Race of Champions (Irish greyhounds)
 Slippy Cian | |
| Class | Feature |
|---|---|
| Location | Kingdom Greyhound Stadium |
| Inaugurated | 2008 |
| Sponsor | Denis Murphy |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 550 yards |
| Surface | Sand |
| Purse | €15,000 (winner) |
The Race of Champions is a greyhound racing competition held annually at the Kingdom Greyhound Stadium in Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland.[1]
Race history
[edit]It was inaugurated in 2008 and therefore is a relatively new event but due to the significant winners prize money on offer stands as a feature event in the Irish racing calendar.[2] The event offers one of the richest prizes for a one-off race.[3] In 2019, the competition was sponsored by Navillus and previous to that was sponsored by Boylesports and served as a major fundraiser for the Kerry GAA training fund, while showcasing how the greyhound industry plays a pivotal role in the local community.[4]
The event has been won a record five times by Graham Holland.
Venues and distances
[edit]- 2008-present (Tralee 550y)
Sponsors
[edit]- 2008–2011 (Paddy O'Sullivan)
- 2012–2012 (Betdaq)
- 2013–2017 (Boylesports)
- 2018–2018 (Kerry G.A.A Supporters)
- 2019–2019 (Navillus)
- 2021–2021 (S.I.S)
- 2022–2025 (Denis Murphy)
Past winners
[edit]| Year | Winner | Breeding | Trainer | SP | Time (sec) | Notes/ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Melodys Pat | Larkhill Jo – Urla Melody | Pa Fitzgerald | 3/1 | 29.62 | Track record[5] |
| 2009 | Cash Dream | Crash – A Little Slow | Gerry Holian | 6/1 | 30.49 | [6] |
| 2010 | Beaming Dilemma | Brett Lee – Beaming Heart | Pat Buckley | 8/1 | 29.66 | [7] |
| 2011 | Deerfield Music | Ace Hi Rumble – Droopys Bolero | Maurice (Mossy) O’Connor | 6/4f | 29.52 | Track record[8] |
| 2012 | Razldazl Rioga | Brett Lee – Razldazl Pearl | Dolores Ruth | 9/4f | 29.58 | [9] |
| 2013 | Farloe Trent | Hondo Black – Final Pearl | Pat Buckley | 6/1 | 29.43 | Track record[10] |
| 2014 | Sidarian Blaze | Kinloch Brae – Silverhill Tina | Graham Holland | 5/2 | 29.57 | [11] |
| 2015 | Rural Hawaii | Head Bound – Duck Fat | Graham Holland | 6/1 | 29.52 | [12] |
| 2016 | Paradise Maverick | Royal Impact – Paradise Alanna | Pat Buckley | 4/1 | 29.61 | [13] |
| 2017 | Killinan Rosie | Brett Lee – Killinan Baby | Pat Buckley | 7/1 | 29.62 | [14] |
| 2018 | Clonbrien Hero | Razldazl Jayfkay – Trout or Salmon | Graham Holland | 5/2 | 29.99 | [15] |
| 2019 | Slippy Cian | Crash – Global Liberty | Graham Holland | 2/1 | 29.60 | [16] |
| 2020 | cancelled due to COVID-19 | |||||
| 2021 | Explosive Boy | Good News – Delightful Girl | Patrick Guilfoyle | No SP | 29.36 | No SP due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions[17] |
| 2022 | Bockos Budsit | Laughil Blake – Matts Monica | Graham Holland | 9/2 | 29.43 | [18] |
| 2023 | Ballinabola Ed | Confident Rankin – Dolls Lady | Pat Buckley | 1/1f | 29.23 | [19] |
| 2024 | Coolavanny Otto | Droopys Sydney – Westwind Jet | Pat Buckley | 11/2 | 29.38 | [20] |
| 2025 | Seven Beach | Pestana – Whitings Gift | Jennifer O'Donnell | 13/8f | 29.09 | Track record[21] |
References
[edit]- ↑ "Race of Champions". Irish Greyhound Board.
- ↑ "Feature Events" (PDF). Irish Greyhound Board. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 November 2017. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
- ↑ "Race of Champions at Tralee to be south's richest ever one-off". Racing Post.
- ↑ "Boylesports Race of Champions". Irish Greyhound Board.
- ↑ "Paddy O'Sullivan "Spring Twilight" Race of Champions". Irish Greyhound Board.
- ↑ "Lynch Family "Paddy O'Sullivan" Race of Champions". Irish Greyhound Board.
- ↑ "Paddy O Sullivan Race of Champions Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
- ↑ "Paddy O Sullivan Race of Champions Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
- ↑ "Betdaq Race of Champions Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
- ↑ "Boylesports.com Race Of Champions Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
- ↑ "Boylesports.com Race of Champions Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
- ↑ "2015 Boylesports Race of Champions Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
- ↑ "2016 Result". Irish Greyhound Board.
- ↑ "Race of Champions". Irish Greyhound Board.
- ↑ "race of Champions race meeting". Irish Greyhound Board.
- ↑ "Navillus Race Of Champions Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
- ↑ "SIS Race Of Champions Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
- ↑ "Callaway Rambler@Stud Race Of Champions". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
- ↑ "Callaway Rambler@Stud Race Of Champions". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
- ↑ "English owners win €15,000 Race of Champions purse as Pat Buckley-trained Coolavanny Otto beats favourite Dashing Toro in final". The Irish Independent. 16 June 2024. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
- ↑ "2025 Callaway Pro Am @Stud Race of Champions Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
