Liam Dowling and his Ballymac prefix are known the world over. A training and breeding operation second to non and the envy of many. There aren’t many races or competitions not to have been adorned by the Ballymac prefix at some point over the years – writes Mark Pierrepont.
When Ballymac Matt won the Boylesports Irish Derby Final in 2015 it was the fullfillment of a lifetime ambition for Liam , son Shane and the rest of the Ballymacelligot based team. In 2019 Ballymac Tas so nearly pulled off what would have been a remarkable double , finishing runner up in the inaugural final of the Starsports , LPS & ARC English Greyhound Derby at Nottingham.
Tas went down by just half a length from fellow Irish raider Priceless Blake, trained by Paul Hennesy. Tas returned to Nottingham for a tilt at the RPGTV Select Stakes , again filling the runner up slot when finishing behind Trickys Dumbo with Ice On Fire a head back in third.
Next on the agenda was the Boylesports Irish Derby at Shelbourne , qualifying via a fourth place finish in her first round heat, Tas finished down the field in last place in the second round and hasn’t been seen in competitive action since. Tas had her first official sprint trial back when recording 19.31 when beaten 2 lengths behind a very promising unraced type in Ballymac Reece in mid January.
Liam said “Tas will be heading back to Nottingham for another tilt all being well. She’s heading the right way and all being well she’ll definitely be part of the team. Tas did us proud last year , we couldn’t have asked for anymore from her.
“Ballymac Anton who also ran in the competition for us last year should also be heading back. Anton is a dog we’ve always rated highly , he didn’t have the best of luck in running last year and was eventually eliminated in the third round behind eventual winner Priceless Blake.
“Anton has won the Irish St Leger at Limerick since and is currently contesting the Tote Gold Collar around Shelbourne having won his first two rounds (2818 when winning his second round heat last week). All being well he’ll be heading over with us again and hopefully will show a bit more of what he’s about”.
“Liam is a very level headed man , having experienced every up and down that greyhound racing can throw at you , I couldn’t help but sense a tone of excitement when he brought up Ballymac Inspeed though. “He’s a very good dog” said Liam , “He was outstanding when going unbeaten through all four rounds of the Future Champion Unraced Stake , improving through each round , winning the final in 2893 (-30). He’s a very nice dog and Nottingham should suit perfectly , we have to consider the Con and Annie Kirby at Limerick though for him.
“With €80,000 winners money , it’s a difficult call , we’ll think about it , there’s no rush just yet but obviously we’ll have to make a decision on it soon enough. I’d say we’re 50/50 on which to go for at the moment.
“We’ve a few greyhounds falling into a similar category , 50/50 on Limerick or Nottingham. Ballymac Wisdom is a bitch I like a lot , she should enjoy Nottingham and would definitely be a possible.
“She won The Gold Collar A1 Stake Final in December and is without doubt heading the right way. I see that Ballymac Cooper is high up on the antepost betting lists but I feel it’s only right to warn punters that he isn’t only extremely unlikely to be heading to Nottingham but he’d be no better than 50/50 in my book to ever race again.
“He picked up an injury when finishing second in his last race at Shelbourne in mid December. It’s a real shame as he’s a dog that would have loved it around Nottingham. Ballymac Arminta is another that would enjoy the place but again she’s under treatment for a gracillus injury so at this stage it’s a case of wait and see.
“The next month or so will tell us a lot, I’m sure we’ll have a fair team on the van again and will give it our best, as always you need your slice of luck no matter how good your greyhound is.
“We stayed at Peter Harnden’s Salacres training establishment last year and will be doing the same again this time round. Peter and his team couldn’t have done more for us , they made us extremely welcome and with his set up being just a short journey from the track , it can only benefit the dogs”.
Level playing field
One topic regarding this years Derby that is currently in the news is the replacement of the 500m Derby trip traps. They were a great bone of contention during last years Derby with many people claiming a perceived bias towards the middle runners.
Liam said: “I think changing the traps is a great idea. We all just want a level playing field , nobody wants a bias of any kind , there’s no doubting to me that the Shelbourne style traps that Nottingham are planning on bringing in are a fairer style of traps, it can only be a good thing.
“The track itself is a lovely gallop , beautifully prepared by the team there who deserve huge credit. Now the traps are being changed it cuts out a lot of the complaints and puts the emphasis on the greyhounds”.
Healthy rivalry
Liam was a little disappointed that the Anglo Irish race didn’t receive the full quota of Irish entries last year. “That did surprise me” said Liam. “We need to encourage healthy rivalry between both sides of the Irish sea. It gives people a buzz , it’s all friendly deep down but competition in every walk of life is good. As a sport we’ve all got to do as much as possible to promote healthy competition , it’s good for all of us in the sport. It creates interest and interest is what keeps all sports alive.
I was pleased to see Nic Brereton of the Geelo racing team for instance putting up a £25,000 bonus for his new sprint championship. We need to see more things like this. How about a bonus for any greyhound winning both the English and Irish Derbys , things like this only serve to create interest and get people in the sport talking. Maybe even having more Anglo – Irish events throughout the year.”
Always a market . .
You don’t have to go far to hear people talking the sports future down but Liam is happy enough with how his sales have been going.
He said “There’s always a market for a good class dog. They’re not easy to come across and when there is one available there are plenty of people around wanting to buy. I suppose the lower end of the market has suffered a little but times aren’t as bad as some might have you believe. Not in my view anyway and I can only say it as I see it”.
