Dungannon Greyhound Stadium Explained

Stadium Name:Dungannon Greyhound Stadium
Location:Oaks Road
Dungannon, County Tyrone, BT71 4BA, Northern Ireland[1]
Coordinates:54.5111°N -6.76°W
Opened:1930
Closed:2003

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

History

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

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

width=100Yardswidth=200Greyhoundwidth=50Timewidth=150Date
325Millionaire 18.11 1950
325Hi Spy 17.65 1970
325Kensington Lil 17.64 1970
325Cornetto 17.62 1970
325Beautiful Sara 17.35 15.09.1982
325Hard Ecu 17.27 17.10.1991
325Cassie Boy 17.25 05.02.1992
400Belmont Villa 33.55 13.06.1990
500Head Over 29.96 1950
500Stoneville Queen28.171970
500Kensington Lil 27.64 c.1970
500Sheilas Emma 1979
500Stradey Park 27.92 July 1981
500Easterly Gale 27.70 04.08.1984
500Rooskey Rose 27.65 04.04.1990
500Praidora 27.50 14.08.1991
500Speedy Shane 27.0807.07.1999
525Paulas Pal 29.18 1960
525Leitrim Solo 29.061981
525Chief Ironside 28.8011.06.1984
525Glenhill Pride 28.70 14.08.1991
525Gems Whisper [5] 28.65 29.04.1992
550Kilcool Mounty 31.97 1950
550Newdown Son 31.33 1970
550Dicks Bridge 30.91 1978
550Merchants Bound 30.75 1980
550Carters Lad 30.05 27.05.1987
550Glenhill Pride 29.75 09.10.1991
600Rose Velvet 33.78 1960
600Brookvale Pride 33.57 11.06.1981
780Twelfth Man 45.29 1970
780Rosevale Desire 44.67 1980
780Moyletra 44.40 15.09.1982
780Braccan Connie 43.9409.10.1991
325 hurdlesCalrossie Morning Star 19.39 1960
525 hurdlesMaggies Pup 31.75 1950

Ulster Oaks Winners

Notes and References

  1. Web site: PRONI Historical Maps. NI Direct.gov.
  2. Web site: DUNGANNON GREYHOUND STADIUM. Greyhound Derby.com.
  3. Book: Barnes, Julia. Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. 325. 1988. Ringpress Books. 0-948955-15-5.
  4. Book: Comyn, John. 50 Years of Greyhound Racing in Ireland. Aherlow Publishers Ltd.
  5. Web site: Track record. Greyhound Star.