Lifford Greyhound Stadium

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Lifford Greyhound Stadium
LocationBallyduff Road, Lifford, County Donegal, Ireland
Coordinates54°50'05.7"N 7°29'04.3"W
Operated byLifford Greyhound Racing Company Limited
Date opened1959
Race typegreyhound racing
Official website

Lifford Greyhound Stadium is a greyhound racing track located in Lifford, County Donegal, Ireland.[1]

The facilities include the Champion Stakes Restaurant, fast food facilities, a number of bars, totalisator betting and seating.[2] Racing takes place every Friday and Sunday (it was formerly held on Saturday evenings).[3]

Race distances are 325, 525, 550 and 575 yards.[4]

History[edit]

The Lifford Greyhound Stadium was built in 1959, when cattle dealer James Magee decided to convert some more of his grazing land from a schooling track into a professional 495 yard circumference circuit. Magee died in 1971 and his sons Cathal and Seamus took over the track as the Racing and General Managers around the same time that a new stand was erected at the venue.[5]

The main event originally held at the track was the Irwin Cup but it did not feature highly on the Irish racing calendar and during the late 1970s an event called the Abraham David Trophy was contested featuring significant prize money. Many top greyhounds have appeared here including Yellow Printer who began his career at Lifford as a puppy.[6] Race distances were 350, 525, 550, 575, 750 and 820 yards.[7]

After 32 years association the track was put up for sale by the Magee family in 1991 and was eventually bought by new owners in 2001 when Willie, Hugh and Patrick Duffy formed the Lifford Greyhound Racing Company.[8] On 11 September 2003 the track re-opened after undergoing a €12m refit with a new grandstand, two restaurants and improved facilities.[9]

Closure and reopening[edit]

During 2018, the stadium was put up for sale at a price of 1.9 million euros. The following year it was announced that the last race meeting would be on Saturday 17 August 2019 before the stadium was closed. Racing Manager Matthew Duffy blamed the lack of support from the Irish Greyhound Board.[10][11]

During October 2021, it was confirmed that the track would reopen on Sunday 6 March 2022. The racing was brought back by a syndicate called the Lifford Greyhound Racing Club - Canaradzo Ltd headed by Harry Findlay.[12][13][14] The track reopened on 23 March 2023 (slightly later than planned).[15]

Track records[edit]

Current records (new track)[edit]

[16]

Yards Greyhound Time Date Notes
325 Gizmo Cash 17.09 24 September 2023
525 Wi Can Dream 28.54 2 April 2023
550 Glideaway Alfie 29.97 7 May 2023
575 Droopys Nextone 31.34 2 April 2023

Former records[edit]

Extended content

[17][18][19][20]

