[2] He was introduced to the sport by his father Joe McKenna who had two finalists in the 1934 Irish Greyhound Derby and won the 1936 Irish Grand National.
[3] After many attempts, in 1965 he won the Irish Greyhound Derby with Ballyowen Chief.
In 1971, Monalee Pride provided the third success for and a fourth and final win in 1972 by Catsrock Daisy.
[6][7] The four Irish Derby titles remains a record today equalled only by his brother-in-law Tom Lynch.
That final was won by Owen McKenna (Gay's first cousin once removed) and the runner up was trained by Fraser Black (McKenna's son-in-law).