As it happened: JOE’s night at Curraheen Park in Cork

We won, we lost, we cried, we laughed. Well not exactly cried, but it was a night full of emotion and we even have a few shillings on the way out. As good a night as we have had in a long time and we'll be back soon.

Until the next night at the dogs, over and out.

Well that's it from us at Curraheen Park tonight. A great night of racing and everyone is in top form. Special mention to the staff and Commercial Manager Frank O'Meara who have looked after us well, with a few winners to boot.

And in a none-too-shabby time of 29.26 for what it's worth. Numbers 4 and 6 were left trailing in his wake

Sorry, we mean of course Number 2 Aghaburren Pablo won out in the final race. Sweet as a nut

We won!

Here we go for the grand finale

So for the final race, we are putting what is left of what we have on Trap 2, Aghaburren Pablo. At 2/1, it's either going to be steak and chips or beans on toast for the week. Well, a very inexpensive steak at that.

And we have three winners amoung our lucky readers that attended tonight.

Patrick Murphy has bagged himself two tickets to see Ireland play Georgia, which is a great prize to see Robbie Keane play the team he nearly supported as a boy.

Courtney Sweetnam won a finger food for 10 package, while David Wiseman won a Dinner for Two at the track, well done guys

So gearing up for the final race of the night. What an evening and our JOE winners have had a ball.

So think we have around 1,500 happy punters here tonight, which was  aquick count of heads on my part, so don't hod me to that figure.

The Greyhound Laurel is the biggie, with 4,500 packing in every year for the big event. The event runs from the last week in September with this year's final on 19th October

Could be time to bow out gracefully. Or simply bow out. 1 and 3 naturally came last. In fact I could have swore that Drobmur Casleeno looked up to the gantry and smirked at me when crossing the line in last...I mean sixth position.

For the record Bedigo Girl took top honours.

They're off

Just overheard one punter say he reckons he could run the track in 40 seconds. I have no idea of the athletic background of this guy, but the fastest time a greyhound has ever run around the track is 29.03 seconds. Two dogs in fact hold the track record.

We think the 40 seconds claim could be a case of wishful thinking. Just saying.

Race 10 of 13 is just three minutes away, we're plumping on Nonetheless and Drobmur Casleeno, an any particular order. Of which there can only be two.

It's getting darker, but the sun isn't setting on our chances of a few more wins just yet at Curraheen Park

Nonetheless is 11/8, so he is the big man in town for this one, so for me it's 1 and 3 Reverse Forecast.

Pushing the boat out for the next race, The Plan the Perfect Party, the 10th race of the night. To quote the Black Eyed Peas, which I am normally loathe to do, I've Got a Feeling...

Did Fleetwood Jewel get a little complacent? We will never know that for sure, he isn't taking interviews tonight, but whatever the case, Stainless Steel shows a clean set of heels to take first place.

Fleetwood Jewel is getting all the plaudits before the race, hope it doesn't go to his head

Now it's Race Nine

In the height of that excitement and presentation, Derry got an equaliser at the Brandywell, that game finished one apiece. That long journey just got longer and a few City supporters near me are a tad disappointed. Though they did back the last winner, so they will recover in time.

Nemo Rangers are well represented here tonight, more than 600 have made their way to Curraheen Park for their fundraiser. Judging by the shriekks of kids and parents alike, they are more than enjoying themselves. Those Nemo folk are well used to winning after all

On His Toes let a lot of punters down, but its number 5 that runs off into the sunset with the JOE jacket. Hope he minds it, I was up all night stitching the thing

Castlelyons Ralf won that one in another thrilling finish

And number 5 wins!

And we're off

Lots of excitement for the JOE race. And rightly so!

 

Cork City update - the Rebel Army have gone 1 up away at the Bradywell.

We're almost ready

The Trio Always is 6-1-5 and that is where my bet of the day is going. I'm not saying you have to, but you could be a little jealous if it works out for me. Which it probably won't going by my form tonight.

But every dog has its day (sorry, I'll get my coat)

After the race we have a few important duties to attend to for the race prize-giving, so give us a few minutes afterwards to catch our breath.

