Laurels (Irish greyhounds)

The Laurels is a greyhound racing competition held annually at Curraheen Park Greyhound Stadium located in Bishopstown, west of Cork, County Cork, Ireland.[1]

This article is about the Irish greyhound race. For the British race, see Laurels (greyhounds).

Irish Laurels
Feature race
2005 finalist Vancouver Sparky
LocationCurraheen Park
Inaugurated1944
SponsorBar One Racing
Race information
Distance525 yards
SurfaceSand
Purse€30,000 (winner)

It was hosted by the old Cork Greyhound Stadium from 1944 to 1999[2] but inevitably continued to be held at the new track after it opened.

It is a prestigious event targeted by many of Ireland's leading greyhounds and is an integral part of the Irish greyhound racing calendar.[3]

Clonbrien Hero, trained by Graham Holland and owned by Ms. Kay Murphy of Athlacca, County Limerick set a new record for the final of the Laurels (at Curraheen Park) when he won by three lengths in a time of 28.00 on 22 July 2017.[4]

Venues & Distances
  • 1944–1960 (Cork, Western Road, 500 yards)
  • 1961–1999 (Cork, Western Road, 525 yards)
  • 2000–present (Cork, Curraheen Park, 525 yards)

Sponsors
  • 1979–1981 (Cashmans)
  • 1985–1986 (Joe Donnelly)
  • 1987–1991 (Kantoher Co-op)
  • 1992–1992 (Michael McCarthy)
  • 1993–1994 (Michael Crowley)
  • 1995–2003 (Co-op Superstores)
  • 2004–2009 (Cashmans Bookmakers)
  • 2010–2011 (Pat Hennerty Sales)
  • 2012–2014 (Connolly's Red Mills)
  • 2015–2019 (Irish Independent)
  • 2023–2023 (Bar One Racing)

Past winners

[5]

