Irish Sprint Cup

Irish Sprint Cup

Class	Feature
Location	Dundalk Stadium
Inaugurated	1932
Sponsor	Bar One Racing Ltd
Race information
Distance	400 yards
Surface	Sand
Purse	€20,000 (winner)

The Irish Sprint Cup formerly known as the Irish National Cup and Irish National Sprint is a greyhound racing competition held annually at Dundalk Stadium in Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland. ^[1] It is a prestigious invitation event held for Ireland's leading sprinters and is an integral part of the Irish greyhound racing calendar. ^[2]

History

It was first held at the Dunmore Park Greyhound Stadium in 1932 ^[3] and again from 1938 until 2000 ^[4] until the track closed in 1996 and then it returned in 1999 at Ballyskeagh before switching to Dundalk in 2004. ^[5] The event was sponsored by Guinness from 1965 until 1996. ^[6]

Venues and distances

• 1932–1940 (Dunmore Park, 435 yards)
• 1942–1942 (Celtic Park, 375 yards)
• 1943–1996 (Dunmore Park, 435 yards)
• 1999–2002 (Ballyskeagh/Drumbo Park, 325 yards)
• 2004–2004 (Dundalk, 410 yards)
• 2005–present (Dundalk, 400 yards)

Sponsors

• 1965–1996 (Guinness)
• 2004–2025 (Bar One Racing Ltd)

