Oaks (Irish greyhound race) explained

Surface:Sand
Class:Feature Race
Horse Race:Irish Oaks
Location:Shelbourne Park
Inaugurated:1930 (unofficial)
1932 (official)
Sponsor:Sporting Press
Distance:525 yards
Purse:€25,000 (winner)

The Oaks is a greyhound racing competition held annually at Shelbourne Park.[1]

First held at Harold's Cross in 1930, the event was unofficial until 1932. It is an original classic competition in the Irish racing greyhound racing calendar and was officially inaugurated in 1932 following the decision by the Irish Coursing Club to issue a new list of classic races.[2] [3]

The event was shared around several tracks in Ireland starting with Clonmel Greyhound Stadium from 1932-1933 and then the two Dublin venues of Shelbourne Park and Harold's Cross Stadium. Before World War II the old Cork Greyhound Stadium and Markets Field Greyhound Stadium in Limerick also both hosted the competition.

After the war Shelbourne Park and Harold's Cross both shared the race until sole control was taken by Shelbourne Park in 1992.[4]

Venues and distances

Sponsors

Past winners

width=50Yearwidth=200Winning Greyhoundwidth=300Breedingwidth=80Timewidth=250Trainerwidth=50SPwidth=200Notes/ref
1930Keerie Brave Mutton Cutlet – Keen Gift 30.90 Richard Keane
1932Queen of the Suir Mutton Cutlet – Burette 30.80
Loophole Open Steak – Last Plum 30.55
1934Chocolate Kid Cheerful Choice – Style Kid 31.18
The Fenian Bride Mutton Cutlet – Moleskin Peggy 30.73
Chicken Sandwich Heros Heart – Moor Girl 30.73
Godivas Turn Prudent Turn – Poor But Honest 30.61
Gentle Sally Again Noras Cutlet – Stream View Fashion II 30.13
Janetta Hunloke Dee Rock – Truite Bleue 30.47
1942Fair Mistress Saccadee – Edith Bronte 30.10Frank Moore2/7f[5]
Mad Printer Printer – Mad Darkie 30.05
My Little Daisy Luck Laddie – Clongowney Girl 30.08
Paladins Charm Uacterlainn Riac – Paladin 30.70
Cold Christmas Tanist – Cold Evening 29.86
Belle O'Manhattan Manhattan Midnight – Raithneach 30.46
Lovely Louisa[6] Mad Tanist – Fair Light 29.90Harry Bryant
Coolkill Darkie Mad Tanist – Braemar Mersey 30.36
Celtic Gem Lucky Tanist – Celtic Queen 30.00
1951Glenco Pearl Western Post – Pearl Hermann 30.23
1952Peaceful Lady Mad Tanist – Elm Green 29.95
Peaceful Lady Mad Tanist – Elm Green 30.11
Wild Iris Mad Tanist – Crosty Lady 30.04
Prairie Peg The Grand Champion – Prairie Vixen29.55
1956Baytown Dell Ollys Pal – Baytown Brunette 29.99
Gallant Maid The Grand Champion – Ash Haunts 30.02
Ballet Festival Champion Prince – Peaceful Lady 29.73
1959Last Landing Man Of Pleasure – Dannys Gift 30.09
1960Tristam Hi There – Prairie Lil 30.03
1961Just Sherry Knock Hill Chieftain – Nimble Star 29.95
1962Purty Good Jungle Man – Pocket Glass 29.78
1963Cherry Express Man Of Pleasure – Clementine 29.87
1964Knock Her Knock Hill Chieftain – Don't Ask 29.98T O'Shaughnessy
1965Drumsough Princess Hi There – Gettysburgh Princess 29.76
Hairdresser The Glen Abbey – Billum 29.40Vincent Toner
1967Kevinsfort Queen Prairie Flash – Miss Grindl 29.79
Orwell Parade Racing Rory – Orwell Wonder 29.96
1969Itsamint Prairie Flash – Cranog Bet 29.35
Rosmore Robin Clonmannon Flash – Con Robin 29.60Gay McKenna
Blissful Pride Mad Era – Ballybeg Pride 29.30Leslie McNair
Brandon Velvet Brandon Jungle – Hi Trend 29.45
Romping To Work Swanky Pa – Go To Work 29.20Larry Kelly
Fur Collar Yanka Boy – Handbag 29.40Paddy Cross
Main Avenue Kilbelin Style – Speckled Fawn 28.98
Clashing Daisy Clashing – Chief Legacy 29.64Eddie Spain
Snow Maiden Sole Aim – Gallant And Gay 29.09
Hail Fun Laurdella Fun – Westmead Hail 29.40E McGeough8/1
Nameless Pixie [7] Monalee Champion - Itsastar 29.34
Strange Legend Sand Man – Maythorn Pride 29.34
Claremount May Shamrock Sailor – Claremount Queen 29.52Niall Maher 6/1
My Last Hope Gaily Noble – Tobago Charm 29.32
Quick Suzy Shamrock Sailor – Big Deposit 29.38Colm McGrath
Burnpark Sally [8] You Genius – Burnpark Lass 28.92Michael Browne
Airmount Jewel Sail On II – Airmount Rose 29.06
Meadowbank Tip Citizen Supreme – Shandon Anne 29.34
Yale Princess Whisper Wishes – Saga Miss 29.42
Tracy Budd Moral Support – Sandy Sally 29.26
Picture Card Soda Fountain – Picture This 29.40
Bornacurra Liz County Final – Lizzies Flower 29.10
Gentle Soda Soda Fountain – Gentle Approach29.12Hugh Davies (Powderhall)9/10f
Old Spinster Glen Park Dancer – Hawkfield Music 29.42
Libertys Echo Kyle Jack – My Liberty 29.48Ber Murtagh
Shimmering Wings Alpine Minister – Narabane Gosh 29.23
Cool Survivor Lodge Prince – Gunboat Ann 29.35
Fossabeg Maid Lodge Prince - Fossabeg Rose 29.51
Borna Best Boyne Walk – Firm Mist28.86Ruairi Dwan 9/4f
April Surprise Beaming Supreme – Serene Lady 28.955/1
Borna Survivor Staplers Jo – Cool Survivor 28.67Ruairi Dwan 4/5f
Marinas Tina [9] Staplers Jo – Tina Marina 28.56Seamus Graham 9/4f
Marinas Tina [10] Staplers Jo – Tina Marina 28.60Seamus Graham 4/7f
Lifes Beauty Staplers Jo – Annies Touch 28.70Nick Turner 6/1
Axle Grease Top Honcho – Fees Chance 28.64Ollie Bray 11/-10f
Legal Moment Judicial Pride – Legal Jan 28.59Pat Buckley 2/1f
Grayslands Pixie Larkhill Jo – Newry Beo 28.78Bill O'Hare 7/4f
Shelbourne Becky Spiral Nikita – Shanless Rose 28.58Keeley McGee 5/2
Ms Firecracker Magical Captain – Aughavas 28.54Patrick Guilfoyle 10/1
Oran Majestic Daves Mentor – Droopys Lauren 29.0211/10f
Skywalker Queen Razldazl Billy – Nifty Princess 28.24Frances O'Donnell 9/-4
Dalcash Dvinsky [11] Ace Hi Rumble – Dalcash Diva 28.41Jack Meade 9/4f
Droopys Twirl [12] Westmead Hawk - Droopys Rena 28.42John Linehan 2/1
Milldean Tally [13] Head Bound – Talita Beauty 28.75John O'Flynn 9/4
Locnamon Bridie [14] Royal Impact – Locnamon Nell 28.23Paul Hennessy5/1
Velvet All Jam [15] Velvet Cash – Droopys Snowdrop28.42Mike Buckley 2/1
Ballydoyle Honey [16] Brett Lee – Kildallon Maid28.47 1/5f
Witches Belle [17] Droopys Scolari – Lemon Belle28.44Liam Twomey 6/1
Forest Natalee [18] Ballymac Vic – Droopys Danneel28.37Martin Lanney 3/1
Jaytee Jordan [19] Laughil Blake – Gorgeous Gal 28.477/2
Killmacdonagh[20] Zero Ten – Deercrest Lady 28.17Kieran Lynch 4/1
Ballymac Beanie[21] Ballymac Matt – Coolavanny Pet28.18 Declan Byrne n/a No SP due to Covid-19
Susie Sapphire[22] Droopys Jet – Jetstream Lynx28.15Owen McKenna3/1
Raha Mofo[23] Droopys Sydney – Clares Queen28.14Martin 'Murt' Leahy3/1
Crafty Shivoo[24] Droopys Sydney – Ballymac Sanjose28.14Peter & Brian Divilly3/1
A Lucky Julie[25] Ballymac Bolger – Julies Paradise28.53James Melia 3/1dead-heat
Fleadh SaraideBallymac Best – Fleadh Ramona28.53Murt Leahy14/1dead-heat

