IT WILL be an occasion full of nostalgia. Memorable races of the past will be recalled, the names of famous dogs and owners will be mentioned and a night fitting of the occasion has been arranged to mark the final night of racing at the Limerick Greyhound Racing Stadium on Saturday night next.
After the final race, the Markets Field will be a thing of the past as far as Bord na gCon and greyhound racing is concerned. The curtain will be coming down on what has been a glorious chapter and a great venue for dog racing since the 1930s. And fittingly one of the highlighhts of the night will be a Farewell to the Markets Field Munster Challenge Open 550 in which a greyhound representing all of the six counties in the province of Munster will go to traps. There will be €800 for the winner/owner who will have the honour of putting the last winner to traps at the Markets Field.
All round, it’s a very attractive card with the final of an A4 sweepstake, the final of an N1-unraced 525 sweepstake, anA6 525 final and the final of a D3 sweepstake over 750 yards.
Over the 550 distance will be the 2010 ladbrokes.com Derby trial stake.
The Markets Field has also been home to one of  the great classics. The Irish St Leger, and representatuve of all winners over the last 50 years have been invited for the final night. A special presentation will be made to each of them. Some of the more successful and prominent winners over the years will also be honoured.
The night will be live on Limerick’s Live 95fm and a special commemorative  race programme will be available to patrons.
Sporting organsiations catering for the likes of the GAA, nLimerick Soccer Club and athletics who used the Markets Field over the years, will also be represented on Saturday night. Retired staff members of the Limerick track will also be present to renew acquaintances.
The night will be hosted by Tony McKenna, chairman of the Limerick Greyhound Track and to cater for the big crowds, additional car parking spaces will be available in the grounds of the nearby St Joseph’s Hospital.
No doubt, it will be a sad farewell to the Garryowen venue but supporters can look forward to enjoying the comforts of the brand new stadium at Greenpark Race Course on October 8 next. And the fact that an important part of the Markets Field will be incorporated in the new stadium will be a bonus. The sand from the Markets Field is being transferred to the new stadium to ensure that racing will continue to be of the highest standards.

First winner

MEANWHILE, racing continued at the Markets Field last Thursday when the first winner of the night was Shandangan Lough owned by JJ O’Dea, Derrylough and Stephen Murray of Kilmurry, near Sixmilebridge. The son of Droopy’s Maldini-Money Go Lucky broke smartly from trap six, got into a commanding position and won the race by half a length in 29.18 from Leo’s Excalibur.
Another Clare winner was Ballyhannon, trained by Denis O’Malley for Seamus and Aidan Duggan. The son of Tucks Mein-Adborableventia came in as a reserve in trap two in the Ballina GAAClub Buster A2 semi-final over 550 yards. He was best away and was the pace maker for the entire race, coming home three lengths in front of the Nicola Downes-trained Bonville Manin 29.93. The other semi-final was won in 30.27 by the Clarina-owned Buster’s Touch.
Two semi-finals of the €2,700 Limerick and Clare GOBA N1 over 525 yards were also decided. The first heat was won in 28.72 by Kilcolla Mal, representing Michael Fitzgerald, Glin. The second semi-final heat was won in. 28.96 by the James Roche-trained Allowdale Claire who beat Kilacolla Eagle by three parts of a length. Third home was the Clare-owned Wellstone Two (Leo McNulty and Patsy Riordan).
Placed in their races were Hades Prince (Billy Murphy, O’Briensbridge) and Steragel Fawn (Brendan Carroll, Newmarket-on-Fergus).
And at the same venue last Saturday night, a number of Clare dogs qualified for the big finals next Saturday.
Inislosky Magoo (Astronomic-Rushaun Breeze) will represent Mary Crotty.