Forget the Champions League Final, the Rabo FInal, Tyrone-DOnegal, or even Cobh Ramblers entertaining Salthill Devon in Division One tonight, this could be THE big sporting event of the weekend.

He is 2/1 on favourite, with Miracle Jo next in line at 7/2 in Trap 2

So who will walk away with the top prize?

Again our man on the scene Frank O'Meara, the Commercial Manager at Curraheen Park is telling me to go for number 6, On His Toes, which is what he will need to be in this race. A strong field.

So next up is the JOE .ie 550. This promises to be a belter.

We must say from our vantage point here the dogs are striding over with great purpose, totally focused on getting the highly coveted JOE coat.

So that was as expected a neck-and-neck finish between 2 and 3, with Tiparban edging it in a pulsating finish. Seven Eleven will have many sleepless nights over that one.

There’s always more hare on the tracks??

And they are off...

Up to Race 7 already, where is the time going?

Next up is the IGB 525. Lobors Beaty is at 22/1. We’ll repeat that now, 22/1.

This could be a shoot-out between Trap 2 and 3, Tiparban and Seven Eleven. To clear up any misunderstanding, none of the greyhounds have firearms. Just a turn of phrase.

The Trio Always is those two plus Super Showman, so that’s 2-3-6. We’re not going to argue with that.

2117:

On the local soccer front, Cork City are drawing 0-0 with Derry at the Brandywell and Cobh Ramblers are down by two goals at home to Salthill Devon.

Long trip ahead for the City players, travelling one length of the country to the other. They probably wish they were here in the comfort of Curraheen Park. Probably.

2113:

We’re coming into nice form ahead of the JOE sponsored 9.35.

About time too. Great atmosphere in Cork tonight, and while the racing is top-notch, Curraheen has helped raise over €15,000,000 for local non-profit making organisations, GAA clubs, soccer clubs, rugby clubs, schools etc.

Everyone is a winner.

We see now while all the money came in late. Some win by Meadow NightJar. Brilliant finish down the home straight.

Followed home by Georgi and Able Customer. So anyone on the Trio Always, that was 5-6-2

Of course I'm not biased, but come on Number 5

Race 6 about to get under way. A flurry of money just coming in for number 5, Meadow NightJar. That's who I'm back now too.

Race 6 is next, The Fundraising at Curraheen Park 330.

We are definitely backing Number 3 I Need You. Two basic reasons. We really need I Ned You to get us back in the game. And he's favourite. Simples

Though Number 1 is 18/1 at the moment. If ever there was potential value

That was another belter of a race. The passions are getting higher as the night wears on.

Speaking of passion, 1.2 million pints have been sold at this fine establishment since 1999. A few more being enjoyed tonight. After all the sunshine today, it has been thirsty work.

Well we got that a little wrong for the Trio Always. We tried. For the record it was 4-6-1. Though we did say Twinkle Hawk to win. Frank can rest easy, he was on the ball.

And we're off for the fifth doggy race of the night. Fingers crossed. Or any other body parts for that matter.

Don't forget the JOE sponsored race is at 9.35. As we said, high hopes for that one

Here’s the JOE tip for this one, Trio Always on 5-4-1, Isolated Brae, Twinkle Hawk and Kilmoney Lelo.

One punter who may have been indulging in a few bevvies during the day has just roared out that his tipis foundation in the next race. “You can put your house on it”.

We’re warming up slowly to the task at hand – make a killing – but the vibes are good for Race 5, Seamus’s Last Run.

The Sales Manager at Curraheen Frank O’Meara has said that the smart money here is on Number 4 Twinkle Hawk. At 15/8, it isn’t a controversial call, but if it goes wrong, that’s Frank O’ Meara you lay the blame on.

Don’t worry folks, I won’t be belting out any Belinda Carlisle after that. The winner was number 6 Catching Arrows, followed by Number 3 and Number one.

Comfortable enough at the end for Catching Arrows.

And they are about to fly out of the traps here for the fourth race of the night.

 

Number four Very Significant is the dog the most money is going on. Not literally of course, that would be very unfair on the greyhound, and slightly disorientating I’d imagine.

