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Post by BVADMIN on Sept 15, 2019 9:19:11 GMT
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Post by BVADMIN on Sept 16, 2019 13:04:53 GMT
IGB needs to turn around over this risky rule...BY PAUL BROWN OF THE RACING POSTPRETTY much everybody who knows what the sport is about was scathing over the RTE ‘Running For Their Lives’ documentary on Irish greyhound racing when it aired at the end of June, albeit some parts, particularly showing greyhounds being taken to knackers’ yards to be put down, were horrific.
The Irish Greyhound Board tried its best since to defuse the situation, notably issuing various initiatives for welfare and associated funding, although some might say, to borrow from our horseracing cousins, it was a case of shutting the stable door after the horse had bolted.
The anti-greyhound racing brigade, commonly known as antis, continue to be emboldened by events such as the programme, and their pressure on Irish MPs, TV companies and so on has seen sponsors withdraw from greyhound racing – Red Mills being the most prominent – and probing questions asked in the Irish parliament.
Seen from the British side of the Irish Sea, the IGB appears to have weathered the storm somewhat, but what took place at Shelbourne during the third round of the ongoing BoyleSports Irish Derby could have brought Hurricane Dorian-sized turmoil down on it. And it would simply have been due to a massive own goal.
In heat five Laughil Josh took a tumble and upon regaining his feet turned back and raced into the oncoming dogs. It was only down to blind luck that he did not run into one of the pack who has kept racing, and it’s easy to imagine the terrible consequences of even a below top speed greyhound hitting one coming the other way doing at least 35mph.
The video of the race is not available for viewing on the excellent IGB website, so at least someone has had the sense to remove another possible weapon for the antis’ propaganda machine, but you seriously have to question the IGB rules on declaring a no-race.
In the racecard it states ‘A greyhound turning back in a race does not constitute outside interference’, which seems to dictate that the race has to continue. That is simply unbelievable.
In Britain, of course, no such rule exists, with local stewards able to decide for themselves when it is prudent to call a halt and when not.
Incidents of greyhounds falling and then either rejoining by cutting across the middle of the circuit or going back up the track are thankfully quite rare, but when it happens the stewards act with no fallout from the GBGB or bookmakers. That’s how it should be, and why this cannot be the case in Ireland I have no idea.
Apart from how morally wrong this ‘race goes on at all costs’ attitude is, there is also a more hard-nosed view to be taken, namely the possible ending of the racing careers of one or more of the competitors.
There would of course be the same potential consequences even if it were a low-grade event, but in this particular case there is also a considerable financial implication.
There wouldn’t be many hounds reaching the latter stages of an Irish Derby that are not worth five figures apiece, so as an owner you might be potentially looking at a huge loss.
While no owner would ever see it in such stark terms, what if something did go seriously amiss due to a race not being stopped? Is the IGB covered by its rules against potential legal action for damages?
We all understand the risks involved in the normal rough and tumble that can take place, and nobody has issues with that, but leaving the door open like this would surely count as exceptional and must be dangerous legally.
In the current climate, though, what would have been worse for the IGB if the Laughil Josh incident had gone badly would have been the capital the antis could have made from it
In an industry already under fire, they would have had a field day, and they certainly don’t need any excuse to cause a ruckus in any case, as was the case at Romford’s grand reopening last Friday.
Unfortunately, if a policy such as the one the IGB has in place ever sees the worst happen, the antis would be within their rights to go to town over it. And so would everyone else. It’s a rule that seems to be in place for no reason I can fathom and is one nobody should condone.
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Post by BVADMIN on Sept 21, 2019 22:53:15 GMT
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Post by BVADMIN on Sept 21, 2019 22:53:48 GMT
Lenson Bocko snatches Irish Derby verdict after thriller... LENSON BOCKO won a race for the ages as he first just got up and then just held on to claim the €140,000 BoyleSports Irish Derby final over 550 yards on Saturday bat Shelbourne Park, writes Jonathan Kay
It was a thrilling contest made all the more exciting by the fact that 4-5 favourite Lenson Bocko was out-trapped by both Mucky Brae and Run Happy and, although getting into second along the back straight, leader Run Happy was showing no signs of stopping.