Past winners

Year	Winner	Breeding	Time	Trainer	SP	Notes/refs
1932	Guideless Joe	Guiding Hand – Flaming Fire	24.11	Mick Horan	1/3f	[7]
1938	British Destiny	Fulford – Miss Orville	24.99	Billie Dunlop	13/8	[8]
1939	Lone Kil	Lone Man – Lucky Plum	24.69	Mrs W. McL. Wallace	7/1	[9]
1940	Farloe Border	Valiant Cutlet – Roeside Cook	24.03	D. McCann	10/11f	[10]
1941	not held due to Foot-and-mouth disease					[11]
1942	Fair Mistress	Saccadee – Edith Bronte	20.54	Frank Moore	1/3f	[12]
1943	Fair Mistress	Saccadee – Edith Bronte	24.03	Frank Moore	4/7f	Track record [13]
1944	Mad Tanist	Tanist – Mad Darkie	24.11	Jack McAllister	no SP	Track record
1945	Oranmore Bandit	Rebel Light – Duffy's Tea Again	24.08	M. Twibill	4/7f	[14]
1946	Count Lally	Inler Irish – Lady of the Gale	24.56	Jack McAllister	4/5f	[15]
1947	Fair Moving	Well Squared – Fair Light	24.32	J. McMullan	7/4	dead-heat
1947	Rockfield Light	Well Squared – Fair Light	24.32	W. P. O'Kane	10/1	dead-heat
1948	Leamas Sport	Sporting Tanist – Misers Curse	24.66	W. P. O'Kane	3/1
1949	Burndennet Brook	Great Climber – Cherokee Girl	23.99	H. Gallagher	4/5f
1950	Sandown Champion	Mad Tanist – Good Record	23.86	J. Killeen	1/6f	Track record [16]
1951	Mad Companion	Bellas Prince – Maddest Yet	23.88	Jack McAllister	4/7f
1952	Kilrid Blackbird	Dante the Great – Kilrid Colleen	23.90	P. J. Maguire	4/1
1953	Mushera Shaggy	Shaggy Lad – Mushera Farloe	23.99	Jack McAllister	1/2f	[17]
1954	Hi There	Slaney Record – Dublin Red	24.51	Jack McAllister	1/1f
1955	Claremont John	Derrycrussan – Claremont Girl	23.77	J. J. Campbell	4/1
1956	Keep Moving	Imperial Dancer – California	23.65	Malachy McKenna	2/5f	Track record
1957	Coakfield Hero	Baytown Coak – Queen of the Mountain	24.04		4/1
1958	Obeeda's Son	Imperial Dancer – Princess Obeeda	23.89	Malachy McKenna	7/1
1959	Clougharevan Boy	Glittering Look – Manhattan Heiress	23.84	Noel Mooney	4/5f
1960	Skip's Choice	Romolas Dante – Phil Skip	23.92	Gay McKenna	2/1f	[18]
1961	Highland Fame	unknown – unknown	24.22	Paddy Tubridy	3/1
1962	Tanyard Chef	Tanyard Champion – Flexions Glow	23.96	Paddy Burns	6/4f
1963	Melody Wonder	Pigalle Wonder – Racing Millie	24.17	Jack Mullan	6/4f	[19]
1964	Dorado	Champions Son – Last July	24.08	J. Quigley	10/1
1965	Bauhus	Solar Prince – Lovely Sister	23.73	Ger McKenna	7/4f
1966	Hairdresser	The Glen Abbey - Billum	23.89	Vincent Toner	4/1
1967	Mullaghroe Hiker	Knockrour Again – Carless Fire	23.72	Jack Mullan	6/4f
1968	Dry Flash	Prairie Flash – Newhill Snowdrop	24.10	Bobby McBride	10/1	dead-heat
1968	Newhill Printer	Prairie Flash – Newhill Snowdrop	24.10	Bobby McBride	10/1	dead-heat
1969	Move Gas	Dandy Man – Move Sally	23.60	Ger McKenna	6/1	Track record [20]
1970	Gaultier Swank	Yanka Boy – Gaultier Hi	24.00	Jack Flynn	9/2	[21]
1971	Benbradagh Luck	Lucky Wonder – Gentle Star	23.74	A. Nelson	2/5f
1972	Clashing	Yanka Boy – Bresheen Peg	23.72	Colm & Mary McGrath	3/1
1973	Get The Point	Shauns Ticket – Itsamint	23.87	Leslie McNair	6/1
1974	Empty Pride	Own Pride – Chick Chick	24.05	Jack Mullan	6/1	[22]
1975	Rapid Roger	Kerry Wonder – Rapid Smokey	23.58	Colm & Mary McGrath	4/5f
1976	Thurles Yard	Bright Lad – Backyard Girl	24.04	Brendan Matthews		[23]
1977	Land Power	Power to Spare – Rayhill Meg	23.97	Billy Anthony	7/1	[24]
1978	Noble Brigg	Faction Fighter – Noble Lynn	23.76	Artie McGookin		[25]
