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 and 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) 2023–2025 (Bar One Racing)

Past winners

YearWinnerBreedingTime (Sec)TrainerSPNotes1944 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 1951Knockrour 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 1957Kilcasey 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 29.50Paddy 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 record1981 Knockeen Master Laurdella Fun – Knockeen Guest 29.50 Christy O'Callaghan 1982 The Stranger Dark Mercury – Lovely Blend 28.95 Christy O'Callaghan Track record1983 Back Garden Knockrour Slave – Sweeping Billy 29.66 Ger McKenna 1984 Rugged Mick Ceili Band – Blueberry Pet 29.09Ger McKenna 5/4f 1985 Follow A Star Under Par – Float A Loan 29.42 Ger McKenna 10/1 1986 Big OranOran Jack – Big Deposit 29.78Ann Wade 3/1 1987 Yellow BudYellow Ese – Budweiser29.28Donal O'Regan 10/1 1988 Odell KingSail On II – Odell Tansy 28.98Ned Power 7/2 1989 Airmount Grand Daleys Gold – Airmount Jewel 28.82Gerald Kiely 4/7f Track record in final, sf and 2nd Rd1990 Adraville BridgeIm Slippy – Milltown Gem 28.78Mossy O'Connor 9/4jf Track record1991 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 OakRavage Again – Rosehip Joy 29.44 John Lynch 6/1 1995 Standard ImageMurlens Slippy – Simply Elite 29.04 Christy O'Callaghan 5/1 1996 Deerfield BypassDaleys Gold – Black Adraville29.12 Ger McKenna 7/2 1997 Mr Pickwick Trade Union – Terrys Whisper29.16 Paul Hennessy 1/2f 1998 Mr Pickwick Trade Union – Terrys Whisper29.29 Paul Hennessy 4/5f 1999 Lumber Boss Batties Rocket – The Other Joy29.42 Frances O'Donnell 5/1 dead-heat1999 Tigers Eye Coalbrook Tiger – Swift Comment29.42Nicky Turner 10/1 dead-heat2000 Barefoot Ridge Some Picture – Cailin Dilis28.69 Paul Hennessy 6/1 2001 Sonic Flight Frightful Flash – Westmead Flight28.41 Dolores Ruth 4/1 2002 Annual Award Smooth Rumble – Heres Steppie28.33 Eddie Wade 7/1 2003 Nikita Billie Split the Bill – Nikita Doll28.34 Jack Walsh 9/2 2004 Boherduff LightHe Knows – Travelling Light28.14Owen McKenna 2/1jf 2005 Tyrur TedTop Honcho – Watch the Market28.33 PJ Fahy 4/6f 2006 Ardkill JamieTop Savings – Fast Issue28.35 Paul Hennessy 5/2 2007 Catunda HarryElite State – Your So Vain28.18 Owen McKenna 5/4f 2008 Cashen LegendBalintore Brave – Fergus Gold28.74 Chris Houilhan 14/1 2009 Sevenheads BayBallymac Maeve – Travara Daisy28.50 Graham Holland 4/1 2010 Tyrur EndaRazldazl Billy – Regards To Alice28.42 PJ Fahy 4/6f 2011 Razldazl RiogaBrett Lee – Razldazl Pearl28.32 Dolores Ruth 7/2 2012 Knockglass BillyBallymac Maeve – Knockglass Lady28.30 Graham Holland 2/1f 2013 Lassa ExpeditionCrash –Lassa Experience28.39 Rachel Wheeler 3/1 2014 VimmerbyWinetavern Oscar – Wee Rose Garden28.56 John Kavanagh 3/1 2015 Midtown Raffa Kinloch Brae – Raffa Baby28.31 Maurice O'Connor 2/1f 2016 Skywalker Manner Leeview Jet – Jibberish28.29 Graham Holland 5/1 2017 Clonbrien HeroRazldazl Jayfkay – Trout or Salmon28.00 Graham Holland 5/2 Curraheen Park final record2018 Rockybay FoleySparta Maestro – Ironically28.37 Kieran Lynch 4/5f 2019 Rockybay FoleySparta Maestro – Ironically28.57 Kieran Lynch 7/4f 2020 Runninta Seeya Laughil Blake – Droopys Harbour28.48 John Linehan -No SP due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions2021 One Time Only Droopys Sydney – Mags Image28.17 Thomas O'Donovan 3/12022 Good Cody Opinion – Soho Ark 28.20Patrick Guilfoyle5/12023High TrendDroopys Sydney – Beaming Smasher 28.31Graham Holland8/12024Crafty ShivooDroopys Sydney – Ballymac Sanjose 28.52 Patrick Norris 1/1f2025Magical on FireBallymac Cashout – Burgess Sarah27.93Patrick Guilfoyle13/2

References