EXILE A RUNAWAY WINNER OF RIVERSIDE KENNELS CHRISTMAS CUP
Peter Farrell
The last big pot of 2024 was on offer at Clonmel Greyhound Stadium on Sunday night as the final of the €6,000 to the winner Riverside Kennels Munster Christmas Cup came to a conclusion and it was Im An Exile that landed the spoils in terrific fashion for owner Andrew Lynch.
BOHERASH TWIRL CRUISES TO VICTORY
Barry Drake
BOHERASH TWIRL, for Leonard Hanrahan, ran out a classy winner of the €700 to the winner Edward Donnelly Memorial A4 Stake Final on Saturday afternoon.
A MEMORABLE FINISH TO THE SHELBOURNE PARK YEAR
Ian Fortune
Silverhill Freya brough the curtain down on the Shelbourne Park year, running out an exceptional winner of the Bernard Barry Christmas Oaks on Saturday night, crowing another exceptional twelve months for Graham Holland and his Riverside Kennels operation.
BALLYHIMIKIN REX ENDS THE YEAR ON A HIGH AT CURRAHEEN PARK
Barry Drake
In the care of Billy and John Dunne, Ladysbridge, BALLYHIMIKIN REX ran out a superb winner of the feature in Curraheen Park on Saturday night, the €5,000 to the winner Elite Contracting Open 575.
PATCH TAKES THE HEADLINES
Ian Fortune
Da Quiet Patch took the headlines at Shelbourne Park on Friday, landing the final of the Christmas Regulars A3/A4 525 in the manner of a greyhound that won’t see that grade again anytime soon.
BALLYMAC BRIAR STORMS TO VICTORY IN THE KINGDOM DERBY
Barry Drake
BALLYMAC BRIAR, trained by Liam Dowling for Father Maurice Brick, ran out an outstanding winner of the €5,000 to the winner Eric Browne Memorial Kingdom Derby on Friday night.
TALKING DOGS REVIEW OF THE YEAR PART FOUR
GRI
We're back with the final recap of the 2024 racing highlights.
TALKING DOGS REVIEW OF THE YEAR PART THREE
GRI
We’re sharing some of the racing highlights of 2024 with a recap on the Classics with Ian Fortune.
CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FROM PAT FLANAGAN, CHAIRMAN GRI
GRI
Dear Friends, On behalf of Rásaíocht Con Éireann, I wish to extend my heartfelt Christmas greetings to the wider greyhound racing community and to thank our owners, trainers, staff, supporters, sponsors and racegoers for their collective support throughout the year.
TALKING DOGS REVIEW OF THE YEAR PART TWO
GRI
Over the Christmas period, we'll be sharing some of the racing highlights of 2024 with a recap on the Classics with Ian Fortune.
TALKING DOGS REVIEW OF THE YEAR PART ONE
GRI
Ian Fortune recaps on the 2024 racing year with a look back on the classics - first up it's the opening quarter of 2024.
BEAUTY SETS OAKS PACE AGAIN
Ian Fortune
The stage is set for a tremendous finish to the Bernard Barry Christmas Oaks after three wonderful semi-finals at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night.
WONDERFUL DISPLAY FROM LEMON ORLA
Barry Drake
LEMON ORLA, trained by Tom O’Neill for owners TJ Lyons and Noel Crowley, delivered the performance of the night at Curraheen Park on Saturday night when winning the €1,750 to the winner Ger Gubbins Construction A2 Final by a wide margin.
MYSTICAL JET LANDS WHEELER AUCTIONEER DECIDER AT LIMERICK
Peter Farrell
The final of the Wheeler Auctioneers A2 525 offered up a €1,500 prize to the winner at Limerick Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night and it went the way of the Pat Buckley-trained Mystical Jet as he produced a career best performance.
TARTAN ‘TIMES’ IT PERFECTLY IN MARATHON DECIDER
Peter Farrell
Lifford Greyhound Stadium hosted two stake finals on Saturday night, however, the feature was the final of the €1,000 to the winner TIME Greyhound Nutrition & Northwest Greyhound Supplies A1-A7 Marathon, run over the grueling 820-yard trip.
