December 2023

MY 2023 HIGHLIGHTS WITH DECLAN O'DONOGHUE

GRI

We asked some of our regular Talking Dogs contributors to share their 2023 racing highlights with us. Declan O'Donghue joins us to share the final set of highlights and he's picked some of the biggest moments of the Greyhound Racing year to finish it off.

IMPRESSIVE DISPLAY FROM BALLYDAGUE REBEL AT CURRAHEEN PARK

Barry Drake

All the team at Curraheen Park along with the Curraheen Park Supporters Club have done trojan work throughout 2023 and they held a great end-of-the-year night on Saturday that featured a couple of decent finals.

MAGIC MOLLY ENDS 2023 WITH OAKS SUCCESS

Ian Fortune

Rathdown Molly has been a real star for Bill Mullholland and Marie Gilbert through 2023 and so few would begrudge her a brilliant success in the Shelbourne Christmas Oaks at a packed Shelbourne Park on Friday night.

GALWAY ENDS 2023 WITH A BANG AS SWEEPSTAKES DECIDED

Peter Farrell

Fifty percent of last night’s card at Galway Greyhound Stadium was taken up by sweepstake deciders as the Connacht venue ended 2023 in fine style.

MY 2023 HIGHLIGHTS WITH ROB CATTERSON

GRI

We asked some of our regular Talking Dogs contributors to share their 2023 racing highlights with us. Rob Catterson who has traveled the country with RPGTV gives us 3 moments that stood out for him.

MY 2023 HIGHLIGHTS WITH PETER FARRELL

GRI

We asked some of our regular Talking Dogs contributors to share their 2023 racing highlights with us. Peter Farrell picks three stand-out moments from the many wonderful performances on the track in Ireland.

MY 2023 HIGHLIGHTS WITH BARRY DRAKE

GRI

We asked some of our regular Talking Dogs contributors to share their 2023 racing highlights with us. Barry Drake shares 3 highlights that captured his imagination this year with a strong local influence.

MY 2023 HIGHLIGHTS: IAN FORTUNE

GRI

We asked some of our regular Talking Dogs contributors to share their 2023 racing highlights with us. Ian Fortune picks three stand-out moments from the many wonderful performances on the track in Ireland.

MY 2023 HIGHLIGHTS: BARRY CAUL

GRI

We asked some of our regular Talking Dogs contributors to share their 2023 racing highlights with us. First up we have Barry Caul who shares 3 moments that captured his imagination in Shelbourne Park.

CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FROM FRANK NYHAN, CHAIRMAN OF RCÉ / GRI

GRI

A message from the Chairman of RCÉ/GRI, Frank Nyhan, as published in this week's Sporting Press.

KINGDOM DERBY SUCCESS FOR TEAM BUCKLEY AS ROAD EXILE IS SIMPLY STUNNING

Barry Drake

ROAD EXILE, trained by Pat Buckley for owner R.A.Colwell, ran out a brilliant winner of the €5,000 to the winner Eric Browne Memorial Kingdom Derby on Friday night.

MOLLY A CHRISTMAS CRACKER IN OAKS SEMIS

Ian Fortune

Bill Mullholland’s Rathdown Molly was at her brilliant best at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night as she booked her place in the final of the Christmas Oaks with a facile success in an impressive 28.39.

EAZY RAZZLE MAKES IT A YEAR TO REMEMBER AT CURRAHEEN PARK

Barry Drake

EAZY RAZZLE, trained by John Linehan for owner Barry Rocks, completed a wonderful three-timer with another outstanding display in the final of the €5,000 to the winner Elite Contracting Open 575 at Curraheen Park.

BILLY RAMSBOTTOM

Greyhound racing lost a true friend yesterday with the sad passing of one of the great gentlemen of the sport, Billy Ramsbottom.

BLAKE & GEM CLAIM LIMERICK FEATURES

Peter Farrell

There was another action-packed card on offer at Limerick Greyhound Stadium last night but the highlights were the two finals of the Callaway Pro Am @ Stud 600 and the Limerick & Clare GOBA 525.

BLANTYRE LADY CLAIMS FREDDIE AND TIMMY CAMPION MEMORIAL

Peter Farrell

There was €2,100 up for grabs in the final of the Freddie and Timmy Campion Memorial 525 last night at Clonmel Greyhound Stadium and it went the way of the Adam Dunford-trained Blantyre Lady.

