O’Regans keep Bracker name going strong

THE name of Martin “Bracker” O’Regan, who, famously, was part of Kerry’s All-Ireland football four-in-a-row from 1929 to 1932, is being kept well alive by his doggy-mad sons, in particular Denis and Martin, who very rarely miss a night’s racing at the Oakview venue.

The O’Regan brothers gave the name Brackers Brandy to an April ’15 bitch by Mall Brandy out of Hectors Queen and this lady had the distinction of recording the fastest time, 29.05, at last week’s Tuesday SIS meeting.

She might have been something on an outsider at 9/2 in what was the fourth race (A3 525), but she won like an odds-on shot, rocketing out of trap 4 and totally dominating to the line where she had four and a half lengths to spare from 2/1 favourite, Stormy Vincent, with six and a half lengths back to Russmur Escalade.

It was her eighth victory from 34 starts (she has been placed 15 times) and she has now brought her career earnings to €2,832. It won’t stop there, for sure.

Another highlight on the night was the victory in the tenth race (A5 525) by that amazing canine warrior, Shronedrugh Hawk, owned by Tim Kelly, of Headford.

The son of Westmead Hawk and Carbon Dixie will be six years old in July and this was his 125th race. It was not expected that he would be sharp enough to beat the 6/4 favourite, Send It Tonight, in particular, hence a price of 4/1 about him, but beat him he did and this despite the fact that he trailed Pat McMahon’s charge by four lengths rounding the third bend.

It was tight at the line, with Payyaway Clio coming from last place to be involved, and Shronedrugh beat her by a neck in 29.90, with three-quarters of a length back to Send It Tonight.

It was a 21st career victory for Shronedrugh Hawk (he has been placed 66 times) and greyhounds like him are real treasures of the sport – as, indeed, is Knockeen Crash, which will be seven years old in April and finished fifth in the same race (he was running his 113th race).

Just one reserve, Enjoy The Moment, was called in on the night and she scored a terrific victory in 29.14 (A5 class), while there was a dead-heat in the first race (A6 class) between Bowline Norvic and Gullane Lass in 29.91. Other winners: Wompa Woman, 29.52; Send It Zebra, 30.02; Ardstown Cilla, 17.79; Prospect House, 29.63; Áines Princess, 29.69; Kilcow Harry, 29.61.