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Greyhound Racing In Ireland
Greyhound racing is a popular sport in Ireland. There are 17 stadiums operating in Ireland (two in Northern Ireland) of which nine are fully operated by Rásaíocht Con Éireann / Greyhound Racing Ireland (formerly named Irish Greyhound Board IGB, ''Bord na gCon'') with the remaining six owned and operated by private enterprise but licensed by GRI. Most have modern facilities including grandstand restaurants and parimutuel betting tote system with on-course and off-course betting available. History Greyhound racing as it is seen today evolved from a sport called coursing. In 1926 the oval form of racing arrived in Britain at Belle Vue Stadium in Manchester which resulted in the creation of hundreds of tracks all over the United Kingdom and Ireland in the following ten years. The sport of greyhound racing in Ireland mainly takes place in the Republic of Ireland but also in Northern Ireland. However, any tracks in Northern Ireland have always been in a regulatory limbo due to th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Celtic Park (Belfast)
Celtic Park was a multi-use stadium in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It was used for football matches and was the home of Belfast Celtic F.C. Throughout the majority of its existence it was a greyhound racing track. The stadium was able to hold 50,000 spectators at its height, with 5,000 of those spectators seated. Football The stadium ceased to host Belfast Celtic matches when the team stopped playing competitive matches in 1949. Like Celtic Park in Glasgow, Scotland, it was known as "Paradise" by its fans. The football team ran into financial issues and finally dissolved in 1960 but the stadium was then firmly established as a greyhound stadium. Greyhound Racing Origins Two Belfast bookmakers called Joe Shaw and Hugh McAlinden visited to Belle Vue Stadium in 1926 to view the new form of greyhound racing around an oval. They duly formed the National Racing Greyhound Company with the assistance of Paddy O’Donoghue and James Clarke. It was the first greyhound track to open in Irela ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Enniscorthy Greyhound Stadium
Enniscorthy Greyhound Stadium is a greyhound racing track located on the west side of Enniscorthy, County Wexford County Wexford ( ga, Contae Loch Garman) is a county in Ireland. It is in the province of Leinster and is part of the Southern Region. Named after the town of Wexford, it was based on the historic Gaelic territory of Hy Kinsella (''Uí Ceinns ..., Republic of Ireland. Racing takes place every Monday and Thursday evening and race distances are 350, 525, 550, 575, and 600 yards. The track is described as a wide galloping track with a sharp rise from the last bend to the winning line. The feature competition at the track is the Red Mills Future Champion Unraced Stake. History Although racing officially started on 3 August 1933 there was sporadic racing earlier at this venue. Eight businessmen got together and formed the track. The first directors were Denis O’Brien, James McCrea, William Stamp and Tim Larkin, in addition Doctor Bowen, P.J.O’L James McCrea, Wil ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Irish Greyhound Derby
The Irish Greyhound Derby held at Shelbourne Park, is the premier greyhound racing competition in Ireland. First held at Harold's Cross in 1928, the event was unofficial until 1932 and called the National Derby. The first winner in 1928 was Tipperary Hills who won in a time of 30.56 sec at a starting price of 1-1f. It controversially switched to Shelbourne Park in 1932 and then it was held in alternate years between the two tracks. The defunct Markets Field Greyhound Stadium in Limerick and the defunct Cork Greyhound Stadium in Western Road both hosted the event once in 1939 and 1942 respectively. The 1969 Irish Greyhound Derby was the last renewal held at Harold's Cross and the competition remained at Shelbourne Park from 1970. The most successful greyhound has been Spanish Battleship who won the event three times. Today it is considered to be one of the two biggest races in the calendar by the UK & Ireland greyhound racing industries, alongside the English Greyhound Derby ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Youghal Greyhound Stadium
