St Leger (Irish greyhound race)

Irish St Leger
1984 champion Morans Beef
ClassFeature
LocationLimerick Greyhound Stadium
Inaugurated1932
SponsorCallaway Pro Am at Stud
Race information
Distance550 yards
SurfaceSand
Purse€30,000 (winner)

The St Leger is a greyhound racing competition held annually at Limerick Greyhound Stadium at Greenpark, Dock Road, Limerick, Ireland.[1] The competition is an original classic race[2] and was inaugurated in 1932 at Celtic Park in Belfast following the decision by the Irish Coursing Club to issue a new list of classic races.[3]

As was the practice at the time the Bord na gCon switched the event each year to a different track. Clonmel Greyhound Stadium, Shelbourne Park and Harolds Cross all played host [4] before it found a permanent home at the old Markets Field Greyhound Stadium in Limerick in 1944.[5]

Venues and distances

  • Celtic Park (1932, 1943 550y)
  • Clonmel (1933 550y)
  • Shelbourne Park (1934, 1936, 1938, 1939 550y)
  • Harolds Cross (1935, 1937, 1942 550y)
  • Limerick (1940 & 1944–present 550y)

Sponsors

  • 1982–1987 (Smithwick's)
  • 1988–1990 (Kantoher Co-op)
  • 1991–2001 (Golden Vale)
  • 2002–2017 (Kerry Agribusiness)
  • 2018–2018 (Barking Buzz App)
  • 2019–2020 (Friends of Limerick)
  • 2021–2022 (Matchbook Betting Exchange)
  • 2023–2024 (Will We Go)
  • 2025–2025 (Denis Murphy)

