Tipperary interest still strong in Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby
Tipperary interest remains strong in the race for the 2019 Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby ahead of the third round of the competition.
The Derby is the most prestigious race in the Irish greyhound calendar and boasts a prize-fund of over €300,000.
Friday and Saturday saw a field of 96 cut in half, with Grangeview Ten, trained by Patrick Guilfoyle in Cloughjordan, posting the fastest time of the round in 29.41 in winning his heat. Guilfoyle’s Magical Bale, an English Derby finalist earlier this year and runner-up in this contest in 2018, also made it through to the final 48. Golden’s Graham Holland and Cappwhite’s Pat Buckley also still feature runners in the third round.
Racing Manager with the Leinster Racing Office, Derek Frehill, commented: “The Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby always attracts the highest calibre of greyhounds from around the country and indeed worldwide. There’s been a real buzz in the air here in Shelbourne Park over the last few weeks as we get closer and closer to crowning the overall Derby winner for 2019. It’s been a classic in every sense of the word so far and we’re all really looking forward to hosting third round night, with 48 dogs and their connections all still in the running to be crowned Derby champion. I want to wish the very best of luck to the greyhounds and their connections still involved.”
Payments are 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.
All eight heats across the third round take place this Saturday, August 31st, with the final of the 2019 Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby will be held on Saturday, September 21st, at Shelbourne Park Greyhound Stadium.