| Stadium Name: | Galway Greyhound Stadium |
| Location: | College Road, Galway, Ireland |
| Surface: | Track (all-sand) |
| Opened: | 1932 |
| Owner: | The Galway Agricultural & Sports Society Ltd |
| Tenants: | Greyhound Racing Ireland Connacht Rugby |
| Coordinates: | 53.279°N -9.0397°W |
| Publictransit: | Galway railway station |
Galway Greyhound Stadium formerly Galway Sportsgrounds, is the home of greyhound racing in Galway. The operators, Greyhound Racing Ireland host race fixtures throughout the year, primarily on Friday and Saturday evenings[1] and the race distances are 350, 525, 550, and 575 yards.[2] The feature competition at the track is the Champion Bitch Stake.[3] The grass pitch inside the greyhound track is used by Connacht Rugby and when rugby union is held the stadium is known as the Dexcom Stadium for sponsorship purposes.
The Galway Greyhound Racing Company was established in 1929 but it took a further three years for the first greyhound racing to take place at the west coast venue on the west side of the Lough Atalia. The opening night was slightly delayed before finally taking place on 1 July 1932. The first Racing Manager was Eugene Kelly.[4] The company was set up with £2,000 of capital by the directors Joseph Young, Henry Anderson, Martin Brennan, C.J. Kerin, John D.Whelan, M.J.Lydon, Thomas McDonagh, Philip O'Gorman, Jeremiah O'Sullivan. J.J. Flavin and Martin McDonagh.[5]
After a successful first season, the track re-opened for 1933, with significant improvements having taken place at the 'Sports Field', including a cover added to the main stand.[6] In 1935, the Galway Greyhound Owners' Association was formed.[7] In 1937, Mr Pat White was appointed the new manager of the track after switching from Enniscorthy Greyhound Stadium.[8]
The stadium operated through the majority of World War II and was a very popular destination, drawing in large attendances, partly due to the lack of other entertainment during the period. By 1946, the track was holding five meetings per week, overseen by Racing Manager M.A Cunningham and some races offered £300 for the win (a significant amount at the time).[9]
In 1959, a dispute over rent increases arose between directors of the greyhound racing and the Galway Sports Society, who owned the grounds and threatened to end the greyhound racing.[10] Edward 'Ned' Shea replaced Martin Divilly as track manager in 1960 and Micheál Ó Droigheaín, another former Galway track manager died in 1964.[11] Another problem arose in 1974, when the track was closed over ownership issues. The issue was that the Galway Agricultural & Sports Society wished to sell the racing licence to the Bord na gCon and refused to let the Galway Racing Company operate (the Galway Racing Company had held the licence since 1932).[12] It finally resulted in the track being taken over by the Bord na gCon in October 1974.[13]
By 1978, the stadium required renovation and the Bord na gCon decided that improvements could only be completed with the closure of the greyhound track. Therefore, in 1978 a new stand with bars and tote facilities was built and the circuit itself was re-laid with increased cambers. The grand re-opening was on 25 May 1979, with the modernisation costing over £500,000.[14]
In March 1998, the track was converted to sand from grass[15] but the owners and breeders were frustrated at the funding levels by the Bord na gCon.[16] In 2003, the track was subject to a major renovation project that cost the Bord na gCon €6m. The project was overseen by Racing Manager Ollie Hester, who joined the track in 2000.
In recent years the stadium has raced on the Friday and Saturday evenings and was also subject to criticism over attendance figures, which were distorted by TV requirements.
Current[17]
| width=100 | Yards | width=200 | Greyhound | width=50 | Time | width=200 | Date | width=250 | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 325 | Droopys Marco[18] | 17.37 | 28 July 2004 | ||||||
| 350 | Mall Brandy | 18.62 | 7 June 2013 | ||||||
| 525 | Raha Mofo[19] | 28.20 | 18 November 2022 | ||||||
| 550 | Handy Princess | 29.66 | 10 March 2007 | Champion Bitch Stakes Final | |||||
| 550 | Hanover Phantom[20] | =29.66 | 28 May 2022 | ||||||
| 575 | Si Senor | 30.97 | 24 November 2007 | ||||||
| 700 | Tyrur Rachel | 38.69 | 30 July 2007 | ||||||
| 725 | Bogberry Molly | 40.84 | 27 July 2013 | ||||||
