Laurels (Irish greyhound race)

For other uses, see Laurels (disambiguation).

Irish Laurels

2005 finalist Vancouver Sparky
Class	Feature
Location	Curraheen Park
Inaugurated	1944
Sponsor	Bar One Racing
Race information
Distance	525 yards
Surface	Sand
Purse	€30,000 (winner)

The Laurels is a greyhound racing competition held annually at Curraheen Park Greyhound Stadium located in Bishopstown, west of Cork, County Cork, Ireland. ^[1]

It was hosted by the old Cork Greyhound Stadium from 1944 to 1999 ^[2] but inevitably continued to be held at the new track after it opened.

It is a prestigious event targeted by many of Ireland's leading greyhounds and is an integral part of the Irish greyhound racing calendar. ^[3]

Clonbrien Hero, trained by Graham Holland and owned by Ms. Kay Murphy of Athlacca, County Limerick set a new record for the final of the Laurels (at Curraheen Park) when he won by three lengths in a time of 28.00 on 22 July 2017. ^[4]

Venues and distances

• 1944–1960 (Cork, Western Road, 500 yards)
• 1961–1999 (Cork, Western Road, 525 yards)
• 2000–present (Cork, Curraheen Park, 525 yards)

Sponsors

• 1979–1981 (Cashmans)
• 1985–1986 (Joe Donnelly)
• 1987–1991 (Kantoher Co-op)
• 1992–1992 (Michael McCarthy)
• 1993–1994 (Michael Crowley)
• 1995–2003 (Co-op Superstores)
• 2004–2009 (Cashmans Bookmakers)
• 2010–2011 (Pat Hennerty Sales)
• 2012–2014 (Connolly's Red Mills)
• 2015–2019 (Irish Independent)
• 2023–2025 (Bar One Racing)

Past winners

^[5]

