Sixmilebridge’s Stephen Murray recorded a successful weekend with a hat-trick of wins at Galway Greyhound Stadium.
The opening contest on Friday night was an A6 graded 550 and from traps Ballyvoe Ace and Springwell Nap towards the outer and Sports Olivia in the centre were all away well and they were lined across the track on the run towards the opening bend. Rounding the opening bend Springwell Nap took. a length out of her rivals and passing halfway she still held that lead. Approaching the third bend Ballyvoe Ace swept round the outside to lead once and despite charting a wide course around the home turn. The John Maher and Richard Pyne of Kilmaley owned son of Ballyana Foxtrot and Dooey Ace proved half a length too strong for Sports Olivia in 30.84.
In the A3 graded ninth contest the Patsy Fitzgerald of Kilrush owned Flyers Iniesta (Droopys Jet-Newline Farrah) regained the wining thread leading at the opening bend in his way to a fourth career success by four and a half lengths over Springwell Janey in 30.22.
Hampered at the opening bend last time out, the Michael Casey of Mullagh owned and Martin Fahy trained Menmal Prince made it two wins from four starts in the S3 graded contest by three and three quarter lengths from Bumblebee Dylan in 19.02.
The second part of the featured double bill was the concluding contest in which Loose Woman and Newport Diva were both away well in the centre of the track and disputed the lead on the run towards the opening bend. Rounding the bend Loose Woman held her ground well along the inner to lead by over a length into the back straight. Racing towards the halfway mark Millrose Brandy began to move closer along the rail but exiting the back straight the Stephen Murray of Sixmilebridge trained Loose Woman kicked again and staying on well the Helen Vaughan of Quin owned daughter of Laughill Blake and Ranchers Rainbow prevailed by a length and three parts from Millrose Brandy in 30.10
Murray’s fine run of good form continued on Saturday night with a double on the night the brace completed by a fine performance from the Sean O’Riordan owned Kilballyowen Boy in the A5 graded eighth contest ass he proved three & a half lengths to good for Headford Lad in 29.25.
The double was initiated in the sixth contest in which all six runners came away virtually as one for this S5 graded sprint contest and as they tried to sort themselves out it was Domain Joe that just showed on front from Stouke Hero and Peteles Duchess with Lillies Joy showing pace along the rails as they approached the opening bend. Rounding the bend Domain Joe drifted very wide as Stouke Hero switched inside but the Michael Corry and Michael Daly of Clarecastle owned Lillies Joy was cutting the corner well and led by two lengths off the home bend. On the run home the Stephen Murray trained Lillies Joy(Ballymac Vic-Brookeville Dash) was in control by half a length from Stouke Hero in 19.45.
Meelick-based businessman and racing greyhound owner, Dan Flynn, and his brother John this week presented a range of greyhound memorabilia to Greyhound Racing Ireland (GRI) for public display at Limerick Greyhound Stadium.
As well as being well known in business circles across Limerick, the Flynn family has a long association with greyhound racing in the Mid-West. Dan Flynn is former Chair of Limerick Greyhound Stadium Advisory Committee, while his father James J. Flynn was also a lifelong greyhound owner.
Amongst the memorabilia being displayed at Limerick Greyhound Stadium is a set of pictures and descriptions of ‘Fifty Famous Greyhounds’ – an initiative by the cigarette company John Player and Sons – in 1935. An identity card from 1933 belonging to James J. Flynn’s greyhound, First Page, is also being displayed. First Page was one of the first greyhounds to run at the Markets Field in Limerick.
