The Grand National was a greyhound racing competition held annually at various tracks throughout Ireland.
The race was inaugurated in 1928 at Shelbourne Park and was shared between the two Dublin tracks of Shelbourne and Harold's Cross Stadium before being switched to the old Cork (Western Road) Greyhound Stadium just before World War II.
Kilkenny Greyhound Stadium hosted the race in 1960 & 1961 until Thurles Greyhound Stadium took over from 1962 to 1984. The competition returned to Shelbourne in 1985 for another 15 years but once again the nomadic race switched to Harold's Cross and was staged from 2001 to 2016 at the track. Following the closure of Harold's Cross, the event was switched to Cork in 2017.
It was the leading hurdle event in Ireland and an integral part of the Irish greyhound racing calendar. The event came to an end after the 2020 edition.
Winners YearWinnerBreedingTime (sec)TrainerSPRef1928 The Tanker Steam Drifter – Border Gift Horan 4/1 1929 Merry Falcon 32.50 Magner 1930 Captain Koehle Creaves - Glenville Girl 32.20 Carroll 1932 Cowboy II Halifax – Saucy Nell 31.94 1/1f 1933Hot Shot Solid Man – Cosa Bana 32.14 5/4 1934Hot Shot Solid Man – Cosa Bana 1935Orluck Mutton Cutlet - Sairshea 1936 Druze Red House – Black Looks 31.21 Joe McKenna 1/1f 1937 Cheers For Ballyduff Hes Next – Noomans Fancy V.O'Donoghue 1938Pals Rover Roving Bunty – Palnetto 31.28 G Hely 2/1 1939Lawyers Bouquet Lawyers Fee - Dunmurry Princess 30.93 P.Kelly 9/4 1940 Ballymakeera Gift Ammon Carb – Old Capwell 31.17 J. Curtin 2/1 1941 The Gunner Gay Brigade – La Lavelle 31.03 Miss K.Nolan 4/5f 1959 Dually Rapid Ballymac Ball - Marchioness Minnie 31.15 1960 Dawn Dancer Prince of Bermuda – Peaceful Dancer 31.40 1961 Tropical Splendour Northern King – Shaggy Dancer 31.15 1962 Indoor Sport Champion Prince - Yoblstrap 30.85 1963 Trojan Van Whirling Turk – Sitting Pretty 30.85 1964 Ashgrove Chief Golsto –Ashgrove Black 31.10 T. Leahy 1965 Bolshoi Prince The Grand Prince – Bolshoi Artiste 30.65 1966 Bandit Go Go Rambo – Red Ruthie 30.95 1967Olivers Leader Prairie Flash – Olivers Love 30.20 T. Wade 1968Rusheen Rhythm Pigalle Wonder – Flying Fashion 30.85 M. Sullivan 1969Hilcrest Pride Clonalvy Pride – Last Pot 30.65 Michael Collins 1970 Fire Hunter Carry On Oregon – Land Hunter 30.95 G. Flynn 1971Getaway Buff O'Leary – Fannie Caesar 31.04 T. O'Connor 1972 Special Monalee Champion – Coil Valley 30.85 J. Foley 1973 Special Monalee Champion – Coil Valley 29.75 J. Foley 1974 Special Monalee Champion – Coil Valley 30.95 J. Foley 1975 Own Kuda Kilbeg Kuda – Kitty Proud 31.00 J. Noonan 1976 Pick Me Monalee Champion – Hunday Pet 30.14 M. Sylver 1977 Pick Me Monalee Champion – Hunday Pet 29.96 M. Sylver 1978 Bowery Music Westpark Thady – Cavity Block 30.40 P. Jones 1979Kerragh Sambo Own Pride- Keeragh Flo 30.20 Matt O'Donnell 1980 Killerisk Prince Killerisk Boy – Mermaids Hope 30.42 Mrs N. Boyle 1981Face The Mutt Mutts Silver – Mill Road Cast 30.16 Mrs N. Jackson 1982Master Bob Greenview Bob – Bowery Lad 30.06 P. Jones 1982Arabian Knight Rita's Choice – Silly