*Photograph: Brian Arthur
THE EXECUTIVE of RCÉ/GRI met early on Monday morning to discuss the rescheduling of the Matchbook Irish St. Leger 2022 Final at the Limerick Track which was postponed on Saturday night due to freezing temperatures.
By Michael Maher
The decision has now been made to host the final on this Sunday (December 18th) with first race at 6.30pm. The full race card has been carried forward from last Saturday .
Racing from Limerick on Monday night last provided success for two Clare owned winners,Syds Star landed an A4 graded contest for the C-Star Syndicate from Ennis, a son of Droopys Sydney and Annual Review he recorded a first career victory in 29.44
Portdrine Magic owned by Cratloe’s Liam Carroll displayed great early pace to land the spoils in 29.38 for an A3 contest, it was the second career success for this son of Clonbrien Hero and Clona Lass.
A nice crowd congregated to view the twelve races on offer at the same venue on Thursday night last, the first race of the evening went to Mary Crotty from O’Briensbridge with Inislsoky Jasper, in 29.70. Snuggie Rosie owned by Newmarket on Fergus’s Breda Casey justified favouritism with a decent 29.06 run and Rockalong Sierra brought the honours to Tulla for Donnacha McNamara with a 29.18 victory in an A3 graded contest.
Due to the high demand for Christmas parties, there was racing at Galway Greyhound stadium on Thursday night last. In the first race of the evening a novice 525, Glynnscross Liz ran a blinder for Kilmihil’s Tom Keane to get her career off to winning ways in 29.42, she is a homebred daughter of Droopys Sydney and Glynnscross Styler.
Tubber native Gerry O’Donoghue, the butcher from Gort had On the Radio in fine fettle who landed the spoils in 29.48, a son of candlelight king and pinnacle blue, this was his first career win.
Aulton Lucy claimed the honours in the finale of the evening for Pat Hogan from Ballyalla with her 29.39 effort, a first career win for this daughter of Pat C Sabbath and Portumna West.
Friday night’s Galway card was curtailed to just seven races as a starting trap malfunction caused the second of four scheduled heats of the Pau McKenna Memorial A3 575 yards generously sponsored by Vincent McKenna to voiced and forcing the remaining heats to be run this coming week. The card also featured the Semi Finals of the WGOBA A4 Christmas Croker 525 with a pair of A2 graded contests the twin features class wise.
Greyhound Racing Ireland have announced a number of prizemoney bonus incentives for events across the 2023 Irish Greyhound Racing Calendar. In an innovative approach, the bonuses will benefit Owners, Trainers and Breeders and are available across a wide range of distances and events.
2023 Racing Bonus Incentives
Sprint Triple Crown
Supersprint at Curraheen Park
Islandbridge Sprint at Shelbourne Park
Treaty Cup at Limerick Greyhound Stadium
€15,000 bonus if greyhound wins all 3 events.
€5,000 bonus if greyhound places 1st, 2nd or 3rd in all 3 events
Bitch Bonus
Munster Oaks, Kilcohan Park
Galway Oaks, Galway Greyhound Stadium
€10,000 Bonus if bitch wins both events.
Shelbourne Park Oaks Bonus
Puppy Oaks (April), Shelbourne Park
Sporting Press Irish Oaks, Shelbourne Park
€10,000 bonus for any bitch Puppy who wins Puppy Oaks and then finishes 1st, 2nd or 3rd in the Irish Oaks Final
Unraced Puppy Bonus
Champion Unraced, Kilkenny Greyhound Stadium
Produce Stakes, Clonmel Greyhound Stadium
€10,000 Bonus if greyhound wins both events
525 Greyhound Bonus
Select Stakes, Kilcohan Park
Irish Laurels, Curraheen Park
€10,000 for any greyhound who wins both events
Puppy Bonus
IGOBF National Puppy, Shelbourne Park
2024 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial, Limerick Greyhound Stadium
€20,000 for any greyhound who wins both events
Triple Crown Bonus
Easter Cup, Shelbourne Park
Champion Stakes, Shelbourne Park
Irish Greyhound Derby, Shelbourne
€50,000 for any greyhound who wins all 3 events
Stayers Bonus
Deadly Kennels Open 750, Curraheen Park
Corn Cuchulainn, Shelbourne Park
€10,000 for any greyhound who wins both events
Bonus will be split 40% Owner / 40% Trainer / 20% Breeder
