Greyhound racing in Ireland
Greyhound racing is a popular sport in Ireland. There are 18 stadiums operating in Ireland (two in Northern Ireland) of which ten are operated by the Bord na gCon (Irish Greyhound Board or IGB)[1] with the remaining six owned and operated by private enterprise but licensed by the Bord na gCon.[2]
Most have modern facilities including grandstand restaurant's and Parimutuel betting tote system with on-course and off-course betting available.
The Bord na gCon (IGB) is a commercial semi-state body and reports to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
History
Greyhound racing as it is seen today evolved from a sport called coursing. In 1926 the oval form of racing arrived in Britain at Belle Vue Stadium in Manchester which resulted in the creation of hundreds of tracks all over the United Kingdom and Ireland in the following ten years.[3]
The sport of greyhound racing in Ireland mainly takes place in the Republic of Ireland but also in Northern Ireland. However, any tracks in Northern Ireland have always been in a state of limbo due to the fact that they are licensed neither by the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) nor the Bord na gCon.[4]
To confuse matters, even more, the industry regards racing as either UK or Irish, the latter including Northern Ireland.[5] The Irish Greyhound Board provide all of the results from Northern Ireland. The vast majority of greyhounds running in the UK are bred in Ireland (95% in 2017).[6]
A new act called the 'Greyhound Racing Ireland Act 2019' was brought in to improve welfare within the industry. The act would also grant the Irish Greyhound Board extra authority to take action against anyone that fell short of the welfare standards. During 2019 the IGB had condemned some breeder practices.[7] Additionally the Bord na gCon was renamed the Rásaíocht Con Éireann (Greyhound Racing Ireland).[8] During October 2019 the IGB released the latest statistics appertaining to welfare under the Strategic Plan 2018-2022.[9]
Stadiums
- Clonmel (Private)
- Cork (IGB)
- Derry (N Ireland)
- Drumbo Park (N Ireland)
- Dundalk (Private)
- Enniscorthy (Private)
- Galway (IGB)
- Kilkenny (Private)
- Lifford (Private)
- Limerick (IGB)
- Longford (Private)
- Mullingar (IGB)
- Newbridge (IGB)
- Shelbourne Park (IGB)
- Thurles (Private)
- Tralee (IGB)
- Waterford (IGB)
- Youghal (IGB)
Competitions
There are many types of competitions in Ireland[10] but the primary race is the Irish Greyhound Derby held at Shelbourne Park. Along with the English Greyhound Derby and Scottish Greyhound Derby they are considered the big three in greyhound racing.
The Irish Greyhound Board publish an annual list of feature events.[11] Leading events include the Easter Cup, Champion Stakes, Cesarewitch, Oaks, Laurels and St Leger.
General information
Graded racing
This is any minor race staged at a track, and prize money is varied. This kind of racing is the most common and the core of most stadiums.
Racing jacket colours
Greyhound racing in Ireland has a standard colour scheme (the same as the UK).
- Trap 1 = Red with White numeral
- Trap 2 = Blue with White numeral
- Trap 3 = White with Black numeral
- Trap 4 = Black with White numeral
- Trap 5 = Orange with Black numeral
- Trap 6 = Black & White Stripes with Red numeral
A racing jacket worn by a reserve bears an additional letter 'R' prominently on each side.
References
- ^ "Our Stadiums". Irish Greyhound Board.
- ^ "2014 Annual Report" (PDF). Irish Greyhound Board.
- ^ Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 07207-1106-1.
- ^ "John McCollum, Drumbo Park". Belfast Telegraph.
- ^ Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-15-5.
- ^ "RTE Prepare Sensationalist Bull". Greyhound Star.
- ^ "Irish Greyhound Board statement: Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture – 9th July 2019". Irish Greyhound Board.
- ^ "Greyhound Racing Act 2019". Irish Statute Book, Office of the Attorney General of Ireland.
- ^ "IRISH GREYHOUND BOARD RISING TO WELFARE CHALLENGE". Greyhound Star.
- ^ Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 07207-1106-1.
- ^ "Feature Events" (PDF). Irish Greyhound Board.