Year Winner Breeding Time Trainer SP Notes
1944 Robeen PrinterPrinter – Deoc Deireannach28.98
1945 Munster HotelHighland Rum – Ballinspittle29.20
1946 Ballinrea ExpressRebel Express – Champion Queen28.80
1947 Careless BorderRuby Border – Volcut28.80
1948 Double ShadowDark Shadow – Grosvenors Lady28.33
1949 Spanish ChestnutRebel Abbey – Cordal Moonlight28.55
1950 Spanish ChestnutRebel Abbey – Cordal Moonlight28.70
1951 Knockrour FavouriteBellas Prince – Favourite Tip28.85Jack Lynch
1952 Tragumna DasherDark Shadow – Bran Cream28.70
1953 Templenoe RebelBallymac Ball – Templenoe Medora28.55
1954 Come on BellaLucky Tanist – Knockrour Bella28.90
1955 Spanish BattleshipSpanish Chestnut – Ballyseedy Memory28.35Tom Lynch
1956 Rather Grand [6]The Grand Champion – Ashbrook Gift29.007-1
1957 Kilcasey Streak28.80
1958 Brook PrancerGlittering Look – Shaggy Dancer28.43
1959 Celbridge ChanceEridanus – Avril28.50
1960 Last LapThe Grand Champion – Dooniskey Lass28.15
1961 Round Tower RoseChampion Prince – Knockdrina Rose29.80
1962 Dark BabyKnockrour Again – Ronnoc Miss29.40Track record
1963 Powerstown ProperHi There – Faoide29.75
1964 Tanyard HeatherOregon Prince – Clonbanin Chariot29.20P Cashman
1965 Boro ParachuteCrazy Parachute – Anjone29.60
1966 Westpark AshHi There – Westpark Ballet29.40
1967 PhilotimoBooked Out – Pride of Corrin29.65C Kelleher
1968 Flaming KingMarket Green – Maglin Lady29.25S Moran
1969 Skipping Tim [7]Myross Again – Right On Time29.50Dave Cashman
1970 Gabriel BoyYanka Boy – Gabriel Star29.25Ger McKenna
1971 Ivy Hall FlashProud Lincoln – Ivy Hall Rose29.15Paddy Keane
1972 Dublin EilyMaryville Hi – Right Champion29.70J Buckley
1973 Kilbracken StyleKilbelin Style – Maggie Ann29.10Paddy Keane
1974 Silent Thought[8]Ivy Hall Flash – Oulartwick Jane29.50Paddy Keane2-1
1975 Moonshine BanditYanka Boy – Westpark Roma29.30Christy O'Callaghan
1976 Nameless StarRitas Choice – Itsastar29.30Ger McKenna
1977 Ashleigh HonourKudas Honour – Miss Ashleigh29.15Dave Cashman
1978 Knockrour GirlBright Lad – Knockrour Last29.40Denis Lynch
1979 Knockrour SlaveSole Aim – Knockrour Exile29.45Ger McKenna
1980 Knockrour SlaveSole Aim – Knockrour Exile29.00Ger McKennaTrack record
1981 Knockeen MasterLaurdella Fun – Knockeen Guest29.50Christy O'Callaghan
1982 The Stranger [9]Dark Mercury – Lovely Blend28.95Christy O'CallaghanTrack record
1983 Back GardenKnockrour Slave – Sweeping Billy29.66Ger McKenna
1984 Rugged MickCeili Band – Blueberry Pet29.09Ger McKenna
1985 Follow A StarUnder Par – Float A Loan29.42Ger McKenna10-1
1986 Big Oran[10]Oran Jack – Big Deposit29.78Ann Wade
1987 Yellow Bud[11]Yellow Ese – Budweiser29.28Donal O'Regan10-1
1988 Odell King[12]Sail On II – Odell Tansy28.98Ned Power7-2
1989 Airmount Grand[13]Daleys Gold – Airmount Jewel28.82Gerald KielyTrack record in final, sf and 2nd Rd
1990 Adraville Bridge[14]Im Slippy – Milltown Gem28.78Mossy O'Connor9-4jfTrack record
1991 Terrydrum TicoTico – Gentle Sarah28.86Davy Lennon2-1f
1992 Market Rascal[15]Coral Town – Twins Petra29.58
1993 Lisglass Lass[16]Quare Rocket – Machern28.97Francie Murray
1994 Clounmellane Oak[17]Ravage Again – Rosehip Joy29.44John Lynch6-1
1995 Standard Image[18]Murlens Slippy – Simply Elite29.04Christy O'Callaghan5-1
1996 Deerfield Bypass[19]Daleys Gold – Black Adraville29.12Ger McKenna7-2
1997 Mr PickwickTrade Union – Terrys Whisper29.16Paul Hennessy1-2f
1998 Mr PickwickTrade Union – Terrys Whisper29.29Paul Hennessy4-5f
1999 Lumber BossBatties Rocket – The Other Joy29.42Frances O'Donnell5–1dead-heat
1999 Tigers EyeCoalbrook Tiger – Swift Comment29.42Nicky Turner10–1dead-heat
2000 Barefoot RidgeSome Picture – Cailin Dilis28.69Paul Hennessy6–1
2001 Sonic Flight [20]Frightful Flash – Westmead Flight28.41Dolores Ruth4–1
2002 Annual AwardSmooth Rumble – Heres Steppie28.33Eddie Wade7–1
2003 Nikita BillieSplit the Bill – Nikita Doll28.34Jack Walsh9–2
2004 Boherduff Light[21]He Knows – Travelling Light28.14Owen McKenna2-1jf
2005 Tyrur Ted[22]Top Honcho – Watch the Market28.33PJ Fahy4-6f
2006 Ardkill Jamie[23]Top Savings – Fast Issue28.35Paul Hennessy5–2
2007 Catunda Harry[24]Elite State – Your So Vain28.18Owen McKenna5-4f
2008 Cashen Legend[25]Balintore Brave – Fergus Gold28.74Chris Houilhan14–1
2009 Sevenheads Bay[26]Ballymac Maeve – Travara Daisy28.50Graham Holland4–1
2010 Tyrur Enda[27]Razldazl Billy – Regards To Alice28.42PJ Fahy4-6f
2011 Razldazl Rioga[28]Brett Lee – Razldazl Pearl28.32Dolores Ruth7–2
2012 Knockglass Billy[29]Ballymac Maeve – Knockglass Lady28.30Graham Holland2-1f
2013 Lassa Expedition[30]Crash –Lassa Experience28.39Rachel Wheeler3–1
2014 Vimmerby[31]Winetavern Oscar – Wee Rose Garden28.56John Kavanagh3–1
2015 Midtown Raffa[32]Kinloch Brae – Raffa Baby28.31Maurice O'Connor2-1f
2016 Skywalker Manner[33]Leeview Jet – Jibberish28.29Graham Holland5–1
2017 Clonbrien Hero[4]Razldazl Jayfkay – Trout or Salmon28.00Graham Holland5–2Curraheen Park final record
2018 Rockybay Foley[34]Sparta Maestro – Ironically28.37Kieran Lynch4/5f
2019 Rockybay Foley[35]Sparta Maestro – Ironically28.57Kieran Lynch7/4f
2020 Runninta Seeya[36]Laughil Blake – Droopys Harbour28.48John Linehan-No SP due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions
2021 One Time Only[37]Droopys Sydney – Mags Image28.17Thomas O'Donovan3/1
2022 Good Cody[38]Definate Opinion – Soho Ark28.20Patrick Guilfoyle5/1
2023 High Trend[39]Droopys Sydney – Beaming Smasher28.31Graham Holland8/1

