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Greyhound Racing Ireland
FormerlyBord na gCon (1958–2020)
IndustrySporting governing body
Founded1958
Headquarters
Dock Road, Limerick
,
Ireland
Websitegrireland.ie

Greyhound Racing Ireland (Irish: Rásaíocht Con Éireann,[1] formerly Irish: Bord na gCon) is an Irish semi-state body charged with regulating and promoting Greyhound racing in Ireland.[2][3] The organisation has been active in developing the sport in Ireland since its founding on 11 July 1958.[4]

Greyhound Racing Ireland, formerly the Irish Greyhound Board (IGB), is a commercial semi-state body and reports to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.[5]

History

The original governing body for Irish Greyhound Racing was established under the Greyhound Industry Act of 1958 with a number of aims. The body was formed to regulate the industry, operate a tote betting system, licence and authorise each stadium, its officials, and its on-course bookmakers, and promote the sport through advertising and prize grants.[2] It became responsible for all tracks in Ireland, with the exception of the Ulster tracks that would remain under the jurisdiction of the Irish Coursing Club.[3][6]

Rásaíocht Con Éireann / Greyhound Racing Ireland report on the results of Northern Irish tracks, of which two remain today Derry Greyhound Stadium and Drumbo Park. The reason for the involvement is because Northern Irish tracks do not come under the jurisdiction of the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB). However the tracks do not receive funding or licensing from Greyhound Racing Ireland (Irish: Rásaíocht)

In 1960 a new totalisator system was installed at four tracks Harolds Cross, Shelbourne Park, Cork and Limerick, in addition to obtaining Clonmel from the Morris family headed by T.A.Morris the former secretary of the Irish Coursing Club. Des Hanrahan became chairman of Bord na gCon in 1965 (taking over from Dr Paddy Maguire [7]) and actively sought to buy any Irish tracks in danger of being sold to developers.[8] They bought Shelbourne Park in 1968.[9]

Bord na gCon/ Irish Greyhound Board officially changed its name to Rásaíocht Con Éireann/ Greyhound Racing Ireland on 1 October 2020 as part of the implementation of the Greyhound Racing Act 2019.[10] The provisions enacted provide for an expanded Governing Board of nine members as well as laying the foundation for a new traceability system for racing greyhounds; enhanced powers for authorised officers; a more robust and modern regulatory framework and ultimately the updating of racing sanctions to be administered by an independent Control Committee and an Appeal Committee, the members of which will be appointed by the Minister following an open selection process.

Irish Greyhound Care Fund

In August 2019, it was announced that a separate Care Fund dedicated to funding a variety of initiatives for the care and welfare of the greyhound was being established.[11][12][13]

The Greyhound Care Fund is a fund that is dedicated to funding a variety of initiative for the care and welfare of the greyhound and the GRI is targeting the sum of €1 million to be raised for the Greyhound Care Fund in its first year of operation. The fund will accrue from the admissions and restaurant packages, a percentage of tote income and sponsorship. Care Fund arrangements for Shelbourne Park were brought into effect from 21 August 2019 and other stadia came into effect from 1 November 2019.

Racing venues

Greyhound Racing Ireland regulates all of Ireland's greyhound racing venues. There are racing venues in the following locations:[14]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Greyhound Racing Act 2019". Irish Statute Book. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Bord na gCon". Sport Agencies. Department of Arts, Sports and Tourism. Archived from the original on 14 April 2008. Retrieved 17 July 2008.
  3. ^ a b Thompson, Laura (2003). The dogs: a personal history of greyhound racing. London: Old Castle. p. 18. ISBN 1843440164. OCLC 62223569.
  4. ^ "Remember When - July". Greyhound Star. 15 July 2018.
  5. ^ "2014 Annual Report" (PDF). Greyhound Racing Ireland.
  6. ^ "Bord na gCon". Sport Agencies. Department of Arts, Sports and Tourism. Archived from the original on 14 April 2008. Retrieved 17 July 2008.
  7. ^ "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 1965) September edition". Greyhound Star.
  8. ^ Comyn, John. 50 Years of Greyhound Racing in Ireland. Aherlow Publishers Ltd.
  9. ^ "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 1968) January edition". Greyhound Star.
  10. ^ "Results". Greyhound Racing Ireland.
  11. ^ "Irish Greyhound Care Fund". Greyhound Racing Ireland.
  12. ^ "Irish Retired Greyhound Trust". Irish Retired Greyhound Trust.
  13. ^ "Greyhound Racing Act". Irish Statute Book.
  14. ^ "Home Page - Our Stadiums". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 17 July 2008.
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