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Post by BVADMIN on Dec 23, 2019 5:17:57 GMT
Former trainer Stan Kennett is the studio guest on Saturday ...
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Post by SALFORD GIRL on Dec 23, 2019 22:59:05 GMT
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Post by SALFORD GIRL on Dec 28, 2019 13:30:19 GMT
Michael Fortune: an iconic voice in greyhound racing
Irish legend Michael Fortune receives posthumous Services award from GWA
BY JONATHAN KAY OF THE RACING POST
MICHAEL FORTUNE, the Racing Post’s longtime greyhound correspondent in Ireland who passed away in July, has been announced as the posthumous recipient of the Greyhound Writers’ Association award for services to greyhound racing.
From Bree, County Wexford, he began his journalistic career with the Irish Press Group in Dublin in the late 1960s covering mainly horseracing, greyhound racing and Gaelic football and hurling.
During a 50-year career he also wrote for the Irish Independent, Sunday World, Irish Examiner, Sporting Press and Irish Greyhound Weekly in addition to editing the Irish Greyhound Review.
He was track commentator at Shelbourne Park and, until its closure, Harold’s Cross in addition to being the greyhound racing commentator for RTE television and radio for many years. He also reported and interviewed on horseracing for RTE radio, covering many Cheltenham Festivals.
Jonathan Hobbs, the GWA chairman, said: "Members of the GWA had no hesitation in awarding Michael a posthumous honour. For many of us he was a loyal colleague, someone who championed the sport and, especially on those huge nights at Shelbourne Park, loved nothing more than discussing the night’s action after racing with those who shared his passion.
"Most of us will have debated the relative merits of the Irish challenge for the English Derby, and vice versa, with Michael and these conversations would always be friendly. However this proud Irishman always batted for those on his side of the Irish Sea!
"And why not? He had the knowledge to support his opinion because he was a superb and prolific journalist with a huge list of contacts and experience of greyhound racing all over the world.
"Michael was the voice of Irish greyhound racing, and those brilliant, spine-tingling commentaries of his will live on. He was a greyhound writer but, above all, he was our friend."
Fortune’s son Ian, who worked with his father for many years and continues to keep the family name to the fore in the world of greyhound media, said: "It came as a shock when we heard that dad was going to be recognised by the GWA but as a family we are so appreciative.
"He had so many friends and colleagues in the GWA and the fact they chose to recognise his lifetime’s work and efforts to promote greyhound racing is a real honour.
"He was proud of his involvement with the Racing Post for so many years and didn’t take his role as Irish correspondent lightly. Indeed, he made a point of beating the Irish greyhound racing drum as loudly as possible.
"More than ever, Irish and English greyhound racing depend on each other. Just this year we saw Irish success in the Scottish Derby, Derby and Leger and it was great to see the likes of the late Salacres Punch come to Ireland and fly the flag for the UK.
"Anglo-Irish relations are so important and Dad was more than aware of the fact. He regularly tried to wind up his UK-based colleagues, but he always accepted and promoted a healthy competition between Ireland and the UK.
"If he was still with us he’d be both honoured and a little embarrassed, although you can be certain he would have relished a trip to the UK for a party. In accepting the award on his behalf, I will echo his sentiments by saying we are involved in a wonderful sport, a sport to be proud of."
The award will be presented at the annual GBGB gala at London’s Royal Lancaster Hotel on Sunday, January 26.
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