Grand National (Irish greyhounds)

The Grand National was a greyhound racing competition held annually at various tracks throughout Ireland.

Irish Grand National
Feature race (discontinued)
Inaugurated1928
Last run2020
SponsorGreyhound & Petworld Luxury Transport
Race information
Distance525 yards hurdles
SurfaceSand
Qualificationhurdlers only

The race was inaugurated in 1928 at Shelbourne Park and was shared between the two Dublin tracks of Shelbourne and Harold's Cross Stadium before being switched to the old Cork (Western Road) Greyhound Stadium just before World War II.[1]

Kilkenny Greyhound Stadium hosted the race in 1960 & 1961 until Thurles Greyhound Stadium took over from 1962 to 1984. The competition returned to Shelbourne in 1985 for another 15 years but once again the nomadic race switched to Harold's Cross and was staged from 2001 to 2016 at the track.[2] Following the closure of Harold's Cross, the event was switched to Cork in 2017.[3]

It was the leading hurdle event in Ireland and an integral part of the Irish greyhound racing calendar.[4] The event came to an end after the 2020 edition.

Past winners
Year Winner Breeding Time Trainer SP
1928 The TankerSteam Drifter – Border GiftHoran4-1
1929 Merry Falcon32.50Magner
1930 Captain KoehleCreaves - Glenville Girl32.20Carroll
1932 Cowboy IIHalifax – Saucy Nell31.941-1f
1933 Hot ShotSolid Man – Cosa Bana32.145-4
1934 Hot ShotSolid Man – Cosa Bana
1935 OrluckMutton Cutlet - Sairshea
1936 DruzeRed House – Black Looks31.21Joe McKenna1-1f
1937 Cheers For BallyduffHes Next – Noomans FancyV.O'Donoghue
1938 Pals RoverRoving Bunty – Palnetto31.28G Hely2-1
1939 Lawyers BouquetLawyers Fee - Dunmurry Princess30.93P.Kelly9-4
1940 Ballymakeera GiftAmmon Carb – Old Capwell31.17J.Curtin2-1
1941 The GunnerGay Brigade – La Lavelle31.03Miss K.Nolan4-5f
1959 Dually RapidBallymac Ball - Marchioness Minnie31.15
1960 Dawn DancerPrince of Bermuda – Peaceful Dancer31.40
1961 Tropical SplendourNorthern King – Shaggy Dancer31.15
1962 Indoor SportChampion Prince - Yoblstrap30.85
1963 Trojan VanWhirling Turk – Sitting Pretty30.85
1964 Ashgrove ChiefGolsto –Ashgrove Black31.10T Leahy
1965 Bolshoi PrinceThe Grand Prince – Bolshoi Artiste30.65
1966 BanditGo Go Rambo – Red Ruthie30.95
1967 Olivers LeaderPrairie Flash – Olivers Love30.20T Wade
1968 Rusheen RhythmPigalle Wonder – Flying Fashion30.85M Sullivan
1969 Hilcrest PrideClonalvy Pride – Last Pot30.65Michael Collins
1970 Fire HunterCarry On Oregon – Land Hunter30.95G Flynn
1971 Getaway BuffO'Leary – Fannie Caesar31.04T O'Connor
1972 SpecialMonalee Champion – Coil Valley30.85J Foley
1973 SpecialMonalee Champion – Coil Valley29.75J Foley
1974 SpecialMonalee Champion – Coil Valley30.95J Foley
1975 Own KudaKilbeg Kuda – Kitty Proud31.00J Noonan
1976 Pick MeMonalee Champion – Hunday Pet30.14M Sylver
1977 Pick MeMonalee Champion – Hunday Pet29.96M Sylver
1978 Bowery MusicWestpark Thady – Cavity Block30.40P Jones
1979 Kerragh SamboOwn Pride- Keeragh Flo30.20Matt O'Donnell
1980 Killerisk PrinceKillerisk Boy – Mermaids Hope30.42Mrs N Boyle
1981 Face The Mutt [5]Mutts Silver – Mill Road Cast30.16Mrs N Jackson
1982 Master BobGreenview Bob – Bowery Lad30.06P Jones
1982 Arabian KnightRita's Choice – Silly Sis30.68J Allen
1984 BuanaitOffshore Diver – Brook Blonde30.42
1985 Mars MistInny Mist – I'm Trendy30.14T O'Sullivan
1986 Sand BlinderSand Man – Tranquility Sea30.04Mrs J Kenny
1987 Off You SailSail On II – It's You30.48Sam Sykes - England
1980 HandballGame Ball – Killowna Gem30.19T Lynch
1980 HandballGame Ball – Killowna Gem30.06J Rouse
1990 Gizmo PashaWhisper Wishes – If And When29.67Linda Mullins - England
1991 Yacht ClubDaleys Gold – Sand Melody30.14
1992 Whos Lots[6]Balalika – Lyre Daisy30.32Tony Byrne
1993 Hillview LeaderLeaders Best – Miss Melanie30.27
1994 Bayview BlazeDutch Delight – Ask Helen29.72
1995 Super GunboatSuper Mecca – Gunboat Ann29.91Joe Kenny
1996 Gates To HeavenMurlens Slippy – Dark Vision29.61Robinson
1997 Simon SimonMurlens Abbey – Lovely Lovely29.97Gary Baggs - England6-1
1998 Lynmac FlyerDroopys Fintan – Lady Cecila29.61Thomas Lynch5-2cf
1999 Tarn Bay FlashAirmount Grand – Highmoor Mist29.38Dolores Ruth6-4jf
2000 Autumn Merlin [7]Westmead Merlin – Miss Piggy29.20Mick Parker5-4
2001 Switchtoplanb [8]Fat Fella – Call Back Kirby29.43Shem O'Donnell6-1
2002 Bestofthebunch [9]Toms The Best – Staplers Rhythm29.93Keeley McGee10-1
2003 Frightened Pig [10]Fly Fright – Miss Piggy29.34Jason Foster – England8-1
2004 Joe Bananas [11]Larkhill Jo – Woman Power29.32Nick Colton – England3-1
2005 Druids Aghadoe [12]Top Honcho – Druids Villa29.76John Brennan4-1
2006 Taipan [13]Kiowa Shawnee So – Rookery Lady29.66Nick Colton – England6-4
2007 Comans Joe [14]Jamella Prince – Springwell Sue29.65Jason Foster – England4-5f
2008 Distant Legend [15]Hondo Black - Talktothehand29.04Julie Power5-4f
2009 Distant Legend [16]Hondo Black - Talktothehand29.10Julie Power3-1
2010 Junior Mac [17]Large Mack – Slick Mona29.44Paul Donovan - England7-2
2011 Olivers Twist [18]Head Bound – Kewell Irony29.05Lisa Stephenson - England2-1
2012 Baran Bally Hi [19]Tyrur Ted – Druids Judicial29.44Fraser Black7-2
2013 Hypnotic Reason [20]Hondo Black – Handy Princess29.72David Stanbridge12-1
2014 Razldazlnewstalk [21]Kinloch Brae – Razldazl Alice29.26Dolores Ruth1-2f
2015 Comeout Russell [22]Westmead Hawk – Lady Deise29.73Pat Kiely4-5f
2016 Brinkleysdominic [23]Droopys Cain - Droopys Geneva29.60Pat Buckley5-4f
2017 Offshore Bound [24]Head Bound - Inshaarla29.07Patrick Fitzgerald3-1
2018 Lightfoot Prince [25]Candlelight King - Droopys Knox28.88Pat Kiely2-1
2019 Lightfoot Kante [26]Candlelight King - Puma Girl29.01Pat Kiely1-1f
2020 Razldazl Annie [27]Razldazl Billy - Razldazl Marilyn29.37Neilus O'ConnellNo SP+

