St Leger (Irish greyhound race)

(Redirected from St Leger (Irish greyhounds))

The St Leger is a greyhound racing competition held annually at Limerick Greyhound Stadium at Greenpark, Dock Road, Limerick, Ireland.[1] The competition is an original classic race[2] and was inaugurated in 1932 at Celtic Park in Belfast following the decision by the Irish Coursing Club to issue a new list of classic races.[3]

Irish St Leger
Feature race
1984 champion Morans Beef
LocationLimerick Greyhound Stadium
Inaugurated1932
SponsorWill We Go
Race information
Distance550 yards
SurfaceSand
Purse€30,000 (winner)

As was the practice at the time the Bord na gCon switched the event each year to a different track. Clonmel Greyhound Stadium, Shelbourne Park and Harolds Cross all played host [4] before it found a permanent home at the old Markets Field Greyhound Stadium in Limerick in 1944.[5]

Venues & Distances

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  • Celtic Park (1932, 1943 550y)
  • Clonmel (1933 550y)
  • Shelbourne Park (1934, 1936, 1938, 1939 550y)
  • Harolds Cross (1935, 1937, 1942 550y)
  • Limerick (1940 & 1944-present 550y)

Sponsors

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  • 1982–1987 (Smithwick's)
  • 1988–1990 (Kantoher Co-op)
  • 1991–2001 (Golden Vale)
  • 2002–2017 (Kerry Agribusiness)
  • 2018–2018 (Barking Buzz App)
  • 2019–2020 (Friends of Limerick)
  • 2021–2022 (Matchbook Betting Exchange)
  • 2023–2024 (Will We Go)

