The 1973 Irish Greyhound Derby took place during July and August with the final being held at
Shelbourne Park
Shelbourne Park is a greyhound racing stadium in the south Dublin inner city suburb of Ringsend.
Greyhound Racing
Opening
The plans to open a greyhound track in Dublin were drawn up by Paddy O’Donoghue, Jerry Collins, Patsy McAlinden and Jim ...
in
Dublin on 28 August 1973.
The Irish Derby winner's prize was doubled to £10,000 by sponsors
P.J.Carroll and Co. The winner Bashful Man won £10,000 and was trained by
Ger McKenna
Gerard 'Ger' McKenna was an Irish greyhound trainer regarded as the greatest Irish trainer of all time. He won the Irish Greyhound Derby three times and the English Greyhound Derby twice. From 1956 until 1996 he won 45 major competitions.
Earl ...
, owned by Deirdre Hynes and bred by Nancy Dirrane.
Final result
At Shelbourne, 28 August (over 525 yards):
Distances
4, 2 (lengths)
Competition Report
In the first round, a leading bitch called Romping To Work won her race in a very fast time of 29.05, she would go on to win the
Oaks later that year. Bashful Man recorded a win in 29.13 and Kilmac Chieftain in 29.23. Ante-post favourite Shara Dee who had won the English Derby consolation won in 29.55 and the
Cesarewitch and recent TV Trophy winner Ritas Choice recovered from encountering trouble in running to finish second behind Moordyk Ringo.
English hope Black Banjo took up the mantle of the new competition favourite following a second round victory in a heat that included both Ritas Choice and Bashful Man. Shara Dee and China Sea remained unbeaten.
Bashful Man produced 29.01 victory in the quarter-finals propelling
Ger McKenna
Gerard 'Ger' McKenna was an Irish greyhound trainer regarded as the greatest Irish trainer of all time. He won the Irish Greyhound Derby three times and the English Greyhound Derby twice. From 1956 until 1996 he won 45 major competitions.
Earl ...
's charge to the new favourite. Both Romping To Work and Shara Dee were eliminated but Ritas Choice won.
[
In the first semi-final Bashful Man recorded 29.15 when beating Ritas Choice and Kal's Daisy before Black Banjo wrapped up the second semi-final from Heavy Sleeper and Itsawitch in 29.58.][
The final turned out to be one of the most memorable of all time because Bashful Man became the first greyhound to break 29 seconds in a final. He took a rails course at the first bend and overtook fast starter Kal's Daisy, before drawing clear of the field and winning in a time of 28.82, just two spots off the track record set by 1972 finalist Ballykilty.][
]
See also
*1973 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
The 1973 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 47th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Roll of honour
Summary
The annual National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC) returns were released, with totalisator turnover at  ...
References
{{Irish Greyhound Derby
Greyhound Derby
Irish Greyhound Derby