Longford Greyhound Stadium
Longford Greyhound Stadium is a greyhound racing track located on the south side of Longford, County Longford, Ireland.[1]
| Location | Park Road, Longford, County Longford, Ireland |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 53°43′13.6″N 7°47′35.6″W |
| Date opened | 1939 |
| Race type | greyhound racing |
| Official website | |
The stadium is a ten-minute walk from the town centre and has a large customer car park. Racing takes place every Monday and Friday evening and the facilities include a fast food bar and totalisator betting.[2]
Race distances are 525, 550, 750 and 805 yards.[3]
History
Longford Greyhound Stadium is accessed via Earl Street and is just about the most centrally located track you can get in Ireland. The south Longford venue has a circumference of 485 yards and opened in May 1939. The track hosts the Longford Derby & Longford Puppy Derby and other events to have taken place previously here are the Padian Cup and Smithwicks 550.
One of the pioneers of the track was M. J. Lyons (a local businessman), and John Dorris (managing director) and Jim Conroy (former racing manager) have been long service personnel at the track.[4]
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.[5]
The small track remains a tight circuit and in recent times has battled for survival during a hard financial climate. The management including current Racing Manager Patrick Farrington and the voluntary committee continues to work hard to achieve a safe surface and environment for the greyhounds to run in. In July 2014 the sale of the Park Road track was agreed to Scottish-based greyhound owner Howard Wallace.[6][7]
Competitions
- Longford Derby
- Longford Puppy Derby
Track records
| Yards | Greyhound | Time | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 330 | Bay Sun [11] | 17.33 | 11.07.2008 | |
| 525 | Dustin Fox | 28.15 | 14.07.2006 | |
| 550 | Tyrur Harold | 29.45 | 16.06.2017 | |
| 570 | Frisky Fantasy | 30.73 | 02.08.2010 | |
| 805 | Posh Again | 44.87 | 11.07.2008 |
Former [12]
| Yards | Greyhound | Time | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 330 | Richmont Mick | 18.69 | 1950 | |
| 330 | Portumna Bouncer | 18.44 | 11.07.1969 | |
| 330 | Scaragh Prairie | 18.32 | 30.08.1974 | |
| 330 | Cast No Stones | 18.22 | 24.05.1985 | |
| 330 | Tubbercurry Lad | 18.22 | 12.07.1985 | |
| 330 | Athboy Vintage | 17.69 | 20.07.2001 | |
| 330 | Comans Express | 17.68 | 10.06.2002 | |
| 330 | Silkey Joe | 17.62 | 11.07.2003 | |
| 330 | Lethal Party | 17.61 | 07.10.2005 | |
| 330 | Petes Noble | 17.59 | 21.10.2005 | |
| 330 | Duke of Ross | 17.52 | 09.12.2005 | |
| 330 | Gingko | 17.35 | 13.07.2007 | |
| 525 | Cooleeny Twister | 29.98 | 1950 | |
| 525 | Lovely Rambler | 29.38 | 02.07.1965 | |
| 525 | Sampson Flash | 29.28 | 05.07.1974 | Longford Derby final |
| 525 | Pepsi Princess | 28.82 | 01.09.1989 | |
| 525 | Athboy Vintage | 28.27 | 10.08.2001 | |
| 525 | Get Here | 28.26 | 19.07.2002 | |
| 525 | Dundrum Prince | 28.21 | 18.06.2004 | |
| 525 | Hi King Closure | 28.19 | 17.06.2005 | |
| 550 | Design | 31.15 | 1970 | |
| 550 | Claddagh Quail | 31.04 | 11.09.1970 | |
| 550 | Bermadaghs Shay | 30.80 | 17.07.1985 | |
| 550 | Break The Clock | 29.78 | 01.08.2003 | |
| 550 | Coolamber Prunty | 29.77 | 11.07.2008 | |
| 550 | Pepsi Kev | 29.77 | 03.10.2008 | |
| 550 | Rince Boy | 29.76 | 20.10.2008 | |
| 550 | Bunlahy Brett | 29.66 | 02.08.2010 | |
| 550 | Clydal Jack | 29.63 | 21.06.2013 | Longford Derby second round |
| 550 | Surley Bassi | 29.51 | 20.06.2014 | |
| 570 | Angel Wonder | 32.85 | 09.06.1967 | |
| 570 | Couch Trip | 31.04 | 28.09.2001 | |
| 570 | Emdee Boys | 30.92 | 13.05.2002 | |
| 570 | Dundrum Prince | 30.80 | 01.04.2005 | |
| 570 | Dunsany | 30.88 | 01.04.2005 | |
| 570 | Dundrum Prince | 30.74 | 05.04.2005 | |
| 600 | Danba | 34.67 | 14.04.1967 | |
| 805 | Thanks Jim | 46.98 | Aug.1991 | |
| 805 | Clydal Pigeon | 45.89 | 30.09.2003 | |
| 805 | Hidden Solo | 45.10 | 05.12.2003 | |
| 330 H | Benas Gift | 19.95 | 1950 | |
| 330 H | Cave View Clipper | 19.48 | 23.10.1959 | |
| 525 H | Fortwilliam Pagan | 31.44 | 1946 |
References
- "Longford Greyhound Stadium". discoverireland.ie.
- "Longford Greyhound Stadium". Irish Greyhound Board.
- "Longford". Greyhound Data.
- Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 07207-1106-1.
- "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 1966) March edition". Greyhound Star.
- "Hopes for business boost as sale agreed on Greyhound Track". shannonside.ie. Archived from the original on 2016-08-25.
- "Scottish owner Wallace to take over at Longford track". Irish Independent.
- "Track records". Greyhound Data.
- "Track records". Greyhound Star.
- "Longford Track records". Greyhound Star.
- "The Sierra Communications Open 330". Irish Greyhound Board.
- "Longford track records". Greyhound Data.