Thurles Greyhound Stadium

Thurles Greyhound Stadium

Stadium entrance, September 2024
Location	Castlemeadows (R498), Townparks, Thurles, County Tipperary, Ireland
Coordinates	52°41'03.6"N 7°49'21.0"W
Operated by	Thurles Greyhound Racing & Sports Association
Date opened	1948
Race type	greyhound racing
Official website

Thurles Greyhound Stadium is a greyhound racing track located on Castlemeadows opposite Semple Stadium in Thurles, County Tipperary, Ireland. ^[1]

Racing takes place every Thursday and Saturday evening and the facilities include a trackside restaurant, fast food facilities, a number of bars and totalisator betting. ^[2] Race distances are 330, 525, 570 and 600 yards. ^[3]

The stadium has a car park which is also used for overflow parking for Semple Stadium and a farmers market on Saturday mornings. ^[4]

History

Just off the Castlemeadows in Thurles is the Townpark Greyhound Stadium which opened on 13 September 1948. Major events to have taken place over the years at the track and they are called the Tipperary Cup, Guinness 575, the Champion Bitch Stakes and Puppy Stakes. A very large circumference of 509 yards allows greyhounds a good gallop although the track is considered slow. ^[5]

In 1962 the Grand National came to Townpark and would stay for 26 years until 1984 when it then moved to Shelbourne Park. The premier hurdle event in Ireland was won no less than three times by Special from 1972–1974. ^[6]

The Thurles Greyhound Racing & Sports Association Limited continually ensured that the venue was kept in good order and it held many charity nights. The Racing Manager for many years was Eamonn Bourke before Paul Hayes took over the chair. In 2011 the stadium underwent significant refurbishment resulting in an extension to the main upstairs bar areas and facilities to cater for events. ^[7]

Competitions

current and former

• Tipperary Cup
• Grand National
• National Produce Stakes

Track records

Current

^[8]

Yards	Greyhound	Time	Date	Notes
330	Astute Torpedo [9]	17.47	15 July 2017
360	Rambling Jack [10]	19.01	29 July 2006
525	Digital	28.11	16 July 2005
550	Moyne Rebel	29.99	16 September 2000
570	Donation	30.97	1 April 2017
600	O'Learys Peggy	32.70	17 September 2005
600	Roo Come On	=32.70	1 August 2009
750	Killough Daisy	41.85	20 June 2008
840	Debidee Lane	46.81	28 January 2006
1035	Slaneyside Havoc	59.71	20 November 2010
525 hurdles	Goofys Lofty	29.51	29 May 2004

Former

Extended content

[11] [12] [13] [14] Yards Greyhound Time Date Notes 330 Move Handy 18.05 19 November 1966 330 Top Customer 18.04 8 August 1976 330 Lemon King 17.94 28 July 1990 330 Quarter To Five 17.64 11 May 1999 330 Pretty Smokey 17.64 27 May 2001 330 Minnies Pavlova 17.54 25 July 2009 360 Lisboney Grosvenor 20.20 8 August 1960 360 Pretty Smokey 19.46 2 June 2001 360 Cloughmartin Lad 19.29 21 September 2002 360 Behind The Clock 19.10 30 September 2003 360 Positive Option 19.08 27 November 2004 525 Spanish Battleship 29.96 August 1954 Tipperary Cup second round 525 Spanish Battleship 29.85 21 August 1954 525 Fearless Mac [15] =29.75 16 August 1960 Tipperary Cup 3rd round 525 Jerrys Clipper [16] 29.45 26 August 1961 Tipperary Cup final 525 Flaming King 29.25 10 August 1968 525 Sailing Weather 29.20 6 August 1983 525 Moyne Rebel 28.86 9 April 2000 National Produce Stakes heats 525 Moyne Rebel 28.76 23 April 2000 National Produce Stakes semi finals 525 Moyne Rebel 28.70 30 April 2000 National Produce Stakes final 525 Smoking Ban 28.43 12 July 2003 525 Charity Jack 28.28 9 July 2005 550 Maltan Flame 30.85 31 August 1965 550 Lissadell Ranger 30.62 25 July 1987 550 Ardfert Sean 30.26 1988 550 Mathews Gold 30.58 28 July 1990 550 Coalbrook Tiger 30.44 27 July 1991 550 Gunboat Jeff 30.42 1992 550 Moyne Rebel 30.01 4 July 2000 570 Ambleside Amy 31.40 21 September 2002 570 Prince Ned 31.23 3 May 2003 570 Born Flyer 31.14 4 November 2003 570 Charity Jack 31.10 28 August 2004 570 Ronans Delight 30.98 11 December 2004 575 Ballybeg Pride 32.00 4 June 1968 575 Ballybeg Maid 31.94 21 June 1975 575 Gastrognome 31.76 16 June 1984 575 Deenside Lion 31.73 24 May 1998 600 July Sister 33.90 7 May 1960 600 Cool Lad 33.90 11 June 1960 =equalled 600 Articifer 33.12 20 October 2001 600 Silver Shout 32.71 1 February 2003 700 Orwell Wonder 40.00 20 June 1964 750 Getwhoyoulike 42.56 22 September 2001 750 Lovely Rumble 42.10 7 December 2002 750 O Learys Peggy 42.09 3 June 2006 750 Olympic Show 41.88 2 February 2008 840 Clanboy 48.16 30 August 1986 840 Manx Sand 47.84 17 August 1991 840 Bluetoon Solo 47.13 11 October 2003 1035 Indian Hallie 60.75 2 February 2008 1035 Forest Heidi 60.46 1 November 2008 1035 Big Flop 59.88 13 November 2010 330 H Rambler Tonic 18.80 9 July 1960 525 H Olivers Leader 30.20 17 September 1966 525 H Special 29.75 15 September 1973 525 H Frightened Pig 29.58 20 December 2003

References

1. "Thurles Greyhound Stadium". Tipperary Tourism.
2. "Thurles Greyhound Stadium". Thurles Greyhound Stadium.
3. "Thurles". Greyhound Data.
4. "Thurles Greyhound Stadium". Irish Greyhound Board.
5. Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN   07207-1106-1.
6. Fortune, Michael (1979). Irish Greyhound Annual. Victory Irish Promotions Ltd.
7. "Official opening of the extension". Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
8. "Irish Track Records as of January 2024". Greyhound Star. 10 January 2024. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
9. "Thurles Fresh Milk Open/S1 330 yds". Irish Greyhound Board.
10. "THE TOP FLIGHT OPEN 360YDS STAKE HEAT 2". Irish Greyhound Board.
11. "Thurles track records". Greyhound Data.
12. "Track records". Greyhound Data.
13. "Track records". Greyhound Star. 22 January 2018.
14. "Newbridge Track records". Greyhound Star. 7 January 2019.
15. "From the tracks" . Munster Tribune. 26 August 1960. Retrieved 6 July 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
16. "From the tracks" . Munster Tribune. 30 August 1961. Retrieved 6 July 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.