Entries increase for Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby 2019 as trap draw made for opening round
The opening round of the Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby 2019 will get underway this weekend as the trap draw for the first round of the competition has taken place at Shelbourne Park Greyhound Stadium.
156 greyhounds will begin the event across 26 heats, with a 13% increase on entries for last year’s event.
The Irish Greyhound Derby is the most prestigious race in the Irish greyhound calendar and boasts a prize-fund of over €300,000.
Last year’s event was won by Ballyanne Sim, for Kildare trainer Mark Robinson and popular owner Eamon Cleary, who took home the €140,000 winning prize in a time of 29.28 seconds, one of the fastest Derby victories ever. Sim was subsequently named ‘Supreme Greyhound’ at the 2018 National Greyhound Awards.
Racing Manager with the Leinster Racing Office, Derek Frehill, commented: “The Irish Greyhound Derby produces some of the most high quality greyhound racing in the world here in Shelbourne Park. To have 156 greyhounds beginning the event, with more than that being entered, shows the prestige of the event as well as the interest being created by our continued prize money incentives. We’re looking forward to a thrilling six weeks of racing in what is the highlight of the Irish greyhound racing calendar.”
Payments will be staggered for heat winners with larger rewards for greyhounds winning later rounds, particularly quarter and semi-finals, following on from last year’s increase in this area.
The 2019 Derby will begin on Friday, 16th August and run for six weekends, with the final being held on Saturday, September 21st.