September 2024

DROOPYS POLISH THE VALUE PICK IN LAURELS DECIDER

Barry Drake

All roads lead to Curraheen Park tonight for the €30,000 to the winner Bar One Racing in association with the Friends & Supporters of Cork Greyhound Racing Irish Greyhound Laurels.

TALKING LAURELS 2024 EPISODE 4 MONDAY 30TH SEPTEMBER

GRI

Join Ian Fortune, Tommy Lyons and Bar One Racing's Kieran as they talk about all the big Laurels news ahead of the Final this Saturday night in Curaheen Park.

ANOTHER RED-HOT LIMERICK SALES

Peter Farrell

Last Saturday, 28th September, saw Limerick Greyhound Stadium host a very popular sales auction which saw Rosshill Glory top the market as he fetched a handsome €5,600.

VIDEO: BAR ONE RACING IRISH LAURELS SEMI-FINALS

GRI

Catch up on the Semi-Final action in Cork over the weekend.

CHARLIE MOVES WELL IN SHELBOURNE TRIAL

Ian Fortune

The big question since Tuono Charlie captured his sixteenth victory on the bounce has been whether he would make a Derby challenge.

WINTER RACING FESTIVAL A POSSIBLE OPTION FOR BRILLIANT CLUE

Ian Fortune

On Saturday night Droopys Clue created history by capturing the St Leger at Perry Barr for the second time, becoming the first greyhound in the long history of the classic to do so.

TAYLOR AND SHIVOO STAR IN THE BAR ONE RACING IRISH GREYHOUND LAURELS

Barry Drake

Saturday night's racing at Curraheen Park produced some fantastic racing with a large crowd in attendance.

A NIGHT OF WONDERFUL DISPLAYS IN DUBLIN

Ian Fortune

Saturday’s action at Shelbourne Park really was required viewing.

MAGICAL BLAZE SETS THE KASKO STANDARD AT THURLES

Peter Farrell

The semi finals of the Kasko Dog Foods ON2 525 featured on Saturday night’s card at Thurles Greyhound Stadium and it was Magical Blaze that set the standard with a thoroughly impressive display in the second semi.

PORTDRINE PRODUCES THE MAGIC IN ADRIAN HANLEY DECIDER

Peter Farrell

The final of the €1,400 to the winner Adrian Hanley Vet A1/A2 525 served as the highlight on Saturday night at Limerick Greyhound Stadium and it proved a facile victory for the ever-reliable Portdrine Magic as he claimed a twelfth career success.

EXCEPTIONAL FRIDAY FARE IN DUBLIN

Ian Fortune

Shelbourne Park was the place to be on Friday night with the twelve race-card offering so much entertaining action.

ROAD EXILE THE CURRAHEEN BANKER

Barry Drake

ROAD EXILE rates nap material in the second semi-final of the €30,000 to the winner Bar One Racing in association with the Friends & Supporters of Cork Greyhound Racing Irish Greyhound Laurels at Curraheen Park tonight.

JETT TAKES OFF IN MEANEY MEMORIAL

Ian Fortune

Barrymore Jett took the headlines at Kilkenny on Friday night, showing plenty of pace and stamina to come from off the pace to win the Peter Meaney Memorial for Eamonn Dunne.

PERFECT SIX FROM SIX FOR DALEROAD DEVON

Barry Drake

DALEROAD DEVON made it the perfect six wins from just six career outings when winning the €2,200 K.G.O.B.A A3 Tri Distance Final in the Kingdom on Friday night.

VIDEO: THE NEW LOOK SHELBOURNE PARK

GRI

A New Look Shelboune Park Is Here... On Thursday night, the new look Shelbourne Park was unveiled for the first time as we welcome back our weekly Thursday night racing.

TALKING DOGS ON THURSDAY EPISODE 181: CORK AND THURLES RACING PREVIEWS

Barry Drake

The BaLaurels and the Kasko Unraced are the hot topics of conversation this week.

