Lifford Greyhound Stadium

Last updated

Lifford Greyhound Stadium
LocationBallyduff Road, Lifford, County Donegal, Ireland
Coordinates 54°50'05.7"N 7°29'04.3"W
Operated byLifford Greyhound Racing Company Limited
Date opened1959
Race type greyhound racing
Official website

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

Contents

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]

Track records

Current records (new track)

[16]

YardsGreyhoundTimeDateNotes
325Gizmo Cash17.0924 September 2023
525Wi Can Dream28.542 April 2023
550Glideaway Alfie29.977 May 2023
575Droopys Nextone31.342 April 2023

Former records

Extended content

[17] [18] [19] [20]

YardsGreyhoundTimeDateNotes
325Golden Ram17.942 September 1961
325Munchie17.9013 November 1976
325Fulmax Fever17.841976
325Cooma Slave17.677 June 1986
325Eden Castle17.6220 July 1991
325Pats Gale17.5417 August 1996
325Fishy Boy17.2412 May 2002
325Leathems Jet17.59*11 January 2003
325Hollyhill Equity17.5712 January 2003
325Jamellas Phantom17.3826 January 2003
350Kilmalady Boy18.4925 September 2003
350Droopys Robinho18.4725 February 2007
350Royal Delight18.391 January 2007
350Montos Mark18.394 November 2007
350So Handsome18.3618 May 2008
350Mustangsteviegee [21] 18.301 June 2008
525Top Note29.551970
525Taxi Dancer29.5229 May 1971
525Palestine June29.3517 July 1975
525Marinas Crazy29.1818 August 1979
525Moss Chimes29.0930 May 1981
525Slaney Stan29.093 July 1982
525Erins Eye29.094 October 1986
525Fairhill Boy28.9215 July 1989
525Star Ambition28.702 September 2001
525Farloe Bond28.4525 August 2002
525Homeless Jo28.412 December 2007
525Barnish Ciaran28.3913 April 2008
525Graigues Toss28.3627 April 2008
525Rough Laura28.2513 September 2008
550Bowe Princess31.0817 April 1962
550Glencloy Swift29.8621 July 2001
550Fridays Rumble29.7421 July 2002
550Phoenix Paddy29.7111 February 2007
550Phoenix Paddy29.6825 February 2007
550Farloe Black29.6414 October 2007
550Farloe Black29.3928 October 2007
550College Causeway29.3126 October 2008
575Duel32.4611 May 1967
575Silent Rogue32.356 August 1977
575Madam Black32.2524 August 1977
575Tour Valley32.1130 June 1979
575Coolbeg Carina32.081988
575Saddleback Pearl32.081988
575Irish Lad31.901990
575Quare Whisper31.8722 June 1991
575Drumsna Isle31.7222 August 1999
575Tullymurry Token31.4727 July 2002
575Glenanore Pride31.4018 May 2003
575Jamies Boy31.4025 September 2003
575Cabbage White31.2813 November 2003
575Line Of Fire31.057 October 2007
600Messan Mak32.8822 September 2002
600Always A Rumble32.5021 September 2003
750Mobile Dubh42.1721 March 2004
750Beaming Surprise42.1324 October 2004
750Lisnahavil Lady42.1130 April 2005
750Dromana Blue41.7225 February 2007
750Droopys Quiff41.567 October 2007
750Droopys Quiff41.385 October 2008
780Bowe Princess45.1019 May 1962
790Barrack Maid45.0317 August 1978
790Farloe Frown44.924 August 2001
820Break Away Tiger46.202 June 2002
820Recovery Mission45.7411 September 2003
525 hurdlesSefanta29.488 August 2004
550 HFrisby For Me30.8710 October 2004
550 hurdlesLemon Rambo30.8128 November 2004

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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.
  10. ↑ "End of an era as Lifford Greyhound Stadium set to close". Donegal Daily. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  11. ↑ "Lifford Greyhound Stadium is set to close next week". Highland Radio. 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. 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. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  16. ↑ "Irish Track Records as of January 2024". Greyhound Star. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  17. ↑ "Track records". Greyhound Data.
  18. ↑ "Track records". Greyhound Star.
  19. ↑ "Lifford Track records". Greyhound Star.
  20. ↑ "Lifford track records". Greyhound Data.
  21. ↑ "THE Hugh Duffy Memorial Open 350 Round 1 Heat 2". Irish Greyhound Board.

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