VENTRY FAITH GOES QUICKEST IN THE SEMI FINALS OF THE ERIC BROWNE MEMORIAL KINGDOM DERBY
Barry Drake
The semi-finals of the Eric Browne Memorial Kingdom Derby produced some fantastic racing on Friday night and a lot of the fancied runners were knocked out of the €5,000 to the winner competition.
ENTERTAINING FARE AT SHELBOURNE AS APRIL AND TEJAY IMPRESS
Ian Fortune
There was entertainment galore at Shelbourne Park on Friday night as both the Gold Collar and the Shelbourne Marathon got underway.
SWORDS HERO & TEMPESTADE LAND RIVERSIDE CHRISTMAS CUP SEMIS AT CLONMEL
Peter Farrell
The semi finals of the Riverside Kennels Munster Christmas Cup took centre stage at Clonmel Greyhound Stadium on Friday night and Graham Holland accounted for both semi final winners as Tempestade and Swords Hero landed their respective contests in terrific fashion.
BLAZE MORE FIRE SETS O’GORMAN STANDARD AS TAYLOR LANDS GALWAY’S KILCOLGAN FEATURE
Peter Farrell
There was lots of sweepstake action on offer at Galway Greyhound Stadium on Friday night but the feature was the semi finals of the Paddy O’Gorman A1/A2 525.
SHELBOURNE PARK TRIAL RESULTS, FRIDAY 20/12/2024
GRI
Shelbourne Park Trial Results, Friday 20/12/2024:
SHELBOURNE PARK TRIAL RESULTS, THURSDAY 19/12/2024
GRI
Shelbourne Park Trial Results, Thursday 19/12/2024:
BRILLIANT BOLT RETIRED AND SET FOR STUD DUTIES
Ian Fortune
As has been said a million times over the years, “early pace wins the races”.
PJ BOWING OUT AT THE TOP
Ian Fortune
The coming days will see one of the great gentlemen of Irish greyhound racing stepping away professionally with the news that PJ Roberts is set to retire and walk off into the sunset after many years of being part of the furniture at Enniscorthy Greyhound stadium.
EPISODE 188: CALLUM PURDY TALKING DOGS ON THURSDAY WITH BARRY DRAKE
Barry Drake
Barry is joined this week by Callum Purdy from the Untold racing team.
TALKING DOGS SPECIAL: TALKING BOCKOS DIAMOND WITH GRAHAM HOLLAND AND GRAHAM BOX
GRI
As we reach the end of 2024, it's that time when we reflect on the best of the year. Although just a few short weeks on from his BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby success, the displays of Bockos Diamond from track record through to Derby success are up there as some of the best of all time, not just the year!
HEIRESS ANOTHER BRILLIANT ENNICORTHY GRADUATE
Ian Fortune
It was another memorable weekend for Mark Wallis across the water with the UK’s champion trainer recording an incredible Category One hat trick on Saturday night.
Drive On Beauty Sets Standard in Christmas Oaks
Sarah Kinsella
Drive On Beauty was an impressive winner in the opening round of the Bernard Barry Christmas Oaks 525 at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night.
VIDEOS: 2024 RCÉ/GRI WINTER RACING FESTIVAL
GRI
The 2024 RCÉ/GRI Winter Racing Festival took place in Shelbourne Park on Friday 6th & Saturday 7th December with the Saturday night headlining the weekend with €97,500 in winning prizemoney on the night.
ANOTHER NICE WINNER AND A FINE YEAR FOR TRAINER ADAM DUNFORD
Barry Drake
Trainer Adam Dunford has enjoyed a fine year with over 50 winners and he sent out another nice winner in Youghal on Saturday afternoon as Ballinakill Liam impressed when winning the €1,000 to the winner Yahoo Kennels ON2/ON3 Stake Final.
BEAUTY SHINES IN CHRISTMAS OAKS
Ian Fortune
The ladies took top billing at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night with the opening round of the valuable Bernard Barry Christmas Oaks providing some superb displays but the undoubted star of proceedings was Drive On Beauty as she set a strong standard.
