The 2013 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 88th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
2013 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year Golden Jacket finalist Eden Rumble
The GRA was subject to a management lease buyout, Wimbledon's lease was shorter than the rest of the tracks bringing the future of the track into serious question. The Oaks was switched to sister track Belle Vue meaning that Wimbledon had now lost the Laurels , Grand National and Oaks in recent years. Leading owner John Turner stepped in to save the Puppy Derby by sponsoring the event.[ 1]
In Ireland, Newbridge which was leased by Morwell Racing Ltd ceased trading and left the stadium vacant. The Irish Greyhound Board stepped in to save the track and installed a management team to run it. The third BAGS/SIS track championship went to Sheffield who outpointed defending champions Newcastle in the final at Sheffield.[ 2] Coventry continued to offer excellent open race prize money but suffered a blow when Racing Manager Martyn Dore left the track.
Ballymac Eske secured victories in the Juvenile and Scottish Greyhound Derby . Charlie Lister OBE had a year to remember following a record breaking seventh English Greyhound Derby with Sidaz Jack and sixth trainers championship at Yarmouth .[citation needed ]
Slippery Robert trained by Robert Gleeson took the Irish Derby.[ 3] The William Hill Grand Prix resulted in a dead heat between Hometown Honey and Calzaghe Lilly.[ 4]
Charlie Lister had four finalists in the St Leger final and his hot favourite Farloe Tango broke the track record when claiming the competition. Farloe Tango then won the Greyhound of the Year . Mark Wallis sealed a fifth trainer's title in nine years.[ 5]
The Racing Post TV channel had a significant presence in the reporting of greyhound racing but the Greyhound Star began to consider plans to go online.[ 6] Ladbrokes stepped in to sponsor the Scottish Derby which was at risk of being cancelled.[ 7] Jim Woods retired after 31 years as a Racing Manager at Perry Barr , Nottingham , Leeds and Monmore .
Trainer Stuart Mason had his licence removed and is fined £1,500 by the Greyhound Board of Great Britain following three cases of positive tests for amphetamine.[ 8]
Ladbrokes Golden Jacket , Crayford (18 February, 714m, £15,000)
Pos
Name of Greyhound
Trainer
SP
Time
Trap
1st
White Soks Roks
Daniel Riordan
4-5f
45.48
6
2nd
Droopys Xavier
Claude Gardiner
9-4
45.74
2
3rd
Pony Bride
Kevin Hutton
20-1
45.76
3
4th
Crinkill Jewell
Kevin Hutton
10-1
45.80
4
5th
Eden Rumble
Alma Keppie
12-1
46.14
1
6th
Paulines Pride
Darren Whitton
6-1
46.83
5
Ladbrokes Scottish Derby , Shawfield (4 May, 480m, £10,000)
Pos
Name of Greyhound
Trainer
SP
Time
Trap
