Kingdom Greyhound Stadium to name Hall of Fame inductee at annual awards on Saturday

FAMILIAR faces will again be centre stage at Tralee Track’s annual awards night this Saturday. The Owner of the Year for 2022 is Donal G O’Mahony, of Millstreet; the Private Trainer of the Year is Chris Houlihan, of Ballyduff, and the Public Trainer of the Year is Pat McMahon, of Tralee, whose greyhound, Send It Sky, has been named Dog of the Year.

The Bitch of the Year is Outback Annie, which is attached to the Abbeyfeale kennels of Jerry Griffin.

The awards are jointly sponsored by the track supporters’ club and the Kerry Greyhound Owners and Breeders Association and the high point of the night will be the announcement of the Hall Of Fame winner, which is kept secret until then.

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TARBERT’S Dan Wren pulled off a terrific 15/1 double with litter brother and sister, Steeple Rd Joe and Steeple Rd Bell, at last week’s Tuesday SIS meeting. Steeple Rd Joe won the opening A2 525 by two and a half lengths in 28.82, while Steeple Rd Bell won the seventh race, an A3 525, by half a length in 29.03. Both were priced at 3/1.

The fastest winner, on 28.79, was Baltovin Spider, owned by Thomas Regan, of Ardfert. This fellow belied his odds of 4/1 in the closing A2 525 by totally dominating from traprise and winning by five lengths.

Other winners: Callura Flyer. 29.46; Adraville Impact, 29.19; Feora Anton, 29.17; Ballyfidora Sid, 29.38; Off To Dubai, 28.99; Lissycasey Harpa, 29.52; Bay City Panther, 29.58.

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THE Rose Hotel, Tralee, is to be the venue on Sunday, April 30, for the annual awards ceremony/ dinner dance of the Irish Coursing Club. Tickets, which cost €60, will be on sale from March 1 and, with Kerry so very strongly rooted to the field sport, there is sure to be huge demand for them.

Coming up later this month is the Dublin Coach Irish Cup at Limerick Racecourse, Patrickswell. Unlike the national meeting, which concluded this Tuesday, the Irish Cup has a weekend setting – Friday, Saturday and Sunday, February 24, 25 and 26. The draw is on February 19 (7pm) in the Woodlands House Hotel, Adare.

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KINGDOM Derby form at Tralee was brilliantly upheld by Stream Of Sydney, Cloneden Flash and Disco Pants in the opening round of the Gold Cup at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night. Yet another tribute in a long list to the Oakview venue.