THE SPORTING PRESS AND THE OAKS – AN ENDURING PARTNERSHIP
Ian Fortune
Thirty-five years is a long time in any sport, but in sponsorship terms it represents an era of great loyalty, commitment and shared success. Over that time, the Irish Greyhound Oaks and the Sporting Press have become so closely intertwined that it is now difficult to imagine one without the other.
When the respected industry publication first stepped forward to sponsor the competition in 1992, few could have imagined the remarkable partnership that would follow. This year’s renewal marks 35 consecutive years of Sporting Press support for one of the most prestigious events in Irish greyhound racing.
SPINSTER GETS THE BALL ROLLING
The first winner under the Sporting Press banner was Reggie Roberts’ brilliant Old Spinster in 1992 and, fittingly, she set the tone for what would follow. Across the next three-and-a-half decades, the Oaks would consistently attract the very best ladies in training, producing some incredible champions, many of which would go onto become special broods, leaving a lasting legacy on the sport.
Indeed, few classics carry the same importance within Irish greyhound racing. Ireland’s reputation as a world leader in breeding has long been built on elite dam lines, and the Oaks has repeatedly highlighted the best pedigrees. Winners such as Cool Survivor, Marinas Tina, Skywalker Queen, Ballydoyle Honey, Forest Natalee and Susie Sapphire all enhanced their reputations on the Oaks stage before going on to influence breeding discussions for years afterwards.
MULTIPE WINNING TRAINERS
The roll of honour also reflects the changing eras of Irish greyhound racing. Ruairi Dwan enjoyed notable success in the late 1990s with Borna Best and Borna Survivor, while Seamus Graham earned a hat trick of victories with Cool Survivor and dual winner Marinas Tina.
Paul Hennessy also landed multiple victories through April Surprise, Locnamon Bridie and Jaytee Jordan. Graham Holland added his name to the history books with Ballydoyle Honey and, more recently, with last year’s winner Carrigmore Freya, while Murt Leahy has also won the classic on two occasions with Raha Mofo in 2022 and an unforgettable 2024 dead-heat success with Fleadh Saraide.
STANDOUT WINNERS AND FLYING TIMES
There have been standout performances throughout the Sporting Press era. In the early years, following on from the powerful Old Spinster, early speed was the key to success for Ber Murtagh’s Liberty Echo, Joe McCarrick’s Shimmering Wings. This trend would continue in the subsequent years with so many winners known for their incredible early dash.
The winning times also got progressively faster. Borna Best became the fastest winner of all time in 1997 when clocking 28.86 but just three years later Marinas Tina would win her first Oaks in 28.56. That would stand for seven years until Ms Firecracker posted 28.54 in 2007. Her victory would have special significance as the first classic winner for her young handler Pat Guilfoyle at just 21 years of age.
Just two years later, Skywalker Queen would announce herself as a superstar when clocking 28.24, while subsequent Supreme Greyhound of the Year Locnamon Bridie would win in 28.23 in 2013.
Remarkably in the past decade, six Oaks winners have gone even faster with Raha Mofo in 2022 and Crafty Shivoo in 2023, both daughters of Droopys Sydney, winning in 28.14 to set the standard.
A SPECIAL COMPETITION
Beyond the winners themselves, the classic has become a celebration of everything that makes Irish greyhound racing unique, elite breeding, great passion, family involvement and fierce but sporting competition.
For generations of breeders, owners and trainers, winning the Sporting Press Irish Oaks has represented the ultimate honour for a track bitch.
As the 2026 renewal begins, the Oaks once again stands as a showcase for the very best of Irish greyhound racing, while the enduring support of the Sporting Press continues to provide one of the sport’s great success stories. We look forward to many more years of brilliant winners in the Sporting Press Irish Oaks.