Magic run by Clarecastle’s Manus

SEVEN EEC Timber finals, all sponsored by PJ Fahy, were the featured races in Galway last Friday night and one of them went to Manus Magic, owned by Brian McInerney, Manus, Clarecastle.
The main race, the A1 final over 525 yards, was one in which trainer Rynal Ruane, had a big say. He had Jumeriah Joe, the even-money favourite in trap one and he led from the start from Burnpark Julie, also from the Rynal Ruane kennels and owned by Shane Mullins, Galway. Entering the back straight, the pair were five lengths to the good of the Noel Mullins-trained Lorenzo’s Magic. There was little between the leading two but at the home bend, Burnpark Julie went in front by a length and stayed there to win by a length-and-a-quarter in 29.13 from her kennel companion. Third home was Liscahane Ben.
There were two Clare contestants, Frisco Rumble and Bogberry Kitty in the ECC A2 final over 525 yards. From the start, it was between the Gerry Holian-trained favourite Go Sonny Go in trap four and Bogberry Kitty, owned by Tom Reynolds, Ennistymon, as they raced to the first bend where Go Sonny Go went a length ahead with the advantage of the inside lane. The pair were close again down the back with Frisco Rumble coming into the picture in third place. However, the inside lane again came to the advantage of Go Sonny Go over the final two bends and he raced clear off the home bend to win by four lengths in 28.79 from Bogberry Kitty. It was one length back to third spot for Frisco Rumble owned by the Spelman, Riordan-McDonagh syndicate from Shannon.
The ECC A3 final went to the County Limerick-owned So They Say, the 6/4 favourite, in 29.41, while Catunda Bernard, trained by Gerry Holian, won the A4 final in the same time.
In the A5 final, Noelle’s Hero made all the running to beat Knockdine Joker (Helen O’Brien, Miltown Malbay) by three-and-a-quarter lengths in 29.13.
Clare was represented in the A6 final over 525 yards by Rathorpe Hawk (Martin Kelly) and Talk Bristol (Martin Keane, Kilmihil). However, it was the Paul Burke-trained Bumblebee Casey who made the decisive move at the third bend to go clear of the rest to win the race by three-and-a-quarter lengths in 29.29 from Talk Bristol. A length and a quarter separated her and the third-placed Rathorope Hawk.
There was a Clare winner in the ECC Timber A7 final when Manus Magic (Droopy’s Vieri-Baby Jean) was sent off the 6/4 favourite and duly obliged for owner, Brian McInerney from Manus, Clarecastle. However, the first to show was the inside runner, Grenanstown Rose who led from Ms Outgone and Manus Magic. Down the back, it was still Grenanstown Rose who was three lengths in front of Manus Magic. However, there was only one length between them as they came from the back with Springwell Ally and Manus Magic putting in a serious challenge. And in the run to the line, Manus Magic proved best, winning by two and a quarter lengths in 29.19 from Springwell Ally who beat Grenanstown Rose into third place.
West Clare was to the fore in the opening race, an A3 graded 525 which saw the North Clare-owned Hold It Hades being the first to strike. However, Ballygodoon Jo, owned by Sharon Sexton, slipped through at the first and gradually built up a three-length lead near the halfway stage. Manus Bluebell, owned by Tess McInerney, Manus, closed in approaching the third bend but Ballygodoon Jo railed well and the son of Boherduff Light-Aristo Diamond just held out to beat Manus Bluebell by a neck in 29.07. Hold It Hades, owned by Mark Shannon in the Burren, was third.
The second sprint of the night went to the John Sloyan-trained Miss Pebbles who led at the opening bend on her way to a half-length success over early leader Killanneabha in 19.37. Third placed was the reserve runner, Haveweasix, owned by Seán Cooke, Kilbeacanty.
The locally owned Crown Emperor was lucky to avoid trouble at the opening bend in an A4 graded 525 yards. He led at the opening bend and raced on for a 29.76 win, beating Scattery Sally, owned by the Scattery Syndicate from Killimer, by two lengths.

Three Clare qualifiers in Corrib Plate

CLARE winners were scarce in Galway last Thursday night when the card featured first-round heats of Flaherty Markets Corrib Plate for A7 graded runners.
In fact, the only Clare success of the night was that of the Johnny Burke-trained Crusheen Flyer in an S9 graded 350-yard race. Owned by the Four Men and A Lady syndicate from Crusheen, the daughter of Droopy’s Kewell-Rathorpe Bay was quick off the mark in trap four with the trap-one runner, Castlesheela Lad also well away. They held the advantage in the run to the opening bend where Crusheen Flyer, despite going wide off the bend, went on by a length. The Crusheen-owned black continued to hold the advantage and although going wide again as they hit for home, she had enough in store to beat Castlesheela Lad by half a length in 19.41.
Three Clare-owned runners came through from the six heats of the Corrib Plate, Monmore Lad, Rathorpe Eagle and Rith Royal as well as Fast Fit Tiger owned byJohn Quinn, Gort.
The Pamela Holian-owned Starry Messenger won heat one in 29.06 while PJ Fahy’s Tyrur O’Gorman was first to cross the line in heat two in 29.05.
Monmore Lad, owned by Claire Purtill, held the lead for a lot of the time in heat three. But at the home bend, both he and Tyrur Denis lost the momentum when they collided slightly and here Paddy the Pricer, who had made  progress from the rear of the field, took advantage and swept through on the outside to win the race in 29.86. He beat Monmore Lad into runner-up spot by two lengths with Tyrur Denis in third place, two and a half lengths back.
The long trip from County Meath paid dividends for owner Michael Dalton whose Silent Bargain won heat four after leading from the first bend where Guitar Classic in trap one went wide and hampered the rest of the field with the exception of the leader who was clear at this stage. Coming from the back straight, the leader was six lengths clear but between this and the finishing line, the Clare-owned Rathorpe Eagle (Martin Kelly) made some in-roads. However, Silent Bargain held out to by two and three parts of a length in 29.46 from Rathorpe Eagle.
Rith Royal, owned by Miltown Malbay Coursing Club stalwart, Brendan Hehir, stepped up a gear on the crown of the home bend in heat four to come within a length of the leader, Cloonturk Jet. However, Cloonturk Jet responded and held out to win by a length in 29.46 from Brendan Hehir’s well-supported black.
The County Galway-owned Cute Tara was a trap-to-line winner of the final heat in a time of 29.90. She won by nearly two lengths from Nationwide Dash with Fast Fit Tiger claiming third place.
In the first race of the night, an N2 graded 525, Velvet Max was another trap-to-line winner, coming home six lengths in front of Stevie’s Sentinel, owned by former Clare and Sixmilebridge hurler Seán Stack. Third placed was the Seán Hehir-trained Dunsallagh Ace.
Matt’s Jet, trained by Joe Collins for the Shanakyle Syndicate, was third in an S7 graded 350 won by Durrow Girl in 19.41.

