WELCOME TO THE FINAL OF THE
CHAMPION STAKES RACE PROGRAMME Saturday 31st July 2021
WELCOME TO THE
CHAMPION STAKES I would like to take this opportunity to welcome everyone to the stadium tonight for the Final of the 2021 BoyleSports Champion Stakes . This event has a great tradition for producing some fantastic racing action and this year’s renewal has not disappointed with some fabulous racing action in last Saturday nights three semi-finals. I would like to pay particular thanks to BoyleSports our Champion Stakes & Derby Sponsor for their generous sponsorship of this prestigious event. Once again BoyleSports have shown their commitment to Irish Greyhound Racing & Irish Sport by extending their sponsorship of the Champion Stakes. I wish all of tonight’s finalists the very best of luck and hope you all enjoy your night at Shelbourne Park.
YOURS IN SPORT
Patrick Flynn
Sales, Operations & Commercial Manager, Shelbourne Park
www.ShelbourneParkGreyhoundStadium.ie
CHAMPION STAKES
HISTORY Bobby Jack’s Initiative Becomes A Real Champion TONIGHT we celebrate the 36th running of the BoyleSports Champion Stakes and in that time it has become firmly established as one of the top events on the greyhound calendar. The two-run spectacular was the brainchild of the late Scottish entrepreneur Bobby Jack who failed to get approval for such a competition in the UK and then approached the Irish Greyhound Board with his rather ambitious plans. He eventually received the blessing of the Irish authorities and then set about getting the project off the ground. He brought on board a number of “nominators” who provided the finance, along with the owners who dug deep to enter their greyhounds in what was at the time the most valuable two run event in the world of greyhound racing. The first Champion Stakes was won by Storm Villa, a dog trained by Matt O’Donnell for Ennis businessman Pat Hogan. The brilliant tracker also won the St Leger at Limerick later that year.
A MAGIC DOUBLE
It was the start of something very big. The BoyleSports Champion Stakes has gone from strength to strength and has become the ideal introduction to the BoyleSports Irish Derby which annually follows a couple of weeks later. Virtually every year the winner of the Champion Stakes becomes one of the leading favourites for the Derby but in the running’s to date only four dogs have managed to complete the double – three of them in the one year.
The first to achieve it was Kay Doran’s Manorville Magic back in 1989 and just two years later Noel Clifford’s Ardfert Mick emulated his achievement. In 1996 Mountleader Peer went within inches of bringing off the great double. The dog with the sizzling early pace was only caught yards from the line by the flying bitch Tina Marina in the Derby decider. In 2001 Droopys Kewell won the Champion but finished down the field behind Cool Performance in a thrilling Derby final. Four years later it was the turn of Droopys Maldini to win the Champion Stakes and he ran up the Derby to He Said So.
NEW SPONSORS
The 2006 Derby winner Razldazl Billy turned in an incredible performance when coming from six lengths off the pace to win the 2007 Champion Stakes from Tyrur Bertie. And so to 2008 when Pat Curtin’s Shelbourne Aston produced a whirlwind finish to win from Killahan Phanter and Advantage Johnny. Less than two months later he was crowned Derby Champion after producing another stunning finishing burst. Then in 2009 Shelbourne Aston finished fifth in the final behind Pat Gordon’s Fatboyz Nodrog while eleven years ago in 2010 Townview Foods took over the sponsorship of this prestigious event and the Dolores Ruth trained Makeshift led all the way to beat Tyrur Big Mike by a neck.
There was a 6-1 upset in the final in 2011 when Uncle Eoin, owned jointly by leading jockey Kieren Fallon and trainer James Robinson, led all the way to beat Razldazl Jayfkay by a length in 29.81. Fraser Black won his second Champion in 2012 when Droopys Jet led all the way in a memorable final to beat arch rival Ballymac Vic by two and a half lengths in 29.46.
PARADISE TIME
Eight years ago, the 525-yard record holder Paradise Madison returned from injury and duly landed the Final for owners Dave Buckley and Sean Meade and trainer Ollie Bray as he came from behind to beat Jaxx On Fantasy by two lengths in 29.46. Hamilton Architects came on board as sponsors 7 years ago when we had a real fairy tale outcome. Both Ballymac Vic and Tyrur Sugar Ray were contesting their third Champion series and truly deserved this major victory. The 2012 runner-up Vic was the favourite, but he was led by Indigojack and we feared the worst. However, Liam Dowling’s Ballymac Vic battled back gamely to lead off the final bend and he won by half a length from Tyrur Nathan in 29.97 with his sire Tyrur Sugar Ray a fast finishing half-length third. Wonderful stuff from two fantastic old-stagers. Doire Construction were the sponsors for the next two years 2015 & 2016. The 2015 running saw leading trainer Graham Holland winning the event for the first time as Sidarian Vega raced to victory. Owned by the Sidarian Syndicate, Vega flew out of traps and went on to lead home Budgie Bypass by two and a half lengths in 29.64 with Paradise Maverik less than a length back in third.
