With the main event just a month away, the Irish Greyhound Board and sponsors Boylesports have unveiled a revamped Irish Derby with a prize money pool of €300,000 including €140,000 to the winner writes Floyd Amphlett.

Much of the extra cash has been targeted at bunch of incentives including a €5,000 prize to the ‘last standing’ UK entry (subject to more than 10 runners making the trip.

Thirteen months after the-opening of Shelbourne Park, following the Dublin boycott, this latest imaginative initiative will bring some comfort to Ireland’s once soured soured greyhound community.

Incentives:

€5,000 to last standing UK Greyhound (T & C’s apply: only paid if 10 or more entries travelling from England/Scotland/Wales)

This is confined to greyhounds travelling from mainland UK and not open to greyhounds based in Northern Ireland. Winner based on last greyhound eliminated from Derby. Placings will decide winner (4th/5th/6th) times will not be taken into account. If two greyhounds are eliminated at the same stage and have same placing the pot will be halved. All greyhounds travelling from mainland UK (England, Scotland, Wales) are entitled to a one off €200 payment to assist with travel costs. 

€3,000 to last bitch standing. This is confined to bitches competing in the event regardless of where they have travelled from. Placings will decide winner (4th/5th/6th) times will not be taken into account. If two bitches are eliminated at the same stage and have same placing the pot will be halved.

€2,000 to last owner trained greyhound standing. This is confined to greyhounds that are owner trained only. Any greyhound who is with an agent or private/public trainer do not qualify for this incentive. Placings will decide winner (4th/5th/6th) times will not be taken into account. If two bitches are eliminated at the same stage and have same placing the pot will be halved.

€2,000 to last syndicate owned greyhound standing. This is confined to syndicate owned greyhounds regardless of their training status. Placings will decide winner (4th/5th/6th) times will not be taken into account. If two bitches are eliminated at the same stage and have same placing the pot will be halved.

Irish Greyhound Derby timeline:

First round heats:  17 & 18 August 2017

Second round heats: 24 & 25 August 2017

Third round heats:  Saturday 1 September 2017

Quarter- Finals: Saturday 8 September

Semi- Finals:  Saturday 15 September – Live on RTÉ 2

BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby Final: Saturday 22 September – Live on RTÉ 2