Longford Greyhound Stadium

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Longford Greyhound Stadium
LocationPark Road, Longford, County Longford, Ireland
Coordinates 53°43′13.6″N7°47′35.6″W / 53.720444°N 7.793222°W / 53.720444; -7.793222
Date opened1939
Date closed2020
Race type greyhound racing

Longford Greyhound Stadium was a greyhound racing track located on the south side of Longford, County Longford, Ireland. [1]

Contents

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.

Competitions

Track records

At closing [14] [15] [16]

YardsGreyhoundTimeDateNotes
330Bay Sun [17] 17.3311.07.2008
525Dustin Fox28.1514 July 2006
550Tyrur Harold29.4516 June 2017
570Frisky Fantasy30.732 August 2010
805Posh Again44.8711 July 2008

Former [18]

YardsGreyhoundTimeDateNotes
330Richmont Mick18.691950
330Portumna Bouncer18.4411 July 1969
330Scaragh Prairie18.3230 August 1974
330Cast No Stones18.2224 May 1985
330Tubbercurry Lad18.2212 July 1985
330Athboy Vintage17.6920 July 2001
330Comans Express17.6810 June 2002
330Silkey Joe17.6211 July 2003
330Lethal Party17.617 October 2005
330Petes Noble17.5921 October 2005
330Duke of Ross17.529 December 2005
330Gingko17.3513 July 2007
525Cooleeny Twister29.98c.1948
525Lovely Rambler29.382 July 1965
525Sampson Flash29.285 July 1974Longford Derby final
525Pepsi Princess28.821 September 1989
525Athboy Vintage28.2710 August 2001
525Get Here28.2619 July 2002
525Dundrum Prince28.2118 June 2004
525Hi King Closure28.1917 June 2005
550Design31.151970
550Claddagh Quail31.0411 September 1970
550Bermadaghs Shay30.8017 July 1985
550Break The Clock29.781 August 2003
550Coolamber Prunty29.7711 July 2008
550Pepsi Kev29.773 October 2008
550Rince Boy29.7620 October 2008
550Bunlahy Brett29.662 August 2010
550Clydal Jack29.6321 June 2013Longford Derby second round
550Surley Bassi29.5120 June 2014
570Angel Wonder32.859 June 1967
570Couch Trip31.0428 September 2001
570Emdee Boys30.9213 May 2002
570Dundrum Prince30.801 April 2005
570Dunsany30.881 April 2005
570Dundrum Prince30.745 April 2005
600Danba34.6714 April 1967
805Thanks Jim46.98August 1991
805Clydal Pigeon45.8930 September 2003
805Hidden Solo45.105 December 2003
330 HBenas Gift19.95c.1940
330 HCave View Clipper19.4823 October 1959
525 HFortwilliam Pagan31.44c.1941

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References

  1. ↑ "Longford Greyhound Stadium". discoverireland.ie.
  2. ↑ "Longford Greyhound Stadium". Irish Greyhound Board.
  3. ↑ "Longford". Greyhound Data.
  4. ↑ "Death of Matthew J.Lyons" . Irish Independent. 29 March 1988. Retrieved 14 February 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. ↑ "Longford Greyhound Track" . Irish Independent. 4 April 1942. Retrieved 14 February 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. ↑ "Mr J. McDermott" . Sligo Champion. 29 July 1966. Retrieved 14 February 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. ↑ Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN   07207-1106-1.
  8. ↑ "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 1966) March edition". Greyhound Star.
  9. ↑ "Longford" . Irish Independent. 12 January 1974. Retrieved 14 February 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
  10. ↑ "Mullingar stages a midweek decider" . Irish Independent. 13 May 1986. Retrieved 14 February 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
  11. ↑ "Hopes for business boost as sale agreed on Greyhound Track". shannonside.ie. Archived from the original on 25 August 2016.
  12. ↑ "Scottish owner Wallace to take over at Longford track". Irish Independent. 30 July 2014.
  13. ↑ "Longford greyhound track closes after 80 years citing rising insurance costs". The Journal. 9 August 2019. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  14. ↑ "Track records". Greyhound Data.
  15. ↑ "Track records". Greyhound Star. 22 January 2018.
  16. ↑ "Longford Track records". Greyhound Star. 7 January 2019.
  17. ↑ "The Sierra Communications Open 330". Irish Greyhound Board.
  18. ↑ "Longford track records". Greyhound Data.
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