Irish Sprint Cup
{{Short description|Irish greyhound racing competition}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=November 2021}}
{{Infobox horseraces
| surface = Sand
| class = Feature
| horse race = Irish Sprint Cup
| image =
| caption =
| location = Dundalk Stadium
| inaugurated = 1932
| last run =
| race type =
| sponsor = Bar One Racing Ltd
| distance = 400 yards
| purse = €20,000 (winner)
| bonuses =
}}
The Irish Sprint Cup formerly known as the Irish National Cup and Irish National Sprint is a greyhound racing competition held annually at Dundalk Stadium in Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland.{{cite book|last=Genders|first=Roy|title=NGRC book of Greyhound Racing, page 246|year=1990|publisher=Pelham Books Ltd|isbn=0-7207-1804-X}} It is a prestigious invitation event held for Ireland's leading sprinters and is an integral part of the Irish greyhound racing calendar.{{cite web|url=https://www.igb.ie/globalassets/2016-classic--feature-events.pdf|title=Feature Events|publisher=Irish Greyhound Board|access-date=20 August 2016|archive-date=20 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171120235153/https://www.igb.ie/globalassets/2016-classic--feature-events.pdf|url-status=dead}}
History
It was first held at the Dunmore Park Greyhound Stadium in 1932{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001715/19320505/287/0015 |title=Irish Classic Events |work=Irish Independent |date=5 May 1932 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=14 August 2024}} and again from 1938 until 2000{{cite book|last=Barnes|first=Julia|title=Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File, page 326|year=1991|publisher=Ringpress Books|isbn=0-948955-61-9}} until the track closed in 1996 and then it returned in 1999 at Ballyskeagh before switching to Dundalk in 2004.{{cite book|last=Hobbs|first=Jonathan|title=Greyhound Annual 2008, page 173|year=2007|publisher=Raceform|isbn=978-1-905153-53-4}} The event was sponsored by Guinness from 1965 until 1996.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005119/19650723/289/0012 |title=Guinness sponsor £1,000 race |work=Belfast News-Letter |date=23 July 1965 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=12 August 2024}}
Venues & distances
- 1932–1940 (Dunmore Park, 435 yards)
- 1942–1942 (Celtic Park, 375 yards)
- 1943–1996 (Dunmore Park, 435 yards)
- 1999–2002 (Ballyskeagh/Drumbo Park, 325 yards)
- 2004–2004 (Dundalk, 410 yards)
- 2005–present (Dundalk, 400 yards)
Sponsors
- 1965–1996 (Guinness)
- 2004–present (Bar One Racing Ltd)
Past winners
References
{{reflist}}
{{UK & Irish greyhound competitions}}
Category:Greyhound racing competitions in Ireland