Shelbourne Park

Last updated

Shelbourne Park
Location Ringsend, Dublin
Coordinates 53°20′25″N6°13′49″W / 53.340378°N 6.230236°W / 53.340378; -6.230236
Operated by Greyhound Racing Ireland
Date opened1927
Capacity800 [1]
Race typeGreyhound
Notable races Irish Greyhound Derby
Official website
View of Ringsend showing Shelbourne Park Ringsend view from Montevetro building (cropped).jpg
View of Ringsend showing Shelbourne Park

Shelbourne Park is a greyhound racing stadium in the south Dublin inner city suburb of Ringsend.

Contents

Greyhound Racing

Opening

The plans to open a greyhound track in Dublin were drawn up by Paddy O’Donoghue, Jerry Collins, Patsy McAlinden and Jim Clarke. Shelbourne Park opened on 14 May 1927 hot on the heels of Celtic Park (Belfast). The stadium located in the docklands in Ringsend was Dublin's answer to the Belfast track and the pair became the two most greyhound prestigious tracks in Irish racing. When opening in 1927 the track employed four resident trainers in Mick Horan, Paddy Quigley, Billy Donoghue and Ben Scally. [2]

History

One year later it was decided to introduce the Easter Cup which commemorated the 1916 Easter Monday Rising in Dublin. However, the race soon became known for its own fame rather than its naming origins. The first winner was a greyhound called Odd Blade and the brindle dog went on to successfully defend his title the following year. Famously Mick the Miller equalled the world record time for 500 yards when recording 28.80 in 1928 but he only managed a runner-up spot to Odd Blade in that previously mentioned 1929 Easter Cup final. Mick went on to win the English Greyhound Derby that year for Shelbourne trainer Horan.

Shelbourne Park hosted the first official Irish Greyhound Derby which had been run on four previous occasions from 1928 to 1931 at a rival track Harold's Cross Stadium. The first winner of the Irish Derby at Shelbourne was Guideless Joe owned by champion Irish jockey Jack Moyland and trained by local trainer Mick Horan.

The Oaks came to Shelbourne Park in 1935 and like the Irish Derby, was normally run every other year with Harolds Cross hosting in between. The Grand National took place here in 1933 & 1934 and the St Leger four times in the thirties but it was decided by the Irish Coursing Club that it was better to distribute the classics between several tracks. Another event was inaugurated in 1939 and that was the McAlinden Cup.

The remarkable greyhound called Tanist reached the final of the Easter Cup in April 1940, by smashing the track record at Shelbourne Park in 29.66sec and the legendary Spanish Battleship claimed his second of three Derby victories in 1954, also breaking the track record in the process. On 25 June 1946 Shelbourne used the first photo finish in Ireland during the semi-finals of the McAlinden Cup. [3]

An extraordinary 1956 Irish Derby saw 'Keep Moving' break the track record twice before the sub-29-second barrier was broken by Prince of Bermuda. [4]

Bord na gCon installed a new totalisator system in 1960 and eight years later they purchased the stadium itself [5] to stop the threat of redevelopment that was hanging over the stadium. [6] A £240,000 investment followed and the same year that the Irish Derby found a permanent home at Shelbourne to the dismay of Harolds Cross supporters. The Shelbourne 600 sponsored by Guinness started in 1964 and the Oaks also became permanent at Shelbourne in 1980. [7]

The bookmakers in 1974 Shelbourne Park Greyhound Raceground (1) - geograph.org.uk - 5510657.jpg
The bookmakers in 1974

Paddy Ryan who became the Racing Manager in 1974 after taking over the reins from Jack O’Shea would hold the position for over 30 years before becoming general manager and then retiring in 2009. The Derby distance changed to 550 yards in 1986 and after a successful one-off feature in 1979, the Champion Stakes became an annual event in 1986. [8]

With the closure of Celtic Park in 1983 Shelbourne became the premier track in Ireland and continues to provide most of the major events in the Irish racing calendar. In March 2021, the Board of Rásaíocht Con Éireann (Greyhound Racing Ireland) announced a two-stage €2.3 million plan for improvements at the venue. [9]

Competitions

Current track records

YardsGreyhoundTimeDateNotes
350Gizmo Cash [10] 18.1813 May 2022
525Paradise Madison27.678 December 2012
550Pestana [11] 28.9922 August 2020Irish Derby 2nd round
575Sentimental Lad [12] 30.599 July 2022
600Laughil Duke31.9126 September 2015
750Redzer Ardfert [13] 40.8621 September 2019
850Dana Point [14] 47.059 October 2021
1025Riverside Honey [15] 58.116 December 2019
525 hurdlesSecondrate Champ28.737 December 2018

Former track records

[16] [17] [18]

Football

The stadium also played host to the home matches of Shelbourne FC, who play in the League of Ireland, from 1913/14 to 1948/49. The first match was a 1–1 draw against Bohemians and their last match there was a 2–2 draw against Waterford. Shels left Shelbourne Park with the intention of building a new stadium in the nearby district of Irishtown.

While Shelbourne Park was the home of Shelbourne FC, they won one Irish Cup while competing in the Irish League and upon becoming founder members of the League of Ireland in 1921, won five league titles and one FAI Cup before moving on.

Shelbourne Park was the venue for two FAI Cup Final replays, in 1927 and 1929.