BERNARD BARRY TO SPONSOR CHRISTMAS OAKS

Ian Fortune

In recent years the Christmas Oaks has provided a wonderful end to the racing year at Shelbourne Park.

FUTURE STARS MALDINI AND MINEOLA SHONE ON DEBUT

Ian Fortune

In the continued search for some of the best racing debuts around Shelbourne Park, Ian Reeson came up with the goods.

THE BEGINNING OF A NEW ERA AT SHELBOURNE PARK

Ian Fortune

When the doors of Shelbourne Park open this evening, it will mark the beginning of a new era for the sport on these shores.

GET SOME EXTRA STEPS IN WITH WALKTOBER 2024

Ian Fortune

Do you want an excuse to get out on the road, pound the pavement and get your steps in?

HUGE SUM RAISED AT ENNISCORTHY FOR CONOR

Ian Fortune

Only a matter of weeks ago, in mid-August, we spoke of the wonderful benefit meeting at Enniscorthy run in aid of the Chairde Conor appeal.

DIRECTION AND DUDE SET TONGUES WAGGING ON DEBUT

Ian Fortune

In our continued search for the best racing debuts around Shelbourne Park, we must thank John Carr and Anthony Dwyer for pointing out one of the very best.

MORE NOTABLE SHELBUORNE DEBUTS

Ian Fortune

Fresh from our appeal on the best and fastest debuts at Shelbourne Park, Turlough Heeney and Robbie Donnelly were quick off the mark to remind us of Kilara Inferno.

TALKING LAURELS 2024 EPISODE 3 MONDAY 23RD SEPTEMBER

GRI

Time to talk Laurels! Join Ian Fortune, Tommy Lyons and this week's guest, Cork sporting hero Jimmy Barry Murphy.

EPIC’S DEBUT GOT US THINKING

Ian Fortune

Epic Ace was nothing short of sensational on debut at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night.

HOLLAND SENDS FIVE INTO THE SEMI FINALS OF THE IRISH GREYHOUND LAURELS AFTER A FANTASTIC DOUBLE

Barry Drake

Champion trainer Graham Holland recorded a fantastic double in the quarter-finals of the Bar One Racing in association with the Friends & Supporters of Cork Greyhound Irish Greyhound Laurels at Curraheen Park on Saturday night.

SERIOUS QUALITY ON SHOW AT SHELBOURNE

Ian Fortune

Racing at the ‘old’ Shelbourne Park ended in some style on Saturday night with quality racing from start to finish.

PRAGMATISM DOMINATES IN KASKO OPENER AT THURLES

Peter Farrell

The opening round of the Kasko Dog Foods Unraced 525 served as the highlight on Saturday nights card at Thurles Greyhound Stadium and there was an incredible performance from Pragmatism in the opening heat for joint owners Paul Horig and Paul Reid.

ADRIAN HANLEY VET SEMIS PROVE OF HIGH QUALITY AT LIMERICK

Peter Farrell

The semi finals of the Adrian Hanley Vet A1/A2 525 served as the feature at Limerick Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night and this competition will take a bit of winning in one week's time as both semis produced outstanding performances from Carrigmore Freya and Hopes Kitty.

PIVOTAL AND ROCKO CLAIM IRISH DERBY TICKETS AT LIFFORD

Peter Farrell

Lifford played host to a ten race card on Saturday night and the feature events were the two BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby Trial Stakes and these were claimed in brilliant fashion by both Pivotal Time and Rough Rocko.

CLASSY CRAFTY SHIVOO THE LAURELS BANKER

Barry Drake

The Quarterfinals of the €30,000 to the winner Bar One Racing in association with the Friends & Supporters of Cork Greyhound Racing Laurels are the feature races in Curraheen Park tonight.

DEPLOY STRIKES WHEN IT MATTERS

Ian Fortune

Droopys Deploy may have found the trouble spots in his two outings in the prelims but he found room to race on the night that mattered at Shelbourne Park on Friday night, running out an impressive and rather easy winner of the feature, the Talking Dogs on Monday Open Unraced.

