The Southern Derby gets underway this weekend
THE countdown to the Irish Laurels, affectionately known as the ‘Southern Derby’ is underway after the event’s launch and the first round trap draw took place at Curraheen Park Greyhound Stadium.
The Laurels is one of the most prestigious ‘Classic’ competitions in the Irish greyhound racing calendar and boasts a prize fund of over €50,000.
Forty eight greyhounds will begin this year’s event across eight first-round heats, all taking place this Saturday night.
This year’s event will be supported by the ‘Friends and Supporters of Cork Greyhound Racing’ group, led by legendary GAA figure Jimmy Barry Murphy in the first of a three year agreement.
Chairman of the Irish Greyhound Board, Frank Nyhan, said at the launch of the competition:
“The Irish Laurels is an integral part of the Irish greyhound racing calendar and is an inherently Cork tradition. Cork has more greyhound owners than any other county in Ireland and the ‘Southern Derby’ always receives superb backing from the greyhound community and further afield.
“I want to again thank Jimmy Barry Murphy and the rest of the ‘Friends and Supporters of Cork Greyhound Racing’ group for giving their time and effort to supporting what will be a cracking 2019 event. I wish the very best of luck to all entered greyhounds and their connections.”
Jimmy Barry Murphy added: “The Friends and Supporters of Cork Greyhound Racing group was brought together by like-minded people who have a huge passion for our wonderful sport of greyhound racing.
“We are hugely thankful to Cork’s business community and the greyhound fraternity who have pulled together to ensure our sponsorship and support for racing in Cork for the next three years. We look forward to another exciting renewal of the Laurels, hot on the heels of the very successful Irish Greyhound Derby.
“I would encourage one and all to come to the stadium over the next four weeks to enjoy a true highlight in the Irish greyhound racing calendar.”
Last year’s event was won by Rockybay Foley, for popular local trainer Kieran Lynch of Belgooly and owner Chrissie Slyne, who took home the €30,000 winning prize in an impressive time of 28.27 seconds.
The 2019 Irish Laurels will begin on Saturday, September 28 and run for four consecutive Saturdays, with the final being held on Saturday, October 19.