At that stage Boylesports King was out with the washing but he was to play a massive role late although not before Lenson Bocko had dug deeper than ever before to pass Run Happy in what seemed the shadows of the post.
There was still time, however, for an incredible late surge from Boylesports King to take him so close, indeed although commentator Ian Fortune did call Lenson Bocko the winner immediately he then decided on discretion and said that a photo would be required.
That vindicated his call with the evidence of the camera showing that the August 2017 dog trained by Graham Holland for Bev Lochead, Len Ponder and Austin Whelan had held on by a fast-diminishing neck from Boylesports King in 29.40sec with the gallant Run Happy just a head away in third.
It was Graham Holland's second Derby title after Rural Hawaii in 2016 while Ponder was fulfilling a lifetime's ambition as Irish-based greyhounds completed a clean sweep of the three Derbys for the first time in 11 years following Braveheart Bobby winning at Shawfield for Pat Buckley and Priceless Blake at Nottingham for Paul Hennessy.
Incredibly, Holland won the last five races on the card, a sequence which began when he took the Michael Fortune Memorial Derby Plate final with Blue East who led home kennelmate Clonbrien Prince to win by three-parts in 29.39sec, while Lenson Bocko's thrilling win was subsequently added to by Ballyhimikin Jet, Slippy Cian and Ponder's Lenson Blinder.
Peter Cronin's Sophies Man was a comfortable winner of the Derby Consolation in 29.73sec, while Derby sponsor John Boyle, who went so close to landing the feature, was on the scoresheet earlier courtesy of the Paul Hennessy-trained Boylesports Xtra (28.06sec) over 525 yards and last year's Derby champion Ballyanne Sim won for Mark Robinson in 28.25sec.
Performance of the night on the supporting card came in the 750 yards open where Brendan Maunsell's Redzer Ardfert smashed his own track record.
Sent off 5-1, he made the bend ahead of odds-on Skywalker Logan and proceeded to pull right away eventually reversing last week's Cambridgeshire final form with Boylesportstwink as she beat that rival by fully 11 lengths in 40.86sec, 20 spots inside his previous best.
There was a memorable British victory when Peter Harnden's Salacres Punch, beaten the shortest of short-heads on English Derby final night at home track Nottingham, defied odds of 12-1 in the 350 yards contest.
Odds-on favourite Blame The Game had battled to the front and led over the first winning line but Salacres Punch finished to great effect and was in charge when it mattered, scoring by a head in 18.66sec.
Winning trainer Harnden said the win had been the best night of his greyhound life, tweeting: “Lost my voice was watching the first winning line, thought he had got beat in a photo again on a Derby night. Unbelievable how I feel, best night of my life in dog racing.
“So proud just rang my mother she was in tears, she’s the star that reared him from three months old and also big thanks to Mark Pierrepont for bringing him over.”
*British trainer Julie Bateson's two intended runners were withdrawn after technical issues delayed the ferry she had been due to travel on.
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Post by BVADMIN on Sept 21, 2019 23:02:57 GMT
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Post by BVADMIN on Sept 23, 2019 23:22:56 GMT
Long live greyhound racing!An iconic BoyleSports Derby that has done our entire sport proud.....BY SARAH KINSELLAAS the dust settles, it's time to reflect on what was an incredible six weeks of greyhound racing as the 2019 BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby came to a close on Saturday night. It's always sad to see the curtain come down on the final night as when I woke up on Sunday morning it felt like something was missing.
The Derby is the best part of the year and this year saw a wonderful winner in Lenson Bocko. Congratulations to Graham and Nicky Holland and your daughter Rachel, sons Chris and Timmy. You all did a marvellous job and represented the event throughout extremely well with top class performances as did all the trainers, owners and connections.
