| 1997 Ireland on Sunday Irish Greyhound Derby | |
|---|---|
| Venue | Shelbourne Park |
| Location | Dublin |
| End date | 4 October |
| Total prize money | £50,000 (winner) |
The 1997 Irish Greyhound Derby took place during August, September and October with the final being held at Shelbourne Park in Dublin on 4 October 1997. [1]
The winner Toms The Best won £50,000 and was trained by Nick Savva, owned by Eddie Shotton and bred by Ian Greaves. The race was sponsored by the Ireland on Sunday. [2] [3]
At Shelbourne, 4 October (over 550 yards):
| Position | Winner | Breeding | Trap | SP | Time | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Toms The Best | Frightful Flash - Ladys Guest | 6 | 4-1 | 30.09 | Nick Savva (England) |
| 2nd | Vintage Prince | Slaneyside Hare - Ferbane Skippy | 3 | 9-4jf | 30.14 | Joe Kenny |
| 3rd | Right To Apply | frightful Flash - Hymenstown Lynn | 2 | 16-1 | 30.30 | Frazer Black |
| 4th | Jokers Run | Deenside Joker - Dream Run | 1 | 25-1 | 30.56 | Joe Coyle |
| 5th | Some Picture | Slaneyside Hare - Spring Season | 5 | 9-4jf | 30.58 | Charlie Lister (England) |
| 6th | Spiral Nikita | Phantom Flash - Minnies Nikita | 4 | 3-1 | 30.62 | Eileen Gleeson |
¾, 2, 3¼, head, ½ (lengths)
The English challenge for the newly sponsored Ireland on Sunday Irish Greyhound Derby was very strong with the 1997 English Greyhound Derby and 1997 Scottish Greyhound Derby champion Some Picture leading the ante-post betting and looking to become the first greyhound in history to achieve the modern triple crown (Irish Derby instead of Welsh Greyhound Derby). Toms the Best was also considered a leading contender for the event. [4]
In the qualifying round Some Picture recorded a fast win in 30.24 and there were good wins for Forest Jet and Spiral Nikita. In the first round, Some Picture went even faster recording 30.12 despite running very wide. The 525 track record holder Cool Panther won in 30.27 and Vintage Prince recorded a fast 30.19. [4]
Elderberry Chick set the best second round time with a 30.07 and 1995 Irish Greyhound Derby winner Batties Rocket, Vintage Prince and Spiral Nikita all won but there was a shock defeat when Some Picture lost out to Borna Best. In the quarter-finals there was a heat that contained three of the leading contenders and all three qualified with Spiral Nikita beating Some Picture and Toms the Best. The other heats were won by Vintage Prince, Batties Rocket and Dynamic Boot. [4]
Both semi-finals were won in 30.05, in the first Spiral Nikita beat Right to Apply and Toms the Best and in the second heat Vintage Prince defeated Some Picture and Jokers Run. Vintage Prince was now the favourite for the event. [4]
The triple crown dream for Some Picture was came to an end [5] because he was slow away from the traps and then found trouble running into the controversially wide seeded Spiral Nikita. However, the perfectly drawn Toms the Best, trained by Nick Savva for owner Eddie Shotton, made a good start and he was just behind Vintage Prince for most of the race before his strong finish saw him catch Vintage Prince at the finish line in a very fast 30.09. [4]
The 1982 Irish Greyhound Derby took place during June and July with the final being held at Shelbourne Park in Dublin on 24 July 1982.
The 1984 Irish Greyhound Derby took place during August and September with the final being held at Shelbourne Park in Dublin on 15 September 1984.
The 1990 Irish Greyhound Derby took place during August and September with the final being held at Shelbourne Park in Dublin on 15 September 1990.
The 1992 Irish Greyhound Derby took place during August and September with the final being held at Shelbourne Park in Dublin on 26 September 1992.
The 1994 Irish Greyhound Derby took place during August and September with the final being held at Shelbourne Park in Dublin on 24 September 1994.
The 1995 Irish Greyhound Derby took place during August and September with the final being held at Shelbourne Park in Dublin on 23 September 1995.
The 1996 Irish Greyhound Derby took place during August and September with the final being held at Shelbourne Park in Dublin on 30 September 1996.
The 1998 Irish Greyhound Derby took place during August and September with the final being held at Shelbourne Park in Dublin on 19 September 1998.
The 1999 Irish Greyhound Derby took place during August and September with the final being held at Shelbourne Park in Dublin on 18 September 1999.
The 2000 Irish Greyhound Derby took place during August and September with the final being held at Shelbourne Park in Dublin on 2 September 2000.
The 2002 Irish Greyhound Derby took place during August and September with the final being held at Shelbourne Park in Dublin on 14 September 2002.
The 2003 Irish Greyhound Derby took place during August and September with the final being held at Shelbourne Park in Dublin on 20 September 2003.
The 2004 Irish Greyhound Derby took place during August and September with the final being held at Shelbourne Park in Dublin on 18 September 2004.
The 2005 Irish Greyhound Derby took place during August and September with the final being held at Shelbourne Park in Dublin on 17 September 2005.
The 2008 Irish Greyhound Derby took place during August and September with the final being held at Shelbourne Park in Dublin on 13 September 2008.
The 1992 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 66th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
The 1997 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 71st year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
The 2001 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 75th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Toms The Best was a leading racing greyhound during the 1990s. He is the only greyhound to have won both the English Greyhound Derby and the Irish Greyhound Derby. He was also voted the 1998 UK Greyhound of the Year.
Some Picture was a leading racing greyhound during the 1990s. He won both the English Greyhound Derby and the Scottish Greyhound Derby. He was also voted the 1997 UK Greyhound of the Year and unusually for an English trained greyhound was voted 1997 Irish Greyhound of the Year, being Irish bred.