Irish Greyhound Derby
The Irish Greyhound Derby,[1] held at Shelbourne Park, is the premier greyhound competition in Ireland.
First held at Harold's Cross in 1928, the event was unofficial until 1932 when it switched to Shelbourne Park and then it was held in alternate years between the two tracks.[2]
Limerick and Cork Stadium both hosted the event once in 1939 and 1942 respectively. The competition remained at Shelbourne Park from 1968.
Today it is considered to be the one of the biggest races in the greyhound calendar alongside the English Greyhound Derby.
Past winners
| Year | Winner | Trainer | Winning Time | Owner | Breeder | Sire | Dam |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1928 | Tipperary Hills | Billy Quinn | Melksham Tom | Na Bac E | |||
| 1929 | Jack Bob | H Yeats | Mick Lynch | Mick Lynch | Orkit | Tottie Longsocks | |
| 1930 | Little Chummie | Billy Quinn | Michael Grace | Michael Grace (Kilkenny) | Bottle | Coolalong Girl | |
| 1931 | Little Chummie | Billy Quinn | Michael Grace | Michael Grace (Kilkenny) | Bottle | Coolalong Girl | |
| 1932 | Guideless Joe | Mick Horan | 30.36 | Mr. Moylan | Cornelius Forde | Guiding Hand | Flaming Fire |
| 1933 | Monologue | Luke Maher | 30.52 | Luke Maher | John Hughes (Carlow) | Mutton Cutlet | High Force |
| 1934 | Frisco Hobo | Tom Harty | 30.45 | Hidden Badger | Pykes Peak | ||
| 1935 | Roving Yank | Billy Dunne | 30.18 | Roving Bunty | Yankey Land | ||
| 1936 | Minstrel Rover | Michael Sheehan | 30.48 | Albion Greyhounds | Dick The Rover | Hogans Choice | |
| 1937 | Muinessa | Nuala O'Byrne | 30.85 | Slanebeg | Won But Lost | ||
| 1938 | Abbeylara | Tom Black | 30.09 | Tom Black | Mr Kiernan | Prudent Turn | Thats The Why |
| 1939 | Marching Thro Georgia | J.J.Doran | 30.05 Track Record | A. Morton | Church Parade | Stone Park | |
| 1940 | Tanist | Billy Quinn | 29.89 | Fr. Probert | Fr. Browne | Inler | Tranquila |
| 1941 | Brave Damsel | Paddy Kelly | 30.64 | John Byrne | John Byrne (Tipperary) | Maidens Boy | Queen Of The Suir |
| 1942 | Uacterlainn Riac | John Crowley | 30.22 | Jerry Crowley | Jerry Crowley (Cork) | Creamery Border | Roisin Riac |
| 1943 | Famous Knight | Bertie Tierney | 30.26 | Gledhill | Flynn | Highland Rum | Flyers Fortune |
| 1944 | Clonbonny Bridge | O'Neill | 30.53 | ||||
| 1945 | Lilacs Luck | Paddy Byrne | 30.12 | ||||
| 1946 | Steve | Harry O'Neill | 30.20 | ||||
| 1947 | Daring Flash | Mary d'Arcy | 30.04 | ||||
| 1948 | Western Post | Paddy Moclair | 29.90 | ||||
| 1949 | Crossmolina Rambler | Tim O'Connor | 29.70 | ||||
| 1950 | Spanish Lad | Anthony Meenaghan | 29.87 | T Drummond | T Drummond (Kerry) | Shaggy Lad | Cordal Moonlight |
| 1951 | Carmodys Tanist | Dicky Myles | 29.64 | Frances Chandler | Mad Tanist | Castletown Skinner | |
| 1952 | Rough Waters | Henry Lalor | 29.95 | Henry Lalor | D X Rice | Just Push | |
| 1953 | Spanish Battleship | Tom Lynch | 29.78 | Timothy (Chubb) O'Connor TD | T Drummond (Kerry) | Spanish Chestnut | Ballyseedy Memory |
| 1954 | Spanish Battleship | Tom Lynch | 29.64 | Timothy (Chubb) O'Connor TD | T Drummond (Kerry) | Spanish Chestnut | Ballyseedy Memory |
| 1955 | Spanish Battleship | Tom Lynch | 29.53 | Timothy (Chubb) O'Connor TD | T Drummond (Kerry) | Spanish Chestnut | Ballyseedy Memory |