CASH IS KING IN CONSTRUCTION MANS DECIDER AT GALWAY

Peter Farrell

Friday night saw a large crowd descend onto Galway Greyhound Stadium for a very worthwhile cause as the West Clare Cancer Care benefit meeting took centre stage and the feature on-track was the final of the Construction Man’s A3 525.

PAUL SCALLY

Greyhound racing lost one of its most popular characters today with the news that Paul Scally, Thurles, has passed away peacefully

TALKING DOGS ON THURSDAY EPISODE 180 SHARON HUNT

Barry Drake

Tuono Charlie is a name that’s been on many people’s lips over recent months and his trainer Sharon Hunt joins Barry this week

WILLIAM HANLON

Greyhound racing lost another great stalwart earlier this week with the passing of William Hanlon, or Billy as he was known to his many friends.

GEM MAKES BRIGHT START TO STUD CAREER

Ian Fortune

When the news came through that Jacktavern Gem suffered a career ending injury after his sensational racing debut in the opening round of the Champion Open Unraced at Kilkenny, it came as a real gut punch to his owners the Pillar Syndicate and trainer Adam Dunford.

REX IS A DAD

Ian Fortune

Swords Rex was a true superstar on the track and he is now aiming to become a star as a sire.

Tuono Charlie Claims Irish Cambridgeshire & 16th Win In-A-Row

Sarah Kinsella

Tuono Charlie was crowned the 2024 Roma Casino Irish Cambridgeshire 750 champion at Limerick Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night.

TALKING DOGS 2024 EPISODE 2 MONDAY 16TH SEPTEMBER

GRI

Join Ian Fortune, Tommy Lyons & Barry Drake talking dogs as they give us their thoughts on the Bar One Racing Irish Laurels 2nd Round and look forward to the Quarter Finals in Cork this weekend and much more!

The Other Kobe Impresses At Curraheen Park

Sarah Kinsella

The Other Kobe was the fastest heat winner at Curraheen Park on Saturday night in the second round of the Bar One Racing Irish Laurels.

MORE SEQUENCES OF NOTE

Ian Fortune

As Tuono Charlie raced to sixteen straight at Limerick on Saturday night, confirming his standing as one of the all-time greats, those of you at home reading this page have ben busy away thinking of other notable sequences.

Press Release: BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby Final Tickets Now on Sale!

GRI

Press Release: BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby Final Tickets Now on Sale!

WONDERFUL RACING AT SHELBOURNE AS DIAMOND SPARKLES

Ian Fortune

There was a bit of everything on offer at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night with the second round of the Paddy Merriman Memorial and the opening round of the Yvonne Barry Bookmaker Open 600 providing some tremendous racing, although the undoubted star of proceedings was Bockos Diamond as he sent out a clear warning to his potential Derby rivals.

A WIDE OPEN IRISH GREYHOUND LAURELS

Barry Drake

A night full of stunning performances in round two of the Bar One Racing in association with the Friends & Supporters of Cork Greyhound Racing Irish Greyhound Laurels.

SWEET SIXTEEN FOR CAMBRIDGESHIRE CHAMP CHARLIE

Peter Farrell

Kindly sponsored by Dan Flynn of Roma Casino, the Irish Cambridgeshire Open 750 has proved one of the most followed stakes on the greyhound racing calendar in 2024 and that is because of one dog - Tuono Charlie.

THREE-TIMER FOR CABRA AT THURLES

Peter Farrell

The Scally connections are never too far away from the winner’s podium at Thurles Greyhound Stadium and they accounted for three of the ten races on offer at the Premier venue on Saturday night.

