Lifford Greyhound Stadium

Lifford Greyhound Stadium

Location	Ballyduff Road, Lifford, County Donegal, Ireland
Coordinates	54°50'05.7"N 7°29'04.3"W
Operated by	Lifford Greyhound Racing Company Limited
Date opened	1959
Race type	greyhound racing
Official website

Lifford Greyhound Stadium is a greyhound racing track located in Lifford, County Donegal, Ireland. ^[1]

The facilities include the Champion Stakes Restaurant, fast food facilities, a number of bars, totalisator betting and seating. ^[2] Racing takes place every Friday and Sunday (it was formerly held on Saturday evenings). ^[3]

Race distances are 325, 525, 550 and 575 yards. ^[4]

History

The Lifford Greyhound Stadium was built in 1959, when cattle dealer James Magee decided to convert some more of his grazing land from a schooling track into a professional 495 yard circumference circuit. Magee died in 1971 and his sons Cathal and Seamus took over the track as the Racing and General Managers around the same time that a new stand was erected at the venue. ^[5]

The main event originally held at the track was the Irwin Cup but it did not feature highly on the Irish racing calendar and during the late 1970s an event called the Abraham David Trophy was contested featuring significant prize money. Many top greyhounds have appeared here including Yellow Printer who began his career at Lifford as a puppy. ^[6] Race distances were 350, 525, 550, 575, 750 and 820 yards. ^[7]

After 32 years association the track was put up for sale by the Magee family in 1991 and was eventually bought by new owners in 2001 when Willie, Hugh and Patrick Duffy formed the Lifford Greyhound Racing Company. ^[8] On 11 September 2003 the track re-opened after undergoing a €12m refit with a new grandstand, two restaurants and improved facilities. ^[9]

Closure and reopening

During 2018, the stadium was put up for sale at a price of 1.9 million euros. The following year it was announced that the last race meeting would be on Saturday 17 August 2019 before the stadium was closed. Racing Manager Matthew Duffy blamed the lack of support from the Irish Greyhound Board. ^{[10] [11]}

During October 2021, it was confirmed that the track would reopen on Sunday 6 March 2022. The racing was brought back by a syndicate called the Lifford Greyhound Racing Club - Canaradzo Ltd headed by Harry Findlay. ^{[12] [13] [14]} The track reopened on 23 March 2023 (slightly later than planned). ^[15]

In June 2024, the track entered into negotiation with Greyhound Racing Ireland for its fixtures to be televised by Sports Information Services (SIS). ^[16]

Track records

Current records (new track)

^[17]

Yards	Greyhound	Time	Date	Notes
325	Gizmo Cash	17.09	24 September 2023
525	Wi Can Dream	28.54	2 April 2023
550	Glideaway Alfie	29.97	7 May 2023
575	Droopys Nextone	31.34	2 April 2023