Youghal Greyhound Stadium is a greyhound racing track located south of Youghal, County Cork, Ireland. The stadium is ten minutes walk from the town centre. History On 30 July 1948 a greyhound called Hackles Spring won the first ever race at Youghal. The seaside track on the Upper Strand was run by the Youghal Racing Company before rásaíocht con éireann took over in 1972. The circuit is 464 yards in circumference and the track originally raced on Tuesday and Friday nights. Finbarr Coleman was racing manager for thirty years, from 1972 until 2002. Main events have included the Blackwater Cup, Paddy Stakes and Aherne Memorial Cup. Brian Collins and Pat Leahy both had short stints as Racing Manager until 2006 when Kathleen Lennon (daughter of the well-known breeder and trainer Denny) took over and became Ireland’s first female Racing Manager. Lennon left in 2012 to take over at Kilcohan Park. John McGrath was appointed as the Racing and Commercial Manager from 2012. In 2012 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kilcohan Park
Kilcohan Park Greyhound Stadium is a Greyhound racing in Ireland, greyhound racing track and former soccer stadium located in the south of Waterford, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Operations Racing takes place every Friday and Saturday evening. Race distances are 325, 525, 550, 575 and 731 yards and the feature event at the track is the Gain Feeds Select Stakes (Irish greyhounds), Select Stakes. The main event held at the track is the Gain Feeds Select Stakes which for many years was known as the Waterford Crystal, Waterford Glass Stakes. Facilities include a restaurant, fast food facilities, a number of bars and Tote board, totalisator betting. The stadium is near Waterford city, and has a large customer car park. History Originally built as a Soccer stadium for Waterford United F.C., Waterford Football Club, opening on 2 November 1930 and unlicensed greyhound racing. It was owned by Mr J.McGrath and agreement was reached with Mr J.Mulhall, the president of the Irish Cour ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kingdom Greyhound Stadium
Kingdom Greyhound Stadium is a greyhound racing track located in Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland. It has been known as Oakview Park and the Tralee Greyhound Stadium previously. Racing takes place every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday evening and the facilities include a grandstand restaurant, fast food facilities, a number of bars, totalisator betting and seating. It also has a large car park around the stadium. Race distances are 500, 525, 550, 570, and 750 yards and the feature competitions at the track are the Juvenile Classic and the Race of Champions. History A track known as the Ardfert Greyhound track in Ardfert opened in August 1929 but unfortunately closed the same year as a result of a larger track arriving in Oakview Village nearer to the Tralee town centre. The first meeting was held on 9 April 1930 at Oakview Park and the circumference was 476 yards making for a nice comfortable course for the greyhounds. The great Ballyhennessy Seal made his debut here in 1943 foll ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Thurles Greyhound Stadium
Thurles Greyhound Stadium is a greyhound racing track located on Castlemeadows opposite the Semple Stadium in Thurles, County Tipperary, Ireland. Racing takes place every Thursday and Saturday evening and the facilities include a trackside restaurant, fast food facilities, a number of bars and totalisator betting. The stadium has a car park which is also used for overflow parking for Semple Stadium and a farmers market on Saturday mornings. Race distances are 330, 525, 570 and 600 yards. History Just off the Castlemeadows in Thurles is the Townpark Greyhound Stadium which opened on 13 September 1948. Major events to have taken place over the years at the track and they are called the Tipperary Cup, Guinness 575, the Champion Bitch Stakes and Puppy Stakes. A very large circumference of 509 yards allows greyhounds a good gallop although the track is considered slow. In 1962 the Grand National came to Townpark and would stay for 26 years until 1984 when it then moved to S ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Shelbourne Park
