# Laurels (Irish greyhound race)

The Laurels is a greyhound racing competition held annually at Curraheen Park Greyhound Stadium located in Bishopstown, west of Cork, County Cork, Ireland.
It was hosted by the old Cork Greyhound Stadium from 1944 to 1999 but inevitably continued to be held at the new track after it opened.
It is a prestigious event targeted by many of Ireland's leading greyhounds and is an integral part of the Irish greyhound racing calendar.
Clonbrien Hero, trained by Graham Holland and owned by Ms. Kay Murphy of Athlacca, County Limerick set a new record for the final of the Laurels (at Curraheen Park) when he won by three lengths in a time of 28.00 on 22 July 2017.

## Venues & Distances

* 1944–1960 (Cork, Western Road, 500 yards)
* 1961–1999 (Cork, Western Road, 525 yards)
* 2000–present (Cork, Curraheen Park, 525 yards)

## Sponsors

* 1979–1981 (Cashmans)
* 1985–1986 (Joe Donnelly)
* 1987–1991 (Kantoher Co-op)
* 1992–1992 (Michael McCarthy)
* 1993–1994 (Michael Crowley)
* 1995–2003 (Co-op Superstores)
* 2004–2009 (Cashmans Bookmakers)
* 2010–2011 (Pat Hennerty Sales)
* 2012–2014 (Connolly's Red Mills)
* 2015–2019 (Irish Independent)
* 2023–2023 (Bar One Racing)