1979	La Cosa Nostra	Rockfield Era – Mafia Poppy	23.82	Jim McGuinness	8/1	[26]
1980	Blue Train	Never So Gay – Ballagan View	23.77	Tom Woods	5/1	[27]
1981	Noble Legion	Faction Fighter – Noble Lynn	23.78	Artie McGookin	4/1	[28]
1982	Otago	Fair Boot – Gulleen Primrose	23.56	Jimmy Johnston	4/6f	[29]
1983	I'm Slippy	Laurdella Fun – Glenroe Boss	23.50	John Quinn	4/9f	[30]
1984	Market Major	Tender Hothead – Market Telex	23.78	Jack Mullan	4/7f	[31]
1985	Arties Rover	Knockash Rover – Noble Queen	23.79	J. Whiteside	9/1	[32]
1986	Autumn Magic	Tender Hothead – Long Bar	23.53	John Quigley	2/5f
1987	Oran Flash	Oran Jack – Warm Wind	23.72	Bill McCreary	2/1jf	[33]
1988	Lisnakill Carmel	Hay Maker Mac – Lisnakill Mist	23.44	Davy Lennon	1/1f	[34]
1989	Macs Lock	Quare Rocket – Killetra Queen	23.86	Tom Fox	3/1	[35]
1990	Leaders Best	For Real – Leaders Exile	23.40	Matt O'Donovan	4/1	[36]
1991	Hawaiian Knight	Flag Star – Dancing Dream	23.35	Alan Black	2/1f	[37]
1992	Boyne Walk	I'm Slippy – Tiger Hart	23.30	Seamus Graham	2/1	[38]
1993	Ballyfolion Shy	Meeniyan Prince – Ballyfolian Jig	23.16	John Hyland	2/1f	[39]
1994	Jackies Phantom	Phantom Flash - Dainty Queen	23.31	Matt O'Donnell	3/1	[40]
1995	Analysis	Mid Clare Champ – Glenmoira	23.39	Francis Murray	2/1	[41]
1996	Old Kingdom	Mid Clare Champ – Sunstory	23.42	F. Sibley	7/1
1997-1998 not held
1999	Quarter to Five	Boyne Walk – Gig of Gold	20.24	Paul Hennessy	6/4
2000	Knockeevan Star	Slaneyside Hare – Rubys Bridge	20.14	Tom Flaherty	7/2
2001	Fact File	Thorgil Tex – Lady Be Silent	20.06	Jerry Melia	9/4	[42]
2002	Fast Gladiator	Roanokee – Stocks The Rocks	20.28	Seamus Hagan	2/1	[43]
2004	Lowtown Supreme	Arrigle Phantom – Silver Side	21.94	Ray Kavanagh	7/2	[44]
2005	Mabels Dilemma	Roanokee – Adriennes Beauty	21.11	Gerry Holian	4/6f	Track record [45]
2006	Smart Teddy	Go Wild Teddy – Quick Sweep	21.31	Joe Blair	4/1	[46]
2007	Johnny Gatillo	Top Honcho – Corries Kate	21.26	Martin Lanney	7/1	[47]
2008	Allmightyjack	Tucks Mein – Lethal Claudia	21.08	James Roche	2/1	[48]
2009	Inny Blue	Honcho Classic – Sydney Swan	21.15	John McGee Sr.	9/2	[49]
2010	Sheepwalk Mac	Ballymac Maeve – Crazy Jane	21.08	Michael Taggart	4/5f	[50]
2011	Shoemakers Lad	Brett Lee – Ms Pepinstep	21.10	Thomas Harte	6/1	[51]
2012	Cambushmore	Head Bound – Maryanns Venture	21.01	Graham Holland	7/2	[52]
2013	Razldazl Rioga	Brett Lee – Razldazl Pearl	21.27	Dolores Ruth	13/2	[53]
2014	Crokers Champ	Kinloch Brae – Honey Shine	21.18	Peter Cronin	2/1	[54]
2015	Slipalong Hero	Gold Slipalong – Thorns And Roses	21.31	Gerry Holian	8/1	[55]
2016	Ballymac BigMike	Tyrur Big Mike – Ballymac Scarlet	21.01	Robert Gleeson	6/4f	[56]
2017	Heisman	Brett Lee – Claddagh Pearl	20.96	Laurence Jones	3/1	[57]
2018	Ardnasool Jet	Droopys Jet – Kilara Jade	21.07	Cathal McGhee	3/1	[58] [59]
2019	Ardnasool Jet	Droopys Jet – Kilara Jade	20.97	Cathal McGhee	6/4f	[60]
2020	Grangeview Ten	Zero Ten – Portumna West	20.88	Patrick Guilfoyle	5/4jf	[61]
2021	Good Cody	Definate Opinion – Soho Ark	20.86	John Kennedy Jr.	No SP	No SP due to COVID-19 [62]
2022	Hawkfield Ozark	Laughil Blake – Brownstown Tango	20.89	Keeley McGee	No SP	[63]
2023	Carrick Aldo	Droopys Sydney – Minnies Hazel	20.80	David Murray	No SP	[64]
2024	Broadstrand Syd	Droopys Sydney – Droopys Alice	20.67	John A. Linehan	No SP	[65]
2025	Southwind Wild	Dorotas Wildcat – Mucky Harbour	21.08	Pat Buckley	No SP	[66]