Shelbourne Park is a greyhound racing stadium in the south Dublin inner city suburb of Ringsend. Greyhound Racing Opening The plans to open a greyhound track in Dublin were drawn up by Paddy O’Donoghue, Jerry Collins, Patsy McAlinden and Jim Clarke. Shelbourne Park opened on 14 May 1927 hot on the heels of Celtic Park (Belfast). The stadium located in the docklands in Ringsend was Dublin's answer to the Belfast track and the pair became the two most greyhound prestigious tracks in Irish racing. When opening in 1927 the track employed four resident trainers in Mick Horan, Paddy Quigley, Billy Donoghue and Ben Scally. History One year later it was decided to introduce the Easter Cup which commemorated the 1916 Easter Monday Rising in Dublin. However, the race soon became known for its own fame rather than its naming origins. The first winner was a greyhound called Odd Blade and the brindle dog went on to successfully defend his title the following year. Famously Mick the Mill ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Newbridge Greyhound Stadium
Newbridge Greyhound Stadium is a greyhound racing track located northwest of Newbridge, County Kildare, Ireland. Racing takes place every Friday evening and the facilities include the grandstand Masters Restaurant and Barkers Bar which offers ample seating. Race distances are 325, 525, 550, 575 and 750 yards and the feature competitions are the Unraced Bitch Stake, the Juvenile Derby and the Newbridge Oaks. History Following the closure of the old Newbridge greyhound track around St Conleth's Park in 1968 the operation was relocated to a more rural location north of the town near the Rickardstown/Cornelscourt area. It was still, however, within easy reach of the town and racing would originally take place every Monday and Friday. The new circuit was constructed in 1972, and the management brought the long-running Cox Cup with them. Named after the stadium landlords the Cox family (PJ Cox and sons Dermot and David). The new circuit tended to be a fast track with a large circum ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mullingar Greyhound Stadium
Mullingar Greyhound Stadium is a greyhound racing track located in south Mullingar in Ireland. The stadium has a grandstand restaurant, a fast food outlet and a number of bars. Racing takes place on a Saturday evening at 7.30pm and early Sunday afternoon. History Early history Mullingar stands directly west of the R400 road and just north of the Newbrook Road. In the 1950s, the track underwent improvements including banking of the bends to compensate for a rather unusual shaped circumference circuit. The first racing manager was Billy Bligh who served in that post until 1978 before handing over to Peter Kenny. Bligh had a greyhound called Splonk who won on the opening night at Shelbourne Park way back in 1927. A new stand and clubhouse was erected in 1972 and the provincial track boasted some of the best facilities outside Dublin. Prominent sire, Castledown Lad started racing here in the 1930s followed by Newdown Heather. Races over the years have included the Midland Puppy St ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Longford Greyhound Stadium
Longford Greyhound Stadium is a greyhound racing track located on the south side of Longford, County Longford, Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea .... The stadium is a ten-minute walk from the town centre and has a large customer car park. Racing takes place every Monday and Friday evening and the facilities include a fast food bar and totalisator betting. Race distances are 525, 550, 750 and 805 yards. History Longford Greyhound Stadium is accessed via Earl Street and is just about the most centrally located track you can get in Ireland. The south Longford venue has a circumference of 485 yards and opened in May 1939. The track hosts the Longford Derby & Longford Puppy Derby and other events to have taken place previously here are the Padian Cup and Smithwic ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Limerick Greyhound Stadium
Limerick Greyhound Stadium is a greyhound racing track located in south-west Limerick in Ireland. The stadium has a grandstand restaurant, hospitality suites, fast food facilities and a number of bars. Racing takes place on a Thursday (6:30pm) and Saturday (7.30pm). History In 2009 the old Markets Field Greyhound Stadium just off the Garryowen Road was closed to enable a new greyhound track to replace it. The new site chosen was the former horse racing course at Greenpark and in 2008 the area underwent significant change. When the stadium was completed to the tune of €18 million at Greenpark, Dock Road it impressed all within the industry. The official opening night was on 22 October 2010 and the stadium has a capacity attendance of 2,900 including a 190-seat grandstand restaurant called the Leger Restaurant after a major event held at the track. Private hospitality suites and gallery bars were also constructed one of which is named after Markets Field Stadium. The previo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
