Kirby Memorial Stakes
| Feature race | |
| Location | Limerick Greyhound Stadium |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 2013 |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 525 yards |
| Surface | Sand |
| Qualification | Juveniles only (26 months old and younger) |
| Purse | €80,000 (winner) |
The Con & Annie Kirby Memorial Stakes is a greyhound racing competition held annually at Limerick Greyhound Stadium at Greenpark, Dock Road, Limerick, Ireland.
The competition quickly established itself as one of the leading feature events in the Irish racing calendar due to the significant prize money on offer.[1]
It boasted a record €80,000 to the winner in 2014 making the competition one of the biggest prizes in greyhound racing and the richest juvenile race in the world.[2] It was sponsored by J. P. McManus & Noreen McManus, and named in honour of Noreen McManus's parents, who had close ties with the old Limerick Markets Field Greyhound Stadium.
A series of trial stakes are run at different locations in preparation for the competition.[3]
Past winners[edit]
| Year | Winner | Breeding | Time | Trainer | SP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Roxholme Bully [4] | Shaneboy Lee – Roxholme Sue | 28.65 | Owen McKenna | 11-8f | |
| 2014 | Boylesports Hero [5] | Top Savings – Cabra Midget | 28.31 | Brendan Matthews | 5-4f | |
| 2015 | Cable Bay [6] | Foleys Folly – Toms Delight | 28.11 | Brendan Matthews | 6-1 | |
| 2016 | Droopys Roddick [7] | Droopys Jet - Droopys Start | 28.09 | Pat Buckley | 7-2 | |
| 2017 | Bentekes Bocko [8] | Tullymurry Act - Tullig Paula | 28.39 | Pat Buckley | 2-1f | |
| 2018 | Droopys Davy [9] | Droopys Nidge - Droopys Loner | 28.10 | Pat Buckley | 4-5f | |
| 2019 | Toolmaker Josie [10] | Pat C Sabbath – Lemon Bolt | 28.37 | Robert Gleeson | 6/1 | |
| 2020 | No race due to (COVID-19 pandemic) | |||||
| 2021 | Stonepark Leo[11] | Ballymac Best – Adamant Gem | 28.38 | Mark O'Donovan | No SP | No SP due to COVID-19 |
| 2022 | Swords Rex[12] | Droopys Sydney – Starry Display | 28.27 | Graham Holland | 9/4f | |
| 2023 | Clonbrien Treaty[13] | Pestana – Clonbrien Millie | 28.05 | Graham Holland | 5/2 | |
Venues and distances[edit]
- 2013-present (Limerick 525y)
References[edit]
- ^ "Irish Greyhound Board Has published the classic and feature events calendar for 2016". Irish Greyhound Board.
- ^ "Con Annie Kirby Worlds Richest Puppy Race". Ilovelimerick.ie.
- ^ "Slayed by slade". Greyhound Star.
- ^ "2013 final". Irish Greyhound Board.
- ^ "2014 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial Stake Final (Grade : AA0)". Irish Greyhound Board.
- ^ "2015 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial Stake Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
- ^ "2016 Result". Irish Greyhound Board.
- ^ "Kirby Memorial". Irish Greyhound Board.
- ^ "Kirby Memorial Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
- ^ "2019 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
- ^ "2021 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial 525 Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
- ^ "2022 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial 525 Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
- ^ "2023 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 23 April 2023.