Location | St. James' Park, Kilkenny, Ireland |
---|---|
Coordinates | 52°39'47.2"N 7°15'48.9"W |
Date opened | 1946 |
Race type | greyhound racing |
Official website |
Kilkenny Greyhound Stadium is a greyhound racing track located in north-west Kilkenny in Ireland. [1]
The racing takes place on a Wednesday and Friday evenings at 6.30pm.
St James Park in Kilkenny is a large park that contains sports pitches to the south and a greyhound track to the north. The greyhound circuit can be found south of Parkview Drive off the Freshford Road. Race distances are 300, 325, 550, 727, 750 & 1000 yards.
The opening night was on 5 June 1946 and the first ever winner was Rebel Gunner. The following year the Kilkenny management wanted to introduce a major race to bring an identity to the track, they decided on a race over 525 yards and called it the McCalmont Cup. The first Winner in 1947 was a greyhound called Lady Maud who also broke the track record in winning the event. The McCalmont Cup attracted Ireland's biggest names each time it was held including the three times Irish Greyhound Derby champion Spanish Battleship who claimed the crown in both 1954 & 1955. Two years later in 1957 a greyhound called Prairie Champion took the honours; this brindle would have his name changed to Pigalle Wonder who went on to win the 1958 English Greyhound Derby. [2]
The circuit has been described as both a good galloping track and too tight which is probably because of the slightly odd shape of the track. In addition to the McCalmont Cup the track hosted two other popular events called the Hurst Cup and Great Whistler Cup. [3]
Jimmy Kinahan was the Racing Manager when the track opened back in 1946 and remained so until his death in 1978. One of the track bookmakers in the sixties and seventies was the well-known celebrity show jumper Tommy Wade who rode Dundrum. John O'Flynn became Racing and General Manager and stayed with the track for twenty years continuing the long service record of its management. He saw the Bord na gCon buy a minority stake in the track from the Agricultural Society who use the fields at St James Park for agriculture events such as bull sales and show jumping. [4]
In July 2007, the Bord na gCon put aside €8 million for a long-awaited regeneration project, the agreement between the Bord na gCon (IGB) and Agricultural Society would allow a new lease, demolition of the old structures and the building of a new grandstand. [5] [6] However the project did not go ahead and following much deliberation towards the end of 2008 it was decided that the financial position of Kilkenny made it no longer viable to operate.
After the meeting on 30 January 2009 the track closed its doors until further notice. However a group of local owners, breeders and supporters got together forming the Kilkenny Track Supporters Club and re-opened Kilkenny on 17 May 2009, they met with the IGB and agreed a funding policy and re-laid the entire track surface in addition to installing new rails and a new hare system. [7]
Despite the small nature of the track it is regarded as an important contributor to the local economy and is still supported strongly by the same Kilkenny Track Supporters Club. The long running BEAM race nights have been a success for over 25 years. Tom Kinane arrived as General Manager and in recent years sponsorship was secured from Red Mills allowing the track to stage the Red Mills Unraced, Red Mills Juvenile and Langton Derby in addition to the prestigious McCalmont Cup. [8]
In December 2023, the stadium renewed the contract agreement (as part of the GRI) with S.I.S for 2024. [9]
Yards | Greyhound | Time | Date | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
300 | Ullid Conor [13] | 15.99 | 12.09.2008 | |
325 | Ballygur Mike | 17.49 | 17.06.2009 | |
525 | Priceless Brandy | 28.46 | 17.06.2016 | |
550 | Dingo Will | 30.12 | 29.05.2016 | |
725 | Kiltrea Brian | 40.31 | 09.07.2017 | |
970 | Hulkster | 56.88 | 18.06.2006 | |
1000 | Crackoftheash | 57.46 | 22.07.2012 | |
525 H | Comans Joe | 29.10 | 24.06.2007 |
Former
Yards | Greyhound | Time | Date | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
300 | Veroden | 16.50 | 17.11.1961 | |
300 | Moygara Sligo | 16.50 | 02.06.1973 | |
300 | Margos Choice | 16.50 | 02.09.1977 | |
300 | Margos Choice | 16.50 | 07.04.1978 | |
300 | Roses Friend | 16.36 | 1988 | |
300 | Greyfriars Rose | 16.28 | 11.10.1989 | |
300 | Ballybray Jasper | 16.14 | 05.09.2001 | |
300 | Derwent Storm | 16.13 | 03.10.2003 | |
300 | Balerno Ron | 16.13 | 20.06.2004 | |
300 | Honcho's Pearl | 16.08 | 15.05.2004 | |
