The Con & Annie Kirby Memorial Stakes is a greyhound racing competition held annually at Limerick Greyhound Stadium at Greenpark, Dock Road, Limerick, Ireland.
| Feature race | |
| Location | Limerick Greyhound Stadium |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 2013 |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 525 yards |
| Surface | Sand |
| Qualification | Juveniles only (26 months old and younger) |
| Purse | €80,000 (winner) |
The competition quickly established itself as one of the leading feature events in the Irish racing calendar due to the significant prize money on offer.[1]
It boasted a record €80,000 to the winner in 2014 making the competition one of the biggest prizes in greyhound racing and the richest juvenile race in the world.[2] It was sponsored by J. P. McManus & Noreen McManus, and named in honour of Noreen McManus's parents, who had close ties with the old Limerick Markets Field Greyhound Stadium.
A series of trial stakes are run at different locations in preparation for the competition.[3]
Venues and distances edit
- 2013-present (Limerick 525y)
Past winners edit
| Year | Winner | Breeding | Time | Trainer | SP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Roxholme Bully [4] | Shaneboy Lee – Roxholme Sue | 28.65 | Owen McKenna | 11-8f | |
| 2014 | Boylesports Hero [5] | Top Savings – Cabra Midget | 28.31 | Brendan Matthews | 5-4f | |
| 2015 | Cable Bay [6] | Foleys Folly – Toms Delight | 28.11 | Brendan Matthews | 6-1 | |
| 2016 | Droopys Roddick [7] | Droopys Jet - Droopys Start | 28.09 | Pat Buckley | 7-2 | |
| 2017 | Bentekes Bocko [8] | Tullymurry Act - Tullig Paula | 28.39 | Pat Buckley | 2-1f | |
| 2018 | Droopys Davy [9] | Droopys Nidge - Droopys Loner | 28.10 | Pat Buckley | 4-5f | |
| 2019 | Toolmaker Josie [10] | Pat C Sabbath – Lemon Bolt | 28.37 | Robert Gleeson | 6/1 | |
| 2020 | No race due to (COVID-19 pandemic) | |||||
| 2021 | Stonepark Leo[11] | Ballymac Best – Adamant Gem | 28.38 | Mark O'Donovan | No SP | No SP due to COVID-19 |
| 2022 | Swords Rex[12] | Droopys Sydney – Starry Display | 28.27 | Graham Holland | 9/4f | |
| 2023 | Clonbrien Treaty[13] | Pestana – Clonbrien Millie | 28.05 | Graham Holland | 5/2 | |
| 2024 | Knockeen Dazzler[14] | Laughil Blake – Love Island | 28.10 | Daniel O'Rahilly | 5/2 | |
References edit
- ^ "Irish Greyhound Board Has published the classic and feature events calendar for 2016". Irish Greyhound Board.
- ^ "Con Annie Kirby Worlds Richest Puppy Race". Ilovelimerick.ie.
- ^ "Slayed by slade". Greyhound Star.
- ^ "2013 final". Irish Greyhound Board.
- ^ "2014 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial Stake Final (Grade : AA0)". Irish Greyhound Board.
- ^ "2015 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial Stake Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
- ^ "2016 Result". Irish Greyhound Board.
- ^ "Kirby Memorial". Irish Greyhound Board.
- ^ "Kirby Memorial Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
- ^ "2019 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
- ^ "2021 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial 525 Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
- ^ "2022 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial 525 Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
- ^ "2023 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
- ^ "2024 Con/Annie Kirby Memorial Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 9 May 2024.