+ No SP due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions

Venues & distances
  • Shelbourne Park (525yH 1928)
  • Harold's Cross (525yH 1929–30, 1932, 1939, 1941)
  • Shelbourne Park (525yH 1933–1938)
  • Cork (525yH 1940)
  • Kilkenny (525yH 1959–1961)
  • Thurles (525yH 1962–1984)
  • Shelbourne (525yH 1985–2000)
  • Harold's Cross (525yH 2001–2016)
  • Curraheen Park (525yH 2017–2020)

Sponsors
  • 2003-2006 (Baggot Racing)
  • 2008-2010 (Vetsearch Recharge)
  • 2012-2012 (SalacresRacingteam.com)
  • 2013-2014 (Centra)
  • 2017-2020 (Greyhound & Petworld Luxury Transport)

References
  1. Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing, page 311. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 07207-1106-1.
  2. Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File, page 349. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-15-5.
  3. "IGB confirms closure of Harolds Cross Greyhound Stadium". IGB. Archived from the original on 10 March 2017. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
  4. "Feature Events" (PDF). Irish Greyhound Board.
  5. "Greyhound Star (Remember When - April)". Greyhound Star. 7 April 2019.
  6. Fry, Paul (1995). The Official NGRC Greyhound Racing Yearbook. Ringpress Books. p. 58. ISBN 186054-010-4.
  7. "2000 final Result". Irish Greyhound Board.
  8. "2001 final Result". Irish Greyhound Board.
  9. "2002 Result". Irish Greyhound Board.
  10. "2003 Baggot Racing Result". Irish Greyhound Board.
  11. "2004 Baggot Racing final". Irish Greyhound Board.
  12. "Baggot Racing 2005 Result". Irish Greyhound Board.
  13. "Baggot Racing 2006 Result". Irish Greyhound Board.
  14. "2007 Result". Irish Greyhound Board.
  15. "2008 Vetsearch final Result". Irish Greyhound Board.
  16. "2009 Vetsearch Recharge Result". Irish Greyhound Board.
  17. "2010 Vetsearch Recharge Result". Irish Greyhound Board.
  18. "2011 final". Irish Greyhound Board.
  19. "2012 SalacresRacingteam.com Grand National". Irish Greyhound Board.
  20. "Centra 2013 final Result". Irish Greyhound Board.
  21. "Centra 2014 final Result". Irish Greyhound Board.
  22. "2015 Result". Irish Greyhound Board.
  23. "2016 Grand National result". Irish Greyhound Board.
  24. "2017 final". Irish Greyhound Board.
  25. "2018 Grand National final". Irish Greyhound Board.
  26. "The 2019 Greyhound & PetWorld Luxury Transport Irish G Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  27. "Greyhound & PetWorld Luxury Transport Irish Grand National Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
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