References
  1. Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing, page 285. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 07207-1106-1.
  2. Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File, page 322. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-15-5.
  3. "Feature Events" (PDF). Irish Greyhound Board.
  4. "2017 Result". Irish Greyhound Board.
  5. Hobbs, Jonathan (2007). Greyhound Annual 2008, page 170. Raceform. ISBN 978-1-905153-53-4.
  6. "Greyhound Star (Remember When November 1956)". Greyhound Star.
  7. "Greyhound Star (Remember When - April)". Greyhound Star.
  8. "Charles takes the Laurels". Sunday Independent. 8 September 1974. p. 28 – via British Newspaper Archives.
  9. "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 1982) September edition". Greyhound Star.
  10. "Big Oran takes Laurels". Sunday Independent. 27 July 1986. p. 24 – via British Newspaper Archives.
  11. "Cork". Sunday Independent. 19 July 1987. p. 28 – via British Newspaper Archives.
  12. "More power to Odell King". Sunday Independent. 17 July 1988. p. 28 – via British Newspaper Archives.
  13. "Airmount to win Laurels". Evening Herald. 15 July 1989. p. 34 – via British Newspaper Archives.
  14. "Great Laurels vixtoey for Adraville Bridge". Kerryman. 20 July 1990. p. 18 – via British Newspaper Archives.
  15. "Greyhound Scene". Kerryman. 17 July 1992. Retrieved 5 August 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  16. "All Those Aprils". Vol. 16, no. 4. Greyhound Star. 4 April 1998.
  17. "John Horgan has 13 pups out of Laurels winner Clounmellane Oak". Kerryman. 15 July 1994. p. 22 – via British Newspaper Archives.
  18. "Laurels go to O'Callaghan". Irish Independent. 10 July 1995. p. 35 – via British Newspaper Archives.
  19. "No Bypassing Deerfield". Irish Independent. 8 July 1996. p. 26 – via British Newspaper Archives.
  20. "Remember When – October". Greyhound Star.
  21. "Cashmans Irish Laurels 2004". Greyhound Data. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  22. "Cashmans Bookmakers Irish Laurels Final 2005". Greyhound Data. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  23. "Cashmans Bookmakers Irish Laurels Final 2006". Greyhound Data. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  24. "The Cashmans Bookmakers Irish Laurels Final 2007". Greyhound Data. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  25. "2008 Cashmans Bookmakers Irish Laurels Final". Greyhound Data. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  26. "2009 Cashmans Bookmakers Irish Laurels Final". Greyhound Data. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  27. "The Pat Hennerty Sales Irish Laurels Final 2010". Greyhound Data. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  28. "The Pat Hennerty Sales Irish Laurels Final 2011". Greyhound Data. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  29. "The Connolly's Red Mills Irish Laurels Final 2012". Greyhound Data. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  30. "The Connolly's Red Mills Irish Laurels Final 2013". Greyhound Data. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  31. "The Connolly's Red Mills Irish Laurels Final 2014". Greyhound Data. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  32. "2015 Result". Irish Greyhound Board.
  33. "2016 Result". Irish Greyhound Board.
  34. "Laurels final meeting". Irish Greyhound Board.
  35. "2019 Laurels final". Irish Greyhound Board.
  36. "The 2020 Irish Greyhound Laurels Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  37. "The 2021 Irish Greyhound Laurels Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  38. "The 2022 Irish Greyhound Laurels Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  39. "The 2023 Bar One Racing Irish Laurels Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
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