The stadium was a ten-minute walk from the town centre and had a large customer car park. Racing took place every Monday and Friday evening and the facilities included a fast food bar and totalisator betting.[2] Race distances were 525, 550, 750 and 805 yards.[3]
History
Longford Greyhound Stadium was accessed via Earl Street and was the most centrally located track in Ireland. The south Longford venue had a circumference of 485 yards and opened in May 1939. It was organised by two men called Matthew J. Lyons (a local businessman) and John E. Dorris (managing director) who purchased the Sligo greyhound operation and brought it to Longford.[4]
Initially the stadium opened for a racing season, starting in the Spring and closing before Winter each year.[5] The track hosted the Longford Derby & Longford Puppy Derby and other events to have taken place previously here are the Padian Cup and Smithwicks 550.
In July 1966, John McDermott died aged 73, he had been the manager of the track from its opening night.[6] A later pioneer of the track was Jim Conroy (racing manager).[7] Also in 1966, the track closed for the winter break and looked unlikely to re-open, but the owner Thomas Packenham sold the site to Longford Sports Ltd.[8]
In 1974, the track only raced on Friday nights due to the effect of the 1973 oil crisis.[9] In September 1985, the Longford Greyhound Supporters Club was formed.[10]
In June 1989, the track celebrated its 50th anniversary with a special a meeting that was attended by Frank Berry (jockey), Larry Cunningham, Eddie Macken and Ray Flynn.
In the new millennium, the track battled for survival during hard financial climates, led by Racing Manager Patrick Farrington and the voluntary committee. In July 2014, the sale of the Park Road track was agreed to Scottish-based greyhound owner Howard Wallace.[11][12]
In 2018, it was announced that the track was closing for good but it gained a reprieve.[13]
In 2020, the stadium closed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and never recovered from the financial loss, holding its last meeting on 23 March 2020.
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