FASTEST WINNER
Then came 2016 and that man Graham Holland struck again with the amazing Clares Rock-
et. He was the shortest ever priced Champion Stakes finalist and it was 8-1 bar. There was to be no surprise and he posted up to that point the fastest ever time in a Champion Final as he won by two and a half lengths from Droopys Awesome in a flying 29.29.
A DUAL WINNER
We had the first ever dual Champion Stakes winner when Jaytee Yankee won both the 2017 & 2018 Champion Stakes now sponsored by the Derby Sponsor BoyleSports. Yankee was the youngest finalist in the 2017 renewal going off at 7-1 but belied those odds when taking over from Whoops Jack on the bend and going on to beat Whoops by two lengths in 29.58 with the subsequent Derby hero Good News a close third. A year on and Jaytee Yankee was back again in the final as the fastest semi-final winner and he became the first dual winner of the event and a sixth for trainer Paul Hennessy scoring by three quarters of a length from Frisby Luck in 29.58.
BALLYMAC WINNER 2019
The 2019 renewal produced a brilliant winner in the shape of the Liam Dowling trained Ballymac Arminta who came home a length winner in a fast 29.31 from Run Happy. The daughter of Ballymac Best- Coolavanny Angie who had clocked a superb 29.12 in taking her semi-final justified her favourites tag with a well-deserved success for her sporting Co Kerry connections. Despite the Covid restrictions the 2020 BoyleSports Champion Stakes still took place and what a Final we had with the Owen McKenna trained Pestana the 550-track record holder making it another success for sire Ballymac Best with a 3-length win in the decider in 29.57 from the brilliantly consistent Ballymac Wild who takes his place again in tonight’s renewal.
Who will add their name to the illustrious Champion Stakes Role Of Honour tonight? Can the consistent Ballymac Wild go one better this year and bring the BoyleSports Champion Stakes trophy back to the Kingdom? Will Gowran trainer Paul Hennessy who is doubly represented record his 7th Champion Stakes success? Can the Karol Ramsbottom trained Deadly Destroyer follow up his recent super Champion 550 success by now taking the Champion Stakes Crown? Can Derby winning trainer Robert Gleeson land another big success with Kilara Icon or will the €20,000 winners’ cheque be heading North to the powerful Brendan Matthews kennels?
We will know the answer shortly after 9:25 tonight!!
TOTE SPECIALS SHELBOURNE PARK Saturday 31st July
2021 BoyleSports Champion Stakes Open 550 FINAL TRIO GUARANTEED TO A MINIMUM GROSS AMOUNT OF
1000
€
2021 BoyleSports Champion Plate Open 550 FINAL TRIO GUARANTEED TO A MINIMUM GROSS AMOUNT OF
All other Trios on the night
TRIO GUARANTEED TO A MINIMUM GROSS AMOUNT OF
800
€
300
€
ALL RACES MUST HAVE 6 RUNNERS
www.barkingbuzz.ie
ALL RACES MUST HAVE 6 RUNNERS
TOTE
SPECIAL
SHELBOURNE PARK GREYHOUND STADIUM
SATURDAY 31ST JULY
PICK 4 JACKPOT RACES 4-7
300
€ PICK 6 JACKPOT
GUARANTEED TO A MINIMUM GROSS AMOUNT OF
RACES 3-8
1000
€ HIT OR BUST
GUARANTEED TO A MINIMUM GROSS AMOUNT OF
SELECTED RACE GUARANTEED TO A MINIMUM GROSS AMOUNT OF
200
€
www.barkingbuzz.ie
YOUR NEW
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Contact the Irish Retired Greyhound Trust to welcome a former racing greyhound into your family Find us on Facebook
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OFFICIAL TRIAL SESSIONS Each Race Night Weigh In @ 4.30pm to 5.30pm (Must Be Pre-Booked and weighed in before 5.15pm) Owners/Trainers please note that all trials both public & private are now available to be booked Online. Private trials Monday 9.30am – 2.30pm Public trials each night prior to racing 4.30pm – 5.30pm
Trials to be booked on www.grireland.ie UPCOMING EVENTS The BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby 13th & 14th August The Juvenile Derby (Sept 19 whelps or later) 17th September Entries: Mark 086-2716412 or Michael 085 1484848 Entries can be texted or phoned. Entries can also be placed online on www.grireland.ie Prize Money For All Stakes Is Subject To Them Filling.