Past winners

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Year Winning Greyhound Breeding Time Trainer SP Notes/ref
1932 Castle Eve Fourth of July – Sally's Gossip 32.08
1933 Brilliant Bob Other Days – Birchfield Bessie 31.53
1934 Chicken Sandwich Heros Heart – Moor Girl 31.59 Track record
1935 Carras Son Rubio – Cara 31.82
1936 Moresby Roving Bunty – False Colleen 31.68
1937 Cheers For Ballyduff Hes Next – Normans Fancy 31.42
1938 Abbeylara Prudent Turn – Thats The Why 31.61
1939 Negros Crown Prudent Turn – Negros Pet 31.77
1940 Cherrygrove Cross Rejected Light – Dohora Lass 31.82
1942 Monarch of the Glen Carolina Prince – Turn of the Glen 31.28
1943 Monarch of the Glen Carolina Prince – Turn of the Glen 31.48
1944 No Relation Sweeping Cut – Halycon Heart 31.48
1945 Dark Shadow Ruby Border – Coming Now 31.37 Track record
1946 Star Point Bawnmore Lad – Bright Duckling 31.55
1947 Pouleen Boy Another White Sandhills – Broken Weir 31.92
1948 Beau Lion Another Dancing Willie - Brevity 31.52 5/2 [6]
1949 Ballybeg Surprise Mad Tanist – My Little Diamond 31.55
1950 Maddest Daughter Clounehard Border – Maddest Yet 31.55
1951 Ellas Ivy Ivy Reef – Mara Lass 31.08
1952 Silver Earl King Silver – Ardmachree Eliza 31.25
1953 Gortaleen Shaggy Lad – Magic Maid 31.26
1954 Mount Nagle Surprise Ballybeg Surprise – Mount Nagle Girl 31.10
1955 Doonmore Dreamer Wee Chap – Again Ballyglass 30.98
1956 Prince of Bermuda Champion Prince – Sunora 30.66 Ger McKenna Track record
1957 Kilcaskin Kern Magourna Reject – Pavona 31.05
1958 Firgrove Snowman [7] The Grand Champion – Firgrove Swallow 31.28
1959 Ocean Swell Glittering Look – Don't Ask 31.18
1960 Swanlands Best Man Of Pleasure – Swanland's Neighbour 31.60 Ger McKenna
1961 Jerrys Clipper Jerry's Special – Glittering Queenie 31.10 Jerry O'Dea
1962 Apollo Again Knockrour Again – Redondo Beach 31.26 Ger McKenna
1963 General Courtnowski Man Of Pleasure – Yoblstrap 31.12
1964 Brook Jockey Jockey's Glen – Endurance 31.66 P Boyce
1965 Lovely Chieftain Knockhill Chieftain – Lovely Sister 30.92 Ger McKenna
1966 Movealong Santa Champion Tipp – Movelong Sally 30.92
1967 Yanka Boy Clonalvy Pride – Millie Hawthorn 30.77 Ger McKenna
1968 Pools Punter Oregon Prince – Wild Countess 30.88 9/2
1969 Own Pride Always Proud – Kitty True 30.95 Ger McKenna
1970 Mark Anthony Prairie Flash - Shandaroba 31.02 Tom Lynch 6/1 [8]
1971 Time Up Please Newdown Heather – Dogstown Fame 30.56 Ger McKenna [9]
1972 Time Up Please Newdown Heather – Dogstown Fame 31.05 Ger McKenna [9]
1973 Romping To Work Swanky Pa – Go To Work 31.04 Larry Kelly [10]
1974 Lively Band Silver Hope – Kells Queen 31.20 Jack Murphy
1975 Ballybeg Prim Rockfield Era – Ballybeg Pride 30.44 Ger McKenna Track record[11]
1976 Nameless Star Rita’s Choice – Itsastar 30.62 Ger McKenna
1977 Red Rasper Own Pride – Miss Honeygar 31.15 Ger McKenna
1978 Rhu Sole Aim – RigsdaleKuda 31.44 Matt O'Donnell
1979 Airmount Champ Hunday Champion – Winnies Call 31.20 Paddy Keane 5/1 [12]
1980 Rahan Ship [13] Rail Ship – Rwanyena 30.72 Johnny Haynes
1981 Oran Jack Yellow Band – Spooky Lady 30.62 Rose Grealish
1982 Supreme Tiger Knockrour Tiger-Rising Tide 30.44 Matt O'Donnell
1983 The Stranger Dark Mercury – Lovely Blend 31.04 Christy O'Callaghan
1984 Morans Beef Noble Brigg – Rathkenny Bride 30.06 Ger McKenna
1985 Ballintubber One Killaclug Jet – Ballintubber Peg 30.42 Matt O'Donnell
1986 Storm Villa Aulton Villa – Storm Island 30.65 Matt O'Donnell 1/1f [14]
1987 Randy Aulton Villa – Melanie 30.23 Christy Daly 5/2 [15]
1988 Local Kate Wise Band – Local Nell 31.04 Maurice Leahy 14/1 [16]
1989 Dereen Star Moral Support – Summer Crab 30.24 Matt O'Donnell [17]
1990 Alan's Judy I'm Slippy – Fairy Lawn 30.42 E. McMahon [18]
1991 Castleland Dream Powerstown Pax – Sail On Witch 30.22 Christy O'Callaghan 5/2 [19]
1992 Barefoot Dash Willie Joe – Kilmorna Pearl 30.40 Matt O'Donnell [20]
1993 Barefoot Marty I'm Slippy – Cheeky Carmaur 30.54 Fraser Black [21]
1994 Kilvil Skinner Mathews Gold – Keeleys Friend 30.84 Peter Pattinson
1995 Batties Spirit Batties Whisper – Lady Arrancourt 30.42 Matt O'Donnell 7/4f [22]
1996 Airmount Rogue Glen Park Dancer – Airmount Kelly 29.89 Gerald Kiely 6/1 [23]
1997 Fire Fly Leaders Minstrel – Mark of Relief 30.36 AD Marshall 9/2 [24]
1998 Deerfield Sunset Vintage Prince - Sunset Blonde 30.03 Joe Kenny 5/4f
1999 Frisby Flashing Frightful Flash – Centenarys Dream 29.64 Reggie Roberts 1/1f Track record[25]
2000 Extra Dividend Sassy Boy – Sunshine Penny 29.79 Dolores Ruth 8/1 [26]
2001 Droopys Kewell Larkhill Jo – Perrys Pusher 30.37 Michael Dunphy 5/2 [27]
2002 Larking About Larkhill Jo – Rockys Whisper 29.73 Paul Hennessy 9/4f [28]
2003 Mountleader Rolf Smooth Rumble – Mountleader Diva 30.01 Geraldine O'Mahony 5/2 [29]
2004 Never Give Up Spiral Nikita – Dalcash Lament 29.88 Pat Buckley 7/1 [30]
2005 Redbarn Panther Jamella Tiger - Itsabouttimerose 29.72 Liam Egan 4/1 [31]
2006 Indesacjack Pacific Mile – JasonsSmokie 29.66 Jim Morrissey 2/1f [32]
2007 Lughill Jo Larkhill Jo – Lughill Rose 29.37 Owen McKenna 3/1 [33]
2008 Boherash Gaoithe World Class – Boherash Charity 29.71 Joan Hanrahan 14/1 [34]
2009 Bar Blackstone Head Bound – Blackstone Sky 29.62 Sean Dunphy 2/1jf [35]
2010 Farley Turbo Hondo Black – Blue Honey 29.57 Owen McKenna 3/1 Track record[36]
2011 What A Tornado Crash – Natural Energy 29.58 Paul Hennessy 7/4f [37]
2012 Cashen Mafuma Cashen Legend – Shakira Live 29.57 Chris Houlihan 8/1 [38]
2013 Locnamon Bridie Royal Impact – Locnamon Nell 29.34 Paul Hennessy 3/1jf [39]
2014 Paradise Silva Hondo Black – Dalcash Diva 29.50 Pat Buckley 6/4f [40]
2015 Skywalker Rory Skywalker Puma – Tarsna Sal 29.47 Patrick Guilfoyle 7/2 [41]
2016 Priceless Brandy Mall Brandy – Tullowmac Java 29.30 Paul Hennessy 4/5f [42]
2017 Clonbrien Hero Razldazl Jayfkay – Trout or Salmon 29.60 Graham Holland 5/2jf [43]
2018 Blastoff Jet Droopys Jet – Blastoff Annie 29.65 Philip Buckley 5/1 [44]
2019 Ballymac Anton Ballymac Best – Coolavanny Angie 29.53 Liam Dowling 4/1 [45]
2020 Epic Hero Droopys Jet – Ravenna 29.44 Thomas O'Donovan No SP due to COVID-19[46]
2021 Ballymac Merlin Vulturi – Ballymac Belle 29.68 Liam Dowling 8/1 [47]
2022 Bobsleigh Dream Droopys Sydney – Bobsleigh Jet 29.84 Pat Buckley 11/8f [48]
2023 Clonbrien Treaty Pestana – Clonbrien Millie 29.51 Graham Holland 5/4f [49]
2024 Clonbrien Treaty Pestana – Clonbrien Millie 29.28 Graham Holland 5/4f Record time for final[50]

