Irish Greyhound Racing is celebrating its biggest sponsorship of recent years, with the announcement that BoyleSports have signed a 3-year agreement worth €1 million in prizemoney to Greyhound Owners, Trainers and Breeders.
The new agreement will see BoyleSports, Ireland’s largest independently-owned bookmaker, renew their title sponsorship of the Irish Greyhound Derby.
Ireland’s biggest Greyhound Racing event, the BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby runs through August and September at Shelbourne Park, and attracts Greyhound audiences from across the globe. The 3-year agreement secures sponsorship of the event through 2017, 2018 and 2019.
The bookmakers have also committed to title sponsorship of another important Classic event, the Champion Stakes, which is also run at the Dublin venue in July and August. The Champion Stakes sponsorship is based on an initial 1 year term with the option to renew for a further 2 years.
Boylesports also committed last year to a further major deal lifting prize money for the Boylesports Irish Grand National in horse racing at Fairyhouse to €500,000 in 2017.
Read about Boylesports other major sponsorship commitments for 2017
Alongside the two high-profile events, BoyleSports will also sponsor 12 additional sweepstake events and 40 ‘Getting Out Races’. The sweepstakes will cater for a variety of grades and distances and will be scheduled to ensure that there is no more than one per month, maximising Greyhound Owners and Trainers opportunity to participate in the events.
“John Boyle’s passion for Greyhound racing is evident to all involved in the sport,” said IGB Chairman Phil Meaney speaking at the launch of the new deal yesterday.
“Through his company, BoyleSports, he has been a long-time supporter of the Irish Greyhound Industry, where he has not only lent financial support to major events but also helps us to increase our reach through the strength of their brand.”
“Today’s announcement brings that passion and belief in our sport to the next level with what is his biggest Greyhound sponsorship to date.”
“Through this commitment, BoyleSports will be helping us to deliver €1 million in Prizemoney to the Greyhound Owners, Trainers and Breeders over the next 3 years, news which I’ve no doubt will be very welcome to the Greyhound public.”
“We are thrilled to announce BoyleSports will be committed to Irish Greyhound Racing for the next three years in a sponsorship deal worth over one million,” added Boyle himself.
“We are very committed to Irish sport and this partnership with the IGB, cements BoyleSports position as the biggest supporter of Irish greyhound racing sponsoring two of the most prestigious events on the calendar, the BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby and the BoyleSports Champion Stakes.”
Interim CEO Sean McGrath was meeting many involved in Greyhound racing for the first time in his new role and said he had been impressed with the hard work and smart thinking that goes into the running of the sport.
Buoyed by an overall increase in attendance in 2016 and a strong Christmas season at tracks around the country McGrath told the audience it was time for the sport to take a leaf out of the Munster Rugby playbook and ‘Stand up and fight’ for the name of the sport.
Read about Sean McGrath’s Appointment
