JAMES GALLAGHER

PROFILE: James Gallagher was born on April 5, 1905 in Donegal, Ireland and graduated from Jesuit Prep School where he played in Gaelic football and soccer. He raced motorcycles in Ireland and on the Isle of Man in the early 1920’s. Gallagher immigrated to the United States in 1924 and raced cars on dirt tracks in the early 1930’s. He competed a course in aeronautical meteorology from New York University. He obtained his pilot’s license and became one of the pioneers of barnstorming, performing daring aerial tricks with airplanes for entertainment. He also flew in air shows, carried the U.S mail, and was a professional pilot for eight years. He married Catherine Maynihan in New York City and they had two sons, James and Robert. The elder James Gallagher died on May 31, 1980.

HISTORY: Gallagher’s father put James in charge of the greyhounds the family raised as a hobby. At age 12, Gallagher won his first trophy on St. Patrick’s Day in 1918. He began his greyhound career in the United States in 1932 in Buffalo, NY and his greyhounds raced at tracks in nine states during his nearly 50 years in the business. Moving to Florida in 1936 he raced at Derby lane until 1945, and then at Tampa Greyhound Park from 1946 to 1980. Gallagher passed on the love of the greyhound business to his son Robert, and the two partnered to form J & R Gallagher Kennel in the 1960’s.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS: His most famous greyhound was GUN, who won 49 races and was considered the champion of Florida West Coast racing in the 1940’s. GUN defeated two Hall of Fame inductees, LUCKY PILOT and BEACHCOMBER, but was forced to retire due to an injury. He then became a top ranked sire. In the early 1960’s he raced a Miracle Litter of seven greyhounds all reaching Grade A. The litter out of AMPLE TIP and STAR REVUE included RISKY RICK, RURAL RETURN, KANSAS MISTY, IN REVUE, AMPLE REVUE, AQUA NAUT and JONNA LN. HUNZA was another outstanding greyhound Gallagher owned.