Rathorpe Hawk win for Tubber owner

In the 12-race card that followed the opening of Limerick track Tubber owner, Martin Kelly, was winner of the second race, an A1-graded 525, with his Rathorpe Hawk.
Third in his race at this venue last week, the son of Westmead Hawk- Rathorpe Star was well-placed from the start, put in a big challenge down the back to lead at the third bend and come in an impressive two-lengths winner in an equally impressive 28.79.
Another fast winner with a good clock of 28.66 was Rallying Caul, owned by Dan Flynn, Meelick. Fast off the mark from trap five in a mini-open 525, the son of Black Shaw-Goodbye Lucy, was always prominent and was in front on the run home. However, the John McGee-trained Olympic Gift put in a stiff challenge nearing home but Ralling Caul held out to win by a head.
Money Goes Easy, trained by Bernard Coffey, Sixmilebridge, was a trap three runner in the final race of the night, an open 600. However, he was baulked at the opening bend and came home in third place. The race was won in 32.77 by the Tullamore owned Hare Mack.
Steragel Fawn, owned by Brtendan Carroll, Newmarket-on-Fergus, came home third in an A5-graded 525-yards race in Limerick on Saturday night.

McInerneys win again

The McInerney family from Manus, Clarecastle, continued their recent run of good luck at the Galway Greyhound Stadium when their Manus Hero won a 350 yards race in Galway last Friday night.
Owned by John McInerney, the son of Droopys Vieri- Baby Jean challenged for the lead at the opening bend, was in front by the next bend and romped home a winner by close on two lengths in 19.27 from Shandangan Lough, co-owned and trained by Stevie Murray. JJ O’Dea, Derrylough is the other co-owner.
Cratloe owner, Gerry Manly had the next Clare winner of the night when his Confused Jose (Roanokee-Confused Shasa) was first to cross the line in an A2-graded over 525-yards. He took up the running at home bend and held out to win by a neck from TJ McMahon’s Bodyshop Flame. The winner’s clock was 29.24.
The Browne family from Quin had another Galway success, this time in the last race on the card that was over 525-yards for A3-graders. Mine Hazel, owned by Mrs Mary Browne and trained by Fgrank Browne, took the lead at the second bend and remained in front for the rest of the proceedings to score a four-and-a-quarter-lengths win in 29.30 from Manus Chestnut, owned by Pat McInermey Snr, Manus, Clarecastle. Third place was filled by Cragbrien Hondi (Hondo Black-Rachels Picture).
Placed in their races were Fast Fit Ruby (John Quinn, Gort) Harleqiun Oscar (Frank Casey, Stonehall), Chrisola (Michael Browne and John Moran, Quin), the Michael Downes-trained Rock of Lacala, Clonreddan Sam (Tom Keane, Cooraclare)and Bogberry Hill (Tom Reynolds, Ennistymon).
There was no Clare winner in the seven race card in Galway on Saturday night. Knockdine Dream, owned by Master Eoin O’ Brien, Miltown Malbay, was third in an A6-final won by Lacken Woodie in 29. 45.

Kilmaley Night

There will be a large Kilmaley contingent in Limerick on Friday night for the fundraiser in aid of Kilmalley GAA Development Fund. A number of buses will bring Kilmaley patrons to the venue.
The big race for them will be the final of the Kilmaley GAA Club A3 Buster 550 final for which Rathkerry Lad, trained by Johnny Maher for Rachel Maher, Kilmaley and Kilcorcoran Manu, trained by Gerry Burke, Miltown Malaby for Master Conor Cleary will be in the line-up.
In the semi-finals last Saturday night Rathkerry Lad put in a strong finish to claim third spot. The 30.48 winner by two-and-a-half-lengths from Harcas was the Thurles-owned The Other City.
Kilcorcoran Manu (Ace Hi Rumble-Ballard Nikita) was in trap five in the second semi-final heat. After challenging at the third bend he too came storming home to take the race by half a length from Tyrur Feeney in a time of 30.13. Third place went to Zara Tashadelek.

New Limerick stadium officially opened

The importance of the greyhound racing industry was highlighted at the official opening of the new Greyhound Racing Stadium in Limerick last Friday night.
Brendan Smith, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, said the industry is responsible for sustaining 11,000 full and part time jobs, direct and indirectly, with many in rural communities as well as providing an estimated €500 million into local economies around the tracks. The dog breeding industry is also successful with over 75% of greyhounds now running in the UK being Irish-bred.
He said the opening of the stadium represents the culmination of the efforts of Bord na gCon and a cross-section of stakeholders, including the contractors engaged bring the project to completion, the greyhound breeders, owners and trainers.
He said credit was due to the Limerick and Clare Greyhound Owners and Breeders Association whose tenacity in pursuing the development of improved facilities in Limerick never waned and indeed all the faithful punters of the region who have gallantly supported the greyhound industry down the years.
The stadium was delivered on schedule and within budget, another achievement on a project of this size.  He said he was impressed with the care taken by Bord na gCon to incorporate into the design of the Limerick Stadium the views offered by the general managers of other greyhound stadia as to the factors to be taken into account to deliver an optimum facility.
“There is no doubt that every effort has been made to utilise the latest technology in this stadium in order that the racing can be run in the most professional manner and underpinned by the highest standards of integrity,” the minister said.
Bord na gCon set out on a mission in pursuit of excellence with this project. Led by chairman Dick O’Sullivan, together with Limerick Greyhound Stadium and its chairman Tony McKenna, a top of the range facility with a wide variety of packages to suit the entire spectrum from the informed follower of greyhounds to the casual punter were implemented.
Referring to the old greyhound stadium in Limerick, he said that on this auspicious occasion, it was only right that they also remember those who have preceded us and worked so hard down the years in the former facility, in the Markets Field, in much less salubrious conditions than they enjoy now, to establish the foundations for the very strong greyhound sector that is so firmly rooted in this region.
Concluding, Minister Smith said it was fitting that the official opening should take place at the start of the Limerick European City of Sport:Super October Weekend, offering a veritable feast of entertainment for sports fans.
Dick O’Sullivan, chairman of Bord na gCon, also referred to the benefits the greyhound industry brought to the country.
Others speakers included Tony McKenna, chairman of the Limerick track and Councillor Maria Byrne, Mayor of Limerick. Among the public representatives in attendance was Clare Fine Gael TD, Joe Carey.