No doubt about it, the first night of racing at the brand-new greyhound racing stadium in Limerick last Friday night was a wonderful occasion.
It was a brilliant start for the Irish Greyhoud Board’s latest showpiece and judging by the overall reaction to it, exciting times are in store for the new venue off the city’s Dock Road.
It was a long time coming but worth the wait, judging by the reaction and comments on the facilities and comforts at the world-class stadium.
The gates opened at 6. 30pm for a a 7. 45pm start but those whose came in plenty of time for the first race were surpised to see such a huge crowd already in place. The massive numbers took the IGB and caterers by surprise. Obviously, the numbers were not confined to the usual patrons, many more coming to see what the stadium had to offer by way of comfort, eating facilities and bars.
The high reputation enjoyed by the old track at theMarkets Field for the quality of its racing circuit looks set to live on at the new stadium, where the 12-race card on Friday night produced fast times. The fastest clock of the night, 28. 35, went to the Pat Guilfoyle-trained and Templeglantine-owned Joey Jojo Juniori in a 525-yard race.
The honour of putting the first winner in traps was Holycross owner Pat Davern, whose Mohane Eile won the opening A2-graded 525-yard race by half a length in 28. 96.
There was no Clare winner on the night. However, Rathorope Texas, owned in Tubber by Martin Kelly and Bling Bling Buzz, trained by Owen McKenna for Áine Quigney, were runners-up in their races. Third-placed in other events were Money Go Easy, trained by Bernad Coffey, Sixmilebridge and the Denis O’Malley-trained Ballyhannon, owned by Seamus Duggan.
Patrons were welcomed to the new stadium by Dick O’ Sullivan, chairman of the Irish Greyhound Board. He said that greyhound racing has long been interwoven into the sporting fabric of the city and the opening night of the enew stadium was the latest chapter in a long and vibrant history.
One of the topics after racing was the positioning of the perspex-covered bookmakers’ position on the front wall.  As a result, the view of the finishing line was hindered for some punters on the outside steps.
Mr, O’Sullivan told The Clare Champion that they would be taking steps to rectify this situation.
He remarked that the new venue is very accessible for Clare patrons through the new underground tunnel linking Clare and Limerick.
The first Clare winner at the new stadium was Frank Casey of Stonehall, Newmarket-on-Fergus, whose Sands of Time won the sixth race on the card at the Saturday night meeting. The son of Hallucinate-In Good Hands had a flyer of a start fronm trap six, led all the way and came home a three-length winner of the A2 550-yard race in a time of 30.23.
Rallying Caul, owned by Meelick’s Dan Flynn, was runner-up to Fastaway King, the one length and 28.80 winner of of an A3-graded 525.
Third placed in their races were Wellstone Two (Leo McNulty and Patsy Riordan) and Wood Crash (Carl Maguire and Adrian Ennis).

 

