Well, it’s been an absolutely tremendous year on the track in 2021 in Irish greyhound racing circles, but also here locally in Kilkenny Greyhound stadium.
We have had a tremendous year and the performances by Greyhounds with local connections in the Kilkenny Carlow area have been nothing short of astounding. The achievements that the local people have made across the country have been brilliant with the likes of the Buggy family from Carlow with their Derby finalist Carrigan North. What an achievement was by them to have a Derby finalist in 2021.
Least we forget the Conaghy man Murt Leahy, and his wonderful family, training the winner of the 2021 Juvenile Derby with Droopys Gloss. A fantastic phenomenal achievement by that family ,reaping the rewards of hard work and hard graft. So well done to them. That’s just to mention a few, there have been many, many more to boast about.
Locally, we’ve had some brilliant kennels but we’ve also had in the introduction in Kilkenny Ground Stadium of two massively valuable stakes. First of all, the Boyle Sports 83525, which was introduced in 2021, and also Deadly Kennels 82525. Both those competitions gave €5000 to the winner, making sure some extra prize money goes to local vendors, ground owners, trainers, and connections.
Also in 2021, we have had two €10,000 to the winner stakes in Kilkenny and four €5000 to the winner. The Stakes are really brilliant to see and also the bidding ring was absolutely alive, a real hive of activity there on Friday nights. Kilkennyy track was also known for some fantastic fundraising events in recent years by Sports Club, charities, and schools. We have had some fantastic nights and fundraising nights Kilkenny down over the years with some really big massive money raised by these very worthy causes and charities. So we are certainly hoping for a continuation of that in 2022.
We want to thank each and everybody that made 2021 so successful in Kilkenny and Carlow. If we have a fraction of that success in 2022, we’ll be more delighted, and we’ll be certainly going well.