References

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  1. ^ Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing, page 299-300. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 07207-1106-1.
  2. ^ "2022 MATCHBOOK IRISH ST. LEGER". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  3. ^ "Feature Events" (PDF). Irish Greyhound Board.
  4. ^ Barnes, Julia (1991). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File, page 336. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-61-9.
  5. ^ Hobbs, Jonathan (2007). Greyhound Annual 2008, pages 175-176. Raceform. ISBN 978-1-905153-53-4.
  6. ^ "Beau Lion Takes Irish St. Leger". Irish Independent. 28 June 1948. Retrieved 15 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. ^ "Remember When - July". Greyhound Star.
  8. ^ "Remember When - November 1970". Greyhound Star.
  9. ^ a b "Remember When - September 1969". Greyhound Star.
  10. ^ "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 1973) October edition". Greyhound Star. 2012.
  11. ^ "Ballybeg Prim to top Poll". Belfast Telegraph. 4 February 1976. Retrieved 18 June 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  12. ^ "Keane takes St. Leger". Drogheda Independent. 19 October 1979. Retrieved 15 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  13. ^ "Remember When - October". Greyhound Star.
  14. ^ "Storm Villa led all the way". Sunday Independent (Dublin). 26 October 1986. Retrieved 15 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  15. ^ "Randy scores classic win". Sunday Independent (Dublin). 25 October 1987. Retrieved 15 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  16. ^ "Randy scores classic win". Sunday Tribune. 23 October 1988. Retrieved 15 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  17. ^ "Greyhound Racing". Nottingham Evening Post. 23 October 1989. Retrieved 15 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  18. ^ "Is this Master McGrath Mark Two?". Lurgan Mail. 25 October 1990. Retrieved 15 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  19. ^ Barnes/Sellers, Julia/John (1992). Ladbrokes Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. p. 324. ISBN 0-948955-22-8.
  20. ^ "Dash sinks Leger rivals". Belfast News-Letter. 2 November 1992. Retrieved 15 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  21. ^ "Reserved Barefoot Marty". Irish Independent. 3 November 1993. Retrieved 15 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  22. ^ "Batties Spirit takes St leger". Sunday Independent (Dublin). 5 November 1995. Retrieved 15 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  23. ^ "Leger delight for Airmount Rogue". Irish Independent. 4 November 1996. Retrieved 15 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  24. ^ "Fire Flu buzzes to St Leger". Irish Independent. 10 November 1997. Retrieved 15 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  25. ^ "Limerick". Sunday Independent (Dublin). 17 October 1999. Retrieved 15 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  26. ^ "2000 Result". Irish Greyhound Board.
  27. ^ "2001 Result". Irish Greyhound Board.
  28. ^ "2002 Result". Irish Greyhound Board.
  29. ^ "2003 Result". Irish Greyhound Board.
  30. ^ "2004 Result". Irish Greyhound Board.
  31. ^ "2005 Result". Irish Greyhound Board.
  32. ^ "2006 Result". Irish Greyhound Board.
  33. ^ "2007 Result". Irish Greyhound Board.
  34. ^ "2008 Result". Irish Greyhound Board.
  35. ^ "2009 Result". Irish Greyhound Board.
  36. ^ "2010 Result". Irish Greyhound Board.
  37. ^ "2011 Result". Irish Greyhound Board.
  38. ^ "2012 Result". Irish Greyhound Board.
  39. ^ "2013 Result". Irish Greyhound Board.
  40. ^ "2014 Result". Irish Greyhound Board.
  41. ^ "2015 Result". Irish Greyhound Board.
  42. ^ "2016 Result". Irish Greyhound Board.
  43. ^ "2017 St Leger". Irish Greyhound Board.
  44. ^ "2018 St Leger final meeting". Irish Greyhound Board.
  45. ^ "St Leger final". Irish Greyhound Board.
  46. ^ "The 2020 St Leger Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  47. ^ "Matchbook Betting Exchange Irish St Leger 550 Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  48. ^ "2022 Matchbook Betting Exchange Irish St Leger 550 Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  49. ^ "Willwego.com Irish St Leger 2023 Final". Irish Greyhound Racing Ireland.
  50. ^ "Willwego.com Irish St Leger 2024 Final". Irish Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 18 August 2024.