Sis 30.68 J. Allen 1984Buanait Offshore Diver – Brook Blonde 30.42 1985Mars Mist Inny Mist – I'm Trendy 30.14 T. O'Sullivan 1986Sand Blinder Sand Man – Tranquility Sea 30.04 Mrs J. Kenny 1987Off You Sail Sail On II – It's You 30.48 Sam Sykes - England 1980Handball Game Ball – Killowna Gem 30.19 T. Lynch 1980Handball Game Ball – Killowna Gem 30.06 J. Rouse 1990Gizmo Pasha Whisper Wishes – If And When 29.67 Linda Mullins - England 1991Yacht Club Daleys Gold – Sand Melody 30.14 G. J. McKenna 1992 Whos LotsBalalika – Lyre Daisy 30.32 Tony Byrne 1993 Hillview Leader Leaders Best – Miss Melanie 30.27 1994 Bayview Blaze Dutch Delight – Ask Helen 29.72 1995 Super Gunboat Super Mecca – Gunboat Ann 29.91 Joe Kenny 1996 Gates To Heaven Murlens Slippy – Dark Vision 29.61 Robinson 1997Simon Simon Murlens Abbey – Lovely Lovely 29.97 Gary Baggs - England 6/1 1998Lynmac Flyer Droopys Fintan – Lady Cecila 29.61 Thomas Lynch 5/2cf1999 Tarn Bay Flash Airmount Grand – Highmoor Mist 29.38 Dolores Ruth 6/4jf2000Autumn Merlin Westmead Merlin – Miss Piggy 29.20 Mick Parker 5/42001 Switchtoplanb Fat Fella – Call Back Kirby 29.43 Shem O'Donnell 6/12002 Bestofthebunch Toms The Best – Staplers Rhythm 29.93 Keeley McGee 10/12003 Frightened Pig Fly Fright – Miss Piggy 29.34 Jason Foster – England 8/12004Joe Bananas Larkhill Jo – Woman Power 29.32 Nick Colton – England 3/12005 Druids Aghadoe Top Honcho – Druids Villa 29.76 John Brennan 4/12006 Taipan Kiowa Shawnee So – Rookery Lady 29.66 Nick Colton – England 6/42007Comans Joe Jamella Prince – Springwell Sue 29.65 Jason Foster – England 4/5f2008Distant Legend Hondo Black - Talktothehand 29.04 Julie Power 5/4f2009Distant Legend Hondo Black - Talktothehand 29.10 Julie Power 3/1 2010 Junior Mac Large Mack – Slick Mona 29.44 Paul Donovan - England 7/22011 Olivers Twist Head Bound – Kewell Irony 29.05 Lisa Stephenson - England 2/12012 Baran Bally Hi Tyrur Ted – Druids Judicial 29.44 Fraser Black 7/22013 Hypnotic Reason Hondo Black – Handy Princess 29.72 David Stanbridge 12/12014 Razldazlnewstalk Kinloch Brae – Razldazl Alice 29.26 Dolores Ruth 1/2f2015 Comeout Russell Westmead Hawk – Lady Deise 29.73 Pat Kiely 4/5f2016Brinkleysdominic Droopys Cain - Droopys Geneva 29.60 Pat Buckley 5/4f2017 Offshore Bound Head Bound - Inshaarla 29.07 Patrick Fitzgerald 3/12018 Lightfoot Prince Candlelight King - Droopys Knox 28.88 Pat Kiely 2/12019 Lightfoot Kante Candlelight King - Puma Girl 29.01 Pat Kiely 1/1f2020 Razldazl Annie Razldazl Billy - Razldazl Marilyn 29.37 Neilus O'Connell No SP+
+ No SP due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions
Venues and distances Shelbourne Park (525yH 1928) Harold's Cross (525yH 1929–30, 1932, 1939, 1941) Shelbourne Park (525yH 1933–1938) Cork (525yH 1940) Kilkenny (525yH 1959–1961) Thurles (525yH 1962–1984) Shelbourne (525yH 1985–2000) Harold's Cross (525yH 2001–2016) Curraheen Park (525yH 2017–2020)
Sponsors 2003-2006 (Baggot Racing) 2008-2010 (Vetsearch Recharge) 2012-2012 (SalacresRacingteam.com) 2013-2014 (Centra) 2017-2020 (Greyhound & Petworld Luxury Transport)
References