## Past winners

| Year | Winner | Breeding | Time | Trainer | SP | Notes |
| 1944 | Robeen Printer | Printer – Deoc Deireannach | 28.98 | | | |
| 1945 | Munster Hotel | Highland Rum – Ballinspittle | 29.20 | | | |
| 1946 | Ballinrea Express | Rebel Express – Champion Queen | 28.80 | | | |
| 1947 | Careless Border | Ruby Border – Volcut | 28.80 | | | |
| 1948 | Double Shadow | Dark Shadow – Grosvenors Lady | 28.33 | | | |
| 1949 | Spanish Chestnut | Rebel Abbey – Cordal Moonlight | 28.55 | | | |
| 1950 | Spanish Chestnut | Rebel Abbey – Cordal Moonlight | 28.70 | | | |
| 1951 | Knockrour Favourite | Bellas Prince – Favourite Tip | 28.85 | Jack Lynch | | |
| 1952 | Tragumna Dasher | Dark Shadow – Bran Cream | 28.70 | | | |
| 1953 | Templenoe Rebel | Ballymac Ball – Templenoe Medora | 28.55 | | | |
| 1954 | Come on Bella | Lucky Tanist – Knockrour Bella | 28.90 | | | |
| 1955 | Spanish Battleship | Spanish Chestnut – Ballyseedy Memory | 28.35 | Tom Lynch | | |
| 1956 | Rather Grand | The Grand Champion – Ashbrook Gift | 29.00 | | 7-1 | |
| 1957 | Kilcasey Streak | | 28.80 | | | |
| 1958 | Brook Prancer | Glittering Look – Shaggy Dancer | 28.43 | | | |
| 1959 | Celbridge Chance | Eridanus – Avril | 28.50 | | | |
| 1960 | Last Lap | The Grand Champion – Dooniskey Lass | 28.15 | | | |
| 1961 | Round Tower Rose | Champion Prince – Knockdrina Rose | 29.80 | | | |
| 1962 | Dark Baby | Knockrour Again – Ronnoc Miss | 29.40 | | | Track record |
| 1963 | Powerstown Proper | Hi There – Faoide | 29.75 | | | |
| 1964 | Tanyard Heather | Oregon Prince – Clonbanin Chariot | 29.20 | P Cashman | | |
| 1965 | Boro Parachute | Crazy Parachute – Anjone | 29.60 | | | |
| 1966 | Westpark Ash | Hi There – Westpark Ballet | 29.40 | | | |
| 1967 | Philotimo | Booked Out – Pride of Corrin | 29.65 | C Kelleher | | |
| 1968 | Flaming King | Market Green – Maglin Lady | 29.25 | S Moran | | |
| 1969 | Skipping Tim | Myross Again – Right On Time | 29.50 | Dave Cashman | | |
| 1970 | Gabriel Boy | Yanka Boy – Gabriel Star | 29.25 | Ger McKenna | | |
| 1971 | Ivy Hall Flash | Proud Lincoln – Ivy Hall Rose | 29.15 | Paddy Keane | | |
| 1972 | Dublin Eily | Maryville Hi – Right Champion | 29.70 | J Buckley | | |
| 1973 | Kilbracken Style | Kilbelin Style – Maggie Ann | 29.10 | Paddy Keane | | |
| 1974 | Silent Thought | Ivy Hall Flash – Oulartwick Jane | 29.50 | Paddy Keane | 2-1 | |
| 1975 | Moonshine Bandit | Yanka Boy – Westpark Roma | 29.30 | Christy O'Callaghan | | |
| 1976 | Nameless Star | Ritas Choice – Itsastar | 29.30 | Ger McKenna | | |
| 1977 | Ashleigh Honour | Kudas Honour – Miss Ashleigh | 29.15 | Dave Cashman | | |
| 1978 | Knockrour Girl | Bright Lad – Knockrour Last | 29.40 | Denis Lynch | | |
| 1979 | Knockrour Slave | Sole Aim – Knockrour Exile | 29.45 | Ger McKenna | | |
| 1980 | Knockrour Slave | Sole Aim – Knockrour Exile | 29.00 | Ger McKenna | | Track record |
| 1981 | Knockeen Master | Laurdella Fun – Knockeen Guest | 29.50 | Christy O'Callaghan | | |
| 1982 | The Stranger | Dark Mercury – Lovely Blend | 28.95 | Christy O'Callaghan | | Track record |
| 1983 | Back Garden | Knockrour Slave – Sweeping Billy | 29.66 | Ger McKenna | | |
| 1984 | Rugged Mick | Ceili Band – Blueberry Pet | 29.09 | Ger McKenna | | |
| 1985 | Follow A Star | Under Par – Float A Loan | 29.42 | Ger McKenna | 10-1 | |
| 1986 | Big Oran | Oran Jack – Big Deposit | 29.78 | Ann Wade | | |
| 1987 | Yellow Bud | Yellow Ese – Budweiser | 29.28 | Donal O'Regan | 10-1 | |
| 1988 | Odell King | Sail On II – Odell Tansy | 28.98 | Ned Power | 7-2 | |
| 1989 | Airmount Grand | Daleys Gold – Airmount Jewel | 28.82 | Gerald Kiely | | Track record in final, sf and 2nd Rd |
| 1990 | Adraville Bridge | Im Slippy – Milltown Gem | 28.78 | Mossy O'Connor | 9-4jf | Track record |
| 1991 | Terrydrum Tico | Tico – Gentle Sarah | 28.86 | Davy Lennon | 2-1f | |
| 1992 | Market Rascal | Coral Town – Twins Petra | 29.58 | | | |
| 1993 | Lisglass Lass | Quare Rocket – Machern | 28.97 | Francie Murray | | |
| 1994 | Clounmellane Oak | Ravage Again – Rosehip Joy | 29.44 | John Lynch | 6-1 | |
| 1995 | Standard Image | Murlens Slippy – Simply Elite | 29.04 | Christy O'Callaghan | 5-1 | |
| 1996 | Deerfield Bypass | Daleys Gold – Black Adraville | 29.12 | Ger McKenna | 7-2 | |
| 1997 | Mr Pickwick | Trade Union – Terrys Whisper | 29.16 | Paul Hennessy | 1-2f | |
| 1998 | Mr Pickwick | Trade Union – Terrys Whisper | 29.29 | Paul Hennessy | 4-5f | |
| 1999 | Lumber Boss | Batties Rocket – The Other Joy | 29.42 | Frances O'Donnell | 5–1 | dead-heat |
| 1999 | Tigers Eye | Coalbrook Tiger – Swift Comment | 29.42 | Nicky Turner | 10–1 | dead-heat |
| 2000 | Barefoot Ridge | Some Picture – Cailin Dilis | 28.69 | Paul Hennessy | 6–1 | |
| 2001 | Sonic Flight | Frightful Flash – Westmead Flight | 28.41 | Dolores Ruth | 4–1 | |
| 2002 | Annual Award | Smooth Rumble – Heres Steppie | 28.33 | Eddie Wade | 7–1 | |
| 2003 | Nikita Billie | Split the Bill – Nikita Doll | 28.34 | Jack Walsh | 9–2 | |
| 2004 | Boherduff Light | He Knows – Travelling Light | 28.14 | Owen McKenna | 2-1jf | |
| 2005 | Tyrur Ted | Top Honcho – Watch the Market | 28.33 | PJ Fahy | 4-6f | |
| 2006 | Ardkill Jamie | Top Savings – Fast Issue | 28.35 | Paul Hennessy | 5–2 | |
| 2007 | Catunda Harry | Elite State – Your So Vain | 28.18 | Owen McKenna | 5-4f | |
| 2008 | Cashen Legend | Balintore Brave – Fergus Gold | 28.74 | Chris Houilhan | 14–1 | |
| 2009 | Sevenheads Bay | Ballymac Maeve – Travara Daisy | 28.50 | Graham Holland | 4–1 | |
| 2010 | Tyrur Enda | Razldazl Billy – Regards To Alice | 28.42 | PJ Fahy | 4-6f | |
| 2011 | Razldazl Rioga | Brett Lee – Razldazl Pearl | 28.32 | Dolores Ruth | 7–2 | |
| 2012 | Knockglass Billy | Ballymac Maeve – Knockglass Lady | 28.30 | Graham Holland | 2-1f | |
| 2013 | Lassa Expedition | Crash –Lassa Experience | 28.39 | Rachel Wheeler | 3–1 | |
| 2014 | Vimmerby | Winetavern Oscar – Wee Rose Garden | 28.56 | John Kavanagh | 3–1 | |
| 2015 | Midtown Raffa | Kinloch Brae – Raffa Baby | 28.31 | Maurice O'Connor | 2-1f | |
| 2016 | Skywalker Manner | Leeview Jet – Jibberish | 28.29 | Graham Holland | 5–1 | |
| 2017 | Clonbrien Hero | Razldazl Jayfkay – Trout or Salmon | 28.00 | Graham Holland | 5–2 | Curraheen Park final record |
| 2018 | Rockybay Foley | Sparta Maestro – Ironically | 28.37 | Kieran Lynch | 4/5f | |
| 2019 | Rockybay Foley | Sparta Maestro – Ironically | 28.57 | Kieran Lynch | 7/4f | |
| 2020 | Runninta Seeya | Laughil Blake – Droopys Harbour | 28.48 | John Linehan | - | No SP due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions |
| 2021 | One Time Only | Droopys Sydney – Mags Image | 28.17 | Thomas O'Donovan | 3/1 | |
| 2022 | Good Cody | Definate Opinion – Soho Ark | 28.20 | Patrick Guilfoyle | 5/1 | |
| 2023 | High Trend | Droopys Sydney – Beaming Smasher | 28.31 | Graham Holland | 8/1 | |