’s top Juvenile racing events.

GREYHOUND RACING (PROHIBITED SUBSTANCES) REGULATIONS 2023 – PUBLIC CONSULTATION

GRI

Readers are advised that pursuant to Section 5 of the Greyhound Racing Act, S.I. No. 15 of 2019 draft regulations relating to Prohibited Substances can be viewed by clicking the below attached link.

DOUBLES AND TREBLES IN YOUGHAL BUT HEADLINES GO TO KNOCKBOY BORIS

Barry Drake

Monday's racing at Youghal produced some high-class racing and the performance of the night came from the well-backed Knockboy Boris.

LIMERICK REPORT SUCCESSFUL SALES LAST SATURDAY

Peter Farrell

Limerick Greyhound Stadium hosted their first sales auction in many years last Saturday morning and it proved very successful with the top lot selling for just over €5,000.

TALKING DOGS ON MONDAY - 6TH MARCH

GRI

The Greyhound and Pet World Juvenile Classic is the main topic of conversation tonight on Talking Dogs but there's plenty of action around the country to chat about.

CURRAHEEN PARK AWARDS FOR 2022

Barry Drake

The Curraheen Park awards for 2022 took place at the Cork track on Saturday night.

TINAHUE BRODIE DELIVERS A BIG PERFORMANCE IN KILCOHAN PARK

Barry Drake

TINAHUE BRODIE went quickest in the semi-finals of the Paddy & Ciara Sharkey Bookmakers & W.T.S.C A2 stake at Kilcohan Park on Saturday night.

BOLGER DENIES REX THE HEADLINE AT SHELBOURNE

Ian Fortune

While no major competitions were part of Saturday’s card at Shelbourne Park, there was some serious racing.

BLUE THE PLACE TO BE IN MIDLANDS DERBY

Ian Fortune

Trap two was the place to be in the semis of the Kilbride Kennels Midlands Derby with both Shady Bueno and Vinegar Joe wearing blue to come home in front.

STAGE EARNS HIS KIRBY TICKET AT DUNDALK

Ian Fortune

The feature of Dundalk’s Saturday card was the Con & Annie Kirby memorial Trial Stake and the impressive Highview Stage booked his place in the classic with a tremendous trap to line success in a rapid 28.54.

TROUBLE BACK TO TOP FORM IN CORK CUP FINAL

Barry Drake

Trained by Kieran Lynch for owners the Memphis-Mafia-Syndicate, Trouble ran out a brilliant winner of the €4,500 Time Greyhound Nutrition Cork Cup at Curraheen Park on Saturday night.

BALE SCORES IN TALKING DOGS DECIDER AS BOYLESPORTS DAZLS ON DEBUT

Peter Farrell

The final of the Talking Dogs A3/A4 600 served as the highlight on last night’s Limerick card and it went the way of Ballygur Bale as he produced a terrific performance to land the €1,550 feature.

ROLE MODEL QUICKEST AS BALLYGRAIGUE MAKES IT FIVE ON THE SPIN AT GALWAY

Peter Farrell

With €4,000 up for grabs to the eventual winner, it was hardly surprising to see such a quality entry for the Galway A3/A4 525 and last night’s action certainly produced with Role Model setting the opening round standard with a brilliant performance.

ROBERT QUICKEST IN BORNA KENNELS OPENER AT THURLES

Peter Farrell

The opening round heats of the €2,000 to the winner, Borna Kennels A4 525 got underway last night at Thurles Greyhound Stadium and it was Kilvil Robert who set the early standard with a polished performance.

LUCK SETS THE PACE AT NEWBRIDGE

Ian Fortune

Ballyhimikinluck set the standard in the opening round of the Brownstown Tango & NTSC Open Unraced Bitch 525 at Newbridge on Friday night, making the best of her way home in the final heat for John and Noreen Dunne.

BOLGER QUICKEST BUT MCCALMONT CUP LOOKS COMPETITIVE

Ian Fortune

The best was left to last as far as the opening round of the Frightful Flash Kennels McCalmont Cup at Kilkenny was concerned with Burgess Bolger emerging an easy winner of the final heat, posting a fastest of the round 28.98 in the process.

FAST STARTING BLUE OBLIGES AT SHELBOURNE

Ian Fortune

An impressive semi-final scorer seven days earlier, Hawkfield Blue fully justified his position at the head of the betting in the final of the Talking Dogs ON1 Unraced at Shelbourne Park on Friday night.

TWO SUPERB DISPLAYS IN THE GREYHOUND & PETWORLD JUVENILE CLASSIC

Barry Drake

Ballymac Marino (Vulturi-Jamaica Joy) went quickest on the clock in the Kingdom on Friday night as the semi-finals of the Greyhound & Petworld Juvenile Classic took centre stage.

TALKING DOGS 600 DECIDER HEADS A FANTASTIC CARD AT LIMERICK

Peter Farrell

After some hotly competitive action over the past number of weeks, the final of the Talking Dogs A3/A4 600 goes down for decision at Limerick Greyhound Stadium later tonight several have strong chances of landing the €1,550 first prize.

VIDEO: 2023 CON & ANNIE KIRBY MEMORIAL LAUNCH

GRI

On Thursday 2nd March, the Greyhound & GAA Communities came together again for the launch of the 2023 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial at Limerick Greyhound Stadium.

RCÉTS FIGURES FOR 2022

GRI

Since the inception of RCÉTS on January 1st 2021 to 31st December 2022 there have been 35,701 greyhounds traced on Rásaíocht Con Éireann Traceability System. This includes both active and inactive greyhounds. These are divided into raced greyhounds of which there were 27,387 and unraced greyhounds of which there were 8,314.