Three Clare winners from Galway Saturday card

The Galway card produced three Clare winners last Saturday night when the Ballglunin-owned Coolratty Waggle won the featured A5-graded race from two Clare-owned runners.
Trained by Paul Burke, the winner railed superbly at the first bend to lead by two lengths and extend that lead down the back straight. He remained well in front for the remainder of the trip to win in an exciting 28.99, the fastest clock of the night, from Goforitlady, owned by Liam Shannon, Ballynacally. The wining distance was 12 lengths. In third place was Mine Scholes (Frank Browne, Quin).
Running wide at the first, Rathorpe Spirit, owned by Madeline Walsh, Gort, still managed to take runner-up spot in an S8-graded 350-yard race won in 19.48 by the early leader, Cloughtanny Star, who had a winning distance of nearly three lengths.
Liscannor was on the map in race four, an S7 350, won by Senahel Yeah Man, owned by Joe Malone. Racing to the first bend, Soldier Away led by half a length from Nationwide Gold but as they rounded the bend Soldier Away ran off the bend, carrying his rival with him, and this allowed the trap five runner Senahal Yeah Man to slip through on the inside and quickly open up a two-length lead turning for home. At the line Senahel Yeah Man had a length and three parts to spare over Nationwide Gold in 19.75.
The Noel Browne-trained Best Crash won an A6-graded 525 in which the lead changed four times. Turning for home, the field bunched up again and Best Crash, at the back of the field at the half-way mark, had a clear run on the outside and he went on to win the race by two and a half lengths in 30.14 from Shereco Blue, with the West Clare-owned Peddling Paddy (Jer Lernihan) filling in third spot.
There was another Clare success in the following race, an A5-graded 525, which went to Knockdine Diva (Prermier Fantasy-Knockdine Lady) owned in Miltown Malbay by Helen O’Brien. John Quinn’s Fast Fit Mill held an advantage from traps but Knockdine Diva slipped through on the rails at the first bend to take control. She stretched out down the back and romped home a 29.31winner by six and a quarter lengths.
Kilcuala Captain, owned by Brendan Carroll, Newmarket-on-Fergus, was placed third in an S3-graded 350 won by Hunkaround (19.66).
The Ballinasloe-owned Black Marlyn made it a fourth career win when virtually leading all the way to take an A4-graded 525 with a clock of 29.36. The winning distance was three and a half lengths from Tiermana Vieri, owned by Frank Casey, Stonehall.
Ennistymon trainer Tom Flanagan did not leave empty-handed as Pinnacle Roxy, which he trains for Ballyvaughan owners Michael Costello and Douglas Culligan, wons an A3-graded 525-yard race. Two lengths clear at the first, the black daughter of Boherduff Light- Coldwar Baby was four in front before the third bend and while she lost some ground before she reached the finishing line, she still had two and a half lengths on Nathans Joy. For her fifth career win, she had a clock of 29.44.

 

Double joy for Carey’s Cooraclare kennels

Cooraclare handler Anne Carey rounded off racing in Galway last Saturday night with a nice double in the semi-final heats of an A4-graded stake with Bridge Bloke and Buffalo Bash.
Two lengths clear at the first bend, four in front at midways, Bridge Bloke (Tyrur Ted-Elmhurst Ellen) led all the way to win the first heat by two lengths from Tyrur Iniesta in a time of 29.42.
In the second semi-final, the early leader was Lormic Bill, owned by Michael Nash, Kinvara. At the first bend he was in front of Cherry Bomb and Buffalo Bash, who was slightly hindered on the wide outside.
Turning for home, the Kinvara-owned brindle was still two lengths to the good but he was caught in the final few strides by Buffalo Bash (Crash- Elmhurst Ellen) who won by half a length in a time of 29.67.
Ennis owners Simon Hagger and Pat Sheehan had another win with Steels Rock (Black Shaw- Sheehans Cottage) this time in a semi-final heat of an A6 stake. A 29.49 winner the last time out in Galway, the David Curtin-trained black was first to the opening bend. He had an advantage of five lengths down the back and was well clear rounding the home turn on his way to a four and a quarter lengths win in 29.31.
The opening semi-final was won in 29.23 by the Freshford-owned Ballyhoe Symbol, who beat Gifted Hill Ivy, owned by Noel Hehir, Inagh, by three and a quarter lengths.
The feature race of the night, the Galway A2 550 final,was won by Dromoher Joe (Boherduff Light-Coldwar Baby) who beat Nationwide Dash by two lengths. His time for the final was 29.29. One length in back for third spot was the John Browne-trained Brickhill Frank.
In the opening race of the night, an A5-graded 550, the Ballina owned Dukes Bonnie ( Dukes of Ross-Bionic Girl) showed much improved form to lead all the way and beat TJ McMahon’s Bodyshop Hill by two and a half lengths in 30.79. Third home, a half length back, was Boundary Dispute, owned by Frankie Sheehan, Ennis.
In race two, an A8-graded 525, Tyrur Derval scored a five-length win in 29.89 from Bohers Dream. Third spot went to Tullerboy Mike, owned by Sean Hehir, Miltown Malbay.
Near neighbours from West Clare battled it out for honours in an A4-graded 550, which went to Moneypoint Magic, owned by Kevin Mulqueen, Killimer, who beat Ler Nadal, carrying the colours of Kilrush businessman Johnny Fitzgerald. Smooth Deano led the way but he was hampered by the improving Sandmax at the first.
This opened the way for Ler Nadal, who led down the far side by two lengths from Moneypoint Magic (Top Honcho-Lemon Divine) trained by Maurice Mullaney, Gort. At the third bend Moneypoint Magic challenged the leader, went in front and stayed there for a two and a half lengths win in 30.84.
Brave Jangles won an S4-graded 350 in 19.50. Third home was Wilbrook Dame (Michael Davoren, Ennistymon).
The John McDonagh-trained Tyrur Bocelli made all the running in an A3-graded 525 to beat Knockbrack Yeman (Margaret Nestor, Miltown Malbay) by just short of two lengths in 29.40.

