RETURN OF AN OLD FRIEND SO WELCOME IN THIS DIGITAL AGE
Jim Cremin
VOLUME 48 of the only annual in the business, the Irish Greyhound Review, is now out. In this otherwise mainly electronic world, it’s an old friend that reflects on the big race winners in both Ireland and the UK (colleague Phil Donaldson is responsible for the latter coverage) and touches on other items of interest to a greyhound world always thirsty for more.
Being a greyhound fan today can seem something of a secret society given minimal TV or general media coverage, so it’s a delight to get 128 pages all about ‘us’.
This year’s Review makes the Irish and English Derbys feel all the more important. In particular, the last 12 Shelbourne winners unusually feature on the front cover.
This feels something of a subliminal tribute to Graham Holland, who trained five of those; an extraordinary achievement. It also prompts the question, which of the dozen was the best?
I personally would vote for Bockos Diamond, the 2024 winner – a true superstar and due to return in 2026 for further tilts at all the main events. He was also runner-up in the 2025 Towcester Derby and it will be interesting to see if connections seek to seed him middle next year instead of wide.
That will be the tenth year of Star Sports sponsorship and their ad on page 29 – in the middle of the section celebrating Droopys Plunge’s success as the sole English based defender against five raiders from Ireland – sums it all up perfectly: “It’s not a hare they’re chasing, it’s DESTINY.”
Next year’s English Derby final is Saturday, June 6, while the Irish version will be on Saturday, September 12. Greyhound racing is fortunate to have such long-standing sponsors for both. BoyleSports backed Shelbourne’s Classic for the 12th time this year. That, and Shelbourne’s impressive refurbishment, are duly lauded.
Martin Heydon TD, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, writes the foreword and appropriately highlights that “each year, the Irish Greyhound Review offers a comprehensive reflection on the Irish greyhound racing season, capturing the dedication, achievements and passion of all those involved in the sport, from breeders and trainers to owners and supporters at home and abroad.” Well said.
Margaret Walsh, the publisher of the annual, rightly acknowledges the huge contribution from the minister’s government to the greyhound industry in 2026.
Among several profiles, Greyhound Racing Ireland’s chairman Pat Flanagan and CEO Tim Lucey are highlighted. Lucey explains next year’s focus will be “to advance its positioning as community-based assets that are of value to a wide range of organisations, offering partnerships of reciprocal value from which many benefits can accrue. “That should see attendances increasing and wider relationships for our sport.”
He says that groups who have seen Shelbourne’s upgrade “have been blown away by the facilities - and the greyhound racing as well.”
Pat Guilfoyle, not surprisingly, figures through the annual given the successful year he has enjoyed. Indeed, his Magical Major (King Sheeran-Magical Mary, Oct 23) tops the Annual’s 12 to follow for 2026.
The redevelopment of Kilkenny, so long a sleeping giant, is welcomed – an official opening is expected in the spring. Newly opened Dunstall Park, Wolverhampton also figures.
An ideal Christmas present for any greyhound fan, The Irish Greyhound Review is now on sale in shops in Ireland and retails at €20.00 (€25.00 incl p&p). Publisher Margaret Walsh can be contacted at: email walshmgt57@gmail.com. It is also available from all leading greyhound supply stores.
JIM CREMIN
Worldwide sales available via www.premarketpets.co.uk (email patrickjanssens2@ gmail.com, £30.00 incl p&p) and greyhoundsuperstore.co.uk (email info@greyhoundsuperstore.co.uk, £30.00 incl p&p); Ireland sales only available via www.greyhoundandpetworld. com (email gpw1389@gmail.com , €25 incl p&p)
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