BUCKO BLITZES RIVALS AT LIMERICK, GAWN LANDS UNRACED
Peter Farrell
There was some quality racing on offer at Limerick Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night and the standout performance came from Hazelhill Bucko as he obliterated his rivals in his AAO/AO 550-yard contest.
EXTRA GAIN IN FLYING FORM AT CURRAHEEN PARK
Barry Drake
Sponsored by Eoin Ivers and Frank Flannery, the €5,000 to the winner Elite Contracting Open 575 got off to a flying start in Curraheen Park on Saturday night.
SHELBOURNE PARK TRIAL RESULTS, SATURDAY 14/12/2024
GRI
Shelbourne Park Trial Results, Saturday 14/12/2024:
LADIES TO DELIGHT AT SHELBOURNE IN CHRISTMAS OAKS
Ian Fortune
The Bernard Barry Christmas Oaks begins this evening with the participants chasing a bigger than normal €10,000 winner’s purse.
SHOCKS APLENTY IN RIVERSIDE KENNELS CHRISTMAS CUP
Peter Farrell
There were plenty of shock results as the second round of the Riverside Kennels Munster Christmas Cup continued at Clonmel on Friday night but something that was not surprising was the performance of Swords Hero as he bounced back from his opening round defeat in emphatic style.
COLOSSAL OPENING ROUND OF PADDY O’GORMAN MEMORIAL AT GALWAY
Peter Farrell
The first round heats of the Paddy O’Gorman Memorial A1/A2 525 featured on the Friday card at Galway and there were several top-class performances as Colossal Venture set the standard in blistering fashion.
DALEROAD DEVON STARS IN THE OPENING ROUND OF THE ERIC BROWNE MEMORIAL KINGDOM DERBY
Barry Drake
DALEROAD DEVON set a fantastic standard in the opening round of the Eric Browne Memorial Kingdom Derby on Friday night, clocking a wonderful 28.16 when winning for trainer Patrick Guilfoyle and owner Thomas O'Keeffe.
SHELBOURNE PARK TRIAL RESULTS, FRIDAY 13/12/2024
GRI
Shelbourne Park Trial Results, Friday 13/12/2024:
SORREL WITH A GOOD CODY ROMP AT ENNISCORTHY
Ian Fortune
Ballymac Sorrel emerged a tremendous winner of the Good Cody @ Stud Open Unraced at Enniscorthy on Thursday night for Pat Buckley and owners Cormac and Charlie Doyle.
SHELBOURNE PARK TRIAL RESULTS, THURSDAY 12/12/2024
GRI
Shelbourne Park Trial Results, Thursday 12/12/2024:
EPISODE 187 MYLES ROBAN TALKING DOGS ON THURSDAY WITH BARRY DRAKE
Barry Drake
Barry chats with Myles Roban about his family’s rich greyhound-rearing tradition in Enniscorthy.
TOTE TAKEDOWN CERTAINLY PROVING FAVOURABLE FOR PUNTERS
Ian Fortune
It was wonderful news for regular Tote punters when Greyhound Racing Ireland made the decision to continue its low 12.5% Tote retention rate for Shelbourne Park on Saturday nights through December and January.
TALKING WINTER RACING FESTIVAL 2024 MONDAY 9TH DECEMBER
GRI
Join Ian Fortune, Tommy Lyons and Declan O'Donoghue as they sit down to chat about the 2024 RCÉ/GRI Winter Racing Festival action in Shelbourne Park.
REASONS TO CELEBRATE AS WINTER RACING FESTIVAL CONCLUDES
Ian Fortune
Since it was first introduced to the calendar as the Night of Stars in 2012, the RCÉ Winter Racing Festival has provided so many great nights at Shelbourne Park.
GUILFOYLE ENJOYS A GREAT NIGHT IN THE KINGDOM
Barry Drake
As expected, trainer Patrick Guilfoyle enjoyed a great night in the Kingdom on Saturday night.
LEMON BUNDEE POWERS TO VICTORY IN DAVY O'BRIEN MEMORIAL TRI DISTANCE FINAL
Barry Drake
LEMON BUNDEE, in the ownership of Killian Cronin and Kevin Barry, ran out a brilliant winner of the €2,200 to the winner Davy O'Brien Memorial Tri Distance Final at Curraheen Park on Saturday night.
