Kingdom Greyhound Stadium

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Kingdom Greyhound Stadium
The stadium entrance in 2016
LocationBrewery Road, Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland
Coordinates52°16'29.9"N 9°42'00.0"W
Operated byGreyhound Racing Ireland
Date opened1930
Race typegreyhound racing
Official website

Kingdom Greyhound Stadium is a greyhound racing track located in Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland.[1] It has been known as Oakview Park and the Tralee Greyhound Stadium previously.

Racing takes place every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday evening and the facilities include a grandstand restaurant, fast food facilities, a number of bars, totalisator betting and seating. It also has a large car park around the stadium.[2]

Race distances are 500, 525, 550, 570, and 750 yards and the feature competitions at the track are the Juvenile Classic and the Race of Champions.[3]

History[edit]

A track known as the Ardfert Greyhound track in Ardfert opened in August 1929 but unfortunately closed the same year as a result of a larger track arriving in Oakview Village nearer to the Tralee town centre. The first meeting was held on 9 April 1930 at Oakview Park and the circumference was 476 yards making for a nice comfortable course for the greyhounds.[4]

The great Ballyhennessy Seal made his debut here in 1943 followed by Spanish Battleship, Ballymac Ball, Priceless Border and Patricias Hope, a quite remarkable list of greyhounds that graced the track over the years. In addition a series of competitions have been introduced over the years providing the Tralee public with regular annual events. The events were the Bloom 500, Harp Lager Stakes, Rose of Tralee, Clarke Cup, Kingdom Puppy Cup, Monalee Hiker Stakes and the MJ Hannafin Memorial Cup. The last mentioned event the MJ Hannafin Memorial Cup was named in memory of the Racing Manager at the track when it opened in 1930. His brothers to Jerry and Dennis Hannafin were two highly respected trainers in the industry.[4]

MJ Hannafin was Racing Manager until 1950 and then the hot seat was taken up by Kevin Laide for over thirty years before John Ward took over.[5]

At the turn of the 21st century, many Irish tracks received a boost from Greyhound Racing Ireland with refurbishment on the agenda. Tralee was no exception and underwent a major refit with the stadium redesigned for the new Millennium under the ownership of the Board.

Two new competitions the Juvenile Classic and Race of Champions have been introduced and they have quickly established themselves as leading feature events in the Irish racing calendar despite the fact that they have only been inaugurated in recent years.[6] The stadium underwent further upgrading in 2012 following extra investment by Greyhound Racing Ireland.

In December 2023, the stadium renewed the contract agreement (as part of the GRI) with S.I.S for 2024.[7]

Competitions[edit]

Track records[edit]

Current track records[edit]

Extended content

[8]

Yards Greyhound Time Date Notes
325 Flashing Willow[9] 17.12 28 May 2022
500 Beaming Mark 26.84 15 June 2012
525 Daleroad Duke[10] 27.92 8 December 2023
550 Explosive Boy[11] 29.22 12 June 2021 Race of Champions semi final
570 Bobsleigh Dream[12] 30.40 11 March 2022
750 Zulu Ella 41.60 17 July 2009
525 hurdles Cashen Zig 28.88 24 July 2009

Former track records[edit]

Extended content

[13][14][15]

