Jumeirah Buddy is Galway’s sole representative in the race for the 2019 Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby ahead of the third round of the competition.
The Derby is the most prestigious race in the Irish greyhound calendar and boasts a prize-fund of over €300,000.
Friday and Saturday saw a field of 96 cut in half, with Buddy, trained by Gerry Holian in Athenry and owned by Jimmy Buckley, coming third in his second round heat last weekend in a time of 29.87. He runs in the first heat if the third round this Saturday from trap one. He’ll be alongside Run Happy, Winetavern Don, Ballyhimikin Jet, Lenson Bocko and 2018 Derby finalist Jaytee Taylor.
Racing Manager with the Leinster Racing Office, Derek Frehill, commented: “The Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby always attracts the highest calibre of greyhounds from around the country and indeed worldwide. There’s been a real buzz in the air here in Shelbourne Park over the last few weeks as we get closer and closer to crowning the overall Derby winner for 2019. It’s been a classic in every sense of the word so far and we’re all really looking forward to hosting third round night, with 48 dogs and their connections all still in the running to be crowned Derby champion. I want to wish the very best of luck to the greyhounds and their connections still involved.”
Payments are staggered for heat winners with larger rewards for greyhounds winning later rounds, particularly quarter and semi-finals, following on from last year’s increase in this area.
All eight heats across the third round take place this Saturday, August 31st, with the final of the 2019 Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby will be held on Saturday, September 21st, at Shelbourne Park Greyhound Stadium.
2019 Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby, 3rd round – Galway interest:
Heat 1: Jumeirah Buddy (trained by Gerry Holian, Athenry and owned by Jimmy Buckley, Athenry)
This is the sixth year of BoyleSports sponsorship of the classic event, which has been running since 1928, receiving classic status in 1932. The competition, which is run over a distance of 550yds, takes place in Shelbourne Park, Dublin, Ireland’s premier greyhound track.
Key event dates:
First Round – Friday, August 16th & Saturday, August 17th
Second Round – Friday, August 23rd & Saturday, August 24th
Third Round – Saturday, August 31st
Quarter Finals – Saturday, September 7th
Semi Finals – Saturday, September 14th
Final – Saturday, September 21st
Incentives:
€3,000 to last bitch standing. This is confined to bitches competing in the event regardless of where they have travelled from. Placings will decide winner (4th/5th/6th) times will not be taken into account. If two bitches are eliminated at the same stage and have same placing the pot will be halved.
€2,000 to last owner trained greyhound standing. This is confined to greyhounds that are owner trained only. Any greyhound who is with an agent or private/public trainer do not qualify for this incentive. Placings will decide winner (4th/5th/6th) times will not be taken into account. If two greyhounds that meet the criteria are eliminated at the same stage and have same placing the pot will be halved.
€2,000 to last syndicate owned greyhound standing. This is confined to syndicate owned greyhounds regardless of their training status. Placings will decide winner (4th/5th/6th) times will not be taken into account. If two greyhounds that meet the criteria are eliminated at the same stage and have same placing the pot will be halved.
€2,000 to last Trial Stake greyhound standing. This is confined to greyhounds that have entered the Irish Greyhound Derby via qualification through the BoyleSports Derby Trial Stakes. Placings will decide winner (4th/5th/6th) times will not be taken into account. If two greyhounds that meet the criteria are eliminated at the same stage and have same placing the pot will be halved.