Notes and References

  1. Book: Genders, Roy. The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing, page 294. 1981. Pelham Books Ltd. 07207-1106-1.
  2. Book: Barnes, Julia. Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File, page 331. 1988. Ringpress Books. 0-948955-15-5.
  3. Web site: Feature Events. Irish Greyhound Board.
  4. Book: Hobbs, Jonathan. Greyhound Annual 2008, page 173-174. 2007. Raceform. 978-1-905153-53-4.
  5. News: Fair Mistress wins Oaks . Belfast Telegraph . 28 September 1942 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription . 14 August 2024.
  6. News: Lovely Louisa in Fast Oaks win . Belfast Telegraph . 2 October 1948 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription . 9 May 2024.
  7. Web site: Remember When - September. Greyhound Star.
  8. Web site: Colin Barry & Newhall Missile. Ballyea GAA.
  9. Web site: 2000 Oaks Final. Irish Greyhound Board.
  10. Web site: 2001 Oaks Final. Irish Greyhound Board.
  11. Web site: 2010 Sporting Press Oaks final. Irish Greyhound Board.
  12. Web site: 2011 Sporting Press Oaks final. Irish Greyhound Board.
  13. Web site: 2012 Sporting Press Oaks final. Irish Greyhound Board.
  14. Web site: 2013 Sporting Press Oaks final. Irish Greyhound Board.
  15. Web site: 2014 Sporting Press Oaks final. Irish Greyhound Board.
  16. Web site: 2015 Result. Irish Greyhound Board.
  17. Web site: 2016 Result. Irish Greyhound Board.
  18. Web site: 2017 result. Irish Greyhound Board.
  19. Web site: 2018 Oaks final. Irish Greyhound Board.
  20. Web site: 2019 Sporting Press Oaks. Irish Greyhound Board.
  21. Web site: The 2020 Sporting Press Oaks Final . Greyhound Racing Ireland . 22 November 2020.
  22. Web site: Sporting Press Online Edition Irish Oaks Final. Greyhound Racing Ireland. 19 June 2021.
  23. Web site: Sporting Press OnLine Edition Irish Oaks Final. Greyhound Racing Ireland. 24 June 2022.
  24. Web site: Sporting Press OnLine Edition Irish Oaks Final . Greyhound Racing Ireland . 18 June 2023.
  25. Web site: Sporting Press OnLine Edition Irish Oaks Final . Greyhound Racing Ireland . 28 June 2024.