A rare occurence of being rained off at track

IT is pretty rare for races to be abandoned at Tralee Track because of the weather, but it happened at the Oakview venue on Saturday night on the occasion of a benefit meeting for Threshing Cancer – Kerry Hospice.

The rain just kept on pelting down and the management had no option but to call a halt to proceedings after eight races and re-arrange the remaining two races for this Saturday night.

Mind you, there some good performances on an all-sponsored card despite the rain, with Darragh Jet (6/4 fav) clocking a hot 17.55 for the 325yds trip (S5/ S6 class). Running from trap 5, he swept into the lead around the opening bend and he beat the fast-starting Mileheight Molly by three lengths, to complete a quickfire double for local trainer, John Kelliher, and joint owners, Patrick O’Callaghan, of Macroom, and John O’Keeffe, of Lixnaw, the chairman of the Kerry Greyhound Owners and Breeders Association.

The double for the Kelliher / O’Callaghan / O’Keeffe partnership was initiated in the first race (S8/ S9 325) by a litter sister to Darragh Jet, namely Darragh Pet (6/4 second fav).

Like Darragh Jet, she is a wide seed and, from the outside box, she was in front off the opening bend and she held off the challenge of even-money favourite, Ballymac Hostess, coming home by a head in 18.05.

By far the fastest over 525yds, on 29.27, was Lixnaw Squishy, owned by Kevin Gleeson, of Lixnaw. A 2/1 shot. Lixnaw Squishy actually routed the opposition from a trap 5 draw in the first semi-final of a 12-greyhound Kerry GOBA sweepstake, building up an unassailable lead by the third bend and finishing no less than eleven lengths ahead of 6/4 second favourite, Millroad Grit , with three lengths back to even-money favourite, Millridge Posh.

The second semi-final was won in 29.75 (by Hawthorn Royal), leaving Lixnaw Squishy with a nice time advantage going into the final this Saturday night.

Other winners: Monemore Lassie, 29.82; Voltair Hope, 29.73; Millridge Jewel, 18.21; Millroad Trotter, 29.90.

From left to right are Breda O`Sullivan, Ann Enright, Michelle Jones and Ger Devine all attending and representing the Kerry Hospice and Threshing Cancer Night at the Dogs at the Kingdom Stadium on Saturday night Photo by Denis Walsh