| Greyhound racing in Ireland | |
| Size: | 300px |
| Date Start: | 18 April 1927 at Celtic Park |
| Nations: | Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland |
Greyhound racing is a popular sport in Ireland. There are 17 stadiums operating in Ireland (two in Northern Ireland) of which nine are fully operated by Rásaíocht Con Éireann / Greyhound Racing Ireland (formerly named Irish Greyhound Board IGB, Bord na gCon)[1] with the remaining six owned and operated by private enterprise but licensed by GRI.[2]
Most have modern facilities including grandstand restaurants and parimutuel betting tote system with on-course and off-course betting available.
Greyhound racing as it is seen today evolved from a sport called coursing. In 1926 the oval form of racing arrived in Britain at Belle Vue Stadium in Manchester which resulted in the creation of hundreds of tracks all over the United Kingdom and Ireland in the following ten years.[3]
The sport of greyhound racing in Ireland mainly takes place in the Republic of Ireland but also in Northern Ireland. However, any tracks in Northern Ireland have always been in a regulatory limbo due to the fact that they are licensed neither by the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) nor Greyhound Racing Ireland (named Bord na gCon until 2020).[4]
To confuse matters still further, the industry regards racing as either UK or Irish, the latter including Northern Ireland.[5] Greyhound Racing Ireland provides all of the results from Northern Ireland. The vast majority of greyhounds running in the UK are bred in Ireland (95% in 2017).[6]
In 2019, the Irish government created the Greyhound Racing Act 2019, which set out new legislation. This came about because the industry came under scrutiny regarding the welfare of greyhounds from multiple newspaper articles, which reported various stories primarily about the breeding of greyhounds and racing greyhounds after they retire from racing. The Rásaíocht Con Éireann are now required to conduct a range of inspections under the Welfare of Greyhounds Act, including a traceability system.[7] [8]
There are many types of competitions in Ireland[9] but the primary race is the Irish Greyhound Derby held at Shelbourne Park. Along with the English Greyhound Derby it is considered to be one of the "Big Two" in greyhound racing.
Greyhound Racing Ireland publishes an annual list of feature events.[10] Leading events include the Easter Cup, Champion Stakes, Cesarewitch, Oaks, Laurels and St Leger.
This is any minor race staged at a track, with prize money varying widely. This kind of racing is the most common at the various stadia.[11]
Greyhound racing in Ireland has a standard colour scheme (the same as in the UK).[12]
A racing jacket worn by a reserve bears an additional letter 'R' shown prominently on each side.