Kingdom Greyhound Stadium

Kingdom Greyhound Stadium

The stadium entrance in 2016
Location	Brewery Road, Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland
Coordinates	52°16'29.9"N 9°42'00.0"W
Operated by	Greyhound Racing Ireland
Date opened	1930
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.

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 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. ^[4]

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. ^[4]

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. ^[5]

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. ^[6] 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. ^[7]

Competitions

• Juvenile Classic
• Race of Champions

Track records

Current track records

Extended content
[8] Yards Greyhound Time Date Notes 325 Flashing Willow [9] 17.12 28 May 2022 500 Beaming Mark 26.84 15 June 2012 525 Daleroad Duke [10] 27.92 8 December 2023 550 Explosive Boy [11] 29.22 12 June 2021 Race of Champions semi final 570 Bobsleigh Dream [12] 30.40 11 March 2022 750 Zulu Ella 41.60 17 July 2009 525 hurdles Cashen Zig 28.88 24 July 2009

Former track records

Extended content

[13] [14] [15] Yards Greyhound Time Date Notes 315 Annaghs Pride 17.65 1950 315 Lemond Laddie 17.45 8 May 1958 315 Ballyard Dick =17.45 8 May 1958 325 Upourdat 17.95 20 May 1968 325 Rosslyn Raider 17.90 8 March 1974 325 Glamour Hobo 17.86 15 August 1984 325 True Gold 17.84 1988 325 Beau Amie 17.76 1988 325 Mistreamer 17.72 September 1990 325 Michigan Maurice 17.52 30 August 1991 325 Pineapple Mandy 17.46 23 April 1999 325 Cashen Malouda 17.40 30 June 2012 325 Leeview Dave 17.36 18 June 2013 325 Leeview Dave 17.24 21 June 2013 325 Holborn Junior 17.23 17 May 2014 325 Ballymac Sexton [16] 17.17 27 May 2016 500 Sugar Prince 28.55 22 July 1958 500 What About Andy [17] 27.76 March 1998 500 Long Charlie 27.45 15 March 2002 500 Annamore Derry 27.33 24 September 2004 500 Scarty Lad 27.14 4 May 2007 500 Mossend Ronnie 27.14 12 November 2010 500 Hernandez 27.07 26 July 2011 500 Characterbuildin 26.84 15 June 2012 525 Roman Emperor 30.20 1950 525 Pouleen Boy 30.20 1950 525 Hobos Choice 30.20 1950 525 Tellus 29.12 2 September 1964 525 Up Early 29.12 29 April 1977 525 Gina Girl 29.11 1978 525 Buck Hall 28.92 1981 525 Court Rain 28.90 17 August 1984 525 Castleland Mac 28.69 26 September 1991 525 Rocking Bob 28.41 29 August 1997 525 Mountleader Rolf 28.27 29 November 2002 525 Deerfield Mover 28.14 14 September 2004 525 Deerfield Sings 28.11 1 July 2011 525 Mind the Net 28.09 13 December 2003 525 Quietly 28.08 13 June 2014 525 Curious Boy 28.05 6 May 2016 525 Ballinabola Ed [18] 28.03 11 March 2022 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial Trial Stake 550 Another High Jack 31.10 16 May 1960 550 Footless =31.10 16 May 1960 550 Harpist 30.76 16 July 1976 550 Orange Prince 30.72 1979 550 Attractive Lad 1980 550 Killaclug Jet 30.52 1980 550 Realtins Best 30.40 29 April 1983 550 Ardfert Sean 30.18 2 December 1988 550 Cape Prince 29.78 28 July 1995 550 Annamore Billy 29.70 30 July 2002 550 Goldstar Premier 29.64 20 May 2005 550 Melodys Pat 29.62 6 June 2008 550 Dromore Dazzler 29.61 8 October 2010 550 Deerfield Music 29.52 17 June 2011 550 Farloe Trent 29.43 21 June 2013 Race of Champions 550 Native Chimes [19] 29.40 9 June 2017 Race of Champions semi final 550 Good News [19] 29.34 9 June 2017 Race of Champions semi final 570 Sirius 31.34 8 April 1969 570 Wise Commander 31.14 26 September 1996 570 Three Hells Bells 30.88 17 June 2003 570 Green Heat 30.75 30 August 2008 570 Raparee Polly 30.62 17 February 2009 570 Toms Brett 30.62 30 June 2012 600 Glittering Smack 33.65 1960 750 Slow Motion 42.40 29 May 1981 750 Easter Tidings 42.15 25 May 1999 750 I'm Only Sal 42.06 10 December 2004 750 Sahara Abbey 42.03 4 June 2005 750 Iflookscouldkill 41.88 8 December 2006 750 Iflookscouldkill 41.79 21 July 2007 750 Shakira Live 41.70 2 January 2009 812 Kertogue Sarah 45.90 22 July 1983 525 H Nervy Peggy 30.68 30 June 1961 525 H Ballyard Hurdler 29.85 18 August 1973 525 H Keen Captain 29.32 16 September 2003 525 H Queen Christine 29.21 4 June 2005

References

1. "Kingdom Greyhound Stadium". Kerry Tourism.
2. "Kingdom Greyhound Stadium". Greyhound Racing Ireland.
3. "Tralee". Greyhound Data.
4. Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN   07207-1106-1.
5. Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. ISBN   0-948955-15-5.
6. "Greyhound Racing Ireland Has published the classic and feature events calendar for 2016". Greyhound Racing Ireland.
7. "SIS GRA 2024 Agreement". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
8. "Irish Track Records as of January 2024". Greyhound Star. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
9. "Lee Strand 325". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
10. "2023 Eric Browne Memorial Kingdom Derby Round 1". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
11. "Race record". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
12. "All Greyhound Supplies at G&PW 570". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
13. "Track records". Greyhound Data.
14. "Track records". Greyhound Star.
15. "Newbridge Track records". Greyhound Star.
16. "Kerry Coaches 325". Greyhound Racing Ireland.
17. "A new course record at Tralee". Vol. 16, no. 4. Greyhound Star. 4 April 1998.
18. "Con & Annie Kirby Memorial Trial Stake". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
19. "Kerry G.A.A.Supporters Race of Champions Semi-Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 20 May 2022.