| 810 | Iflookscouldkill | 45.09 | 4 August 2007 | ||||||
| 525 H | Top Lark | 29.34 | 23 July 2004 |
| width=100 | Yards | width=200 | Greyhound | width=50 | Time | width=200 | Date | width=250 | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 325 | Hello Guy | 18.61 | 1950 | ||||||
| 325 | Hello Guy | 18.15 | 1960 | ||||||
| 325 | Move Solar | 18.05 | 1970 | ||||||
| 325 | Shashana | 18.05 | 1970 | =equalled | |||||
| 325 | Ardrine Belle | 17.88 | 28 August 1970 | ||||||
| 325 | Clare Lodge | 17.72 | 26 July 1993 | ||||||
| 325 | The Quiffer | 17.79 | 27 August 1982 | ||||||
| 325 | Altinure Chief | 17.56 | 22 June 2001 | ||||||
| 325 | Tolmaker Hugh | 17.54 | 19 July 2002 | ||||||
| 330 | Carra Ree | 18.60 | 8 May 1950 | ||||||
| 330 | Move Handy | 18.05 | 19 November 1966 | ||||||
| 350 | Aulton Class | 19.35 | 1 August 2007 | ||||||
| 350 | Universal Class | 19.24 | 30 August 2007 | ||||||
| 350 | Liketheclappers | 18.80 | 15 December 2007 | ||||||
| 350 | Balliniska Woods | 18.70 | 29 July 2009 | ||||||
| 350 | Hurry Back | 18.68 | 5 August 2011 | ||||||
| 500 | Golden Victory | 28.82 | 20 April 1951 | ||||||
| 525 | Tannette | 31.50 | 5 May 1933 | ||||||
| 525 | Tell Me | 31.15 | 10 May 1933 | ||||||
| 525 | Corrib Side[23] | 31.42 | 28 June 1935 | ||||||
| 525 | Marching Through Georgia | 30.00 | 1939 | ||||||
| 525 | Spanish Battleship[24] | ||||||||
| 525 | Gortkelly Hope | 29.57 | 1970 | ||||||
| 525 | Fly On Boy | 29.54 | 29 July 1970 | ||||||
| 525 | Splendid Silver | 29.50 | 18 June 1976 | ||||||
| 525 | New Line Bridge | 29.46 | 12 July 1985 | ||||||
| 525 | No Road Back | 29.34 | June 1997 | ||||||
| 525 | No Road Back | 29.05 | July 1997 | ||||||
| 525 | Magical Guest | 29.25 | 2 August 2000 | ||||||
| 525 | Spring Motion | 29.12 | 4 August 2001 | ||||||
| 525 | Plucky Customer | 28.83 | 31 July 2002 | ||||||
| 525 | Master Tom | 28.82 | 6 September 2003 | ||||||
| 525 | Joes Lang | 28.77 | 31 October 2003 | ||||||
| 525 | Niamhs Old Forge | 28.70 | 7 November 2003 | ||||||
| 525 | Tyrur Marita | 28.51 | 10 January 2004 | ||||||
| 525 | Deel Rover | 28.49 | 16 July 2005 | ||||||
| 525 | Droopys Commanche | 28.47 | 22 July 2005 | ||||||
| 525 | Holborn Post | 28.46 | 29 July 2006 | ||||||
| 525 | Hillcroft Josie | 28.34 | 28 July 2007 | ||||||
| 525 | Raha Mofo[25] | 28.27 | 11 November 2022 | ||||||
| 550 | Erris Rebel | 31.30 | 1943 | ||||||
| 550 | Fealeside Duke | 31.28 | 26 August 1977 | ||||||
| 550 | Ollies Missy | 30.74 | 31 July 1986 | ||||||
| 550 | Crossleigh Fudge | 30.30 | 27 June 1999 | ||||||
| 550 | Tyrur Bello | 30.12 | 19 July 2002 | ||||||
| 550 | Coolio | 30.11 | 4 December 2003 | ||||||
| 550 | Tyrur Marita | 29.82 | 21 May 2004 | ||||||
| 550 | Handy Princess | 29.74 | 3 March 2007 | Champion Bitch Stakes semi-final | |||||
| 575 | Tom and Gerry | 31.77 | 1 August 2007 | ||||||
| 575 | Illtellyouthis | 31.43 | 8 September 2007 | ||||||
| 575 | Line of Fire | 31.26 | 3 November 2007 | ||||||
| 600 | Farmhill Prince | 35.05 1950 | |||||||
| 700 | Rambling Customer | 41.12 | 17 June 1960 | ||||||
| 700 | Clonmohan Lucy | 41.12 | 15 July 1960 | =equalled | |||||
| 700 | Moyglare Choice | 40.46 | 17 December 1999 | ||||||
| 700 | Hello Bud | 39.25 | 1 August 2001 | ||||||
| 700 | Hello Bud | 39.25 | 31 July 2002 | ||||||
| 700 | Mustang Kylie | 39.16 | 23 July 2004 | ||||||
| 700 | Midland Fire | 39.10 | 20 May 2006 | ||||||
| 700 | Blackjack Baggio | 39.02 | 24 November 2006 | ||||||
| 810 | Desert Chicken | 48.80 | 1970 | ||||||
| 810 | Skilful Story | 46.80 | 8 August 1975 | ||||||
| 810 | Deerwood | 46.60 | 29 July 1985 | ||||||
| 810 | Raheen Treasure | 45.95 | 30 July 2002 | ||||||
| 810 | Eye Rocket | 45.85 | 23 July 2004 | ||||||
| 810 | Group Champ | 45.44 | 30 October 2004 | ||||||
| 810 | Drominboy Jet | 45.33 | 30 July 2005 | ||||||
| 810 | Iflookscouldkill | 45.15 | 4 July 2007 | ||||||
| 325 H | Levally Roe | 19.00 | 13 June 1958 | ||||||
| 330 H | Halsham Playboy | 19.80 | 3 September 1955 | ||||||
| 330 H | Gambling Editor | 19.75 | 1956 | ||||||
| 525 H | Bay Moon | 31.00 | 1939 | ||||||
| 525 H | Golsto | 30.55 | 14 July 1956 | ||||||
| 525 H | Group Stinger | 29.65 | 16 September 2000 | ||||||
| 525 H | Slanemore Ivy | 29.65 | 2002 | ||||||
| 525 H | Top Lark | 29.48 | 4 December 2003 | ||||||
| 550 H | Gormans Fancy | 32.90 | 1950 |
See main article: The Sportsground.