TRIBAL SYD CAN COMPLETE THE CURRAHEEN PARK HAT TRICK IN THE SECOND ROUND OF THE IRISH LAURELS

Barry Drake

TRIBAL SYD, trained by Murt Leahy for Martin Costigan, can make it three it a hat trick of straight successes in tonight's fifth race at Curraheen Park, heat number two in the Bar One Racing in association with the Friends & Supporters of Cork Greyhound Racing Irish Greyhound Laurels.

JULIE IS A DERBY GEM AT KILKENNY

Ian Fortune

Julies Gem completed her unbeaten passage through the JAG Building Services & KGOBA A1 Derby at Kilkenny on Friday night although she did have to work considerably harder than in her three previous outings in the valuable stake.

CHARLIE JUST FASTEST IN UNRACED SEMIS

Ian Fortune

There was only a few spots separating Phoenix Charlie and Ballymac Eli on the clock in the semi finals of the Talking Dogs on Monday Open Unraced at Shelbourne Park on Friday night with the former going slightly faster for Ian and Billy Reilly.

ALL ABOUT DYNAMIC FORCE IN THE OPENING ROUND OF THE A2 BART LEAHY MEMORIAL

Barry Drake

DYNAMIC FORCE, trained by Paul Hennessy for Brendan Cocoman and Ian Cunningham, delivered a magnificent performance in the opening round of the €10,000 to the winner Bart Leahy A2 Memorial at Curraheen Park on Friday night.

CASH IS KING IN CONSTRUCTION MANS A3 SEMIS AT GALWAY

Peter Farrell

The semi finals of the Construction Man’s A3 525 served as the highlight at Galway Greyhound Stadium on Friday night and there was a terrific performance from Ballygibbon Cash as he landed his semi final in terrific style.

NORA LANDS KILLEE TOWN UNRACED

Peter Farrell

The final of the €1,000 to the winner Killee Town Unraced 525 featured on a ten-race card at Clonmel Greyhound Stadium on Friday night and it was the favourite, Cooladerry Nora that claimed success with a fast finish.

PAT AHERN

Greyhound sport in Ireland won’t be the same again following the passing of one of the great stalwarts of both track and field, Pat Ahern, in his ninety second year.

PEER ALSO BUILT A FAMOUS SEQUENCE

Ian Fortune

On the hunt for further notable sequences, an email from Denis Kelleher reminded us of the achievements of the brilliant Mountleader Peer.

BRENDAN DUFFY

Greyhound racing lost another real gentleman in recent days with the news of the passing of Brendan Duffy, Co. Derry.

TAYLOR AND QUARTER WITH NOTABLE SEQUENCES

Ian Fortune

How could we forget about Newinn Taylor and Quarter To Five?

VIDEO: 2024 DAVE COLLINS MEMORIAL MUNSTER OAKS FINAL

GRI

Join us now in Waterford's Kilcohan Park Greyhound Stadium to look back on Hello Rose's win in the 2024 Dave Collins Memorial Munster Oaks Final, sponsored by JAG Building Services Ltd.

CHARLIE HAS US THINKING ABOUT SEQUENCES

Ian Fortune

Tuono Charlie certainly has people talking for all the right reasons.

JAMES DASHES TO TIME GLORY AT ENNISCORTHY

Ian Fortune

Barnfield James may have been overlooked by many in the run up to the final of the TIME Greyhound Nutrition Open Unraced Stake but he produced a superb front-running display to capture the feature at Enniscorthy on Monday night.

HESONEOFOUROWN RETURNS HOME FOR STUD DUTIES

Ian Fortune

It’s difficult to believe is over a year and a half since we wrote a piece about the stunning debut of Hesoneofourown in the opening round of the Ladbrokes Winter Derby at Monmore in February 2023.

TALKING LAURELS EPISODE 1 MONDAY 9TH SEPTEMBER

GRI

With the 2024 Bar One Racing Irish Laurels getting underway, the headline conversation of this week's Talking Dogs looks to Curraheen Park.