References

1. Genders, Roy (1990). NGRC book of Greyhound Racing, page 246. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN   0-7207-1804-X.
2. "Feature Events" (PDF). Irish Greyhound Board. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 November 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
3. "Irish Classic Events" . Irish Independent. 5 May 1932. Retrieved 14 August 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
4. Barnes, Julia (1991). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File, page 326. Ringpress Books. ISBN   0-948955-61-9.
5. Hobbs, Jonathan (2007). Greyhound Annual 2008, page 173. Raceform. ISBN   978-1-905153-53-4.
6. "Guinness sponsor £1,000 race" . Belfast News-Letter. 23 July 1965. Retrieved 12 August 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
7. "Guideless Joe Again" . Irish Independent. 14 November 1938. Retrieved 14 August 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
8. "Irish National Sprint" . Belfast News-Letter. 14 November 1938. Retrieved 14 August 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
9. "Irish National Sprint" . Belfast News-Letter. 12 June 1939. Retrieved 14 August 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
10. "The Irish National Sprint Final" . Belfast Telegraph. 15 July 1940. Retrieved 14 August 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
11. "Dog Classics Postponed" . Belfast Telegraph. 30 May 1941. Retrieved 14 August 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
12. "Fair Mistress Again" . Irish Independent. 30 May 1942. Retrieved 14 August 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
13. "Larne greyhound sets up notable record" . Larne Times. 9 September 1943. Retrieved 14 August 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
14. "Irish National Sprint Final" . Belfast Telegraph. 17 September 1945. Retrieved 14 August 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
15. "Count Lally won I.N.S. Final" . Belfast Telegraph. 17 September 1945. Retrieved 14 August 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
16. "Greyhound Racing" . Irish Independent. 4 September 1950. Retrieved 14 August 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
17. "Dunmore Winners" . Northern Whig. 31 August 1953. Retrieved 14 August 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
18. "Dublin dog impresses with sprint win" . Belfast Telegraph. 29 August 1960. Retrieved 14 August 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
19. "Melody Wonder is Jack's joy" . Belfast Telegraph. 2 September 1963. Retrieved 14 August 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
20. "Square Express napped" . Belfast Telegraph. 20 September 1969. Retrieved 12 August 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
21. "Fair Moordyke is Dunmore nap" . Belfast Telegraph. 14 September 1970. Retrieved 12 August 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
22. "Another Mullan triumph" . Belfast News-Letter. 9 September 1974. Retrieved 12 August 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
23. "Brendan Matthews Q&A". Greyhound Star. May 2020.
24. "Triumph for Land Power" . Belfast News-Letter. 29 August 1977. Retrieved 12 August 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
25. "Noble Brigg is some pup" . Belfast Telegraph. 28 August 1978. Retrieved 12 August 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
26. "La Cosa Nostra calls the shots" . Belfast Telegraph. 27 August 1979. Retrieved 12 August 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
27. "Blue Train's trap to line sprint win" . Belfast News-Letter. 1 September 1980. Retrieved 12 August 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
28. "Greyhound Star (Remember When - April)". Greyhound Star. 7 April 2019.
29. "Otago wins a real thriller" . Belfast News-Letter. 23 August 1982. Retrieved 12 August 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
30. "Greyhounds" . Belfast News-Letter. 22 August 1983. Retrieved 12 August 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
31. "Bookmakers barracked by Major" . Belfast News-Letter. 27 August 1984. Retrieved 12 August 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
32. "Greyhound jackpot" . Belfast News-Letter. 26 August 1985. Retrieved 12 August 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
33. "Sprint to victory for Oran Flash" . Belfast News-Letter. 21 August 1987. Retrieved 12 August 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
34. "Greyhound returns" . Belfast News-Letter. 26 August 1988. Retrieved 12 August 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
35. "Mac's Sprint Classic!" . Belfast News-Letter. 21 August 1989. Retrieved 12 August 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
36. "Follow My Leaders" . Sunday Life. 19 August 1990. Retrieved 12 August 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
37. "Last night's greyhound results" . Sunday Life. 18 August 1991. Retrieved 5 August 2023– via British Newspaper Archive.
38. "Boyne battles to win" . Sunday Life. 23 August 1992. Retrieved 5 August 2023– via British Newspaper Archive.
39. "Shy and Mighty" . Sunday Life. 29 August 1993. Retrieved 5 August 2023– via British Newspaper Archive.
40. "Phantom sprints away with trophy" . Ireland's Saturday Night. 27 August 1994. Retrieved 5 August 2023– via British Newspaper Archive.
41. "Murray earns his reward at Dunmore" . Irish Independent. 21 August 1995. Retrieved 5 August 2023– via British Newspaper Archive.
42. "2001 Irish Sprint Cup Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
43. "2002 Irish Sprint Cup Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
44. "2004 Bar One Racing Irish Sprint Cup Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
45. "2005 Bar One Racing Irish Sprint Cup Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
46. "2006 Bar One Racing Irish Sprint Cup Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
47. "2007 Bar One Racing Irish Sprint Cup Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
48. "2008 Bar One Racing Irish Sprint Cup Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
49. "Bar One Racing Irish Sprint Cup Final (Grade : S0)". Irish Greyhound Board.
50. "2010 Bar One Irish Sprint Cup Open". Irish Greyhound Board.
51. "2011 Bar One Irish Sprint Cup Open". Irish Greyhound Board.
52. "2012 Bar One Irish Sprint Cup Open". Irish Greyhound Board.
53. "2013 Bar One Irish Sprint Cup Open". Irish Greyhound Board.
54. "2014 Bar One Irish Sprint Cup Open". Irish Greyhound Board.
55. "2015 Bar One Racing Irish Sprint Cup Open". Irish Greyhound Board.
56. "2016 final Result". Irish Greyhound Board.
57. "2017 Irish Sprint Cup final". Irish Greyhound Board.
58. "2018 Bar One Irish Sprint Cup". Irish Greyhound Board.
59. "Donegal owned greyhound Ardnasool Jet wins Irish Sprint Cup at Dundalk". Donegal Democrat. 20 August 2018.
60. "2019 Bar One Irish Sprint Cup Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
61. "2020 Bar One Irish Sprint Cup". Irish Greyhound Board.
62. "2021 Bar One Irish Sprint Cup". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
63. "2022 Bar One Irish Sprint Cup". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
64. "Bar One Racing Irish Sprint Cup Open 400". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
65. "Bar One Racing Irish Sprint Cup Open 400 Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
66. "Wind strongest in Sprint final thriller". Newry Democrat. 21 August 2025. Retrieved 22 August 2025.