Greyhound racing in Ireland

Greyhound racing is a popular sport in Ireland. There are 17 stadiums operating in Ireland (two in Northern Ireland) of which nine are fully operated by Greyhound Racing Ireland (Irish Greyhound Board or IGB, formerly named Bord na gCon)[1] with the remaining six owned and operated by private enterprise but licensed by GRI.[2]

Most have modern facilities including grandstand restaurants and Parimutuel betting tote system with on-course and off-course betting available.

History

Greyhound racing as it is seen today evolved from a sport called coursing. In 1926 the oval form of racing arrived in Britain at Belle Vue Stadium in Manchester which resulted in the creation of hundreds of tracks all over the United Kingdom and Ireland in the following ten years.[3]

The sport of greyhound racing in Ireland mainly takes place in the Republic of Ireland but also in Northern Ireland. However, any tracks in Northern Ireland have always been in a regulatory limbo due to the fact that they are licensed neither by the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) nor Greyhound Racing Ireland (named Bord na gCon until 2020).[4]

To confuse matters still further, the industry regards racing as either UK or Irish, the latter including Northern Ireland.[5] The Irish Greyhound Board provides all of the results from Northern Ireland. The vast majority of greyhounds running in the UK are bred in Ireland (95% in 2017).[6]

A new statute, the 'Greyhound Racing Ireland Act 2019' was introduced to improve welfare within the industry. The act granted the Irish Greyhound Board additional authority to take action against anyone that fell short of specified welfare standards. During 2019 the IGB had condemned some breeder practices.[7] Additionally Bord na gCon was renamed Rásaíocht Con Éireann (Greyhound Racing Ireland).[8] During October 2019 the IGB released the latest statistics appertaining to welfare under the Strategic Plan 2018-2022.[9]

In 2020 the Social Democrat party motion to withdraw funding to greyhound racing came under criticism after it transpired that the abandoned greyhounds used as part of the campaign to discredit the industry were found to be a lurcher and a whippet from Denmark. The bill was defeated on the first motion vote.[10][11]

Stadiums

Competitions

There are many types of competitions in Ireland[12] but the primary race is the Irish Greyhound Derby held at Shelbourne Park. Along with the English Greyhound Derby and Scottish Greyhound Derby they are considered the "Big Three" in greyhound racing.

The Irish Greyhound Board publishes an annual list of feature events.[13] Leading events include the Easter Cup, Champion Stakes, Cesarewitch, Oaks, Laurels and St Leger.

General information

Graded racing

This is any minor race staged at a track, with prize money varying widely. This kind of racing is the most common at the various stadia.[14]

Racing jacket colours

Greyhound racing in Ireland has a standard colour scheme (the same as in the UK).[15]

  • Trap 1 = Red with White numeral
  • Trap 2 = Blue with White numeral
  • Trap 3 = White with Black numeral
  • Trap 4 = Black with White numeral
  • Trap 5 = Orange with Black numeral
  • Trap 6 = Black & White Stripes with Red numeral

A racing jacket worn by a reserve bears an additional letter 'R' shown prominently on each side.

References
  1. "Our Stadiums". Irish Greyhound Board.
  2. "2014 Annual Report" (PDF). Irish Greyhound Board.
  3. Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 07207-1106-1.
  4. "John McCollum, Drumbo Park". Belfast Telegraph.
  5. Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-15-5.
  6. "RTE Prepare Sensationalist Bull". Greyhound Star.
  7. "Irish Greyhound Board statement: Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture – 9th July 2019". Irish Greyhound Board.
  8. "Greyhound Racing Act 2019". Irish Statute Book, Office of the Attorney General of Ireland.
  9. "IRISH GREYHOUND BOARD RISING TO WELFARE CHALLENGE". Greyhound Star.
  10. "Trump style deception Irish politicians/". Greyhound Star. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  11. "Social Democrats Cock up Again!". Greyhound Star. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  12. Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 07207-1106-1.
  13. "Feature Events" (PDF). Irish Greyhound Board.
  14. "National Grading System Rules & Tables". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  15. "S.I. No. 302/2007 - Greyhound Industry (Racing) Regulations, 2007". Irish Statute Book. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
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