500 | Magic Hands | 28.30 | 25.05.1968 | |
525 | Clomoney Grand | 29.00 | 28.05.1966 | |
525 | Ballybeg Maid | 29.00 | 02.07.1975 | |
525 | Nameless Star | 29.00 | 23.07.1976 | |
525 | Lax Law | 28.98 | 21.09.1979 | |
525 | Spiral Nikita | 28.70 | 07.07.1996 | |
525 | Kilcarrig Zak | 28.69 | 20.06.2004 | |
525 | Boherduff Light | 28.53 | 03.09.2004 | |
525 | Boherduff Light | 28.49 | 10.09.2004 | |
550 | Clopook King | 31.50 | 10.07.1959 | |
550 | Welesbourne Dan | 30.25 | 11.09.2009 | |
700 | White Sails | 41.00 | 03.06.1966 | |
700 | The Knack | 40.85 | 1980 | |
700 | Ballyknock Amy | 40.65 | 13.08.1982 | |
700 | Deenside Mist | 40.47 | 05.07.1991 | |
700 | Penn Pepe | 40.45 | 04.07.1999 | |
700 | Coolavanny Bird | 40.37 | 11.07.2003 | |
700 | Smooth Slippy | 40.33 | 25.06.2004 | |
700 | Group Skater | 40.10 | 03.10.2008 | |
725 | Salacres Whyte | 42.35 | 21.06.2009 | |
745 | Summerhill Swift | 43.50 | 06.07.1997 | |
745 | Blue Boomer | 43.08 | 23.06.2002 | |
745 | Kilcloney Wine | 42.98 | 20.06.2004 | |
970 | Ballygalda Keri | 57.63 | 04.07.1999 | |
970 | Finuge Rumble | 57.41 | 22.06.2003 | |
1000 | Barrow Stamps | 58.33 | 21.06.2009 | |
300 H | Singing Border | 17.35 | 07.11.1952 | |
525 H | Tropical Splendour | 29.95 | 14.06.1961 | |
525 H | Sober Pride | 29.88 | 24.06.2001 | |
525 H | Debs The Best | 29.64 | 10.05.2002 | |
525 H | Dot Tom | 29.56 | 22.06.2003 | |
525 H | Bally Euro | 29.56 | 16.04.2004 | |
525 H | Comans Joe | 29.51 | 13.06.2007 |
Shelbourne Park is a greyhound racing stadium in the south Dublin inner city suburb of Ringsend.
Harold's Cross Stadium was a greyhound racing stadium in Harold's Cross, Dublin, owned and operated by the Irish Greyhound Board.
Greyhound racing is a popular sport in Ireland. There are 17 stadiums operating in Ireland of which nine are fully operated by Rásaíocht Con Éireann / Greyhound Racing Ireland with the remaining six owned and operated by private enterprise but licensed by GRI.
Curraheen Park Greyhound Stadium is a greyhound racing track located in Bishopstown, west of Cork, County Cork, Ireland.
The McCalmont Cup is a greyhound racing competition held annually at Kilkenny Greyhound Stadium at St. James' Park, Kilkenny, Ireland.
Clonmel Greyhound Stadium is a greyhound racing track located in Clonmel, County Tipperary, Ireland.
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.
The Grand National was a greyhound racing competition held annually at various tracks throughout Ireland.
Kilcohan Park Greyhound Stadium is a greyhound racing track and former soccer stadium located in the south of Waterford, Ireland.
Youghal Greyhound Stadium is a greyhound racing track located south of Youghal, County Cork, Ireland. The stadium is a 20 minutes walk from the town centre.
The Puppy Derby also known as the Juvenile Derby is a greyhound racing competition held annually at Shelbourne Park in Dublin, Ireland. The event switched to Shelbourne following the closure of Harold's Cross Stadium in the city district of Harold's Cross.
The 1958 Greyhound Derby took place during June with the final being held on 28 June 1958 at White City Stadium. The winner was Pigalle Wonder and the winning owner Al Burnett received £1,500.
Cork Greyhound Stadium was a greyhound racing stadium on Western Road in Cork, Munster. It is not to be confused with Curraheen Park.
The 1931 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the sixth year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The total annual attendance across the country for 1931 increased to 17,906,917 from 17,119,120, a fifth consecutive annual increase.
The 1958 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 32nd year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
The 1960 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 34th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
The 1961 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 35th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
The 1971 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 45th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Pigalle Wonder was a racing greyhound during the late 1950s and early 1960s. He was the United Kingdom Greyhound of the Year and won the sports top accolade by winning the 1959 English Greyhound Derby.
Derry Greyhound Stadium also known as the Brandywell Greyhound Track is the greyhound racing operation held at the Brandywell Showgrounds next to the new Brandywell Stadium in Northern Ireland. The track was relocated from around the football pitch to next door to it, opening in 2018. Racing takes place every Monday evening.