The Trio Always is 6-5-1, which doesn’t contain our current favourite. Hmmmmmm

And the next race is the Karaoke at Curraheen Park. And if we get a winner here we will be breaking into song. You can quote me on that

For anyone at Curraheen Park tonight, there is a birthday party at Table 53. Rumour has it cake is on the way.

That was a great race, especially for one table of punters who must have backed heavily on Number 5. Well done lads, the Milky Bars are on ye

Bit of an upset there as Number 5 Savo Clancy won a thriller on the line from Inniscarra Mark, with number 6 in third

And we're off in race three

The Trio Always is 1,6 and 3. That’s is what our money is on, so no pressure Inniscarra Mark, Rinceoir Baile and Belindas Tiger.

Time flies when you are having fun as they say and we’re now getting ready for race three, the Name a Race 525.

The bookies have this as a shoot out between Trap 1 Inniscarra Mark  and Trap 3 Rinceoir Baile

Speaking of weather, many of the punters either don't value sun factor or were caught unawaress. Lots of red arms and faces!

That was back in 1999 when 3,000 people queued to from three in the afternoon for the first glimpse of the new track.

Couldn't have had better weather than today.

Great staff here at Curraheen, the Cork hospitality is being served up well.

The new facilities here in Cork cost £8.3 Irish pounds as it was back then. Worth every penny in my humble opinion. Though easy to say that when it isn’t your money.

 

Number 3 really romped away with that one. Must have been the hungriest dog out there as one punter put it.

And another one bites the dust. Number 3 Chinook Eoin is first across the line and it was 3-2-6 finish, so Droopys Loyola let us down big time.

Droopy should well hand his head in shame. Had a cool €5 on that.

And we're off in the second

So the second race is almost here. Droops Loyola is the heavily backed favourite, but we think the trio always of 2-4-6 is a good bet. The Trio Always is the first three across the line in any order.

The programme got it spot on the last time, so we’re putting our necks on the line.

By the by, the last race was won in a time of 29.29. No slouches down here in Cork

We could wallow in self-pity over the race but that could become a little repetitive. We have a good feeling about the next one.

Since the track was opened back in 1999, there have been 19,370 greyhound races at the venue, running nearly every Thursday, Friday & Saturday Nights for 13 years. So they know a thing or two about the racing.

Did we mention the food smells great?

Well what do we know? Number 3 beaten into second by Number 1 Looking Ominous. How apt. The ‘pretty’ number 6 was lagging behind.

An we're about to go

If you need further insight, a group of women think that dog 6 Lios Rua Boy looks ‘very pretty’. What a ringing endorsement.

No offence ladies, but we’re sticking with the 4/6 favourite Number 3 Kilmoney Lilly.

Right let’s get down to the action. The first race of the night is the 7.50. Number three Kilmoney Lilly is the slight favourite in this one, but we are hearing great things about Ryecourt Turnado, though he will need to be leading at the bend by all accounts.

There has been racing here in Cork for 64 years and counting and we have to say the facilities are as good as anywhere you will find in Ireland. People of all ages enjoying the pre-race atmosphere.

There are a few lads walking around in Cork GAA jerseys too. Their faces are still more red than the t-shirt!

Everyone filing is in full spirits and enjoying the pre-race food. Kudos Catering are making sure the hunger stays away from the track, and they have been involved since the track opened back in 1999. 

The race card tonight is one of the most competitive in months, but luckily for our readers your truly has been sussing out who is hot and who is not. And just by simply asking the bookies.

We'll be giving tips and history throughout and we are anticipating a great night of racing.

Great venue, great atmosphere. All we need now are a few winners.

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of a very special night for a very special place. Curraheen Park Greyhound Stadium, one of the most storied sports arenas in the country, has been the home of greyhound racing in Cork since 1936.

As the sun sets on a glorious day in the People’s Republic, excitement is building and while the entire race card looks competitive, we’re especially looking forward to Race 8, the JOE.ie 550. Our inside information says Number 6. On His Toes is the dog to look out for here, but more of that later.

So sit back and enjoy the 13 races here on JOE as we bring you the best of the action from Western Road in Cork. You might even be a small bit richer by the end of the evening, who knows?

JOE is officially gone to the dogs. We're at Curraheen Park tonight in Cork and we're looking forward to a great night of racing. Follow all the action here on our live blog.