Kingdom Greyhound Stadium

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Kingdom Greyhound Stadium
Entrance to the Kingdom Greyhound Stadium, Tralee - geograph.org.uk - 4910244.jpg
The stadium entrance in 2016
LocationBrewery Road, Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland
Coordinates 52°16'29.9"N 9°42'00.0"W
Operated by Greyhound Racing Ireland
Date opened1930
Race type greyhound racing
Official website

Kingdom Greyhound Stadium is a greyhound racing track located in Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland. [1] It has been known as Oakview Park and the Tralee Greyhound Stadium previously.

Contents

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. [2]

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. [3]

History

A track known as the Ardfert Greyhound track in Ardfert opened in August 1929 but closed the same year as a result of a larger track arriving in Oakview Village nearer to the Tralee town centre. Despite opposition from the local clergy, [4] 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. [5]

The great Ballyhennessy Seal made his debut here in 1943 followed by Spanish Battleship, Ballymac Ball, Priceless Border and Patricias Hope, a quite remarkable list of greyhounds that graced the track over the years. In addition a series of competitions have been introduced over the years providing the Tralee public with regular annual events. The events were the Bloom 500, Harp Lager Stakes, Rose of Tralee, Clarke Cup, Kingdom Puppy Cup, Monalee Hiker Stakes and the MJ Hannafin Memorial Cup. The last mentioned event the MJ Hannafin Memorial Cup was named in memory of the Racing Manager at the track when it opened in 1930. His brothers to Jerry and Dennis Hannafin were two highly respected trainers in the industry. [5]

MJ Hannafin was Racing Manager until 1950 and then the hot seat was taken up by Kevin Laide for over thirty years before John Ward took over. [6]

At the turn of the 21st century, many Irish tracks received a boost from Greyhound Racing Ireland with refurbishment on the agenda. Tralee was no exception and underwent a major refit with the stadium redesigned for the new Millennium under the ownership of the Board.

Two new competitions the Juvenile Classic and Race of Champions have been introduced and they have quickly established themselves as leading feature events in the Irish racing calendar despite the fact that they have only been inaugurated in recent years. [7] The stadium underwent further upgrading in 2012 following extra investment by Greyhound Racing Ireland.

In December 2023, the stadium renewed the contract agreement (as part of the GRI) with S.I.S for 2024. [8]

Competitions

Track records

Current track records

YardsGreyhoundTime (sec)DateNotes
325Flashing Willow [9] 17.1228 May 2022
500Daleroad Devon [10] 26.706 September 2024
525In Good Time [11] 27.914 May 2024
550Dashing Toro [12] 29.207 June 2024
570Bobsleigh Dream [13] 30.4011 March 2022
750Tuono Charlie [14] 40.7627 July 2024
525 hurdlesCashen Zig28.8824 July 2009

Former track records

Extended content

[15] [16] [17]

