Querrin Brandy at home in Querrin, Co. Clare, after his victory at Limerick Greyhound Stadium on Thursday night.

Cara and Brandy prove age is just a number at Limerick Greyhound Stadium on SIS night

Published: Mon 14 Jan 2019, 8:24 AM

Last updated: Mon 14 Jan 2019, 8:26 AM

There were two particularly special winners on the 12-race SIS card on Thursday night (January 10) at Limerick Greyhound Stadium.

Lightfoot Cara, aged 5 years and 3 months, and Querrin Brandy, aged 4 years and 4 months, considered ‘veteran’ greyhounds, were victorious against their younger counterparts.

Historically, the racing age of greyhounds is between 18 months and 4 years. However, the IGB’s Strategic Plan 2018-2022 aims to extend the racing life of all dogs, including Querrin Brandy and Lightfoot Cara, from 4 years to 6 years. An initiative was introduced earlier this year to provide for more ‘veteran’ races at each track nationwide.

Lightfoot Cara’s owner/trainer, Des Ryan, of Redgate, Limerick, said: “The race suited her down to the ground, coming out from trap 1. She’s very sound and very healthy and has been a great servant. She’s so well behaved and is mad to go racing every week. The SIS racing is working out well for her. Myself and my wife want to keep her as a pet when she eventually retires.”

Querrin Brandy’s owner/trainer, Geraldine Troy, of Querrin, Co. Clare, said: “He’s a gorgeous dog, he just seems to be getting better with age. He’s often galloped on the beach in Kilkee and he loves that. After his career finishes we will rehome him, we have rehomed greyhounds to Italy and the UK before.”

CEO of the Irish Greyhound Board, Gerard Dollard, commented: “The success of Lightfoot Cara and Querrin Brandy demonstrates that older greyhounds can compete with their younger counterparts. The IGB continues to make efforts to encourage veteran or senior races to extend a greyhound’s racing life. This is a key objective of the IGB’s five year strategic plan, launched earlier this year and has been very well received in greyhound racing circles.”

Lightfoot Cara won the first race on the card, in the A5 grade over 525 yards, in a time of 29.43, finishing a length ahead of Bound Tobe Sky – also a veteran greyhound who will turn five years old in February. Querrin Brandy was victorious in race 10 at A3 grade, by just a neck from Slippery Sal.

It was Querrin Brandy’s second win in Limerick in less than a month, following his success in an A4 race in December. It is Lightfoot Cara’s first victory since May.