Tribal Syd Gets Irish Laurels Off To A Flying Start

Sarah Kinsella

The Murt Leahy trained Tribal Syd was the fastest heat winner in the opening round of the Bar One Racing Irish Laurels at Curraheen Park on Saturday night.

JUST HOW FAST WAS DIAMOND’S THIRD BEND CLOCK? (TAKE 2)

Ian Fortune

The eagle-eyed amongst you may have already read this story this morning but there is a very important update contained below. As so often happens, we got it slightly wrong.

CRAZE SHINES ON NIGHT OF FINE DISPLAYS

Ian Fortune

There was much to talk about at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night with wonderful displays from start to finish. Bocko Diamond trialled exceptionally well ahead of racing (see separate story), while the racing action was also of a tremendous quality.

DIAMOND SHINES BRIGHT WITH STUNNING TRIAL

Ian Fortune

One-time Boylesports Derby favourite and perhaps soon to be favourite again, Bockos Diamond returned to the track on Saturday night, posting a very fast 27.98 in a solo trial at Shelbourne Park ahead of racing.

TRIBAL SYD LAYS DOWN A SERIOUS MARKER IN THE OPENING ROUND OF THE IRISH LAURELS

Barry Drake

Leading fancy for outright glory, the Murt Leahy-trained TRIBAL SYD went quickest on the clock when putting on another sensational performance in the opening round of the Bar One Racing in association with the Friends & Supporters of Cork Greyhound Racing Irish Greyhound Laurels at Curraheen Park on Saturday night.

HELLO ROSE THE DAVE COLLINS MEMORIAL MUNSTER OAKS CHAMPION

Barry Drake

HELLO ROSE (Burgess Bucks-Holycross Heidi) came home in front to win Saturday night's feature at Kilcohan Park, the €7,500 to the winner Dave Collins Memorial Munster Oaks.

CHARLIE WINS AGAIN AS JACK BREAKS THE CLOCK AT LIMERICK

Peter Farrell

There was another top-class card on offer at Limerick Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night as Tuono Charlie duly made it fifteen on the spin in the semi finals of the Roma Casino Irish Cambridgeshire, while Thats It Jack set new figures for the 575-yard clock in the O’Connor Julian Vets Tri-Distance.

CAMPION DOUBLE AS BURGESS GOES FAST AT THURLES

Peter Farrell

There were some really nice performances on Saturday night at Thurles Greyhound Stadium but it was Boozed Burgess that set the standard with a brilliant display for Osmond Bennett and Paraic Campion.

CASH QUICKEST IN CONSTRUCTION MANS A3 OPENER AT GALWAY

Peter Farrell

Friday night’s Galway card featured three opening round heats of The Construction Mans A3 525 Yards Stake and it was Ballygibbon Cash that set the standard with a brilliant display in the concluding heat of the night.

TRIBAL SYD CAN GET THE LAURELS OFF TO A FLYER AT CURRAHEEN PARK

Barry Drake

The opening round of the €30,000 to the winner Bar One Racing in association with the Friends & Supporters of Cork Greyhound Racing Irish Greyhound Laurels gets underway at Curraheen Park tonight.

GEM SHINES AGAIN AT KILKENNY

Ian Fortune

Julies Gem again took the headlines in the semi-finals of the JAG Building Services & KGOBA A1 Derby at Kilkenny on Friday night.

A MIGHTY DISPLAY IN SHELBOURNE FEATURE

Ian Fortune

There was plenty of entertaining action on offer at Shelbourne Park on Friday evening with three sweepstake finals up for decision as well as the opening round of a valuable Open Unraced stake.

DALEROAD DEVON DELIVERS TRACK RECORD WINNING PERFORMANCE

Barry Drake

Trained by Patrick Guilfoyle for Thomas O'Keeffe, Daleroad Devon (Ballymac Cashout-Mystical Luna) delivered a magnificent Track-Record winning performance in the Kingdom on Friday night, clocking 26.70 in the opening round of the K.G.O.B.A Tri-Distance Stakes. (500 yards).

