Limerick Greyhound Stadium is a
greyhound racing
Greyhound racing is an organized, competitive sport in which greyhounds are raced around a track. There are two forms of greyhound racing, track racing (normally around an oval track) and coursing; the latter is now banned in most countries. Tra ...
track located in south-west
Limerick
Limerick ( ; ga, Luimneach ) is a western city in Ireland situated within County Limerick. It is in the province of Munster and is located in the Mid-West which comprises part of the Southern Region. With a population of 94,192 at the 2016 ...
in
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 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 previously mentioned
St Leger
The St Leger Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a d ...
which was first held at the old Limerick Stadium in 1940 and is an original classic race was duly switched to the new track and continues to be contested. The
Kirby Memorial Stakes
The Con & Annie Kirby Memorial Stakes is a greyhound racing competition held annually at Limerick Greyhound Stadium at Greenpark, Dock Road, Limerick, Ireland
Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic ...
is also held here and boasted a record €80,000 to the winner in 2014. It was sponsored by
J. P. McManus
John Patrick McManus (born 10 March 1951) is an Irish businessman and racehorse owner. His career lasted from the 1980s to the 2010s. He was one of the biggest shareholders of Manchester United, until his stake was bought out by Malcolm Glazer ...
who had close ties with the old Limerick track.
The track is owned and operated by
Greyhound Racing Ireland
Greyhound Racing Ireland ( ga, Rásaíocht Con Éireann, formerly ga, Bord na gCon) is an Irish semi-state body charged with regulating and promoting Greyhound racing in Ireland. The organisation has been active in developing the sport in Irela ...
(formerly the Irish Greyhound Board) and they have their headquarters on site.
Competitions
Current
*
St Leger
The St Leger Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a d ...
*
Kirby Memorial Stakes
The Con & Annie Kirby Memorial Stakes is a greyhound racing competition held annually at Limerick Greyhound Stadium at Greenpark, Dock Road, Limerick, Ireland
Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic ...
Former
*
Oaks (1942)
Track records
Current
Former
References
{{coord missing, County Limerick
Greyhound racing venues in the Republic of Ireland
Sport in Limerick (city)
Sport in County Limerick
Sports venues in County Limerick
2010 establishments in Ireland