Who is this Barney character and where did he come from ?

Thanks to the wonderful team who run the Facebook group “your greyhound’s history” we found out so much information about Barney’s past life, including his racing history and all the special hounds that he is related to.

Barney’s Racing Career

He was born in Ireland on 17th November 2019, one of a litter of eight named pups and bred by Oliver Kearney of Kerry.

He was originally called Darrig Corona and his name was changed to Barnish Ray . A greyhound is allowed one change of registered name.

He raced in Ireland and England , and started by running three trials in Ireland from 4th May to 25th June 2021. This was in order to qualify to race, and also to see at what level he she would start racing.

Barney’s first race in Ireland was on 7th August 2021. It was an ON3 ( Open Novice grade) for inexperienced greyhounds and he won it, clever boy , in an A4 grade time. He reached the highest grade A1 and competed in an AO race which is the Irish equivalent of an Open race ( he came fifth in it).

Barney ran eighteen races in Ireland and Northern Ireland, winning two and coming second twice and third three times. His final race was at Derry, Northern Ireland on 23rd May 2022 when he came fifth . He then came to England to race.

Barney ran four trials at Monmore between 22nd June and 11th July 2022. His first race was an A6 grade and he came last , but he did win at his third attempt. He ran thirty two races in England and won six of them, coming second four times and third six times. He reached grade A4 in England and also ran in one D2 sprint race .

Barney’s final race was the D2 sprint on 19th June 2023 and he came second in it, having won the previous race. It was then time to hang up his racing boots and retired.

Family history

Barney’s dad is Droopys Sydney who is the most successful and influential sire of modern greyhounds. He sired English Derby winner of 2023, Gaytime Nemo, and also 2025 English Derby winner Droopys Plunge. He was Irish Stud Dog of the Year four years in a row, including 2024. He was retired from stud in 2023, but sadly died in August 2024 . He would have been thirteen in December 2024.

 Droopys Sydney is a son of Duke Special, who won the prestigious Produce Stakes in 2009, and Duke Special’s dad is the famous dual purpose ( racing and coursing) sire Ballymac Maeve.

Barney’s mum Darrig Alainn has had two litters and she is a daughter of successful Irish sire Droopys Jet. His dad Slip The Lark won the 2008 Waterford Masters.

There are two legendary sires in Barney’s pedigree.

British bred Westmead Hawk, who won the English Derby twice on consecutive years and was the first animal to have a waxwork in Madame Tussaud’s.

Australian legend Head Honcho who has a Facebook group called Head Honcho’s Descendants.

Two of Barney’s siblings are shown as adopted. Clounbrane Zoey is rehomed as a pet but sadly no adopter information, and brother Carrowkeal Syd.

If you would like to find out more about your greyhounds history I highly recommend joining the group Your Greyhound’s history on Facebook. You can also find out more about your hound at Greyhound-Data.com