1962 Irish Greyhound Derby

Irish dog race 1962 Irish Greyhound Derby 11 August £1,250 (winner) Shelbourne Park Dublin 1961 1963 The 1962 Irish Greyhound Derby took place during July and August with the final being held at Shelbourne Park in Dublin on 11 August 1962.Genders Roy NGRC book of Greyhound Racing 261 1990 Pelham Books Ltd 0-7207-1804-X The winner Shane's Legacy won £1,250 and was trained, owned and bred by Bob McCann.Comyn John 50 Years of Greyhound Racing in Ireland Aherlow Publishers Ltd Final result At Shelbourne, 11 August (over 525 yards): PositionName of GreyhoundBreedingTrapSPTimeTrainer1st Shane's Legacy Knock Hill Chieftain - Betsy 5 5-1 29.58Bob McCann2nd Golden Cheers The Grand Fire - Atomic Smart 6 8-1 29.70Mrs Remy Eastwood3rd Dark Baby Knockrour Again - Ronnoc Miss 23-1 29.73Dave Cashman4th Black July Cheeky Tippy - Maddest Lily 4 5-4f 29.85 Harry O'Neill5th Peculiar unknown 1 10-1 Bill Kirwan6th Spider Hill Forever Cloone - She Can Can 3 20-1 Jim Syder Jr. Distances 1½, neck, 1½ (lengths) Competition Report The Grand Canal was the nation's favourite greyhound following his success in the 1962 English Greyhound Derby and lifting the Easter Cup crown but he did not enter for the 1962 Irish Derby leaving the event wide open. Ireland's leading trainer Gay McKenna had failed to win the premier event but it was considered as a foregone conclusion that he eventually would. It started well for him when he sent out the fastest heat winner in Brookeville Sputnik (29.30) and other impressive heat winners included Steady the Man (29.46), Dark Baby (29.47) and Shanes Legacy (29.67).Fortune Michael Irish Greyhound Derby 1932–1981 Victory Irish Promotions Ltd In the second round the fastest second round winner was the Belfast owned Kashmir Lad who recorded 29.30. Black July and Alpine Mac both scored wins and Steady the Man and Peculiar remained unbeaten. By the time the semi-finals arrived Black July (trained by Harry O’Neill) defeated Shanes Legacy in 29.40, Black July had performed poorly in the English Greyhound Derby but had made the Welsh Greyhound Derby final. The second semi-final went to Dark Baby from English challenger Spider Hill; the latter was trained by Jim Syder and had made the 1961 English Greyhound Derby final with Joe Pickering. The third and final semi saw Golden Cheers defeat Peculiar.Fortune Michael The 75 Years History of the Irish Greyhound Derby Irish Greyhound Review 0332-3536 Black July was hot favourite for the final which was decided at the first bend when Dark Baby slipped around the bend pursued by Shanes Legacy, Spider Hill with Black July finding significant trouble and Spider Hill knocked over and losing his jacket. Shanes Legacy caught Dark Baby to take victory with Golden Cheers finishing very well to take second place. Shanes Legacy was sold immediately after the presentation by his owner Bob McCann for £2,500 to a London building contractor named Bob Gough who then put the greyhound in England with Tony Dennis. Later in the year Dark Baby went on to win the Laurels at Cork and break the track record. The title of Derby champion still eluded Gay McKenna. See also 1962 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year References Greyhound Derby Irish Greyhound Derby