Breeding down – again

The number of Irish bred litters continues to fall.

Figures for the first six months of 2024 real that 785 litters were registered with the Irish Stud Book, a fall from the 842 for the similar period last year.

While the 7% fall may not seem dramatic, it should be viewed in context of the lowest annual figure since registry body broke away from the Greyhound Stud Book over 100 years ago.

Since the second half of 2023 almost mirrored the first six month, 842/849, the assumption must be that 2024 litter total will be around, 1570, down from 1,691.

There are another set of figures to consider, the naming of adult greyhounds. They fell to 4,522 from 5,408 in Jan-Jun 2023.

In other words, there will be roughly a fifth less greyhounds coming into the industry than are leaving it in the next year.

Sydney sons are dads

The decision by connections to stand two exceptional sons of Droopys Sydney at stud in England is having mixed fortunes.

Brookside Richie is standing with former handler Jimmy Fenwick in the North East, and in truth, they have been a little unlucky.

Jimmy said: “The first bitch Richie covered was heavily in whelp but had to have a caesarean and lost the pups.

“The second bitch was one of mine, Irene Hope, who is a litter sister to Ice On Fire. She produced a dog and four bitches and they are absolute beauties.

“The third bitch mated was Jimmy Gaskin’s Afton Pixie. I haven’t spoken to Jimmy, but I gather she had a litter but they died overnight.”

Meanwhile Jimmy Gaskin also produced the first litter by Coolavanny Shado who stands at stud with Richard Devenish and Dilys Steels.

Richard said: “We had Shado tested when he first arrived and he was incredibly fertile. Jimmy brought Hather Daisy along and to memory, they ended up with four dogs and two bitches.

“He has had another five since. I gather than Front Move has missed, but I do know that others have scanned in whelp.”

Having seen their long time home Peterborough close, followed by Henlow, Richard has six runners on the card at Yarmouth

“We love it there. They are one of those tracks who seem to do everything right. Plenty of staff and excellent facilities.

“The ‘Wendils’ are our last litter. We’ve decided that we’ve done our bit. It is a shame that everything we have built up won’t be used any more but that’s life I guess.

“We have 11 acres here but who wants to breed greyhounds? And even if they do, how do they afford to do it?

“Young people would never have the chance of raising a mortgage. It’s a shame.”

UK branch of the Shelby family

Among the more interesting litters about to hit the tracks are six youngsters sired by the Aussie superstar Tommy Shelby out of Coppice Mary (Droopys Jet-Forest Natalee).

They were bred, reared and schooled by Claire Conley and are owned by Tony ‘Coppice’ Brealey.

The original litter of Feb ’23 whelps had seven members.

Tony said: “Unfortunately we lost Coppice Ada in the rearing not so long ago. She was found dead in the paddock and had seemingly been eating grass. Seemingly, she just choked on it. It was very sad, she was a lovely little bitch.”

The ‘Coppice’ prefixed litter are all named after Peaky Blinders characters. ‘Arthur’ is still completing his schooling after picking up a couple of niggles.

‘Tatiana’ is with Nathan Hunt and has qualified in 29.28 at Monmore. ‘Esme’ and ‘Issie’ are with Mark Russell at Perry Barr. Issie recorded 29.61 in her first four bend trial.

‘Thomas’ and ‘Aunt Pol’ are both with Jimmy Fenwick. They are further behind the other pair.

Their proud owner said: “They were very lightly schooled at Bicester but ‘Tommy’ was particularly impressive with a 15.00 run in his first time in traps and a 14.70 in his next run. That inexperience showed up in his first trial at Newcastle, but we know that he has ability.”

Meanwhile the first litter by Signet Denver are currently schooling. They are April ’23 whelps out of Not Too Late (Holdem Spy-Bigmans Grainne).

Tony said: “We are having to be patient with them because of their size. Although he might slim down a little, Coppice Denver is 44 kilos, while one of the bitches is 37 kilos.”