Year	Winner	Breeding	Time (Sec)	Trainer	SP	Notes
1944	Robeen Printer	Printer – Deoc Deireannach	28.98
1945	Munster Hotel	Highland Rum – Ballinspittle	29.20
1946	Ballinrea Express	Rebel Express – Champion Queen	28.80
1947	Careless Border	Ruby Border – Volcut	28.80
1948	Double Shadow	Dark Shadow – Grosvenors Lady	28.33
1949	Spanish Chestnut	Rebel Abbey – Cordal Moonlight	28.55
1950	Spanish Chestnut	Rebel Abbey – Cordal Moonlight	28.70
1951	Knockrour Favourite	Bellas Prince – Favourite Tip	28.85	Jack Lynch
1952	Tragumna Dasher	Dark Shadow – Bran Cream	28.70
1953	Templenoe Rebel	Ballymac Ball – Templenoe Medora	28.55
1954	Come on Bella	Lucky Tanist – Knockrour Bella	28.90
1955	Spanish Battleship	Spanish Chestnut – Ballyseedy Memory	28.35	Tom Lynch
1956	Rather Grand	The Grand Champion – Ashbrook Gift	29.00		7-1	[6]
1957	Kilcasey Streak		28.80
1958	Brook Prancer	Glittering Look – Shaggy Dancer	28.43
1959	Celbridge Chance	Eridanus – Avril	28.50
1960	Last Lap	The Grand Champion – Dooniskey Lass	28.15
1961	Round Tower Rose	Champion Prince – Knockdrina Rose	29.80
1962	Dark Baby	Knockrour Again – Ronnoc Miss	29.40			Track record
1963	Powerstown Proper	Hi There – Faoide	29.75
1964	Tanyard Heather	Oregon Prince – Clonbanin Chariot	29.20	P Cashman
1965	Boro Parachute	Crazy Parachute – Anjone	29.60
1966	Westpark Ash	Hi There – Westpark Ballet	29.40
1967	Philotimo	Booked Out – Pride of Corrin	29.65	C Kelleher
1968	Flaming King	Market Green – Maglin Lady	29.25	S Moran
1969	Skipping Tim	Myross Again – Right On Time	29.50	Dave Cashman		[7]
1970	Gabriel Boy	Yanka Boy – Gabriel Star	29.25	Ger McKenna
1971	Ivy Hall Flash	Proud Lincoln – Ivy Hall Rose	29.15	Paddy Keane
1972	Dublin Eily	Maryville Hi – Right Champion	29.70	J Buckley
1973	Kilbracken Style	Kilbelin Style – Maggie Ann	29.10	Paddy Keane
1974	Silent Thought	Ivy Hall Flash – Oulartwick Jane	29.50	Paddy Keane	2/1	[8]
1975	Moonshine Bandit	Yanka Boy – Westpark Roma	29.30	Christy O'Callaghan
1976	Nameless Star	Ritas Choice – Itsastar	29.30	Ger McKenna
1977	Ashleigh Honour	Kudas Honour – Miss Ashleigh	29.15	Dave Cashman
1978	Knockrour Girl	Bright Lad – Knockrour Last	29.40	Denis Lynch
1979	Knockrour Slave	Sole Aim – Knockrour Exile	29.45	Ger McKenna
1980	Knockrour Slave	Sole Aim – Knockrour Exile	29.00	Ger McKenna		Track record
1981	Knockeen Master	Laurdella Fun – Knockeen Guest	29.50	Christy O'Callaghan
1982	The Stranger	Dark Mercury – Lovely Blend	28.95	Christy O'Callaghan		Track record [9]
1983	Back Garden	Knockrour Slave – Sweeping Billy	29.66	Ger McKenna
1984	Rugged Mick	Ceili Band – Blueberry Pet	29.09	Ger McKenna	5/4f	[10]
1985	Follow A Star	Under Par – Float A Loan	29.42	Ger McKenna	10/1
1986	Big Oran	Oran Jack – Big Deposit	29.78	Ann Wade	3/1	[11]
1987	Yellow Bud	Yellow Ese – Budweiser	29.28	Donal O'Regan	10/1	[12]
1988	Odell King	Sail On II – Odell Tansy	28.98	Ned Power	7/2	[13]
1989	Airmount Grand	Daleys Gold – Airmount Jewel	28.82	Gerald Kiely	4/7f	Track record in final, sf and 2nd Rd [14]
1990	Adraville Bridge	Im Slippy – Milltown Gem	28.78	Mossy O'Connor	9/4jf	Track record [15]
1991	Terrydrum Tico	Tico – Gentle Sarah	28.86	Davy Lennon	2/1f
1992	Market Rascal	Coral Town – Twins Petra	29.58			[16]
1993	Lisglass Lass	Quare Rocket – Machern	28.97	Francie Murray		[17]
1994	Clounmellane Oak	Ravage Again – Rosehip Joy	29.44	John Lynch	6/1	[18]
1995	Standard Image	Murlens Slippy – Simply Elite	29.04	Christy O'Callaghan	5/1	[19]
1996	Deerfield Bypass	Daleys Gold – Black Adraville	29.12	Ger McKenna	7/2	[20]
1997	Mr Pickwick	Trade Union – Terrys Whisper	29.16	Paul Hennessy	1/2f
1998	Mr Pickwick	Trade Union – Terrys Whisper	29.29	Paul Hennessy	4/5f
1999	Lumber Boss	Batties Rocket – The Other Joy	29.42	Frances O'Donnell	5/1	dead-heat
1999	Tigers Eye	Coalbrook Tiger – Swift Comment	29.42	Nicky Turner	10/1	dead-heat
2000	Barefoot Ridge	Some Picture – Cailin Dilis	28.69	Paul Hennessy	6/1
2001	Sonic Flight	Frightful Flash – Westmead Flight	28.41	Dolores Ruth	4/1	[21]
2002	Annual Award	Smooth Rumble – Heres Steppie	28.33	Eddie Wade	7/1
2003	Nikita Billie	Split the Bill – Nikita Doll	28.34	Jack Walsh	9/2
2004	Boherduff Light	He Knows – Travelling Light	28.14	Owen McKenna	2/1jf	[22]
2005	Tyrur Ted	Top Honcho – Watch the Market	28.33	PJ Fahy	4/6f	[23]
2006	Ardkill Jamie	Top Savings – Fast Issue	28.35	Paul Hennessy	5/2	[24]
2007	Catunda Harry	Elite State – Your So Vain	28.18	Owen McKenna	5/4f	[25]
2008	Cashen Legend	Balintore Brave – Fergus Gold	28.74	Chris Houilhan	14/1	[26]
2009	Sevenheads Bay	Ballymac Maeve – Travara Daisy	28.50	Graham Holland	4/1	[27]
2010	Tyrur Enda	Razldazl Billy – Regards To Alice	28.42	PJ Fahy	4/6f	[28]
2011	Razldazl Rioga	Brett Lee – Razldazl Pearl	28.32	Dolores Ruth	7/2	[29]
2012	Knockglass Billy	Ballymac Maeve – Knockglass Lady	28.30	Graham Holland	2/1f	[30]
2013	Lassa Expedition	Crash –Lassa Experience	28.39	Rachel Wheeler	3/1	[31]
2014	Vimmerby	Winetavern Oscar – Wee Rose Garden	28.56	John Kavanagh	3/1	[32]
2015	Midtown Raffa	Kinloch Brae – Raffa Baby	28.31	Maurice O'Connor	2/1f	[33]
2016	Skywalker Manner	Leeview Jet – Jibberish	28.29	Graham Holland	5/1	[34]
2017	Clonbrien Hero	Razldazl Jayfkay – Trout or Salmon	28.00	Graham Holland	5/2	Curraheen Park final record [4]
2018	Rockybay Foley	Sparta Maestro – Ironically	28.37	Kieran Lynch	4/5f	[35]
2019	Rockybay Foley	Sparta Maestro – Ironically	28.57	Kieran Lynch	7/4f	[36]
2020	Runninta Seeya	Laughil Blake – Droopys Harbour	28.48	John Linehan	-	No SP due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions [37]
2021	One Time Only	Droopys Sydney – Mags Image	28.17	Thomas O'Donovan	3/1	[38]
2022	Good Cody	Definate Opinion – Soho Ark	28.20	Patrick Guilfoyle	5/1	[39]
2023	High Trend	Droopys Sydney – Beaming Smasher	28.31	Graham Holland	8/1	[40]
2024	Crafty Shivoo	Droopys Sydney – Ballymac Sanjose	28.52	Patrick Norris	1/1f	[41]
2025	Magical on Fire	Ballymac Cashout – Burgess Sarah	27.93	Patrick Guilfoyle	13/2	[42]

