Irish Greyhound Derby
- Greyhounds
- Greyhound Tracks
The Irish Greyhound Derby is the elite competition in the Emerald Isle and is run over 503m at Shelbourne Park, and usually takes place towards the end of September, and attracts not only the elite Irish greyhounds, but also some stars from acrros the water in England, and it's one of the most hotly-anticipated events on the calendar.
It has several venues and between the 1930s and 1960s it was held at Harolds Cross and Shelbourne Park, but it's now the latter that stages the marquee event, and having been run over 525 yards until 1985, it's now raced over 503m and some of the greats of the sport have tasted victory in the event, which takes place over a number of Saturday nights at the Dublin venue.
A few months after the English Greyhound Derby at Towcester, that showpiece can often provide vital clues on what British stars will play their hand at Shelbourne Park, while it can often prove a warm-up event for the leading Irish contenders, before they head home for the star competition.
Spanish Battleship was a three-times winner of the Irish Greyhound Derby between 1953 and 1955, while more recently in 2009 it was College Causeway that stormed to victory in stunning fashion to enhance his already lofty reputation, while Ballymac Matt was a notable winner in 2015.
Recent Irish Greyhound Derby Winners
Year | Winner | Trainer |
2022 | Born Warrior | J O'Donnell |
2021 | Susie Sapphire | O McKenna |
2020 | Newinn Taylor | G Holland |
2019 | Lenson Bocko | G Holland |
2018 | Ballyanne Sim | J Robinson |
2017 | Good News | P Guilfoyle |
2016 | Rural Hawaii | G Holland |
2015 | Ballymac Matt | L Dowling |
2014 | Laughil Blake | M O'Donovan |
2013 | Slippery Robert | R Gleeson |
2012 | Skywalker Puma | F O'Donnell |
2011 | Razldazl George | D Ruth |
2010 | Tyrur McGuigan | C Fahy |
2009 | College Causeway | P Buckley |
2008 | Shelbourne Aston | P Curtin |
2007 | Tyrur Rhino | P Hennessy |