Yards Greyhound Time Date Notes
315 Annaghs Pride 17.65 1950
315 Lemond Laddie 17.45 8 May 1958
315 Ballyard Dick =17.45 8 May 1958
325 Upourdat 17.95 20 May 1968
325 Rosslyn Raider 17.90 8 March 1974
325 Glamour Hobo 17.86 15 August 1984
325 True Gold 17.84 1988
325 Beau Amie 17.76 1988
325 Mistreamer 17.72 September 1990
325 Michigan Maurice 17.52 30 August 1991
325 Pineapple Mandy 17.46 23 April 1999
325 Cashen Malouda 17.40 30 June 2012
325 Leeview Dave 17.36 18 June 2013
325 Leeview Dave 17.24 21 June 2013
325 Holborn Junior 17.23 17 May 2014
325 Ballymac Sexton[16] 17.17 27 May 2016
500 Sugar Prince 28.55 22 July 1958
500 What About Andy[17] 27.76 March 1998
500 Long Charlie 27.45 15 March 2002
500 Annamore Derry 27.33 24 September 2004
500 Scarty Lad 27.14 4 May 2007
500 Mossend Ronnie 27.14 12 November 2010
500 Hernandez 27.07 26 July 2011
500 Characterbuildin 26.84 15 June 2012
525 Roman Emperor 30.20 1950
525 Pouleen Boy 30.20 1950
525 Hobos Choice 30.20 1950
525 Tellus 29.12 2 September 1964
525 Up Early 29.12 29 April 1977
525 Gina Girl 29.11 1978
525 Buck Hall 28.92 1981
525 Court Rain 28.90 17 August 1984
525 Castleland Mac 28.69 26 September 1991
525 Rocking Bob 28.41 29 August 1997
525 Mountleader Rolf 28.27 29 November 2002
525 Deerfield Mover 28.14 14 September 2004
525 Deerfield Sings 28.11 1 July 2011
525 Mind the Net 28.09 13 December 2003
525 Quietly 28.08 13 June 2014
525 Curious Boy 28.05 6 May 2016
525 Ballinabola Ed[18] 28.03 11 March 2022 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial Trial Stake
550 Another High Jack 31.10 16 May 1960
550 Footless =31.10 16 May 1960
550 Harpist 30.76 16 July 1976
550 Orange Prince 30.72 1979
550 Attractive Lad 1980
550 Killaclug Jet 30.52 1980
550 Realtins Best 30.40 29 April 1983
550 Ardfert Sean 30.18 2 December 1988
550 Cape Prince 29.78 28 July 1995
550 Annamore Billy 29.70 30 July 2002
550 Goldstar Premier 29.64 20 May 2005
550 Melodys Pat 29.62 6 June 2008
550 Dromore Dazzler 29.61 8 October 2010
550 Deerfield Music 29.52 17 June 2011
550 Farloe Trent 29.43 21 June 2013 Race of Champions
550 Native Chimes[19] 29.40 9 June 2017 Race of Champions semi final
550 Good News[19] 29.34 9 June 2017 Race of Champions semi final
570 Sirius 31.34 8 April 1969
570 Wise Commander 31.14 26 September 1996
570 Three Hells Bells 30.88 17 June 2003
570 Green Heat 30.75 30 August 2008
570 Raparee Polly 30.62 17 February 2009
570 Toms Brett 30.62 30 June 2012
600 Glittering Smack 33.65 1960
750 Slow Motion 42.40 29 May 1981
750 Easter Tidings 42.15 25 May 1999
750 I'm Only Sal 42.06 10 December 2004
750 Sahara Abbey 42.03 4 June 2005
750 Iflookscouldkill 41.88 8 December 2006
750 Iflookscouldkill 41.79 21 July 2007
750 Shakira Live 41.70 2 January 2009
812 Kertogue Sarah 45.90 22 July 1983
525 H Nervy Peggy 30.68 30 June 1961
525 H Ballyard Hurdler 29.85 18 August 1973
525 H Keen Captain 29.32 16 September 2003
525 H Queen Christine 29.21 4 June 2005

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Kingdom Greyhound Stadium". Kerry Tourism.
  2. ^ "Kingdom Greyhound Stadium". Greyhound Racing Ireland.
  3. ^ "Tralee". Greyhound Data.
  4. ^ a b Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 07207-1106-1.
  5. ^ Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-15-5.
  6. ^ "Greyhound Racing Ireland Has published the classic and feature events calendar for 2016". Greyhound Racing Ireland.
  7. ^ "SIS GRA 2024 Agreement". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  8. ^ "Irish Track Records as of January 2024". Greyhound Star. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  9. ^ "Lee Strand 325". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  10. ^ "2023 Eric Browne Memorial Kingdom Derby Round 1". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  11. ^ "Race record". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  12. ^ "All Greyhound Supplies at G&PW 570". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  13. ^ "Track records". Greyhound Data.
  14. ^ "Track records". Greyhound Star.
  15. ^ "Newbridge Track records". Greyhound Star.
  16. ^ "Kerry Coaches 325". Greyhound Racing Ireland.
  17. ^ "A new course record at Tralee". Vol. 16, no. 4. Greyhound Star. 4 April 1998.
  18. ^ "Con & Annie Kirby Memorial Trial Stake". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  19. ^ a b "Kerry G.A.A.Supporters Race of Champions Semi-Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 20 May 2022.

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