Hatchet strikes well at Galway feature race

THE John McDonagh-trained Hatchet was winner of the feature race, the A1-graded 525, in Galway on Saturday night.
He led from the start and had two lengths on the reserve runner, Swift Patriot at the first. At this point, the reserve runner went wide and hampered all on his outside. This gave an advantage to Hatchet who wound up an easy winner by nearly nine lengths in 29.08 from Swift Patriot.
Another easy winner on the night was Lost Chance who won an N3-graded 525 in a time of 29.62 beating Jennie Griffin’s Dunarus into second place with the Clare owned Poncho Paddy (Patrick Quinn and Patrick Considine) coming into third place.
Kilbeacanty owner, Seán Cooke won the second race on the card, an A7 graded 525-yard affair with Loughcarn Lass who led at the opening bend and stayed in front for a 29.69 win.
Trina McLaughin from Shannon had the first of three Clare winners with the Jimmy McLaughlin-trained Chapelane Donie (Black Shaw-Chapellane Ash) in an A5-graded 525-yard race. Going to the opening bend, he was led by two lengths by Astromonic Luck. It was the same order at the half-way stage but by now, the lead was extended to four lengths. However, the winner made his move on the inside lane when closing in as they approached the third bend and turning for home came on terms with Astronomic Luck. From here on, it was all Chapelane Donie who crossed the finishing line with a length and a half to spare with a clock of 29.23.
There was another Clare success in the following race when Breda Casey’s Snuggie Boy won an A5-graded 525. Spiddal Nod dominated the earlier stages of the race but on the approach to the back straight, the Myles Cummins-handled Snuggie Boy started to shift and once he got out in front, there was not stopping of the son of Group Rooster-Christian’s Lady who claimed the race by nine and a quarter lengths in 29.19.
Blaze Flame, owned in Ennis by Antyhony Brigdale and Margaret Burns was third home in an A4 graded 525 won by the surprise winner, Mosstown Hero, in 29.55.
Frank Browne from Quin captured an A3 graded 525 with his Mine Echo. Always in front, the daughter of Hades Rocket-Jumeirah Jess, was smartly off the blocks from trap three and led all the way for a 29.56 win. She finished three and a half lengths faster than the Eamon Finn trained Ler Pluto. This was the second win from four starts for Mine Echo.

Galway festival to open with star bust

HORSE Racing Ireland and Galway Racecourse will open their famous seven-day festival of racing by bringing a number of prominent sporting personalities to an opening night launch on Monday, July 26.
TG4 presenter Daithí Ó Sé will chat to Ireland and Lion’s fly half Ronan O’Gara and winger Tommy Bowe. The rugby players will be joined by talented Galway senior hurlers Donal Barry and Ger Farragher and many racing stars including seven-times champion jump jockey Ruby Walsh.
This Opening Night with Sports Stars will take place on the main stage on the back wall of the Millennium stand, opposite the Guinness and oyster marquee which will have activity and music from 4.20pm to 9pm.
O’Gara, a knowledgeable racing fan, said he was really looking forward to his day at the Galway races.
“I have been to the Galway races a few times but the week is always tinged with mixed feelings as for the last 12 or so years it always coincides with returning to pre-season training. One of the things I love about it is the variety of racing – I enjoy the mixed cards as I’m a big racing fan and have a couple of horses in training, so it will be great to get there again this year,” he acknowledged.
Manager of Galway Racecourse, John Moloney said they were delighted to be working with HRI on the ‘Opening Night with Sports Stars’ to kick of the week of the Galway Races.
“We are pleased to welcome two of Ireland’s best-known rugby players Ronan O’Gara and Tommy Bowe to what is one of Ireland’s largest sporting and social occasions, the Galway Festival,” he commented.
Meanwhile, a new traffic management plan will be in place this year.
M6 motorway traffic, N6 traffic on the old Dublin Road, N18 traffic from Limerick and Ennis and N17 traffic on the Tuam and Sligo road should follow the blue route entrance signs if they wish to access Avenue Entrance and the red route if they wish to access the Tunnel Entrance.
Meanwhile, motorists on the N84, Galway City and Connemara roads should use the green route.