SEAN SCULLY SUCCESS FOR SKID ROAD JOE AT GALWAY

Peter Farrell

The Sean Scully Memorial 525 offered an attractive pot of €2,000 last night at Galway Greyhound Stadium and this went the way of Skid Road Joe as he pounced in the closing stages to secure a seventh career victory.

TALKING DOGS ON THURSDAY EPISODE 151: BERKIE BROWNE & LIAM PEACOCK

GRI

A double episode this week with two guests including Berkie Browne and Liam Peacock.

COMPETITION: WIN A COPY OF THE IRISH GREYHOUND REVIEW

GRI

This competition is now closed. Congratulations to our winners!

TALKING DOGS 2023 REVIEW OF THE YEAR PART TWO

GRI

2023 was another fantastic year of Irish Greyhound Racing and we're going to be sharing some of the highlights over the coming weeks.

OUR PEOPLE THE GENERATIONS: MEET THE RAMSBOTTOMS FROM COUNTY LAOIS

GRI

Meet the Ramsbottom family from County Laois and 3 generations united by their love of greyhounds and our great sport of greyhound racing.

READY TO RACE CLONMEL SALE PROVES VERY POPULAR

Peter Farrell

Last Friday, 15th December, saw Clonmel Greyhound Stadium host a successful Greyhound Sale which was restricted to Unraced pups.

CAMPION TAKEOVER AT CLONMEL AS SENORITA LANDS FEATURE

Peter Farrell

There were several eye-catching performances at Clonmel Greyhound Stadium on Sunday night but Paraic Campion stole the show as he sent out a trio of winners.

EAZY RAZZLE AND ORCHID LEGACY STAR AT CURRAHEEN PARK

Barry Drake

EAZY RAZZLE completed back-to-back wins in the opening semi-final of the Elite Contracting Open 575 at Curraheen Park on Saturday night.

MAGIC MUZZY TAKES HEADLINES AT SHELBOURNE

Ian Fortune

Highjay Muzzy captured her second big title in just a fortnight at a packed Shelbourne Park on Saturday when showing incredible strength to dominate in the final of the Shelbourne Marathon.

QUALITY FARE AT LIMERICK AHEAD OF FINALS NIGHT

Peter Farrell

There was some terrific action at Limerick Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night as the semi finals of both the Callaway Pro Am @ Stud 600 and the Limerick & Clare GOBA 525 took place.

BOGGER DOUBLES UP IN MICKEY O’SULLIVAN OPENER AT THURLES

Peter Farrell

The opening round heats of the Mickey O’Sullivan Memorial A2 525 took centre stage at Thurles Greyhound Stadium last night and not for the first time, Liam Peacock stole the show as he notched two of the three heats on offer.

TRAINER PAT BUCKLEY RECORDS OUTSTANDING DOUBLE IN THE SEMI FINALS OF THE KINGDOM DERBY

Barry Drake

Superfast Gorden set the standard in the Kingdom on Friday night as the semi-finals of the 2023 Eric Browne Memorial Kingdom Derby took centre stage.

BORN TO PERFORM IMPRESSES ON DEBUT

Peter Farrell

Following the ‘Ready To Race’ sales earlier in the day, Clonmel hosted a nine race card on Friday night and there was a debut of real note as Born To Perform burst onto the scene.

DRAMA IN SEAN SCULLY MEMORIAL AS MIST IMPRESSES ON DEBUT

Peter Farrell

The semi finals of the Sean Scully Memorial 525 served as the highlight on last night’s card at Galway Greyhound Stadium and the decider looks certain to prove hugely competitive with little to separate the six finalists.

BRILLIANT DREAM A DAD

Ian Fortune

The brilliant 2022 Juvenile Classic winner Wi Can Dream was retired without much fanfare earlier this year after picking up an injury at Shelbourne Park but it was wonderful to hear from his owner Lars Wicander yesterday afternoon as he reported his star in fine form.

FIRST LEINSTER CARE CENTRE OPENS TO HELP FORMER RACING GREYHOUNDS FIND HOMES IN RETIREMENT IN IRELAND

GRI

The latest Greyhound Care Centre has opened in Kildare, the first in Leinster and the first which will operate exclusively for Irish rehomings. A partnership between Rásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ)/ Greyhound Racing Ireland (GRI) and the Irish Retired Greyhound Trust, this Care Centre is the next chapter in a racing greyhounds life and will help ex-racing greyhounds find their new families and their forever homes as pets.

RTE SPORT'S HUGH CAHILL VISITS THE LEINSTER CARE CENTRE

GRI

Hugh Cahill, who many will know from RTE Sport, and his family are looking forward to welcoming a former racing greyhound into their lives.