References

1. Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing, page 285. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN   07207-1106-1.
2. Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File, page 322. Ringpress Books. ISBN   0-948955-15-5.
3. "Feature Events" (PDF). Irish Greyhound Board. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 November 2017. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
4. "2017 Result". Irish Greyhound Board.
5. Hobbs, Jonathan (2007). Greyhound Annual 2008, page 170. Raceform. ISBN   978-1-905153-53-4.
6. "Greyhound Star (Remember When November 1956)". Greyhound Star. 25 November 2018.
7. "Greyhound Star (Remember When - April)". Greyhound Star. 14 April 2019.
8. "Charles takes the Laurels". Sunday Independent. 8 September 1974. p. 28 – via British Newspaper Archives.
9. "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 1982) September edition". Greyhound Star.
10. "Cork Laurels result" . Belfast News-Letter. 30 July 1984. p. 11. Retrieved 15 November 2025– via British Newspaper Archive.
11. "Big Oran takes Laurels". Sunday Independent. 27 July 1986. p. 24 – via British Newspaper Archives.
12. "Cork". Sunday Independent. 19 July 1987. p. 28 – via British Newspaper Archives.
13. "More power to Odell King". Sunday Independent. 17 July 1988. p. 28 – via British Newspaper Archives.
14. "Airmount to win Laurels". Evening Herald. 15 July 1989. p. 34 – via British Newspaper Archives.
15. "Great Laurels vixtoey for Adraville Bridge". Kerryman. 20 July 1990. p. 18 – via British Newspaper Archives.
16. "Greyhound Scene" . Kerryman. 17 July 1992. Retrieved 5 August 2023– via British Newspaper Archive.
17. "All Those Aprils". Vol. 16, no. 4. Greyhound Star. 4 April 1998.
18. "John Horgan has 13 pups out of Laurels winner Clounmellane Oak". Kerryman. 15 July 1994. p. 22 – via British Newspaper Archives.
19. "Laurels go to O'Callaghan". Irish Independent. 10 July 1995. p. 35 – via British Newspaper Archives.
20. "No Bypassing Deerfield". Irish Independent. 8 July 1996. p. 26 – via British Newspaper Archives.
21. "Remember When – October". Greyhound Star. 27 October 2017.
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25. "The Cashmans Bookmakers Irish Laurels Final 2007". Greyhound Data. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
26. "2008 Cashmans Bookmakers Irish Laurels Final". Greyhound Data. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
27. "2009 Cashmans Bookmakers Irish Laurels Final". Greyhound Data. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
28. "The Pat Hennerty Sales Irish Laurels Final 2010". Greyhound Data. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
29. "The Pat Hennerty Sales Irish Laurels Final 2011". Greyhound Data. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
30. "The Connolly's Red Mills Irish Laurels Final 2012". Greyhound Data. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
31. "The Connolly's Red Mills Irish Laurels Final 2013". Greyhound Data. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
32. "The Connolly's Red Mills Irish Laurels Final 2014". Greyhound Data. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
33. "2015 Result". Irish Greyhound Board.
34. "2016 Result". Irish Greyhound Board.
35. "Laurels final meeting". Irish Greyhound Board.
36. "2019 Laurels final". Irish Greyhound Board.
37. "The 2020 Irish Greyhound Laurels Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
38. "The 2021 Irish Greyhound Laurels Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
39. "The 2022 Irish Greyhound Laurels Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 25 November 2022.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
40. "The 2023 Bar One Racing Irish Laurels Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
41. "2024 BarOne Racing Irish Greyhound Laurels Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
42. "Magical On Fire conjures dramatic Irish Greyhound Laurels victory". Irish Examiner. 9 November 2025. Retrieved 15 November 2025.