TALKING DOGS ON THURSDAY EPISODE 179: LAURELS 2024 PREVIEW

GRI

A busy podcast this week as Barry chats to 6 guests at Monday's Bar One Racing Irish Greyhound Laurels 1st Round Draw

A NIGHT TO REMEMBER FOR YOUNG TRAINER GEAROID O'BRIEN

Barry Drake

Cappoquin trainer Gearoid O'Brien enjoyed a wonderful night in Youghal on Wednesday night, as the talented young handler recorded a fantastic treble.

LIMERICK SALES BEARING FRUIT

Peter Farrell

The next sales auction is scheduled for Limerick Greyhound Stadium on Saturday, 28th September and the Munster track has proved a successful hunting ground for many buyers in recent times.

VIDEO: 2024 TIME JUVENILE DERBY FINAL

GRI

Callaway Knegare had been the hot topic of conversation throughout the competition and he produced a typically brilliant display and justified his favouritism to land the 2024 Time Juvenile Derby Final in Shelbourne Park.

PIMPLE FASTEST IN ENNISCORTHY UNRACED

Ian Fortune

It was somewhat predictable that Kereight Pimple would improve on his opening round effort in the second round of the TIME Greyhound Nutrition Open Unraced at Enniscorthy on Monday night.

NO DROP IN STANDARDS AT SHELBOURNE

Ian Fortune

With the Bar One Racing Irish Laurels commencing at Cork on Saturday and the TIME Juvenile Derby just over, you would think we would be facing into a couple of quiet Saturdays at Shelbourne Park but that’s certainly not the case.

ANOTHER LIVELY KILKENNY SALE

Ian Fortune

There was more lively trade at the Kilkenny Sales last Saturday with a healthy turnover and high clearance rate. Knockroe Best (Ballymac Best/ Rosmult Racer) fetched the best price of the day after winning his trial in 29.25.

PEADAR WOODS

Greyhound racing lost another stalwart of the game over the weekend as Newry-based Peader Woods passed away peacefully on Sunday.

TALKING DOGS ON MONDAY 2ND SEPTEMBER

GRI

Callaway Knegare is the hot topic of conversation this Monday night following his Time Juvenile Derby win in Shelbourne Park at the weekend. Join Ian Fortune, Declan O’Donoghue and Sarah Kinsella as they look back on the Final and take in the other big news of the week including a record breaking run from Tuono Charlie in Limerick.

Callaway Knegare The Star Of TIME Juvenile Derby At Shelbourne Park

Sarah Kinsella

Callaway Knegare was crowned the 2024 TIME Juvenile Derby champion on Saturday night in Shelbourne Park for the Field Sports syndicate from Kerry.

KNEGARE A SPECIAL WINNER OF THE JUVENILE DERBY

Ian Fortune

Those that hadn’t being paying attention to Callaway Knegare in recent weeks, stood up and took notice on Saturday as he produced a typically brilliant display to capture the TIME Juvenile Derby in the manner of a greyhound with greyhound world at his feet.

DE LAHDEDAH IMPRESSES IN SPRINT TRIAL

Ian Fortune

English Derby champion De Lahdedah continued his preparation ahead of a bid for an historic Derby double with a superb sprint trial at Shelbourne Park ahead of racing on Saturday night.

PLENTY OF TOP CLASS PERFORMANCES AT KILCOHAN PARK

Barry Drake

The semi finals of the €7,500 to the winner Dave Collins Memorial Munster Oaks produced some fantastic racing at Kilcohan Park on Saturday night.

FOURTEEN NOT OUT FOR RECORD-BREAKING TUONO CHARLIE

Peter Farrell

Kindly sponsored by Dan Flynn, the 2024 Roma Casino Irish Cambridgeshire Open 750 got off to an incredible start at Limerick Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night as Tuono Charlie cemented his status as the best six-bend tracker in the land with yet another record-breaking display.