The Irish Greyhound Board and Boylesports has formally confirmed a three year deal for sponsorship of the Irish Greyhound Derby for the next three years. The news was first published on Sport for Business back in early May.
The prize fund over the period will nudge close to €750,000 confirming it’s status as one of the richest races in the sport on a global basis.
In addition, as part of the partnership Boylesports.com has been unveiled as the IGB’s Official Betting Partner for the three year duration. Details of how this will manifest itself beyond the sponsorship are still being worked out between the two parties.
Action
The Boylesports.com Irish Greyhound Derby Grand Final will take place at Shelbourne Park Greyhound Stadium on Saturday 13th September, following six weeks of action with the first round heats on Thursday 7th August 2014.
These will be preceded by 19 nationwide Boylesports.com Derby Trial Stakes with 17 in the Republic and 2 in Northern Ireland.
The Retired Greyhound Trust will benefit to the tune of 2% of the overall winning prize fund.
The final will be broadcast live on RTE Television while every heat from the first round on August 7th through to the final will be broadcast live in all Boylesports shops across Ireland and on the Boyleports website.
Thrilled
“We are absolutely thrilled to announce our sponsorship of the Irish Greyhound Derby for an initial 3 years, said Boylesports owner John Boyle.
“Every year we examine ways of increasing our sponsorship portfolio and when the IGB kindly approached us we had little hesitation in reaching an agreement. This is a further reflection of our desire to support major sports in Ireland. Together with our two recent flagship horse racing sponsorships at Fairyhouse for the Boylesports Irish Grand National and at Punchestown, we are reinvesting more money into Irish sports than ever before”
“By becoming the official betting partner of the IGB, it means that we will be extending our product offering and enhancing the service to our customers. We have already invested in key staff appointments in order to fulfil this commitment.”
“I have always had a particular passion for this sport and I will be hoping that my Boylesports Hero can progress throughout the heats of the tournament. These are exciting times for Ireland’s Greyhound industry and Boylesports are delighted to be at the forefront of a sport that remains ever popular throughout the country.”
Support
“The support of Boylesports.com for our blue riband event is a marvellous vote of confidence in the sport of Irish greyhound racing,” added IGB Chairman Phi Meaney speaking yesterday to an audience of Greyhound Racing stakeholders including Government Junior Agriculture Minister Tom Yates.
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