Longford Greyhound Stadium

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

Longford Greyhound Stadium
LocationPark Road, Longford, County Longford, Ireland
Coordinates53°43′13.6″N 7°47′35.6″W / 53.720444°N 7.793222°W / 53.720444; -7.793222
Date opened1939
Date closed2020
Race typegreyhound racing

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

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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

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  • Longford Derby
  • Longford Puppy Derby

Track records

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At closing [14][15][16]

Yards Greyhound Time Date Notes
330 Bay Sun [17] 17.33 11.07.2008
525 Dustin Fox 28.15 14 July 2006
550 Tyrur Harold 29.45 16 June 2017
570 Frisky Fantasy 30.73 2 August 2010
805 Posh Again 44.87 11 July 2008

Former [18]

Yards Greyhound Time Date Notes
330 Richmont Mick 18.69 1950
330 Portumna Bouncer 18.44 11 July 1969
330 Scaragh Prairie 18.32 30 August 1974
330 Cast No Stones 18.22 24 May 1985
330 Tubbercurry Lad 18.22 12 July 1985
330 Athboy Vintage 17.69 20 July 2001
330 Comans Express 17.68 10 June 2002
330 Silkey Joe 17.62 11 July 2003
330 Lethal Party 17.61 7 October 2005
330 Petes Noble 17.59 21 October 2005
330 Duke of Ross 17.52 9 December 2005
330 Gingko 17.35 13 July 2007
525 Cooleeny Twister 29.98 c.1948
525 Lovely Rambler 29.38 2 July 1965
525 Sampson Flash 29.28 5 July 1974 Longford Derby final
525 Pepsi Princess 28.82 1 September 1989
525 Athboy Vintage 28.27 10 August 2001
525 Get Here 28.26 19 July 2002
525 Dundrum Prince 28.21 18 June 2004
525 Hi King Closure 28.19 17 June 2005
550 Design 31.15 1970
550 Claddagh Quail 31.04 11 September 1970
550 Bermadaghs Shay 30.80 17 July 1985
550 Break The Clock 29.78 1 August 2003
550 Coolamber Prunty 29.77 11 July 2008
550 Pepsi Kev 29.77 3 October 2008
550 Rince Boy 29.76 20 October 2008
550 Bunlahy Brett 29.66 2 August 2010
550 Clydal Jack 29.63 21 June 2013 Longford Derby second round
550 Surley Bassi 29.51 20 June 2014
570 Angel Wonder 32.85 9 June 1967
570 Couch Trip 31.04 28 September 2001
570 Emdee Boys 30.92 13 May 2002
570 Dundrum Prince 30.80 1 April 2005
570 Dunsany 30.88 1 April 2005
570 Dundrum Prince 30.74 5 April 2005
600 Danba 34.67 14 April 1967
805 Thanks Jim 46.98 August 1991
805 Clydal Pigeon 45.89 30 September 2003
805 Hidden Solo 45.10 5 December 2003
330 H Benas Gift 19.95 c.1940
330 H Cave View Clipper 19.48 23 October 1959
525 H Fortwilliam Pagan 31.44 c.1941

References

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  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.
  13. ^ "Longford greyhound track closes after 80 years citing rising insurance costs". The Journal. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  14. ^ "Track records". Greyhound Data.
  15. ^ "Track records". Greyhound Star.
  16. ^ "Longford Track records". Greyhound Star.
  17. ^ "The Sierra Communications Open 330". Irish Greyhound Board.
  18. ^ "Longford track records". Greyhound Data.
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