2025 big-race Irish schedule sees return to traditional Derby slot

GREYHOUND Racing Ireland has published the major competition schedule for 2025 with the main take being a return to a more traditional slot for the BoyleSports Irish Derby at Shelbourne Park.

This year's renewal is currently on-going and reaches the semi-final stage this weekend with the much later autumn dates due to major redevelopment work at Shelbourne Park which was completed just before the Classic got under way.

The 2025 staging is slated between Friday 22nd August for the start of the first round through to a final on Saturday 27th September.

Curraheen Park's Irish Laurels reverts to an autumn slot with a final on Saturday 8th November but Shelbourne's Puppy Derby, which is described as such and will be restricted to those still qualified as pups rather than the Juvenile tag it has carried in recent years, remains before the Irish Derby [final Saturday 26th July] as was the case this year in a break from tradition.

Shelbourne's Winter Racing Festival will take place on Friday 21st November and Saturday 22nd November.