Cheap Sandwiches is crowned Irish Dog of the Year at awards
THE stars of Irish greyhound racing were honoured on Sunday evening as the National Greyhound Racing Awards took place at Shelbourne Park Greyhound Stadium.
The annual awards celebrated the outstanding achievements of both the canine and human stars who helped shape a memorable year for the sport.
Owners, trainers, breeders and supporters gathered for a special night recognising excellence across greyhound racing.
Among the canine stars, Cheap Sandwiches was crowned Dog of the Year after an extraordinary 2025 campaign.
Trained by Graham Holland, Cheap Sandwiches enjoyed a sensational year, capturing the BOYLE Sports Irish Greyhound Derby in stunning fashion.
He also added further major victories with triumphs in the Dundalk International and the Winter Racing Festival Championship 550, cementing his status as one of the sport’s elite performers.
The Bitch of the Year title went to Magical On Fire, whose standout performances lit up the season.
Her defining moment came in the final of the Laurels at Curraheen Park Greyhound Stadium, where she produced a massive performance to capture the southern classic before ending the year in style by winning the Christmas Oaks at Shelbourne Park.
The Stayer of the Year award went to Delicate Lass, trained by Maria Kennedy.In a highly competitive category, the talented stayer secured the honour following a superb season which included victories in a valuable Novice 750 competition at Shelbourne Park, the Kingdom Stadium Open 750 and the Irish Cambridgeshire at Limerick Greyhound Stadium.
The Sprinter of the Year award went to Sogna Ancora, trained by Jack Kennelly and owned by the Swedish House Party Syndicate.
The consistent performer enjoyed a tremendous campaign in 2025, winning the Islandbridge Open Sprint and the Winter Racing Festival 350.
Despite a setback in his latest outing, trainer Kennelly confirmed on the night that the star sprinter remains in excellent condition and is expected back on track soon.
Ballymac Setanta was recognised as Future Star of the Year following a series of exceptional performances towards the end of the season.
The exciting young greyhound equalled the track record at Curraheen Park Greyhound Stadium on his way to reaching the Laurels final before finishing the year with a huge run behind Cheap Sandwiches at the Winter Racing Festival.
For the fourth consecutive year, Droopys Sydney was named Stud Dog of the Year, underlining his continued influence on the sport through the performances of his progeny.
The Brood Bitch of the Year award went to Whitings Gift, whose offspring enjoyed tremendous success during the year, including standout performances from Seven Beach, Shebetheone, Born Racer and The Other Wild.
Full list of canine award winners:
- Dog of the Year: Cheap Sandwiches
- Bitch of the Year: Magical On Fire
- Sprinter of the Year: Sogna Ancora
- Stayer of the Year: Delicate Lass
- Brood Bitch of the Year: Whitings Gift
- Stud Dog of the Year: Droopys Sydney
- Future Star of the Year: Ballymac Setanta
It was a particularly special evening as four notable contributors to the sport were honoured for their work and dedication.
Limerick's Evan McAuliffe was announced as the Young Person of the Year, becoming the second recipient of the award.
Speaking on the night, he reflected warmly on a fantastic year and his passion for the sport.
The Welfare Award was presented to Tipperary-based Tommy Caffrey in recognition of his outstanding work with Tipperary Homes for Hounds, highlighting the importance of greyhound welfare and rehoming initiatives within the industry.
A hugely respected figure in the sport, Meath's Yvonne Barry received the Special Merit Award, acknowledging her long-standing contribution to greyhound racing.
The evening concluded with a special moment as brothers Aidan Comerford and Peter Comerford were inducted into the Greyhound Racing Hall of Fame, recognising a lifetime of dedication and success in the sport.