 

Kilmaley Stake heats

There will be more racing at the new Limerick stadium next Friday and Saturday nights. The Friday night card will feature first-round heats of an A3-graded 550-yard stake in aid of Kilmaley GAA Field Development for hurling and camogie.
Worth €1,000 to the winner, the stake is being sponsored by Martin O’Malley’s Clare Cars and Tractor Parts business at the Gort Road, Ennis. The final of the stake will be held on Friday, October 29.

 

Mullaney-trained Jeddies Star enjoys victory in feature race

The A2-graded events were the featured races in Galway last Friday night. The 550-yard race went to the Maurice Mullaney-trained Jeddies Star, while the Dublin-owned and Tommy Bolton-trained Rockabilly Star was home first in the 525-yard race.
Tyrur Torres led the way in the 550-yard race but he moved slightly off the opening bend to the advantage of Listen Man, who now led from Jeddies Star.
However, down the back Jeddies Star moved inside to take the lead and the son of Boherduff Light-Heard the News raced on for a three and a half lengths win in 30.17 from Listen Man.
In the A2 525-yard race, Rockabilly Hero (Razldazl Wiliam-Kilquane Lass) came with a late run to win by one length from Noelles Sportco in 29.33.
The first of a few Clare wins went to Ferndale Scolari, trained by Michael Downes for his wife, Janet Downes, Killaloe. Tomelli Whitesox showed the way in this A5-graded 525 from the wide-running Ferndale Scolari. This was the picture until the second-last bend when the Killaloe-owned son of Droopys Scolari-Feendale Whyso closed in on the leader.Taking command from here, he ran on for a two and a quarter lengths win in 29.39.
Clarecastle owner Denis Torpey made it win number two for the Banner when taking the second race on the card, an S6-graded 350, with Mias Manus in trap two. Durrow Girl in trap five set the pace but by the opening bend Mias Manus was the front runner. He was quickly challenged by the John Browne trained Corgriff Beauty but he remained in charge on the run home to take the race by a length and a quarter. The son of Hondo Black-Smooth Jean) had a clock of 19.39. Corcrigg Beauty was runner-up and in the all-Clare finish, third place went to Fernpark Express (Anne Carey, Cooraclare).
Manus Honey, owned by John McInerney, Manus, Clarecastle, was runner-up to Josies Dolly, the 29.74 winner of an A6-graded 525. The winning distance was almost two lengths.
Ennistymon owner Michael Davoren recorded another Clare win through the success of his Wilbrrok Fawn in an S5-graded 350-yard race.
When the trap lifted, Bumblebee Gerry, in trap three, showed the way from OughamLass (trap one) and Wilbrook Fawn (trap three) towards the opening bend. He held a lead of one length at that stage and as still held that advantage as they turned for home. In the run-in, Wilbrook Fawn (Prince Monalulu-Missoiri Dame) got on top to win by one and a half lengths in 19.37 from Bumblebee Gerry.
Ennis publican Ciaran Browne was another who came away happy from the College Road venue after his Lively Causway notched up another win.
This was an A6-graded 525, which saw Monmore Lad taking over in front at the opening bend from Postwoman. He opened up a five-length lead by the half-way stage and looked the likely winner.
However, from the third bend Lively Causeway started to eat in on the lead and with a late dash near the line the son of DroopysVieri-Burnpark Kay got up to record a 29.65 success for the Ennis publican, beating Monmore Lad, owned in West Clare by Claire Purtill, by a neck.
Fire and Magic, owned and trained by Pat Guilfoyle, had a huge win in in anA4-graded 550, winning easily in 30.42 from the Michael Downes-trained Reargrove Gent and Moher Celtic (Stephen Scales and Shane O’Sullivan, Liscannor).