It was a quite past week-end for Greyhound Racing due to frozen tracks however Friday nights twelve race programme at Galway Greyhound Stadium did manage to go ahead with the A2 graded seventh contest over 525 yards the top graded contest of the night.
As the traps rose for the feature event Drombeg Blake came away well on the wide outside as Puck Out showed pace towards the inside. Rounding the opening bend Puck Out led by a length as Mr Logan slipped through in his slipstream to move second entering the back straight. Passing halfway the Martin and Eve Crowe of Barefield owned Mr Logan moved through on the leaders inside to take command of the contest and quickly setting sail for home, the Donal Duggan of Tulla trained runner eased away to defeat Drombeg Blake by five lengths in 29.03.
The S9 graded second contest went in all the way fashion to the John Collins and John Browne of Ballyea owned Brickhill Paulio who having found trouble on debut made no mistake at the second time of asking as he defeated Wishful Blossom by a length and a half in 19.52. Very smartly into stride on this occasion the son of Laughill Blake and Rathmeehan Holly led Wishful Blossom by three lengths approaching the opening bend and despite drifting wide between the two bends the winner was always in control of proceedings.
Race four’s outcome was decided between the final two bends. From the traps in the Novice 525, Rosshill Billy showed pace to lead from Mr Quiz Answer around the opening two bends with Burnpark Ritchie and Glynnscorssbunty giving chase to the leading pair as they passed halfway. Between the final two bends though the leaders got in each others way and this allowed the Maria Browne of Cree owned Burnpark Ritchie to sweep through and kick clear to defeat Glynnscrossbunty by three and a quarter lengths in 30.12.
Racing towards the opening bend in race 8 for the S5 graded contest Derra Misty held the call along the rails as Aulton Zero and Gunner Leno also raced prominently as the opening bend loomed. Rounding the bend Gunner Leno moved up out wide to briefly strike the front but the rail hugging Derra Misty was back in front as they entered the home straight. On the run home, the Rachel Murray and Sean O’Riordan of Sixmilebridge owned daughter of Laughill Blake and Playmistyforme eased away to score by two and a half lengths for the Stephen Murray kennel of Sixmilebridge in a time of 19.31.
Passing Of Mary Gallery:
It was with deep sadness that all in the Greyhound World and particularly members of the Ennis and Clarecastle Coursing Club heard on Sunday morning of the passing of Mary Gallery, Rockmount, Ballybeg, Ennis wife of the late George Gallery M.R.C.V.S and synonymous with the famed Cillowen prefix.
Mary and her family enjoyed tremendous success on the coursing fields of Ireland with Champions Stake Winners Killone Oak (1987), Cillowen Glory (1995) along with numerous Trial Stake winners and of course in 2002 breeding both Derby finalists Murtys Gang and their own Cillowen Harbour. Mary was a lifelong and valued member of the club and the club will be forever grateful for her continued sponsorship in the oaks trial stake. She will be sadly missed by her sons, David and George, daughters Beradette, Patrica and Fiona, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, grandchildren, great grandchildren and extended family. Mary’s funeral mass took place on Monday in the Ennis Cathedral with Burial after in Drumcliffe Cemetery.
