St Leger (Irish greyhound race) explained

Surface:	Sand
Class:	Feature
Horse Race:	Irish St Leger
Location:	Limerick Greyhound Stadium
Inaugurated:	1932
Sponsor:	Will We Go
Distance:	550 yards
Purse:	€30,000 (winner)

The St Leger is a greyhound racing competition held annually at Limerick Greyhound Stadium at Greenpark, Dock Road, Limerick, Ireland.^[1] The competition is an original classic race^[2] and was inaugurated in 1932 at Celtic Park in Belfast following the decision by the Irish Coursing Club to issue a new list of classic races.^[3]

As was the practice at the time the Bord na gCon switched the event each year to a different track. Clonmel Greyhound Stadium, Shelbourne Park and Harolds Cross all played host ^[4] before it found a permanent home at the old Markets Field Greyhound Stadium in Limerick in 1944.^[5]

Venues & Distances

• Celtic Park (1932, 1943 550y)
• Clonmel (1933 550y)
• Shelbourne Park (1934, 1936, 1938, 1939 550y)
• Harolds Cross (1935, 1937, 1942 550y)
• Limerick (1940 & 1944-present 550y)

Past winners

width=50	Year	width=200	Winning Greyhound	width=280	Breeding	width=50	Time	width=130	Trainer	width=50	SP	width=150	Notes/ref
	Castle Eve	Fourth of July – Sally's Gossip	32.08
1933	Brilliant Bob	Other Days – Birchfield Bessie	31.53
	Chicken Sandwich	Heros Heart – Moor Girl	31.59			Track record
1935	Carras Son	Rubio – Cara	31.82
	Moresby	Roving Bunty – False Colleen	31.68
	Cheers For Ballyduff	Hes Next – Normans Fancy	31.42
	Abbeylara	Prudent Turn – Thats The Why	31.61
	Negros Crown	Prudent Turn – Negros Pet	31.77
1940	Cherrygrove Cross	Rejected Light – Dohora Lass	31.82
	Monarch of the Glen	Carolina Prince – Turn of the Glen	31.28
1943	Monarch of the Glen	Carolina Prince – Turn of the Glen	31.48
	No Relation	Sweeping Cut – Halycon Heart	31.48
	Dark Shadow	Ruby Border – Coming Now	31.37			Track record
1946	Star Point	Bawnmore Lad – Bright Duckling	31.55
	Pouleen Boy	Another White Sandhills – Broken Weir	31.92
	Beau Lion	Another Dancing Willie - Brevity	31.52		5/2	^[6]
	Ballybeg Surprise	Mad Tanist – My Little Diamond	31.55
	Maddest Daughter	Clounehard Border – Maddest Yet	31.55
	Ellas Ivy	Ivy Reef – Mara Lass	31.08
	Silver Earl	King Silver – Ardmachree Eliza	31.25
	Gortaleen	Shaggy Lad – Magic Maid	31.26
	Mount Nagle Surprise	Ballybeg Surprise – Mount Nagle Girl	31.10
	Doonmore Dreamer	Wee Chap – Again Ballyglass	30.98
	Prince of Bermuda	Champion Prince – Sunora	30.66	Ger McKenna		Track record
	Kilcaskin Kern	Magourna Reject – Pavona	31.05
	Firgrove Snowman ^[7]	The Grand Champion – Firgrove Swallow	31.28
	Ocean Swell	Glittering Look – Don't Ask	31.18
	Swanlands Best	Man Of Pleasure – Swanland's Neighbour	31.60	Ger McKenna
	Jerrys Clipper	Jerry's Special – Glittering Queenie	31.10	Jerry O'Dea
	Apollo Again	Knockrour Again – Redondo Beach	31.26	Ger McKenna
	General Courtnowski	Man Of Pleasure – Yoblstrap	31.12
	Brook Jockey	Jockey's Glen – Endurance	31.66	P Boyce
1965	Lovely Chieftain	Knockhill Chieftain – Lovely Sister	30.92	Ger McKenna
	Movealong Santa	Champion Tipp – Movelong Sally	30.92
1967	Yanka Boy	Clonalvy Pride – Millie Hawthorn	30.77	Ger McKenna
	Pools Punter	Oregon Prince – Wild Countess	30.88		9/2
	Own Pride	Always Proud – Kitty True	30.95	Ger McKenna
	Mark Anthony	Prairie Flash - Shandaroba	31.02	Tom Lynch	6/1	^[8]
1971	Time Up Please	Newdown Heather – Dogstown Fame	30.56	Ger McKenna		^[9]
	Time Up Please	Newdown Heather – Dogstown Fame	31.05	Ger McKenna
	Romping To Work	Swanky Pa – Go To Work	31.04	Larry Kelly		^[10]
1974	Lively Band	Silver Hope – Kells Queen	31.20	Jack Murphy