1st
Ballymac Eske
Barrie Draper
4-7f
28.75
1
2nd
Mags Gamble
Harry Williams
5-1
29.31
3
3rd
Greenwell Mentor
Pat Flaherty
12-1
29.35
4
4th
Teejays Bluehawk
Paul Young
6-1
29.37
2
5th
Greenwell Lark
Pat Flaherty
16-1
29.47
6
6th
Tarbrook Tornado
Frazer Black
6-1
29.49
5
William Hill Classic , Sunderland (18 July, 450m, £25,000)
Pos
Name of Greyhound
Trainer
SP
Time
Trap
1st
Pinpoint Maxi
Kelly Macari
4-5f
27.02
1
2nd
Droopys Pride
Elaine Parker
12-1
27.21
4
3rd
Shaneboy Spencer
Liz McNair
5-1
27.35
2
4th
Young Golden
Paul Young
33-1
27.37
5
5th
Shaneboy Alley
Liz McNair
6-4
27.61
6
6th
Bubbly Rocket
Paul Young
10-1
27.89
3
William Hill Grand Prix , Sunderland (18 July, 640m, £15,000)
Pos
Name of Greyhound
Trainer
SP
Time
Trap
1st*
Hometown Honey
Mark Wallis
5-1
39.95
5
1st*
Calzaghe Lilly
Ted Soppitt
1-1f
39.95
6
3rd
Britania Rachel
Claude Gardiner
10-1
40.21
3
4th
Bangcrashwallop
Heather Dimmock
6-1
40.23
2
5th
Dural Bound
Maxine Locke
9-4
40.29
4
6th
Sidelight
Chris Allsopp
6-1
40.45
1
Paddy Power TV Trophy , Yarmouth (4 September, 843m, £8,000)
Pos
Name of Greyhound
Trainer
SP
Time
Trap
1st
Musical Gaga
Dean Childs
1-2f
52.94
5
2nd
Blonde Reagan
Mark Wallis
18-1
53.40
6
3rd
Incitatus
Chris Allsopp
9-1
53.53
4
4th
Farloe Tango
Charlie Lister OBE
5-2
53.55
2
5th
Freedom Cache
Paul Donovan
16-1
53.97
1
6th
Golden Donaire
David Mullins
40-1
54.14
3
East Anglian Derby , Yarmouth (19 September, 462m, £12,000)
Pos
Name of Greyhound
Trainer
SP
Time
Trap
1st
Any Dak
Hazel Kemp
4-6f
27.34
6
2nd
Aero Tobias
Dean Childs
5-1
27.51
3
3rd
Bridge Honcho
Mark Wallis
6-1
27.65
4
4th
Frettenham Flyer
Terry Hunter
20-1
27.77
5
5th
Son of Delboy
Stuart Buckland
3-1
27.90
1
6th
Airtech Alfie
Paul Young
15-2
28.36
2
Grand National , Sittingbourne (17 October, 480mH, £7,500)
Pos
Name of Greyhound
Trainer
SP
Time
Trap
1st
Mash Mad Snowy
Seamus Cahill
5-2
29.31
4
2nd
Westmead Meteor
Ricky Holloway
4-1
29.39
5
3rd
Lollylips
Julie Luckhurst
20-1
29.57
3
4th
Droopys Lorenzo
Dean Childs
6-5f
29.68
6
5th
Mo Realta Frank
Ricky Holloway
5-1
29.70
1
6th
Westmead Melanie
Nick Savva
14-1
29.82
2
ECC Timber Oaks , Belle Vue (19 December, 470m, £15,000)
Pos
Name of Greyhound
Trainer
SP
Time
Trap
1st
Droopys Danneel
Kevin Hutton
7-4f
27.97
6
2nd
Greenwell Lark
Pat Flaherty
11-4
28.05
5
3rd
Caribbean Trixie
Bob Hall
10-1
28.25
4
4th
Silverview Pinky
Charlie Lister OBE
3-1
28.37
2
5th
Droopys Loner
Dean Childs
10-1
28.41
1
6th
Akerview Gem
Jimmy Wright
11-2
28.53
3
ECC Timber Laurels , Belle Vue (19 December, 470m, £6,000)
Pos
Name of Greyhound
Trainer
SP
Time
Trap
1st
Mileheight Alba
Pat Rosney
2-1f
27.65
1
2nd
Eden Star
Barrie Draper
3-1
27.77
2
3rd
Underground Paul
Paul Young
8-1
27.91
5
4th
Thinking Big
Phil Ward
4-1
28.13
4
5th
Young Golden
