Greyhounds: Paddy Power ends Derby sponsorship
Monday December 21 2009
Irish greyhound racing received a jolt at the weekend when it was announced that Paddy Power Bookmakers have terminated their association with the Irish Derby at Shelbourne Park.
The Irish-owned bookmaking firm has sponsored the Derby for the past 10 years and in that time it has evolved as the most valuable greyhound competition in the world.
However, spokesman Paddy Power states that his company will "continue to investigate all opportunities to support this industry through sponsorship and other activity".
Power added: "We are very proud to have sponsored the Derby for 10 years.
"During that time we have invested over €1m in the Irish greyhound industry and have helped transform the Irish Derby into the richest greyhound race in the world. It has been a wonderful sponsorship for us."
Adrian Neilan, the CEO of the Irish Greyhound Board, said: "Down through the years and as recently as this summer, we have received approaches as to the Derby's availability for sponsorship.
"We have now begun the process of discussing the event with a select number of possible partners and are confident of securing an agreement that will be of great benefit to a commercial company and to the greyhound racing industry. We wish to thank Paddy Power for their support over the past 10 years."
Meanwhile, a new star was unveiled at Shelbourne Park on Saturday when Fatboyz Tyson floored the favourite Tullymurry Act in a thrilling final to the National Puppy Stakes.
Going off the 3-1 second favourite, Fatboyz Tyson engaged in a massive head-to-head battle with Tullymurry Act to the third bend.
Here the race was decided as Fatboyz impressively drove the corner and surged ahead. Maintaining a powerful stride up the straight he seemed to move up a gear and pulled away to win by three and a half lengths from Tullymurry Act in 28.33, with Ballymac Tipp a length and a half back in third.
There was a bigger upset in the final of the Kingdom Derby at Tralee where Tom and Pat Stack's Killorane Boy held off the challenge of red-hot favourite Oran Legend by half a length in a time of 28.49.
Irish Independent
