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The 2026 BOYLE Sports Champion Stakes returns toShelbourne Park this June and July. Be here as some of Ireland's very best greyhounds will take part in the two-run competition which is the traditional warm-up event for the BOYLE Sports Irish Greyhound Derby.
The BOYLE Sports Champion Stakes is a 2 run competition, with 18 greyhounds taking part in 3 Semi-Finals with the 2 fastest from each qualifying for a spot in the Final in Shelbourne Park.
Semi-Finals: Saturday 27th June
Final: Saturday 4th July
Pictured L-R: Brian O'Keeffe Media Relations BOYLE Sports, Kieran Holden Sponsorship Manager BOYLE Sports, Dylan Brennan Shelbourne Park Racing Manager and Philip Peake Commercial Director at Greyhound Racing Ireland / Rásaíocht Con Éireann.
BOYLE Sports has officially launched the 2026 Champion Stakes at Shelbourne Park, reinforcing its commitment to Irish greyhound racing at Ireland’s most prestigious greyhound racing track.
The Champion Stakes is run over 550 yards and consistently attracts some of the biggest names in the sport. Widely regarded as the perfect entrée to the BOYLE Sports Irish Greyhound Derby, the competition offers connections an early opportunity to lay down a marker ahead of the sport’s showpiece event.
This year’s renewal is set to get underway on Friday, June 26th with the final scheduled for Saturday July 4th, won last year by the Jennifer O’Donnell-trained Seven Beach. A top prize of €20,000 awaits the winner, ensuring another fiercely competitive edition of the popular contest.
The launch event, which took place earlier this week at Shelbourne Park, brought together key figures from GRI and BOYLE Sports as anticipation begins to build for what promises to be a thrilling start to the Derby season.
Brian O’Keeffe, Media Relations Manager at BOYLE Sports, said: “We’re incredibly proud to continue our partnership with Ireland’s premier greyhound racing events and the Champion Stakes is always a standout fixture on the calendar. Shelbourne Park provides the perfect stage for top-class racing and this competition consistently delivers both quality and excitement.
“It’s a fantastic curtain-raiser to the BOYLE Sports Irish Greyhound Derby and we’re looking forward to another thrilling edition as connections and fans alike begin to turn their attention to the sport’s biggest prize.”
Shelbourne Park Racing Manager, Dylan Brennan, added: “The BOYLE Sports Champion Stakes always attracts some of the top names in Greyhound Racing each year, with the two-run event a popular warm-up to the Derby in Shelbourne Park. Our Racing Office are now accepting entries for the 18 dog event and we look forward to seeing who is in the running this year.”
Get Ready, Get Set, Go Greyhound Racing at Shelbourne Park. Enjoy a delicious meal in our restaurant while you cheer home your favourite! Our restaurant is glass-fronted so you have the perfect view of the racing action outside.
Be part of the action as you cheer home your favourite from the stand or enjoy a bite to eat or a drink from our ground floor facilities. Click below to book admission and casual group packages.
Keep up to date with the latest news on the 2026 BOYLE Sports Champion Stakes and all of our racing on Talking Dogs.
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Join us in Shelbourne Park to look back at Seven Beach BOYLE Sports Champion Stakes win, plus reaction from Pat Mitchell (Winning Kennel) & Robert Vaughan (Winning Syndicate).
We also take a look at the BOYLE Sports Champion Plate Final and the Celtic Cooling Unraced Final
If you cannot see the embedded video above, click here to view on our YouTube channel.
Join us in Shelbourne Park to look back at Braveheart Bambi’s Corn Cuchulainn win, plus reaction from trainer Pat Buckley.
We also take in the 3 Semi-Finals of the BOYLE Sports Champion Stakes.
If you cannot see the embedded video above, click here to view on our YouTube channel.
If you cannot see the embedded video above, click here to view on our YouTube channel.
If you cannot see the embedded content above, click here to view on Facebook.
If you cannot see the embedded video above, click here to view on our YouTube channel.
If you cannot see the embedded video above, click here to view on Facebook.