| 1956 | Keep Moving | Malachy McKenna | 29.18 | ||||
| 1957 | Hopeful Cutlet | Jack Mullan | 29.60 | ||||
| 1958 | Colonel Perry | Jack Nallen | 29.79 | ||||
| 1959 | Sir Frederick | Tom Harty | 29.30 | ||||
| 1960 | Perrys Apple | Paddy Behan | 29.55 | ||||
| 1961 | Chieftains Guest | Leslie McNair | 29.45 | ||||
| 1962 | Shanes Legacy | Bob McCann | 29.58 | ||||
| 1963 | Drumahiskey Venture | Eithne Hammond | 29.60 | ||||
| 1964 | Wonder Valley | Jack Mullan | 29.30 | ||||
| 1965 | Ballyowen Chief | Gay McKenna | 29.42 | ||||
| 1966 | Always Proud | Gay McKenna | 29.44 | ||||
| 1967 | Russian Gun | Tom Lynch | 29.44 | ||||
| 1968 | Yellow Printer | John Bassett (England) | 29.11 | ||||
| 1969 | Own Pride | Ger McKenna | 29.20 | ||||
| 1970 | Monalee Pride | Gay McKenna | 29.28 | ||||
| 1971 | Sole Aim | David Geggus (England) | 29.12 | ||||
| 1972 | Catsrock Daisy | Gay McKenna | 29.20 | ||||
| 1973 | Bashful Man | Ger McKenna | 28.82 | ||||
| 1974 | Lively Band | Jack Murphy | 29.11 | ||||
| 1975 | Shifting Shadow | Podger Molloy | 29.35 | Clonsherry | Queens Parachute | ||
| 1976 | Tain Mor | Paddy Nolan | 29.35 | Ross Campbell | Aifric Campbell | Monalee Champion | An Tain |
| 1977 | Lindas Champion | Michael Barrett | 29.53 | Michael Barrett | Michael Barrett (Tipperary) | Monalee Champion | Merry Linda |
| 1978 | Pampered Rover | Paddy Keane | 29.23 | Olive Keane | Joe Phelan | Time Up Please | Pampered Peggy |
| 1979 | Penny County | Matt Travers | 29.28 | Dark Mercury | Columbcille Aim | ||
| 1980 | Suir Miller | Michael Barrett | 29.17 | Elizabeth Flood | Elizabeth Flood (Tipperary) | Minnesota Miller | More Cream |
| 1981 | Bold Work | Frank O'Regan | 29.32 | Breda O'Regan | Michael Foley | Itsachampion | Silver Moll |
| 1982 | Cooladine Super | Colm McGrath | 29.34 | Siobhan Kenny | Tranquility Sea | Cooladine Ruby | |
| 1983 | Belvedere Bran | Dermot O'Sullivan | 29.65 | Con O'Sullivan | Thomas McSherry | Brave Bran | Knock Out |
| 1984 | Dipmac | Seamus Graham | 29.15 | Noel Ryan | Seamus Graham (Laois) | Sand Man | Kind of Luxury |
| 1985 | Tubbercurry Lad | Charlie Faul | 29.14 | Michael Costello | Charlie Faul (Sligo) | Liberty Lad | Tubbercurry Nancy |
| 1986 | Kyle Jack | John Field | 30.41 | Michael Field | Batt O'Keeffe (Kerry) | Oran Jack | Lady Barbara |
| 1987 | Rathgallen Tady | Ger McKenna | 30.49 | Colm McCarthy | Colm McCarthy | Overdraught Pet | Mea West |
| 1988 | Make History | Johnny Quigley | 30.26 | Paul McKinney | Raymond Dowling (Kilkenny) | Game Ball | Raymonds Pride |
| 1989 | Manorville Magic | Paddy Doran | 30.53 | Catherine Doran | Catherine Doran | Manorville Sand | Black Vision |
| 1990 | The Other Toss | Matt O'Donnell | 30.14 | Michael Lonergan (Tipperary) | The Other Risk | Knocknaboha Snap | |
| 1991 | Ardfert Mick | Matt O'Donnell | 30.19 | Noel Clifford | Maurice Harty (Kerry) | Ardfert Sean | Boher Rita |
| 1992 | Manx Treasure | Michael O'Sullivan | 30.53 | John Guilford | John Guilford (UK) | Greenpark Fox | Minorcas Fuchsia |
| 1993 | Daleys Denis | Brendan Mullan | 30.30 | George Davenport | John O'Brien (UK) | Daleys Gold | Lisnakill Flyer |