Yards Greyhound Time Date Notes
325 Golden Ram 17.94 2 September 1961
325 Munchie 17.90 13 November 1976
325 Fulmax Fever 17.84 1976
325 Cooma Slave 17.67 7 June 1986
325 Eden Castle 17.62 20 July 1991
325 Pats Gale 17.54 17 August 1996
325 Fishy Boy 17.24 12 May 2002
325 Leathems Jet 17.59* 11 January 2003
325 Hollyhill Equity 17.57 12 January 2003
325 Jamellas Phantom 17.38 26 January 2003
350 Kilmalady Boy 18.49 25 September 2003
350 Droopys Robinho 18.47 25 February 2007
350 Royal Delight 18.39 1 January 2007
350 Montos Mark 18.39 4 November 2007
350 So Handsome 18.36 18 May 2008
350 Mustangsteviegee[21] 18.30 1 June 2008
525 Top Note 29.55 1970
525 Taxi Dancer 29.52 29 May 1971
525 Palestine June 29.35 17 July 1975
525 Marinas Crazy 29.18 18 August 1979
525 Moss Chimes 29.09 30 May 1981
525 Slaney Stan 29.09 3 July 1982
525 Erins Eye 29.09 4 October 1986
525 Fairhill Boy 28.92 15 July 1989
525 Star Ambition 28.70 2 September 2001
525 Farloe Bond 28.45 25 August 2002
525 Homeless Jo 28.41 2 December 2007
525 Barnish Ciaran 28.39 13 April 2008
525 Graigues Toss 28.36 27 April 2008
525 Rough Laura 28.25 13 September 2008
550 Bowe Princess 31.08 17 April 1962
550 Glencloy Swift 29.86 21 July 2001
550 Fridays Rumble 29.74 21 July 2002
550 Phoenix Paddy 29.71 11 February 2007
550 Phoenix Paddy 29.68 25 February 2007
550 Farloe Black 29.64 14 October 2007
550 Farloe Black 29.39 28 October 2007
550 College Causeway 29.31 26 October 2008
575 Duel 32.46 11 May 1967
575 Silent Rogue 32.35 6 August 1977
575 Madam Black 32.25 24 August 1977
575 Tour Valley 32.11 30 June 1979
575 Coolbeg Carina 32.08 1988
575 Saddleback Pearl 32.08 1988
575 Irish Lad 31.90 1990
575 Quare Whisper 31.87 22 June 1991
575 Drumsna Isle 31.72 22 August 1999
575 Tullymurry Token 31.47 27 July 2002
575 Glenanore Pride 31.40 18 May 2003
575 Jamies Boy 31.40 25 September 2003
575 Cabbage White 31.28 13 November 2003
575 Line Of Fire 31.05 7 October 2007
600 Messan Mak 32.88 22 September 2002
600 Always A Rumble 32.50 21 September 2003
750 Mobile Dubh 42.17 21 March 2004
750 Beaming Surprise 42.13 24 October 2004
750 Lisnahavil Lady 42.11 30 April 2005
750 Dromana Blue 41.72 25 February 2007
750 Droopys Quiff 41.56 7 October 2007
750 Droopys Quiff 41.38 5 October 2008
780 Bowe Princess 45.10 19 May 1962
790 Barrack Maid 45.03 17 August 1978
790 Farloe Frown 44.92 4 August 2001
820 Break Away Tiger 46.20 2 June 2002
820 Recovery Mission 45.74 11 September 2003
525 hurdles Sefanta 29.48 8 August 2004
550 H Frisby For Me 30.87 10 October 2004
550 hurdles Lemon Rambo 30.81 28 November 2004

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Lifford Greyhound Racing". Lifford Stadium. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  2. ^ "Lifford Greyhound Stadium". Irish Greyhound Board. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  3. ^ "LIFFORD ANNOUNCE OPENING HOURS AND TRIAL TIMES". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  4. ^ "Lifford". Greyhound Data. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  5. ^ Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 07207-1106-1.
  6. ^ Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 07207-1106-1.
  7. ^ "Lifford". Greyhound Data.
  8. ^ "Lifford Greyhound Stadium for sale". Donegal News.
  9. ^ "Lifford greyhound stadium opens". Health Club Management.
  10. ^ "End of an era as Lifford Greyhound Stadium set to close". Donegal Daily. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  11. ^ "Lifford Greyhound Stadium is set to close next week". Highland Radio. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  12. ^ "Date Confirmed for reopening of Lifford Greyhopund Track". Donegal News. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  13. ^ "Lifford name opening date". Greyhound Star. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  14. ^ "UK Tote Group confirms reopening of Lifford dog track". Donegal News. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  15. ^ "LIFFORD BACK UP AND RUNNING". Greyhound Star. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  16. ^ "Irish Track Records as of January 2024". Greyhound Star. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  17. ^ "Track records". Greyhound Data.
  18. ^ "Track records". Greyhound Star.
  19. ^ "Lifford Track records". Greyhound Star.
  20. ^ "Lifford track records". Greyhound Data.
  21. ^ "THE Hugh Duffy Memorial Open 350 Round 1 Heat 2". Irish Greyhound Board.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lifford_Greyhound_Stadium&oldid=1207268165"