2024 RCÉ/GRI WINTER RACING FESTIVAL RACE PROGRAMME
GRI
The 2024 RCI/GRI Winter Racing Festival takes place in Shelbourne Park Greyhound Stadium on Friday 6th & Saturday 7th December.
A NIGHT TO SAVOUR AS FESTIVAL ENDS
Ian Fortune
The very best greyhounds in training will descend on Shelbourne Park this evening as the RCÉ Winter Racing Festival comes to a wonderful conclusion.
A WONDERFUL START TO THE FESTIVAL
Ian Fortune
It may have been windy and wet but the action on the track on the opening night of the RCÉ Winter Racing Festival certainly helped to heat up proceedings.
EXILE WAS ELECTRIC IN RIVERSIDE KENNELS CHRISTMAS CUP OPENER
Peter Farrell
Darragh wasn’t the only one brewing up a storm on Friday night as Clonmel played host to some terrific performances in the opening round of the Riverside Kennels Munster Christmas Cup.
SHELBOURNE PARK TRIAL RESULTS, FRIDAY 6/12/2024
GRI
Shelbourne Park Trial Results, Friday 6/12/2024:
HUGELY COMPETITIVE ACTION AS FESTIVAL BEGINS
Ian Fortune
A total of eleven sweepstake deciders and a tremendous Old Stagers Open 525 make up a wonderful twelve-race card at Shelbourne Park as the RCÉ Winter Racing Festival gets underway this evening. The opening race on the card is due off at 7.40pm with the finale set for 10.40pm.
BONO ON TUNE AT ENNISCORTHY
Ian Fortune
De Bono Lad was at his best at Enniscorthy on Thursday night, running out a tremendous winner of the Michael Donohoe Memorial A1 550. There were also two impressive runs in the semi-finals of the Good Cody @ Stud open Unraced but the headlines had to go to Brendan Sinnott’s De Bono Lad.
SHELBOURNE PARK TRIAL RESULTS, THURSDAY 5/12/2024
GRI
Shelbourne Park Trial Results, Thursday 5/12/2024:
LIMERICK & CLARE GOBA CHRISTMAS FUNDRAISING DRAW
Peter Farrell
The Limerick and Clare GOBA are consistently hard at work both on and off the track and it should be noted that they are currently running a fundraising Christmas Draw with some great prizes on offer.
IRISH GREYHOUND REVIEW ANNUAL VOLUME 47– 2025
GRI
The Irish Greyhound Review Annual is one of Ireland’s longest surviving Annual sporting publications. The 47th Volume is now on sale and it follows the traditional path with its coverage of the entire Irish greyhound season.
JELLA DID IT IN STYLE
Peter Farrell
It was one of the flagship meetings at the Brandywell Greyhound Stadium in Derry on Monday night as the final of the Bart Teague Memorial Oaks featured on the card and Do It Jella completed her unbeaten run through the stake with a courageous performance in the final.
KILKENNY SALES BREAKDOWN
Ian Fortune
Kilkenny’s final sale of 2024 took place on Saturday and it was another great success with turnover topping €70,000.
RUFIYAA AND ELI IMPRESS IN NATIONAL PUPPY
Ian Fortune
The IGOBF National Puppy Stake really came to life at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night. Untold Rufiyaa and Ballymac Eli impressed in their respective semi-final successes but both had to work hard with Lemon Joey and Droopys Deploy potentially enhancing their reputation in defeat.
ROSY A RECORD BREAKER FOR GENTLEMAN JOE
Ian Fortune
Joe Quirke has long been one of the great gentlemen of the greyhound game and it was wonderful to see him get a thrill at Mullingar on Saturday night, sending out his very useful performer Bective Rosy to lower the 550yd track record.
SNUG DISPLAY FROM BOBBY AT LIMERICK
Peter Farrell
There were ten races on offer at Limerick Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night and the highlight was a trap-to-line performance from Snuggie Bobby in the Con Murphy Bookmakers AAO/AO 525.