	Ballybeg Prim	Rockfield Era – Ballybeg Pride	30.44			Track record^[11]
	Nameless Star	Rita’s Choice – Itsastar	30.62
	Red Rasper	Own Pride – Miss Honeygar	31.15	Ger McKenna
	Rhu	Sole Aim – RigsdaleKuda	31.44
	Airmount Champ	Hunday Champion – Winnies Call	31.20	Paddy Keane	5/1	^[12]
	Rahan Ship ^[13]	Rail Ship – Rwanyena	30.72	Johnny Haynes
	Oran Jack	Yellow Band – Spooky Lady	30.62	Rose Grealish
	Supreme Tiger	Knockrour Tiger-Rising Tide	30.44
1983	The Stranger	Dark Mercury – Lovely Blend	31.04	Christy O'Callaghan
	Morans Beef	Noble Brigg – Rathkenny Bride	30.06	Ger McKenna
	Ballintubber One	Killaclug Jet – Ballintubber Peg	30.42
	Storm Villa	Aulton Villa – Storm Island	30.65		1/1f	^[14]
	Randy	Aulton Villa – Melanie	30.23	Christy Daly	5/2	^[15]
	Local Kate	Wise Band – Local Nell	31.04	Maurice Leahy	14/1	^[16]
	Dereen Star	Moral Support – Summer Crab	30.24			^[17]
	Alan's Judy	I'm Slippy – Fairy Lawn	30.42	E. McMahon		^[18]
	Castleland Dream	Powerstown Pax – Sail On Witch	30.22	Christy O'Callaghan	5/2	^[19]
	Barefoot Dash	Willie Joe – Kilmorna Pearl	30.40			^[20]
	Barefoot Marty	I'm Slippy – Cheeky Carmaur	30.54	Fraser Black		^[21]
	Kilvil Skinner	Mathews Gold – Keeleys Friend	30.84	Peter Pattinson
	Batties Spirit	Batties Whisper – Lady Arrancourt	30.42		7/4f	^[22]
1996	Airmount Rogue	Glen Park Dancer – Airmount Kelly	29.89	Gerald Kiely	6/1	^[23]
	Fire Fly	Leaders Minstrel – Mark of Relief	30.36	AD Marshall	9/2	^[24]
	Deerfield Sunset	Vintage Prince - Sunset Blonde	30.03	Joe Kenny	5/4f
	Frisby Flashing	Frightful Flash – Centenarys Dream	29.64	Reggie Roberts	1/1f	Track record^[25]
	Extra Dividend	Sassy Boy – Sunshine Penny	29.79	Dolores Ruth	8/1	^[26]
	Droopys Kewell	Larkhill Jo – Perrys Pusher	30.37	Michael Dunphy	5/2	^[27]
2002	Larking About	Larkhill Jo – Rockys Whisper	29.73		9/4f	^[28]
	Mountleader Rolf	Smooth Rumble – Mountleader Diva	30.01	Geraldine O'Mahony	5/2	^[29]
	Never Give Up	Spiral Nikita – Dalcash Lament	29.88	Pat Buckley	7/1	^[30]
	Redbarn Panther	Jamella Tiger - Itsabouttimerose	29.72	Liam Egan	4/1	^[31]
	Indesacjack	Pacific Mile – JasonsSmokie	29.66	Jim Morrissey	2/1f	^[32]
	Lughill Jo	Larkhill Jo – Lughill Rose	29.37	Owen McKenna	3/1	^[33]
	Boherash Gaoithe	World Class – Boherash Charity	29.71	Joan Hanrahan	14/1	^[34]
2009	Bar Blackstone	Head Bound – Blackstone Sky	29.62	Sean Dunphy	2/1jf	^[35]
2010	Farley Turbo	Hondo Black – Blue Honey	29.57	Owen McKenna	3/1	Track record^[36]
	What A Tornado	Crash – Natural Energy	29.58		7/4f	^[37]
	Cashen Mafuma	Cashen Legend – Shakira Live	29.57	Chris Houlihan	8/1	^[38]
	Locnamon Bridie	Royal Impact – Locnamon Nell	29.34	Paul Hennessy	3/1jf	^[39]
	Paradise Silva	Hondo Black – Dalcash Diva	29.50	Pat Buckley	6/4f	^[40]
	Skywalker Rory	Skywalker Puma – Tarsna Sal	29.47	Patrick Guilfoyle	7/2	^[41]
2016	Priceless Brandy	Mall Brandy – Tullowmac Java	29.30		4/5f	^[42]
2017	Clonbrien Hero	Razldazl Jayfkay – Trout or Salmon	29.60	Graham Holland	5/2jf	^[43]
2018	Blastoff Jet	Droopys Jet – Blastoff Annie	29.65	Philip Buckley	5/1	^[44]
2019	Ballymac Anton	Ballymac Best – Coolavanny Angie	29.53	Liam Dowling	4/1	^[45]
2020	Epic Hero	Droopys Jet – Ravenna	29.44	Thomas O'Donovan	No SP	due to COVID-19^[46]
2021	Ballymac Merlin	Vulturi – Ballymac Belle	29.68	Liam Dowling	8/1	^[47]
2022	Bobsleigh Dream	Droopys Sydney – Bobsleigh Jet	29.84	Pat Buckley	11/8f	^[48]
2023	Clonbrien Treaty	Pestana – Clonbrien Millie	29.51	Graham Holland	5/4f	^[49]
2024	Clonbrien Treaty	Pestana – Clonbrien Millie	29.28	Graham Holland	5/4f	Record time for final^[50]