Past winners

Year Winning Greyhound Breeding Time (sec) Trainer SP Notes/ref
1932 Castle EveFourth of July – Sally's Gossip32.08
1933 Brilliant BobOther Days – Birchfield Bessie31.53
1934 Chicken SandwichHeros Heart – Moor Girl31.59Track record
1935 Carras SonRubio – Cara31.82
1936 MoresbyRoving Bunty – False Colleen31.68
1937 Cheers For BallyduffHes Next – Normans Fancy31.42
1938 AbbeylaraPrudent Turn – That's The Why31.61
1939 Negros CrownPrudent Turn – Negros Pet31.77
1940 Cherrygrove CrossRejected Light – Dohora Lass31.82
1942 Monarch of the GlenCarolina Prince – Turn of the Glen31.28
1943 Monarch of the GlenCarolina Prince – Turn of the Glen31.48
1944 No RelationSweeping Cut – Halycon Heart31.48
1945 Dark ShadowRuby Border – Coming Now31.37Track record
1946 Star PointBawnmore Lad – Bright Duckling31.55
1947 Pouleen BoyAnother White Sandhills – Broken Weir31.92
1948 Beau LionAnother Dancing Willie - Brevity31.525/2[6]
1949 Ballybeg SurpriseMad Tanist – My Little Diamond31.55
1950 Maddest DaughterClounehard Border – Maddest Yet31.55
1951 Ellas IvyIvy Reef – Mara Lass31.08
1952 Silver EarlKing Silver – Ardmachree Eliza31.25
1953 GortaleenShaggy Lad – Magic Maid31.26
1954 Mount Nagle SurpriseBallybeg Surprise – Mount Nagle Girl31.10
1955 Doonmore DreamerWee Chap – Again Ballyglass30.98
1956 Prince of BermudaChampion Prince – Sunora30.66Ger McKennaTrack record
1957 Kilcaskin KernMagourna Reject – Pavona31.05
1958 Firgrove Snowman [7]The Grand Champion – Firgrove Swallow31.28
1959 Ocean SwellGlittering Look – Don't Ask31.18
1960 Swanlands BestMan Of Pleasure – Swanland's Neighbour31.60Ger McKenna
1961 Jerrys ClipperJerry's Special – Glittering Queenie31.10Jerry O'Dea
1962 Apollo AgainKnockrour Again – Redondo Beach31.26Ger McKenna
1963 General CourtnowskiMan Of Pleasure – Yoblstrap31.12
1964 Brook JockeyJockey's Glen – Endurance31.66P Boyce
1965 Lovely ChieftainKnockhill Chieftain – Lovely Sister30.92Ger McKenna
1966 Movealong SantaChampion Tipp – Movelong Sally30.92
1967 Yanka BoyClonalvy Pride – Millie Hawthorn30.77Ger McKenna
1968 Pools PunterOregon Prince – Wild Countess30.889/2
1969 Own PrideAlways Proud – Kitty True30.95Ger McKenna
1970 Mark AnthonyPrairie Flash - Shandaroba31.02Tom Lynch6/1[8]
1971 Time Up PleaseNewdown Heather – Dogstown Fame30.56Ger McKenna[9]
1972 Time Up PleaseNewdown Heather – Dogstown Fame31.05Ger McKenna[9]
1973 Romping To WorkSwanky Pa – Go To Work31.04Larry Kelly[10]
1974 Lively BandSilver Hope – Kells Queen31.20Jack Murphy
1975 Ballybeg PrimRockfield Era – Ballybeg Pride30.44Ger McKennaTrack record[11]
1976 Nameless StarRita's Choice – Itsastar30.62Ger McKenna
1977 Red RasperOwn Pride – Miss Honeygar31.15Ger McKenna
1978 RhuSole Aim – RigsdaleKuda31.44Matt O'Donnell
1979 Airmount ChampHunday Champion – Winnies Call31.20Paddy Keane5/1[12]
1980 Rahan ShipRail Ship – Rwanyena30.72Johnny Haynes[13]
1981 Oran JackYellow Band – Spooky Lady30.62Rose Grealish
1982 Supreme TigerKnockrour Tiger-Rising Tide30.44Matt O'Donnell
1983 The StrangerDark Mercury – Lovely Blend31.04Christy O'Callaghan
1984 Morans BeefNoble Brigg – Rathkenny Bride30.06Ger McKenna
1985 Ballintubber OneKillaclug Jet – Ballintubber Peg30.42Matt O'Donnell
1986 Storm VillaAulton Villa – Storm Island30.65Matt O'Donnell1/1f[14]
1987 RandyAulton Villa – Melanie30.23Christy Daly5/2[15]
1988 Local KateWise Band – Local Nell31.04Maurice Leahy14/1[16]
1989 Dereen StarMoral Support – Summer Crab30.24Matt O'Donnell5/2[17]
1990 Alans JudyI'm Slippy – Fairy Lawn30.42E. McMahon2/1f[18]
1991 Castleland DreamPowerstown Pax – Sail On Witch30.22Christy O'Callaghan5/2[19]
1992 Barefoot DashWillie Joe – Kilmorna Pearl30.40Matt O'Donnell7/2[20]
1993 Barefoot MartyI'm Slippy – Cheeky Carmaur30.54Fraser Black/[21]
1994 Kilvil SkinnerMathews Gold – Keeleys Friend30.84Peter Pattinson3/1[22]
1995 Batties SpiritBatties Whisper – Lady Arrancourt30.42Matt O'Donnell7/4f[23]
1996 Airmount RogueGlen Park Dancer – Airmount Kelly29.89Gerald Kiely6/1[24]
1997 Fire FlyLeaders Minstrel – Mark of Relief30.36AD Marshall9/2[25]
1998 Deerfield SunsetVintage Prince - Sunset Blonde30.03Joe Kenny5/4f
1999 Frisby FlashingFrightful Flash – Centenarys Dream29.64Reggie Roberts1/1fTrack record[26]
2000 Extra DividendSassy Boy – Sunshine Penny29.79Dolores Ruth8/1[27]
2001 Droopys KewellLarkhill Jo – Perrys Pusher30.37Michael Dunphy5/2[28]
2002 Larking AboutLarkhill Jo – Rockys Whisper29.73Paul Hennessy9/4f[29]
2003 Mountleader RolfSmooth Rumble – Mountleader Diva30.01Geraldine O'Mahony5/2[30]
2004 Never Give UpSpiral Nikita – Dalcash Lament29.88Pat Buckley7/1[31]
2005 Redbarn PantherJamella Tiger - Itsabouttimerose29.72Liam Egan4/1[32]
2006 IndesacjackPacific Mile – JasonsSmokie29.66Jim Morrissey2/1f[33]
2007 Lughill JoLarkhill Jo – Lughill Rose29.37Owen McKenna3/1[34]
2008 Boherash GaoitheWorld Class – Boherash Charity29.71Joan Hanrahan14/1[35]
2009 Bar BlackstoneHead Bound – Blackstone Sky29.62Sean Dunphy2/1jf[36]
2010 Farley TurboHondo Black – Blue Honey29.57Owen McKenna3/1Track record[37]
2011 What A TornadoCrash – Natural Energy29.58Paul Hennessy7/4f[38]
2012 Cashen MafumaCashen Legend – Shakira Live29.57Chris Houlihan8/1[39]
2013 Locnamon BridieRoyal Impact – Locnamon Nell29.34Paul Hennessy3/1jf[40]
2014 Paradise SilvaHondo Black – Dalcash Diva29.50Pat Buckley6/4f[41]
2015 Skywalker RorySkywalker Puma – Tarsna Sal29.47Patrick Guilfoyle7/2[42]
2016 Priceless BrandyMall Brandy – Tullowmac Java29.30Paul Hennessy4/5f[43]
2017 Clonbrien HeroRazldazl Jayfkay – Trout or Salmon29.60Graham Holland5/2jf[44]
2018 Blastoff JetDroopys Jet – Blastoff Annie29.65Philip Buckley5/1[45]
2019 Ballymac AntonBallymac Best – Coolavanny Angie29.53Liam Dowling4/1[46]
2020 Epic HeroDroopys Jet – Ravenna29.44Thomas O'DonovanNo SPdue to COVID-19[47]
2021 Ballymac MerlinVulturi – Ballymac Belle29.68Liam Dowling8/1[48]
2022 Bobsleigh DreamDroopys Sydney – Bobsleigh Jet29.84Pat Buckley11/8f[49]
2023 Clonbrien TreatyPestana – Clonbrien Millie29.51Graham Holland5/4f[50]
2024 Clonbrien TreatyPestana – Clonbrien Millie29.28Graham Holland5/4fRecord time for final[51]
2025 Drombeg BannerExplosive Boy – Hazelfield Echo29.67Evan McAuliffe20/1[52]