YardsGreyhoundTime (sec)DateNotes
315Annaghs Pride17.651950
315Lemond Laddie17.458 May 1958
315Ballyard Dick=17.458 May 1958
325Upourdat17.9520 May 1968
325Rosslyn Raider17.908 March 1974
325Glamour Hobo17.8615 August 1984
325True Gold17.841988
325Beau Amie17.761988
325Mistreamer17.72September 1990
325Michigan Maurice17.5230 August 1991
325Pineapple Mandy17.4623 April 1999
325Cashen Malouda17.4030 June 2012
325Leeview Dave17.3618 June 2013
325Leeview Dave17.2421 June 2013
325Holborn Junior17.2317 May 2014
325Ballymac Sexton [18] 17.1727 May 2016
500Sugar Prince28.5522 July 1958
500What About Andy [19] 27.76March 1998
500Long Charlie27.4515 March 2002
500Annamore Derry27.3324 September 2004
500Scarty Lad27.144 May 2007
500Mossend Ronnie27.1412 November 2010
500Hernandez27.0726 July 2011
500Characterbuildin26.8415 June 2012
500Beaming Mark26.8415 June 2012
525Roman Emperor30.201950
525Pouleen Boy30.201950
525Hobos Choice30.201950
525Tellus29.122 September 1964
525Up Early29.1229 April 1977
525Gina Girl29.111978
525Buck Hall28.921981
525Court Rain28.9017 August 1984
525Castleland Mac28.6926 September 1991
525Rocking Bob28.4129 August 1997
525Mountleader Rolf28.2729 November 2002
525Deerfield Mover28.1414 September 2004
525Deerfield Sings28.111 July 2011
525Mind the Net28.0913 December 2003
525Quietly28.0813 June 2014
525Curious Boy28.056 May 2016
525Ballinabola Ed [20] 28.0311 March 2022Con & Annie Kirby Memorial Trial Stake
525Daleroad Duke [21] 27.928 December 2023
550Another High Jack31.1016 May 1960
550Footless=31.1016 May 1960
550Harpist30.7616 July 1976
550Orange Prince30.721979
550Attractive Lad1980
550Killaclug Jet30.521980
550Realtins Best30.4029 April 1983
550Ardfert Sean30.182 December 1988
550Cape Prince29.7828 July 1995
550Annamore Billy29.7030 July 2002
550Goldstar Premier29.6420 May 2005
550Melodys Pat29.626 June 2008
550Dromore Dazzler29.618 October 2010
550Deerfield Music29.5217 June 2011
550Farloe Trent29.4321 June 2013Race of Champions
550Native Chimes [22] 29.409 June 2017Race of Champions semi final
550Good News [22] 29.349 June 2017Race of Champions semi final
550Explosive Boy [23] 29.2212 June 2021Race of Champions semi final
570Sirius31.348 April 1969
570Wise Commander31.1426 September 1996
570Three Hells Bells30.8817 June 2003
570Green Heat30.7530 August 2008
570Raparee Polly30.6217 February 2009
570Toms Brett30.6230 June 2012
600Glittering Smack33.651960
750Slow Motion42.4029 May 1981
750Easter Tidings42.1525 May 1999
750I'm Only Sal42.0610 December 2004
750Sahara Abbey42.034 June 2005
750Iflookscouldkill41.888 December 2006
750Iflookscouldkill41.7921 July 2007
750Shakira Live41.702 January 2009
750Zulu Ella41.6017 July 2009
812Kertogue Sarah45.9022 July 1983
525 HNervy Peggy30.6830 June 1961
525 HBallyard Hurdler29.8518 August 1973
525 HKeen Captain29.3216 September 2003
525 HQueen Christine29.214 June 2005

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References

  1. ↑ "Kingdom Greyhound Stadium". Kerry Tourism.
  2. ↑ "Kingdom Greyhound Stadium". Greyhound Racing Ireland.
  3. ↑ "Tralee". Greyhound Data.
  4. ↑ "Greyhound Racing" . Derry Journal. 1 January 1930. Retrieved 18 August 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. 1 2 Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN   07207-1106-1.
  6. ↑ Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. ISBN   0-948955-15-5.
  7. ↑ "Greyhound Racing Ireland Has published the classic and feature events calendar for 2016". Greyhound Racing Ireland.
  8. ↑ "SIS GRA 2024 Agreement". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  9. ↑ "Lee Strand 325". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  10. ↑ "Kingdom, Tralee Track Records". www.grireland.ie. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
  11. ↑ "Hall of Fame Award 525". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
  12. ↑ "Callaway Pro Am @ Stud Race Of Champions Semi-Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
  13. ↑ "All Greyhound Supplies at G&PW 570". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  14. ↑ "MCP Group 750 Round 1 Heat 2". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
  15. ↑ "Track records" . Greyhound Data. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
  16. ↑ "Track records". Greyhound Star. 22 January 2018.
  17. ↑ "Newbridge Track records". Greyhound Star. 7 January 2019.
  18. ↑ "Kerry Coaches 325". Greyhound Racing Ireland.
  19. ↑ "A new course record at Tralee". Vol. 16, no. 4. Greyhound Star. 4 April 1998.
  20. ↑ "Con & Annie Kirby Memorial Trial Stake". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  21. ↑ "2023 Eric Browne Memorial Kingdom Derby Round 1". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  22. 1 2 "Kerry G.A.A.Supporters Race of Champions Semi-Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  23. ↑ "Race record". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 20 May 2022.

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