We have faced an almighty battle this year as a greyhound family and still have a long road ahead of us, but I'm so proud of our sport. We all pulled together and filled Shelbourne Park with so much love, passion, energy and enthusiasm, well done to all of you and in the words of Kevin Hennessy: LONG LIVE GREYHOUND RACING.
Lenson Bocko, what a little diamond you are, a big loser for the BoyleSports book though as he was well supported from the start and that support never ceased as he was one of the original favourites. He was a fantastic winner, he battled so hard to win in 29.40sec to claim the massive prize of €140,000. His connections filled the Oaks suite upstairs in HQ and they celebrated long into the early hours of Sunday morning.
I even heard them talking about bringing the trophy to Coppers night club so I hope you all had a blast and I'm sure the party is still ongoing. Lenson Bocko has plenty more to give and I can't wait to see where he goes next as I'm sure the crowd will follow. The Laurels is starting soon so we will definitely see plenty of the Derby stars down in the Rebel county. Bocko was a worthy favourite and now has a record of 11 wins from 13 starts. Wow.
Pat Buckley and his team must have lost their voices screaming for Run Happy. What a cracking effort he put in. He caught my eye months ago and it was so lovely to watch him progress into the dog he is now. It's never easy to lead all the way and get caught on the line. You might rather finish stone last then a short head but that's greyhound racing, that's what makes it and the final didn't disappoint.
WHAT A FINISH from BoyleSports King, John Boyle is absolutely thrilled with his performance and Dolores came up to the box at the end of the night which wasn't an easy thing for her to do. Greyhound racing is full of disappointment but so is life so when those magical moments do happen, it makes it all that more special.
My eyes filled with tears on Saturday night when thinking about Michael Fortune, he would of loved all the action and he would of probably tipped up the winner from months back. He had a great eye for a good greyhound and it just wasn't the same without him. The Michael Fortune Memorial Plate was won by Graham Holland also with Blue East landing the spoils in 29.39sec, one spot faster than the final.
What might have been for this Kingdom Derby winner but a wonderful victory with his kennel mate taking second spot, Clonbrien Prince. We hope we did you proud Michael and we hope you enjoyed a pint of Guinness as you commentated from the skies. RIP my friend, we miss you.
Delighted for Peter Cronin winning the Consolation race with Sophies Man, an excellent display with Droopys Pension in second. Sophies Man is still lightly raced and young so we will see plenty more of him too.
Can we all just take a moment though to congratulate REDZER ARDFERT. What a show stopping win to break his own track record of 41.06sec to smash it and clock 40.86sec.
I was sitting in the RTE studio (which was super cool and kept us out of the rain) and when he broke in front I said to Sarina and Ger Canning this is all over. Redzer was magnificent, congrats to Brendan Maunsell and the owners Pat Redden and Kathleen Clifford. What a greyhound to have.
I can't go without mentioning Ballyanne Sim, the 2018 BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby winner. He cruised around HQ to clock 28.25sec. Well done to his connections, it was great to see him on the winning podium again. Also what a night for team Holland- Slippy Cian and Lenson Blinder won too. The drama, the action, the fun, the atmosphere, everything was just brilliant but eight favourites from 13 won on Saturday night so let’s spare a thought for the bookies!!
That's it folks, that is the end of the Derby for this year but the Puppy Derby started last Friday and the Laurels is starting this week so the greyhound action continues.
THANK YOU all so much from the bottom of my heart for all the support and for reading my blogs throughout the Derby, It's a privilege for me to promote and advertise such a wonderful sport and BoyleSports are so proud to sponsor an iconic Classic.
Keep smiling, keep positive, keep showing the world that our greyhounds mean everything and without them our lives would be a very lonely and sad place.
See you all at the track.
Much love, Sarah x
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