References

  1. ↑ Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing, page 299-300. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 07207-1106-1.
  2. ↑ "2022 MATCHBOOK IRISH ST. LEGER". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  3. ↑ "Feature Events" (PDF). Irish Greyhound Board. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 November 2017. Retrieved 10 July 2016.
  4. ↑ Barnes, Julia (1991). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File, page 336. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-61-9.
  5. ↑ Hobbs, Jonathan (2007). Greyhound Annual 2008, pages 175-176. Raceform. ISBN 978-1-905153-53-4.
  6. ↑ "Beau Lion Takes Irish St. Leger". Irish Independent. 28 June 1948. Retrieved 15 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. ↑ "Remember When - July". Greyhound Star. 15 July 2018.
  8. ↑ "Remember When - November 1970". Greyhound Star. 4 November 2018.
  9. 1 2 "Remember When - September 1969". Greyhound Star. 19 September 2018.
  10. ↑ "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 1973) October edition". Greyhound Star. 2012.
  11. ↑ "Ballybeg Prim to top Poll". Belfast Telegraph. 4 February 1976. Retrieved 18 June 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  12. ↑ "Keane takes St. Leger". Drogheda Independent. 19 October 1979. Retrieved 15 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  13. ↑ "Remember When - October". Greyhound Star. 27 October 2017.
  14. ↑ "Storm Villa led all the way". Sunday Independent (Dublin). 26 October 1986. Retrieved 15 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  15. ↑ "Randy scores classic win". Sunday Independent (Dublin). 25 October 1987. Retrieved 15 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  16. ↑ "Randy scores classic win". Sunday Tribune. 23 October 1988. Retrieved 15 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  17. ↑ "Greyhound Racing". Nottingham Evening Post. 23 October 1989. Retrieved 15 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  18. ↑ "Is this Master McGrath Mark Two?". Lurgan Mail. 25 October 1990. Retrieved 15 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  19. ↑ Barnes/Sellers, Julia/John (1992). Ladbrokes Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. p. 324. ISBN 0-948955-22-8.
  20. ↑ "Dash sinks Leger rivals". Belfast News-Letter. 2 November 1992. Retrieved 15 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  21. ↑ "Reserved Barefoot Marty". Irish Independent. 3 November 1993. Retrieved 15 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  22. ↑ "Kilvil tops". Sunday Independent (Dublin). 30 October 1994. Retrieved 22 August 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  23. ↑ "Batties Spirit takes St leger". Sunday Independent (Dublin). 5 November 1995. Retrieved 15 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  24. ↑ "Leger delight for Airmount Rogue". Irish Independent. 4 November 1996. Retrieved 15 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  25. ↑ "Fire Flu buzzes to St Leger". Irish Independent. 10 November 1997. Retrieved 15 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  26. ↑ "Limerick". Sunday Independent (Dublin). 17 October 1999. Retrieved 15 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  27. ↑ "2000 Result". Irish Greyhound Board.
  28. ↑ "2001 Result". Irish Greyhound Board.
  29. ↑ "2002 Result". Irish Greyhound Board.
  30. ↑ "2003 Result". Irish Greyhound Board.
  31. ↑ "2004 Result". Irish Greyhound Board.
  32. ↑ "2005 Result". Irish Greyhound Board.
  33. ↑ "2006 Result". Irish Greyhound Board.
  34. ↑ "2007 Result". Irish Greyhound Board.
  35. ↑ "2008 Result". Irish Greyhound Board.
  36. ↑ "2009 Result". Irish Greyhound Board.
  37. ↑ "2010 Result". Irish Greyhound Board.
  38. ↑ "2011 Result". Irish Greyhound Board.
  39. ↑ "2012 Result". Irish Greyhound Board.
  40. ↑ "2013 Result". Irish Greyhound Board.
  41. ↑ "2014 Result". Irish Greyhound Board.
  42. ↑ "2015 Result". Irish Greyhound Board.
  43. ↑ "2016 Result". Irish Greyhound Board.
  44. ↑ "2017 St Leger". Irish Greyhound Board.
  45. ↑ "2018 St Leger final meeting". Irish Greyhound Board.
  46. ↑ "St Leger final". Irish Greyhound Board.
  47. ↑ "The 2020 St Leger Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  48. ↑ "Matchbook Betting Exchange Irish St Leger 550 Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  49. ↑ "2022 Matchbook Betting Exchange Irish St Leger 550 Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  50. ↑ "Willwego.com Irish St Leger 2023 Final". Irish Greyhound Racing Ireland.
  51. ↑ "Willwego.com Irish St Leger 2024 Final". Irish Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  52. ↑ "Famous Leger win for Evan McAuliffe and Drombeg Banner". Limerick Post. 12 August 2025. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
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