 2020 winner Newinn Taylor | |
| Location | Shelbourne Park |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1928 (unofficial) 1932 (official) |
| Sponsor | BoyleSports |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 550 yards |
| Surface | Sand |
| Purse | €300,000 (winner €125,000) |
The Irish Greyhound Derby held at Shelbourne Park, is the premier greyhound racing competition in Ireland.
First held at Harold's Cross in 1928, the event was unofficial until 1932 and called the National Derby. The first winner in 1928 was Tipperary Hills who won in a time of 30.56 sec at a starting price of 1-1f.[1]
It controversially switched to Shelbourne Park in 1932 and then it was held in alternate years between the two tracks.[2]
The defunct Markets Field Greyhound Stadium in Limerick and the defunct Cork Greyhound Stadium in Western Road both hosted the event once in 1939 and 1942 respectively. The 1969 Irish Greyhound Derby was the last renewal held at Harold's Cross[3] and the competition remained at Shelbourne Park from 1970.[4] The most successful greyhound has been Spanish Battleship who won the event three times.[5]
Today it is considered to be one of the two biggest races in the calendar by the UK & Ireland greyhound racing industries, alongside the English Greyhound Derby.
- ^ Fortune, Michael. Irish Greyhound Derby 1932–1981 pages 1–2. Victory Irish Promotions Ltd.
- ^ Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing, page 309. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 07207-1106-1.
- ^ Downes, J.J. (1995), "THE GREYHOUND NEWS", in Hurley, Joe (ed.), Doonbeg: A Story to Tell, Doonbeg: Doonbeg Book Committee, pp. 288–292
- ^ Genders, Roy (1990). NGRC book of Greyhound Racing, page 261. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 0-7207-1804-X.
- ^ The Daily Mirror Fact File Vol.Two:1991, pages 271-273. Ringpress. 1991. ISBN 0-948955-61-9.