Notes and References

1. Book: Genders, Roy. The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing, page 299-300. 1981. Pelham Books Ltd. 07207-1106-1.
2. Web site: 2022 MATCHBOOK IRISH ST. LEGER . Greyhound Racing Ireland . 16 December 2022.
3. Web site: Feature Events. Irish Greyhound Board.
4. Book: Barnes, Julia. Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File, page 336. 1991. Ringpress Books. 0-948955-61-9.
5. Book: Hobbs, Jonathan. Greyhound Annual 2008, pages 175-176. 2007. Raceform. 978-1-905153-53-4.
6. News: Beau Lion Takes Irish St. Leger . Irish Independent . 28 June 1948 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription . 15 August 2024.
7. Web site: Remember When - July. Greyhound Star.
8. Web site: Remember When - November 1970. Greyhound Star.
9. Web site: Remember When - September 1969. Greyhound Star.
10. News: Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 1973) October edition. 2012. Greyhound Star.
11. News: Ballybeg Prim to top Poll. Belfast Telegraph . 4 February 1976 . 18 June 2022 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
12. News: Keane takes St. Leger . Drogheda Independent . 19 October 1979 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription . 15 August 2024.
13. Web site: Remember When - October. Greyhound Star.
14. News: Storm Villa led all the way . Sunday Independent (Dublin) . 26 October 1986 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription . 15 August 2024.
15. News: Randy scores classic win . Sunday Independent (Dublin) . 25 October 1987 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription . 15 August 2024.
16. News: Randy scores classic win . Sunday Tribune . 23 October 1988 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription . 15 August 2024.
17. News: Greyhound Racing . Nottingham Evening Post . 23 October 1989 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription . 15 August 2024.
18. News: Is this Master McGrath Mark Two? . Lurgan Mail . 25 October 1990 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription . 15 August 2024.
19. Book: Barnes/Sellers, Julia/John. Ladbrokes Greyhound Fact File. 324. 1992. Ringpress Books. 0-948955-22-8.
20. News: Dash sinks Leger rivals . Belfast News-Letter . 2 November 1992 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription . 15 August 2024.
21. News: Reserved Barefoot Marty . Irish Independent . 3 November 1993 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription . 15 August 2024.
22. News: Batties Spirit takes St leger . Sunday Independent (Dublin) . 5 November 1995 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription . 15 August 2024.
23. News: Leger delight for Airmount Rogue . Irish Independent . 4 November 1996 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription . 15 August 2024.
24. News: Fire Flu buzzes to St Leger . Irish Independent . 10 November 1997 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription . 15 August 2024.
25. News: Limerick . Sunday Independent (Dublin) . 17 October 1999 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription . 15 August 2024.
26. Web site: 2000 Result. Irish Greyhound Board.
27. Web site: 2001 Result. Irish Greyhound Board.
28. Web site: 2002 Result. Irish Greyhound Board.
29. Web site: 2003 Result. Irish Greyhound Board.
30. Web site: 2004 Result. Irish Greyhound Board.
31. Web site: 2005 Result. Irish Greyhound Board.
32. Web site: 2006 Result. Irish Greyhound Board.
33. Web site: 2007 Result. Irish Greyhound Board.
34. Web site: 2008 Result. Irish Greyhound Board.
35. Web site: 2009 Result. Irish Greyhound Board.
36. Web site: 2010 Result. Irish Greyhound Board.
37. Web site: 2011 Result. Irish Greyhound Board.
38. Web site: 2012 Result. Irish Greyhound Board.
39. Web site: 2013 Result. Irish Greyhound Board.
40. Web site: 2014 Result. Irish Greyhound Board.
41. Web site: 2015 Result. Irish Greyhound Board.
42. Web site: 2016 Result. Irish Greyhound Board.
43. Web site: 2017 St Leger. Irish Greyhound Board.
44. Web site: 2018 St Leger final meeting. Irish Greyhound Board.
45. Web site: St Leger final. Irish Greyhound Board.
46. Web site: The 2020 St Leger Final . Greyhound Racing Ireland . 28 November 2020.
47. Web site: Matchbook Betting Exchange Irish St Leger 550 Final. Greyhound Racing Ireland . 28 November 2021.
48. Web site: 2022 Matchbook Betting Exchange Irish St Leger 550 Final . Greyhound Racing Ireland . 24 December 2022.
49. Web site: Willwego.com Irish St Leger 2023 Final . Irish Greyhound Racing Ireland.
50. Web site: Willwego.com Irish St Leger 2024 Final . Irish Greyhound Racing Ireland. 18 August 2024.