Paul Young
16-1
28.17
6
6th
Jaytee Lightning
Paul Young
5-2
28.27
3
* dead-heat
+ track record
Principal Irish finals
edit
Con & Anne Kirby Memorial Stakes , Limerick (30 March, 525y, €80,000)
Pos
Name of Greyhound
Trainer
SP
Time
Trap
1st
Roxholme Bully
Owen McKenna
11-8f
28.35
1
2nd
Oran Maestro
Davy Reynolds
9-2
28.45
4
3rd
Droopys Banner
Patrick Guilfoyle
12-1
28.59
5
4th
Kisses For Cloda
Daniel Butler
5-2
28.73
3
5th
Melodys Gamble
Tim O’Donovan
9-2
28.80
2
6th
Royal Diva
Oliver Bray
12-1
28.91
6
College Causeway/Killahan Phanter Easter Cup , Shelbourne (13 April, 550y, €25,000)
Pos
Name of Greyhound
Trainer
SP
Time
Trap
1st
North Bound
Niall Dunne
4-1
29.46
6
2nd
Ballymac Vic
Liam Dowling
4-5f
29.88
3
3rd
Ashfield Impact
Vinnie Morris
5-1
30.19
4
4th
Insane Spartacus
Paul Corrigan
10-1
30.30
5
5th
Cabra Buck
Graham Holland
4-1
30.30
1
N/R
Droopys Adler
John Linehan
2
Connolly's Red Mills Produce , Clonmel (12 May, 525y, €20,000)
Pos
Name of Greyhound
Trainer
SP
Time
Trap
1st
Christys Bolt
Owen McKenna
2-1
28.58
3
2nd
Graduation Day
Pat Dalton
10-1
28.68
5
3rd
Farloe Calvin
Owen McKenna
1-1f
28.70
6
4th
Fear Big Star
Owen McKenna
5-1
28.84
4
5th
Ballyhill Jaguar
Graham Holland
10-1
28.88
1
6th
Melodys Gamble
Patrick Collins
5-1
28.91
2
Sporting Press Oaks , Shelbourne (22 June, 525y, €25,000)
Pos
Name of Greyhound
Trainer
SP
Time
Trap
1st
Locnamon Bridie
Paul Hennessy
5-1
28.23
3
2nd
Badminton Girl
Donal Murphy
4-1
28.37
5
3rd
Melodys Diamond
Declan Byrne
4-1
28.39
1
4th
Borna Gem
Ruairi Dwan
5-4f
28.56
2
5th
Airforce Diva
Owen McKenna
5-1
28.70
4
6th
Royal Diva
Oliver Bray
20-1
28.98
5
Townviewfoods.com Champion Stakes , Shelbourne (27 July, 550y, €20,000)
Pos
Name of Greyhound
Trainer
SP
Time
Trap
1st
Paradise Madison
Oliver Bray
6-4f
29.46
5
2nd
Jaxx On Fantasy
John McGee Sr.
5-1
29.60
4
3rd
Melodys Diamond
Declan Byrne
5-1
29.74
6
4th
Fear Big Star
Owen McKenna
12-1
29.95
1
5th
Lodgefield Turbo
Peter Traynor
3-1
30.05
2
6th
Droopys Adler
John Linehan
8-1
30.26
3
HX Bookmakers Puppy Derby , Harolds Cross (11 October, 525y, €15,000)
Pos
Name of Greyhound
Trainer
SP
Time
Trap
1st
Vanrooney
Owen McKenna
7-2
28.66
4
2nd
Newlawn Impact
Patrick Guilfoyle
2-1f
28.69
5
3rd
Aclamon Messi
Robert Gleeson
5-2
28.73
6
4th
El Flutter
Nick Hendy
8-1
28.76
1
5th
Mays King
Ian Lawless
6-1
28.97
2
6th
Killinan Baby
Pat Buckley
6-1
29.22
3
Connolly's Red Mills Laurels , Cork (19 October, 525y, €30,000)
Pos
Name of Greyhound
Trainer
SP
Time
Trap
1st
Lassa Expedition
Rachel Wheeler
3-1
28.39
2
2nd
Cathys Clown
Peter Cronin
4-1
28.72
4
3rd
Glenanore Dancer
Tom O’Neill
5-4f
28.90
5
4th
Refuge Of Sinner
Frances O’Donnell
5-1
28.92
6
5th
Footprintsinsand
Lorraine Moore
14-1
29.02
1
6th
Parkgate Jet
Kieran Lynch
12-1
29.13
3