1969 Irish Greyhound Derby

The 1969 Irish Greyhound Derby took place during July and August with the final being held at Harold's Cross Stadium in Dublin on 8 August 1969.[1]

1969 Irish Greyhound Derby
VenueHarold's Cross Stadium
LocationDublin
End date8 August
Total prize money£2,000 (winner)

The winner Own Pride won £2,000 and was trained by Ger McKenna and owned by Tom O'Doherty.[2]

It was the last ever Derby to be run at Harolds Cross following the decision by the Bord na gCon to keep the race at Shelbourne Park.[3]

Final result

At Harold's Cross, 8 August (over 525 yards):

Position Winner Breeding Trap SP Time Trainer
1st Own PrideAlways Proud - Kitty True26-4f29.20Ger McKenna
2nd Monalee GamblerPrairie Flash - Sheila At Last13-129.40Tom Lynch
3rd Quakerfield KingQuiet Spring - Wax Happy59-129.64
4th Finolas YarnSally's Yarn - Finola43-1Gay McKenna
5th Colonel FlashGreenane Flash - Litle Rattler6100-6
6th Kilbelin GrandPrairie Flash - Clomoney Grand310-1Gay McKenna

Distances

2½, 3 (lengths)

Competition Report

The 1969 English Greyhound Derby winner Sand Star was the leading entry for the Irish Derby in 1969. The black and white dog was quickly installed as ante post favourite with McAlinden Cup winner Johnnys Dream, Trigo Cup winner Bill of Sale and It's A Mint next in line in the betting.[4] The first round caused a sensation as both Sand Star and It's A Mint both failed to progress. Rich Tea went fastest in 29.25 and there were good wins for Kilbelin Grand and English star Discretions.[5]

The second round resulted in wins for Own Pride, Camira Prince and Quakerfield King but Johnnys Dream was eliminated.[5]

In the semi-finals a battle between Own Pride and Finolas Yarn for the second time in the competition saw both qualify for the final followed by Colonel Flash and Quakerfield King booking their spots in the second semi-final. The final heat went to the Tom Lynch trained Monalee Gambler from Kilbelin Grand.[5]

The final line up contained two stand-out runners in Own Pride and Finolas Yarn but instead of a third head to head battle between the pair it was Monalee Gambler who broke well and went into the lead. Own Pride pulled him back by the third bend, going on to win by two and a half lengths. Sadly Kilbelin Grand died shortly after the race from heart failure.[5]

The winning trainer was Ger McKenna, cousin of Gay McKenna, the name McKenna would remain a famous Irish training name for decades to come.[4][6]

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gollark: There's not a rule or anything against it here, as far as I know.
gollark: They sound lower than the next whole number.
gollark: Hi.
gollark: There are also r/mathmemes and r/physicsmemes!

See also

References
  1. Genders, Roy (1990). NGRC book of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. p. 261. ISBN 0-7207-1804-X.
  2. Comyn, John. 50 Years of Greyhound Racing in Ireland. Aherlow Publishers Ltd.
  3. Genders, Roy (1975). The Greyhound and Racing Greyhound. Page Brothers (Norwich). ISBN 0-85020-0474.
  4. Fortune, Michael. Irish Greyhound Derby 1932–1981. Victory Irish Promotions Ltd.
  5. Fortune, Michael. The 75 Years History of the Irish Greyhound Derby. Irish Greyhound Review. ISSN 0709-0609.
  6. "Remember When - August 1969". Greyhound Star. 2018.
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