Just over a fortnight to Dundalk´s Big-Day Irish Greyhound Board´s excellent website, www.igb.ie, carries news of Dundalk´s meeting in just over two weeks time, when a top card of canine action follows the afternoon fare on the all-weather. The traditional Twelfth of July festivities in Dundalk will take on a unique new format this year when the track will stake the Boylesports Dual Race Day. There will be an eight race programme of racing on the all-weather horse track commencing at 2.15 p.m. and featuring the Boylesports.com QR Handicap. Then at 7.15 the top class programme of greyhound racing will commence and the highlight of the entire day will be the Boylesports International, the richest one-off race in this part of the greyhound world and carrying a winner´s prize of 25,000 Euro. It will be quite a day at the Dundalk Stadium with an extensive programme of entertainment planned for the day. There will be fire-eaters, jugglers, stilt walkers, activities for the kids and much, much more while the band Juicer will give a live performance between 6 and 7 p.m. During the afternoon the Marshes Shopping Centre Ladies Day will take place and one lucky lady will walk away with a 5,000 Euro voucher. Admission for the afternoon will be 15 Euro and patrons can stay on for the greyhound racing at no extra charge. There will be a 10 Euro charge for patrons arriving for the greyhound racing from 5 p.m. onwards. Leon Blanche, betting spokesperson for Boylesports, said: "The Dual Race Day is a fantastic initiative by Dundalk Stadium. The Dundalk International is a very special race and with all the other races and activity scheduled for the day, I am sure that the event will prove to be a huge success." Emma Meehan, Sales & Marketing Manager at Dundalk Stadium said: "We are delighted to offer a race day experience like no other, combining a programme of superb racing and entertainment for all. This is the First dual race day in Europe and we continue to add to our tally of unique race day experiences. We thank Boylesports for their continued support of Dundalk Stadium." It certainly does promise to be a memorable day at Dundalk and the big line-up for the big International is taking shape. It promises to be a marvellous occasion and what a bonus it would be if the English Derby winner Loyal Honcho was fit to take his place. Skywalker Ace is a dog that appears destined for the very top and he is another possibility for the centre-piece. Certain participants are College Causeway and Tyrur Laurel, while English challengers will probably emerge in the shapes of Blonde Dino and Barnfield On Air. It is hoped to put the finishing touches to the line-up for the big one next week, to give the various dogs ample time for trials around the rather unique circuit.