www.shelbourneparkgreyhoundstadium.ie www.ShelbourneParkGreyhoundStadium.ie
Rásaíocht Con Éireann Traceability System (RCÉTS) Enhancement RCÉTS at present requires the owner to notify change of ownership, export, sale, death, loss and retirement of a greyhound. The enhancement of RCÉTS now allows owners to voluntarily update the system where a greyhound maynot be active in race events for a period of time. This functionality is available under the Update Option “Still at premises” Push Notifications As part of the enhancement of the system owners/trainers will also be prompted through a notification on the RCÉTS app direct to their phones of the need to provide an update on the status of specific greyhounds where updates are due. Advice on dataset of greyhounds Owners and Trainers are advised that greyhounds included in RCETS comprise of l Trialled and raced greyhounds as and from of Jan 1st 2021 l Microchipped juvenile greyhounds since Jan 1st 2021 Greyhounds that predate the above dataset are not listed as available for updates on RCETS
RCÉTS can also be accessed and updated online on www.rcets.ie Dated 8th July 2021
ENTRIES REQUIRED Friday 6th August
A2 Bitch 525 For 6 @ €20 Winner €425 D1/D2 750 for 6 @ €20 Winner €500
Saturday 7th August
AA0 550 For 6 @ €40 Winner €750 AA0 525 For 6 @ €40 Winner €750 A0 550 For 6 @ €30 Winner €600 A0 525 For 6 @ €30 Winner €600
Tuesday 3rd August
A4 575 For 6 @ €15 Winner €285
Friday 13th & Saturday 14th August The 2021 BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby Total Prizefund €265,460. 144 Greyhounds @ €300 Winner €125,000, 2nd €25,000 3rd €12,500 Unplaced Final €7,500 Unplaced Semi €2,000 Unplaced QF €1,000 Unplaced 3rd Rnd €500 Unplaced 2nd Rnd €300 Heat Winners 1st Rnd €300,2nd Rnd €400,3rd Rnd €500 Quarter €1,000 Semi €1,500 Bonus Prizemoney Last Standing Bitch €1,500 Last Standing Owner Trained Greyhound €1,500 Last Standing Syndicate Owned Greyhound €1,500 Last Standing Trial Stake Winner €1,500
www.ShelbourneParkGreyhoundStadium.ie
THIS RUNS www.grireland.ie
CHAMPION PLATE FINAL DRAW Saturday 31st July
TRAP 1
TRAP 2
TRAP 3
AMIDUS LUKE
DROOPY YES
GALVARINO
TRAP 4
TRAP 5
TRAP 6
FABULOUS AZURRA
JACKSLITTLETHING (M)
DARBYS DELIGHT (W)
Photos courtesy of Imelda Grauer
www.shelbourneparkgreyhoundstadium.ie
CHAMPION STAKES FINAL DRAW Saturday 31st July
TRAP 1
TRAP 2
TRAP 3
DEADLY DESTROYER
BALLYMAC WILD
DE MACHINE
TRAP 4
TRAP 5
TRAP 6
KILARA ICON
PRICELESS JET (W)
BEACH AVENUE (W)
Photos courtesy of Imelda Grauer
www.shelbourneparkgreyhoundstadium.ie
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Meeting Date: Saturday 31st July 2021
Meeting No: 88
Declaration of a ‘NO RACE’
The Stewards may declare a ‘NO RACE’ only in the following circumstances: • Where there is mechanical or other defect of the hare equipment or starting box or any outside interference with the race. • If any of the dogs fight, and as a consequence, all fail to pursue the hare • If for any other reason, all dogs fail to pursue the hare Note: A greyhound turning back in a race does not constitute outside interference If through any cause the race has to be abandoned before the start of the fourth Race, pass out tickets will be issued, but, under no circumstances, will admission money be refunded. UNAUTHORISED PHOTOGRAPHY IN THIS STADIUM IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED.
Greyhound Turning in Traps
(A) If a greyhound turns before the hare is put in motion, that greyhound will be taken out and righted. If, however, he turns again, no further attention will be given to him. (B) If a greyhound turns while the hare is in motion, the hare should not be stopped and the traps should be released. (C) If the hare passes the traps and for any reason the traps do not operate, then all the dogs should be taken out and re-examined before they are put into traps again. COMPUTERISED TRAP DRAW MADE AT RÁSAÍOCHT CON ÉIREANN
Kennel area strictly out of bounds to all except owners, trainers, and officials. to do so before they appear on the Race Card. RACING CANNOT BE GUARANTEED FOR ANY DOG ENTERED AT THIS TRACK. If greyhounds have to be withdrawn, owners are requestedGreyhound Racing Ireland has a legitimate interest in filming and photography at this venue during events for promotional, regulatory and archival purposes. Footage, imagery and voice may be broadcast via television, radio, social media platforms and the GRI website at www.grireland.ie . CCTV operates at this venue for safety, security and regulatory purposes. For further information please contact PR@grireland.ie
Sales and Operations Manager: Patrick Flynn patrick.flynn@grireland.ie Racing Office: Michael Dempsey, Mark Maguire, Joyce Black, Derek Frehill Control Steward: Mr.John Nolan Hare Controllers: Dave McDermott David Turner Starters: Derek Garvey, David Turner Judge: Amy Ahern Vet.Surgeon: Ted Collins M.R.C.V.S Timekeeper: A.Ahern Stewards of the Meeting: M. Maguire, J. Nolan, L. Temple, J. Black, M. Dempsey, P. Flynn, D. Turner, D. Frehill, D. Gerath