Fundraiser for Down Syndrome Ireland

Limerick and Galway greyhound racing stadiums will be among the 10 tracks across the country to stage a meeting on Saturday, February 26 in aid of Down Syndrome Ireland.
This will be the first multi-venue family benefit night hosted by the Irish Greyhound Board in aid of Down Syndrome Ireland. The event will take place across 10 locations – Limerick, Cork, Tralee, Galway, Mullingar, Dundalk, Dublin, Newbridge, Thurles and Waterford, with all funds raised being distributed both nationally and to regional branches of Down Syndrome Ireland.
Tickets to this family friendly evening will include access to the races on the night plus a race programme.  All venues taking part will have entertainment, goodie bags for children and auctions as well as all the thrill of the races. There will be a fantastic weekend break for two up for grabs at each venue, courtesy of Select Hotels Ireland.
Orla Strumble, head of marketing for the Irish Greyhound Board, outlined that this is the first time they have undertaken a benefit night like this and every stadium has pulled out all the stops to make sure this is an unprecedented success. “Down Syndrome Ireland is such an incredible charity that provides untold support to families of people with Down Syndrome and the Irish Greyhoiund Board are honoured to be able to help in any way they can. This year signifies Down Syndrome Ireland’s 40th anniversary so it is fitting that IGB give something back to an organisation which has given so much to so many families in Ireland.”
Pat Clarke, CEO of Down Syndrome Ireland, said they were happy to be part of such a high-profile night and they were extremely grateful to the Irish Greyhound Board and all of the partners for the tremendous effort they have put into this event.
“I know it’s becoming more difficult for people to support charities and I just want to express my deep appreciation for all of the work that has been put in so far. I know it’s going to be a fantastic family night and it’s a great start to the New Year for us, he said.”
Tickets are available at www.igb.ie;  www.downsyndrome.ie or from the local branches of DSI.
Down Syndrome Ireland is an organisation of people with Down Syndrome and their parents and guardians. It has over 3,000 member families with 25 branches nationwide and is funded by voluntary contributions and events organised by its members.

Another win for Frisco Rumble

There was no racing in Galway last weekend because of the hard ground. However, racing did go ahead in Limerick on Friday and Saturday, when a few Clare wins were registered.
Frisco Rumble, owned in Shannon by the Spelman-Riordan-McDonagh syndicate, scored his fourth win last Thursday when he was first to cross the line in an A4/A5 575. The son of Ace Hi Rumble-Culleen Sally broke fairly well from trap three and by the third bend was leading the field. He retained his lead to the finishing line, where he was three lengths in front of Glass Heart. His winning clock was 32.27.
In the opening race of the night, an A3-graded 525 yards affair, Wellstone Two, owned by Leo McNulty of Tradaree Coursing Club and Patsy Riordan, challenged strongly in the run home but the early paced Yeneed Class held out to beat him by half a length in 29.48.
Reserve runner Hawks Hill Lady, owned in Liscannor by Christine Hopper and trained by Darryl Hopper, was slow to get off the mark in an A8-graded 525. However, the brindled bitch was full of running in the run-in but failed to catch the 29.96 winner by a length and a half, Conors Mate.
In an A6-graded 525, third home was Inislosky Thrush, owned by Mary Crotty, O’Briensbridge. The 30.24 winner by a short head was Lick the Gate.
Challenging for the top spot down the back straight and leading at the third, Aristo Aston, another reserve runner and owned in Clonlara by Diarmaid and Eoin Garrahy, was caught near the line by Sun Fantasy, who crossed the line with a time of 29.61. Trained by Gerry Burke, Aristo Aston was beaten half a length into second place.
Another runner-up in her race was Nurse Jackie, owned by John Meehan, Newmarket-on-Fergus. She had a slow start from trap three in an A2-graded 525 yards race but made up ground as the race progressed and in a very tight finish was beaten a neck into second place by The Other City, whose time was 29.42.
Trained by Denis O’Malley and owned by Dominic Lipper and Pat O’Donoghue, Fanore, Egg Ruan was always in second place in an A4-graded 525, which went to the Pat Maher-trained Downtown Daz, a trap-to-line winner by seven lengths in 29.20.
There were three Clare winners in the Limerick card on Saturday night. First up was Inislosky Pinny (Kinlock Brae-Pinnyday Lucky), owned by Mary Crotty, O’Briensbridge. The 2/1 joint favourite New Location looked to be heading for a win in this A5-graded 525 yards race. However, Inislosky Pinny put in a better finish to win by a head in 29.42.
The Burke family from Miltown Malbay were on the winner’s frame after the result of the eighth race on the card, an A4-graded 525 yards event. Owned by Gearóid Burke, Malbay Robhino was the hot 4/6 favourite for what was his second career race. Runner-up in his debut race at this venue on December 17, the son of Westmewad Hawk- Malbay Lark made no mistake last Saturday night when leading all the way to win this A4-graded 525 by one and a half lengths in 29.58.
The hat trick of Clare wins was completed in the final race of the night by Pro Bono, owned by Martin J Keane, Kilmihil. This was an A2-graded race over 550 yards in which the trap five runner, Fandango Billy, was sent off the7/4 favourite. However, he was slow to emerge and finished down the field. Pro Bono (Westmewad Hawk- Montevani) got a good break from trap four, succeeded in getting his nose in front by the third bend and finished a 30.60 winner, a length and a half ahead of Knockbawn Bolt.
Portdrine Bobby, carrying the hopes of Cratloe owner Liam Carroll, ran on to finish second in an A3-graded 525, which was won in 29.08 by the reserve runner and Kilmallock-owned Noreens Song. The winning distance was five lengths.
The Inagh (Noel Hehir) owned Cool Ivy Hill, the 7/4 favourite for an A0 graded 525, finished in third place. The 29.38 winner of the race by a short head was Blackies Champ from Hollys Wish. Half a length separated the runner-up and Cool Ivy Hill.
Avovan, trained in Gort by Maurice Mullanney, was runner-up in the opening race of the night, which went to the John Nash-trained Cruising Gino. His time for the A2-graded 525 was 29.28, beating Avocan by three parts of a length.