Dungannon Greyhound Stadium

Dungannon Greyhound Stadium or Oaks Park was a greyhound racing track held on Oaks Road, Dungannon, County Tyrone, BT71 4BA, Northern Ireland.[1] [2]

Dungannon Greyhound Stadium
Map
LocationOaks Road
Dungannon, County Tyrone, BT71 4BA, Northern Ireland[1]
Coordinates54°30′40″N 6°45′36″W / 54.51111°N 6.76000°W / 54.51111; -6.76000
Opened1930
Closed2003

History

edit

Dungannon became the third Northern Irish greyhound track behind Celtic Park and Dunmore Stadium in July 1930.[3] Being a greyhound track in Northern Ireland it was neither under the jurisdiction of the National Greyhound Racing Club which was the governing body for UK Tracks or the Bord na gCon (the Irish Greyhound Board) which is the governing body for Irish tracks, the latter did however publish the results for Northern Ireland.

The track was 485 yards in circumference and racing took place every Tuesday or Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday evening and used an Outside Sumner hare system.[3]

The Ulster Oaks was introduced in 1970 establishing itself as the main event run at the track. Other competitions of note were the Mick Horan Puppy Championship (Horan was Mick the Miller's first trainer), the Tuborg Viceroy Cup and the Harry McCrory Memorial Cup (McCrory had a 30-year association with the track).[4]

In 1962 Tommy McCombe became the General and Racing Manager after Clones closed.[4]

In 1990 a fire destroyed a large part of the main stand around the same time that a letter was sent to the Bord na gCon threatening further attacks on the racecourse unless they stopped supporting coursing clubs.

Closure

edit

The Dungannon (Oaks Park) Stadium Greyhound Racing Limited who had taken over the track in 1995 saw the opportunity to make a substantial profit by developing the site and the track closed down in 2003. It was not until 2011 that planning permission was granted for 120 mixed residential dwellings, with a Sainsbury's shopping centre to the West and Dunlea Vale directly to the North. In 2014 the derelict grandstand was subject to an arson attack and completely destroyed.

Track records

edit
Yards Greyhound Time Date
325 Millionaire 18.11 1950
325 Hi Spy 17.65 1970
325 Kensington Lil 17.64 1970
325 Cornetto 17.62 1970
325 Beautiful Sara 17.35 15.09.1982
325 Hard Ecu 17.27 17.10.1991
325 Cassie Boy 17.25 05.02.1992
400 Belmont Villa 33.55 13.06.1990
500 Head Over 29.96 1950
500 Stoneville Queen 28.17 1970
500 Kensington Lil 27.64 c.1970
500 Sheilas Emma 1979
500 Stradey Park 27.92 July 1981
500 Easterly Gale 27.70 04.08.1984
500 Rooskey Rose 27.65 04.04.1990
500 Praidora 27.50 14.08.1991
500 Speedy Shane 27.08 07.07.1999
525 Paulas Pal 29.18 1960
525 Leitrim Solo 29.06 1981
525 Chief Ironside 28.80 11.06.1984
525 Glenhill Pride 28.70 14.08.1991
525 Gems Whisper [5] 28.65 29.04.1992
550 Kilcool Mounty 31.97 1950
550 Newdown Son 31.33 1970
550 Dicks Bridge 30.91 1978
550 Merchants Bound 30.75 1980
550 Carters Lad 30.05 27.05.1987
550 Glenhill Pride 29.75 09.10.1991
600 Rose Velvet 33.78 1960
600 Brookvale Pride 33.57 11.06.1981
780 Twelfth Man 45.29 1970
780 Rosevale Desire 44.67 1980
780 Moyletra 44.40 15.09.1982
780 Braccan Connie 43.94 09.10.1991
325 hurdles Calrossie Morning Star 19.39 1960
525 hurdles Maggies Pup 31.75 1950

Ulster Oaks Winners

edit
  • 1971 Kilwoney Rose
  • 1972 Trace of Red
  • 1973 Ashling Ban
  • 1974 Rokeel Rebel
  • 1975 Bright Evening
  • 1976 Kisses For Me
  • 1998 Toumpane Valley
  • 1999 Rosalettos Girl
  • 2000 Tullymurry Tango
  • 2001 Shanless Park
  • 2002 Baltic Star

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "PRONI Historical Maps". NI Direct.gov.
  2. ^ "DUNGANNON GREYHOUND STADIUM". Greyhound Derby.com.
  3. ^ a b Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. p. 325. ISBN 0-948955-15-5.
  4. ^ a b Comyn, John. 50 Years of Greyhound Racing in Ireland. Aherlow Publishers Ltd.
  5. ^ "Track record". Greyhound Star.