SAKINA A MUM AS WE READY OURSELVES FOR SILLY SEASON

Ian Fortune

The rumours are already doing the rounds about a few flying machines trialing ahead of silly season.

TALKING DOGS 2023 REVIEW OF THE YEAR PART ONE

GRI

2023 was another fantastic year of Irish Greyhound Racing and we're going to be sharing some of the highlights over the coming weeks. Ian Fortune and Rob Catterson take us through the classics - first up they look at the opening 4 classics of the year.

CAMPION DOUBLE ON A FINE CLONMEL CARD

Peter Farrell

The second round heats of the Freddie & Timmy Campion Memorial Guys & Dolls served as the highlight on Sunday night’s Clonmel card and it was Miss Mini Rose who went narrowly quickest for Thomas O’Donovan.

ROCKET BLAKE STARS IN CALLAWAY PRO AM OPENER AT LIMERICK

Peter Farrell

There was a competitive card on offer at Limerick Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night as the opening round heats of the Callaway Pro Am @ Stud A3 600 took place, as well as the opening round heats of the Limerick & Clare GOBA 525.

LADIES AND STAYERS IMPRESS AT PACKED SHELBOURNE

Ian Fortune

Saturday’s action at Shelbourne Park featured the opening round of the Christmas Oaks and the semi-finals of the Shelbourne Marathon over the almost unique 1025y trip.

MASSIVE CROWDS COME OUT TO SUPPORT CORK CAMOGIE STARS AT CURRAHEEN PARK

Barry Drake

Curraheen Park was buzzing on Saturday night as the crowds came out in force to support a major fundraising night for the Cork Camogie.

BOGGER DASHES TO DEADLY GLORY

Ian Fortune

Bogger Cooper handed Liam Peacock another memorable night at Kilkenny on Friday, showing tremendous early speed to contain the odds-on favourite into the turn before going on to land the €5,000 to the winner Deadly Kennels A2 525.

SENSATIONAL TRACK RECORD PERFORMANCE FROM DALEROAD DUKE

Barry Drake

DALEROAD DUKE delivered a sensational track record-winning performance in the opening round of the Eric Browne Memorial Kingdom Derby at Tralee on Friday night.

KOBE BOWS OUT ON TOP

Ian Fortune

Derby champion The Other Kobe has run his final race.

MANDOLIN TO HAVE A SMALL BREAK

Ian Fortune

After producing the most stunning performance at the Winter Racing Festival last weekend, connections of Droopys Mandolin have decided to side step the Christmas Oaks with a view to giving their star a well-deserved break.

TALKING DOGS ON THURSDAY EPISODE 150: BERKIE BROWNE & JIMMY BARRY MUPRHY

GRI

This Thursday Barry chats to two guests, both with big nights to look forward to. Berkie Browne & Jimmy Barry Murphy.

VIDEO: 2023 RCÉ GRI WINTER RACING FESTIVAL NIGHT 2

GRI

A bumper crowd made their way to Shelbourne Park for night 2 of the 2023 RCÉ/GRI Winter Racing Festival on Saturday 2nd December. Join us now to look back on all the action with commentary from Ian Fortune and Rob Catterson interviewing connections.

VIDEO: 2023 RCÉ GRI WINTER RACING FESTIVAL NIGHT 1

GRI

The 2023 RCÉ/GRI Winter Racing Festival got underway in Shelbourne Park Greyhound Stadium on Friday 1st December. Join us now to look back on the action with Ian Fortune on commentary and Rob Catterson interviewing some of the winning connections.

BRILLIANT BELLA RETIRED

Ian Fortune

One of the best stayers in the land has hung up her muzzle with the news that Jacktavern Bella has been retired.

BLAZE SOLD AND OFF TO WALLIS

Ian Fortune

The news broke yesterday that, after his brilliant Winter Racing Festival success, Garfiney Blaze has been sold to the MWD Partnership and will be joining Mark Wallis.

SIS GRI 2024 AGREEMENT

GRI

GRI are in advanced stages of a new agreement with SIS for new racing content from 1st of January 2024.

TALKING WINTER RACING FESTIVAL 2023

GRI

Join us to talk about the wonderful action at the 2023 RCÉ Winter Racing Festival.

A MAGICAL NIGHT AT SHELBOURNE AS FESTIVAL ENDS

Ian Fortune

Greyhound racing was again the winner at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night as the best greyhounds in training provided a special night that was accompanied by a wonderfully festive atmosphere as the 2023 RCÉ Winter Racing Festival came to a conclusion.