Former records

Extended content

[18] [19] [20] [21] Yards Greyhound Time Date Notes 325 Golden Ram 17.94 2 September 1961 325 Munchie 17.90 13 November 1976 325 Fulmax Fever 17.84 1976 325 Cooma Slave 17.67 7 June 1986 325 Eden Castle 17.62 20 July 1991 325 Pats Gale 17.54 17 August 1996 325 Fishy Boy 17.24 12 May 2002 325 Leathems Jet 17.59* 11 January 2003 325 Hollyhill Equity 17.57 12 January 2003 325 Jamellas Phantom 17.38 26 January 2003 350 Kilmalady Boy 18.49 25 September 2003 350 Droopys Robinho 18.47 25 February 2007 350 Royal Delight 18.39 1 January 2007 350 Montos Mark 18.39 4 November 2007 350 So Handsome 18.36 18 May 2008 350 Mustangsteviegee [22] 18.30 1 June 2008 525 Top Note 29.55 1970 525 Taxi Dancer 29.52 29 May 1971 525 Palestine June 29.35 17 July 1975 525 Marinas Crazy 29.18 18 August 1979 525 Moss Chimes 29.09 30 May 1981 525 Slaney Stan 29.09 3 July 1982 525 Erins Eye 29.09 4 October 1986 525 Fairhill Boy 28.92 15 July 1989 525 Star Ambition 28.70 2 September 2001 525 Farloe Bond 28.45 25 August 2002 525 Homeless Jo 28.41 2 December 2007 525 Barnish Ciaran 28.39 13 April 2008 525 Graigues Toss 28.36 27 April 2008 525 Rough Laura 28.25 13 September 2008 550 Bowe Princess 31.08 17 April 1962 550 Glencloy Swift 29.86 21 July 2001 550 Fridays Rumble 29.74 21 July 2002 550 Phoenix Paddy 29.71 11 February 2007 550 Phoenix Paddy 29.68 25 February 2007 550 Farloe Black 29.64 14 October 2007 550 Farloe Black 29.39 28 October 2007 550 College Causeway 29.31 26 October 2008 575 Duel 32.46 11 May 1967 575 Silent Rogue 32.35 6 August 1977 575 Madam Black 32.25 24 August 1977 575 Tour Valley 32.11 30 June 1979 575 Coolbeg Carina 32.08 1988 575 Saddleback Pearl 32.08 1988 575 Irish Lad 31.90 1990 575 Quare Whisper 31.87 22 June 1991 575 Drumsna Isle 31.72 22 August 1999 575 Tullymurry Token 31.47 27 July 2002 575 Glenanore Pride 31.40 18 May 2003 575 Jamies Boy 31.40 25 September 2003 575 Cabbage White 31.28 13 November 2003 575 Line Of Fire 31.05 7 October 2007 600 Messan Mak 32.88 22 September 2002 600 Always A Rumble 32.50 21 September 2003 750 Mobile Dubh 42.17 21 March 2004 750 Beaming Surprise 42.13 24 October 2004 750 Lisnahavil Lady 42.11 30 April 2005 750 Dromana Blue 41.72 25 February 2007 750 Droopys Quiff 41.56 7 October 2007 750 Droopys Quiff 41.38 5 October 2008 780 Bowe Princess 45.10 19 May 1962 790 Barrack Maid 45.03 17 August 1978 790 Farloe Frown 44.92 4 August 2001 820 Break Away Tiger 46.20 2 June 2002 820 Recovery Mission 45.74 11 September 2003 525 hurdles Sefanta 29.48 8 August 2004 550 H Frisby For Me 30.87 10 October 2004 550 hurdles Lemon Rambo 30.81 28 November 2004

References

1. "Lifford Greyhound Racing". Lifford Stadium. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
2. "Lifford Greyhound Stadium". Irish Greyhound Board. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
3. "LIFFORD ANNOUNCE OPENING HOURS AND TRIAL TIMES". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
4. "Lifford" . Greyhound Data. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
5. Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN   07207-1106-1.
6. Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN   07207-1106-1.
7. "Lifford". Greyhound Data.
8. "Lifford Greyhound Stadium for sale". Donegal News.
9. "Lifford greyhound stadium opens". Health Club Management. 26 September 2003.
10. "End of an era as Lifford Greyhound Stadium set to close". Donegal Daily. 8 August 2019. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
11. "Lifford Greyhound Stadium is set to close next week". Highland Radio. 9 August 2019. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
12. "Date Confirmed for reopening of Lifford Greyhopund Track". Donegal News. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
13. "Lifford name opening date". Greyhound Star. 28 October 2021. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
14. "UK Tote Group confirms reopening of Lifford dog track". Donegal News. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
15. "LIFFORD BACK UP AND RUNNING". Greyhound Star. 29 March 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
16. "Lifford statement". Greyhound Star. 26 June 2024. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
17. "Irish Track Records as of January 2024". Greyhound Star. 10 January 2024. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
18. "Track records". Greyhound Data.
19. "Track records". Greyhound Star. 22 January 2018.
20. "Lifford Track records". Greyhound Star. 7 January 2019.
21. "Lifford track records". Greyhound Data.
22. "THE Hugh Duffy Memorial Open 350 Round 1 Heat 2". Irish Greyhound Board.