Trivia

Shelbourne Park appeared in the British motoring programme, Top Gear where Richard Hammond using a Mazda MX5 raced against a greyhound around the track. Despite Hammond's best efforts, the greyhound won.

Speedway Racing

Shelbourne Park staged Motorcycle speedway racing from 1950 to 1954, again in 1961 and again in 1970 and 1971. In 1951 it was a base for a team of American speedway riders including Nick Nicolaides, Don Hawley, Johnny Roccio, Manuel Trujillo, and Lloyd Campbell. The team raced at most of the UK tracks and often featured Ernie Roccio who was based at Wimbledon.

Car park

Shelbourne Park provides pay and display car parking on days without major events. Hourly, daily, weekly and monthly rates are available. The car park is open on weekdays 6am to 10pm and not accessible during the night and on weekends.

Related Research Articles

Harold's Cross Stadium was a greyhound racing stadium in Harold's Cross, Dublin, owned and operated by the Irish Greyhound Board.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wimbledon Stadium</span> Former greyhound racing track in London, England

Wimbledon Stadium, also known as Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium, was a greyhound racing track located in Wimbledon in southwest London, England.

Celtic Park was a multi-use stadium in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It was used for football matches and was the home of Belfast Celtic F.C. Throughout the majority of its existence it was a greyhound racing track. The stadium was able to hold 50,000 spectators at its height, with 5,000 of those spectators seated.

Newbridge Greyhound Stadium is a greyhound racing track located northwest of Newbridge, County Kildare, Ireland.

The Corn Cuchulainn is a greyhound racing competition held annually at Shelbourne Park and was formerly held at Harold's Cross Stadium in the city district of Harold's Cross, Dublin, Ireland.

The Puppy Derby also known as the Juvenile Derby is a greyhound racing competition held annually at Shelbourne Park in Dublin, Ireland. The event switched to Shelbourne following the closure of Harold's Cross Stadium in the city district of Harold's Cross.

Spanish Battleship was a male fawn and brindle greyhound. He is celebrated as one of Ireland's greatest racing greyhounds.

The Callanan Cup was a leading greyhound racing competition held annually at Harold's Cross Stadium in the city district of Harold's Cross, Dublin, Ireland.

The McAlinden Cup was a greyhound racing competition held annually at Shelbourne Park in Dublin, Ireland.

The 1977 Irish Greyhound Derby took place during July and August with the final being held at Shelbourne Park in Dublin on 13 August 1977.

The 1991 Irish Greyhound Derby took place during August and September with the final being held at Shelbourne Park in Dublin on 14 September 1991.

The 1927 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the second year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

The 1928 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the third year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

The 1929 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the fourth year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

The 1931 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the sixth year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The total annual attendance across the country for 1931 increased to 17,906,917 from 17,119,120, a fifth consecutive annual increase.

The 1947 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 22nd year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

The 1953 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 28th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

The 1954 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 29th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

The 1974 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 48th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellow Printer</span> Famous racing dog

Yellow Printer was a famous racing greyhound during the late 1960s. He is regarded as being one of the fastest racing greyhounds in history and won Ireland's ultimate prize, the Irish Greyhound Derby, in addition to being voted the 1968 UK Greyhound of the Year.

References

  1. ↑ "STADIUM CAPACITY" (PDF). GR Ireland. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  2. ↑ Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN   07207-1106-1.
  3. ↑ Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN   07207-1106-1.
  4. ↑ Fortune, Michael (2007). The History of the Irish Greyhound Derby. Irish Greyhound Review.
  5. ↑ "Remember When Series - January 2020". Greyhound Star. 5 January 2020.
  6. ↑ "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 1968) January edition". Greyhound Star.
  7. ↑ Fortune, Michael (1979). Irish Greyhound Annual. Victory Irish Promotions Ltd.
  8. ↑ Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. ISBN   0-948955-15-5.
  9. ↑ "€2.3M SHELBOURNE DEVELOPMENT". Greyhound Star. 11 March 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  10. ↑ "Irish performances of the week". Greyhound Star. 15 May 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  11. ↑ "Second round heats 22 Aug". Greyhound Racing Ireland.
  12. ↑ "Slan Abhaile AA0". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  13. ↑ "Download the Boylecasino App Today 750". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  14. ↑ "The Welcome To Shelbourne Park A1/A2". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  15. ↑ "Shelbourne Marathon Open 1025 Round 1". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  16. ↑ "Track records". Greyhound Data.
  17. ↑ "Track records". Greyhound Star. 22 January 2018.
  18. ↑ "Newbridge Track records". Greyhound Star. 7 January 2019.
  19. ↑ "Paddy Power Open 350". Greyhound Racing Ireland.
  20. ↑ "Remember When - July 1956". Greyhound Star. 28 July 2018.
  21. ↑ "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 1972) August edition". Greyhound Star.
  22. 1 2 "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When) July edition". Greyhound Star. 2012.
  23. ↑ "race result". Irish Greyhound Board.
  24. 1 2 3 "Remember When - August 2019". Greyhound Star. 4 August 2019.
  25. ↑ "600 Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
  26. ↑ "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 1973) July edition". Greyhound Star.
  27. ↑ "Corn Cuchulainn Round 2". Greyhound Racing Ireland.
  28. ↑ "The Best Car Parks Marathon Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
  29. ↑ "Best Car ParK Marathon 1025 Semi-Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland.
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