| 1994 | Joyful Tidings | Donie O'Regan | 30.35 | Michael Carmody | Donal O'Connor (Kerry) | Whisper Wishes | Newmans Mall |
| 1995 | Batties Rocket | Matt O'Donnell | 30.19 | Alicia Swaffield | Alicia Swaffield (UK) | Batties Whisper | Lady Arrancourt |
| 1996 | Tina Marina | Seamus Graham | 30.20 | Greenvale Syndicate | Elizabeth Maher (Tipperary) | Phantom Flash | Minnies Nikita |
| 1997 | Toms The Best | Nick Savva (England) | 30.09 | Eddie Shotton | Ian Greaves (Kildare) | Frightful Flash | Ladys Guest |
| 1998 | Eyeman | Eddie Wade | 30.09 | Gerard Kervick | James Moore (Waterford) | Double Bid | Minglers Magic |
| 1999 | Spring Time | Gerald Watson | 30.00 | Gerald Watson | Charles Magill (Antrim) | Vintage Prince | Meantime |
| 2000 | Judicial Pride | Michael O'Donovan | 29.68 | Pat Daly | Michael Walsh (Kerry) | Thorgil Tex | Dons Pride |
| 2001 | Cool Performance | Sean Bourke | 30.01 | Patsy Byrne & Mick Gleeson | P.J. Keane (Kerry) | Mustang Jack | Pony Nikita |
| 2002 | Bypass Byway | Ollie Bray | 29.42 Track Record | Michael Kearney | Pat D'Arcy (Clare) | Spiral Nikita | Sandy Penny |
| 2003 | Climate Control | Seamus Graham | 29.71 | Kevin Smith & Aidan O'Regan | Ashley McCann (Wexford) | Larkhill Jo | Ballinclare Star |
| 2004 | Like A Shot | Owen McKenna | 29.87 | Michael Kelly | Patrick Sinnott (Kilkenny) | Larkhill Jo | Blackstone Lace |
| 2005 | He Said So | Tim O'Donovan | 29.66 | Jim Hennessy & Tim O'Donovan | Mick O'Donovan (Cork) | Top Honcho | You Said So |
| 2006 | Razldazl Billy | Dolores Ruth | 29.49 | Dazzling Syndicate | Tommy Holden (UK) | Brett Lee | Inky Black |
| 2007 | Tyrur Rhino | Paul Hennessy | 29.73 | P.J. Fahy | P.J. Fahy (Galway) | Tyrur Ted | Tyrur Marita |
| 2008 | Shelbourne Aston | Pat Curtin | 29.83 | Curtin-Hehir-Montgomery Syndicate | John Marks (Tipperary) | Just The Best | Queen Survivor |
| 2009 | College Causeway* | Pat Buckley | 29.53 | Mike & Vincent McKenna | Frank Culloty (Kerry) | Go Wild Teddy | College Tina |
| 2010 | Tyrur McGuigan | Conor Fahy | 29.41 | P.J. Fahy | P.J. Fahy (Galway) | Brett Lee | Tyrur Temptress |
| 2011 | Razldazl George | Dolores Ruth | 30.02 | Dazzling Syndicate | Dolores Ruth (Kildare) | Kinloch Brae | Razldazl Pearl |
| 2012 | Skywalker Puma | Frances O'Donnell | 29.39 | Ray Patterson | Paddy Purtill (Kerry) | Royal Impact | Dianas Ranger |
| 2013 | Slippery Robert | Robert Gleeson | 29.49 | Larry Dunne | Larry Dunne (Louth) | Hondo Black | Steamy Windows |
| 2014 | Laughil Blake | Michael O'Donovan | 29.50 | Mary & Paul Jennings | Mary Jennings (Offaly) | Brett Lee | Laughil Lass |
| 2015 | Ballymac Matt | Liam Dowling | 29.63 | Ballymac-kelly-and-the-lads-syndicate | Liam Dowling (Kerry) | Tyrur Big Mike | Ballymac Scarlet |
- College Causeway set a new track record of 29.21 in Round 1. That record stood until August 2015 when Tyrur Van Gaal ran 29.10 in the Irish Derby Plate Round 1.
- Harolds Cross (1928–1931, then alternate years until 1967)
- Limerick (1939)
- Cork (1942)
- Shelbourne Park (1932, then alternate years until 1967)
- Shelbourne Park (1968–1985, 525 yards)
- Shelbourne Park (1986–present, 550 yards)
References
- ^ http://www.ige.ie
- ^ "Irish Derby". Greyhound Racing History.