Limerick Greyhound Stadium

Limerick Greyhound Stadium

Location	Greenpark, Dock Road, Limerick, Ireland
Coordinates	52°38'57.4"N 8°39'24.4"W
Operated by	Greyhound Racing Ireland
Date opened	2010
Race type	greyhound racing
Official website

Limerick Greyhound Stadium is a greyhound racing track located in the Dock Road (south-west) area of Limerick, Ireland.

The stadium has a grandstand restaurant, hospitality suites, fast food facilities and a number of bars. Racing takes place on a Thursday (6:30pm) and Saturday (7.30pm). ^[1]

History

In 2009 the old Markets Field Greyhound Stadium just off the Garryowen Road was closed to enable a new greyhound track to replace it. The new site chosen was the former horse racing course at Greenpark and in 2008 the area underwent significant change. ^[2]

When the stadium was completed to the tune of €18 million at Greenpark, Dock Road it impressed all within the industry. ^[3] The official opening night was on 22 October 2010 and the stadium has a capacity attendance of 2,900 including a 190-seat grandstand restaurant called the Leger Restaurant after a major event held at the track. Private hospitality suites and gallery bars were also constructed one of which is named after Markets Field Stadium. ^[4]

The previously mentioned St Leger which was first held at the old Limerick Stadium in 1940 ^[5] and is an original classic race was duly switched to the new track and continues to be contested. The Kirby Memorial Stakes is also held here and boasted a record €80,000 to the winner in 2014. It was sponsored by J. P. McManus who had close ties with the old Limerick track. ^[6]

The track is owned and operated by Greyhound Racing Ireland (formerly the Irish Greyhound Board) and they have their headquarters on site. ^{[7] [8]}

Competitions

Current

• St Leger
• Kirby Memorial Stakes

Former

• Oaks (1942)

Track records

Current ^[9]

Yards	Greyhound	Time	Date	Notes
300	Tarbrook Henry [10]	15.76	14 August 2008
350	Cree Jo Jo [11]	18.36	1 July 2023
525	College Maybe	27.95	2 February 2013
525	Clona Duke [12]	=27.95	1 April 2023
550	Jaytee Taylor [13]	29.21	2 November 2019
575	Riverside Mary	30.96	17 March 2012
600	Blackstone Lacey [14]	32.04	25 November 2023
700	Summerfield Jean	38.32	5 September 2009
750	Threesixfive [15]	41.08	9 September 2023
800	Lodge Lady	57.49	22 November 2004
1000	Wise Susie	44.54	27 January 2007
525 H	Razldazl Denys	28.79	29 November 2008

Former ^{[16] [17] [18]}

Yards	Greyhound	Time	Date	Notes
350	Pesoto	18.72	22 October 2010
350	Broadacres Bolt	18.63	9 July 2011
350	Swabys Tony	18.60	30 July 2011
350	Ballymac Best	18.53	16 March 2013
350	Holborn Junior	18.43	12 April 2014
350	Quietly	18.38	26 March 2016
525	Joey Jojo Junior	28.35	8 October 2010
525	Tyrur Tinkerbell	28.28	19 March 2011
525	Ogie Tom	28.25	4 February 2012
525	Lass Cause	28.21	5 March 2012
550	Makeshift	29.76	22 October 2010
550	Farley Turbo	29.57	18 December 2010	St Leger Final
550	Paradise Casino	29.51	18 June 2011	St Leger third round
550	Ocean Crash	29.43	22 July 2011
550	Varra Rumble	29.41	21 September 2012
550	Skywalker Puma	29.35	29 June 2013
550	Jaytee Hellcat	29.31	9 November 2013	St Leger third round
550	Priceless Brandy	29.26	22 October 2016
575	Money Go Easy	31.32	16 October 2010
575	Yeah Me	31.31	18 June 2011
575	Future Gem	31.19	15 December 2011
600	Greenane Bingo	32.40	2 July 2011
600	Lemon Belle	32.21	19 August 2011
600	Chestnut King [19]	32.14	26 August 2023
750	Ferdia Bound	41.80	22 October 2010
750	Gortown Rosie	41.73	9 July 2011
750	Future Boy	41.61	10 November 2012
750	Tradition [20]	41.46	27 August 2016	Cambridgeshire Open semi
750	Skywalker Logan [21]	41.41	12 September 2020	Cambridgeshire Open Final
750	Roaming Mystery [22]	41.40	28 August 2021

References

1. "Go Greyhound Racing". igb.
2. "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 2009) August edition". Greyhound Star.
3. "Remember When - July". Greyhound Star. 8 July 2018.
4. "Comptroller and Auditor General Special Report" (PDF). audgen.gov.ie.
5. Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN   07207-1106-1.
6. "JP McManus shows support for Limerick GAA once again as clubs do battle on the greyhound track". Irish Independent. 9 April 2021. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
7. "Our Stadiums". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
8. "Contact Us". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
9. "Irish Track Records as of January 2024". Greyhound Star. 10 January 2024. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
10. "The Pick 4 Open Sprint". Greyhound Racing Ireland.
11. "The Treaty Cup Open 350 yds Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
12. "Con & Annie Kirby Memorial 525 yds Round 2 Heat 4". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
13. "Friends Of Limerick Irish St Leger 550 Round 1 Heat 8". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
14. "The Greyhounds Make Great Pets AAO 600 yds". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
15. "Roma Casino Irish Cambridgeshire 750 yds Round 1 Heat 1". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
16. "Track records". Greyhound Data.
17. "Track records". Greyhound Star. 22 January 2018.
18. "Limerick Track records". Greyhound Star. 7 January 2019.
19. "The Go Greyhound Racing A3". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
20. "2016 Gain Feeds Cambridgeshire Open 750 Semi-Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland.
21. "Irish performances of the week". Greyhound Star. 13 September 2020.
22. "SIS Cambridgeshire Open 750 Round 1 Heat 2". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 14 February 2024.