Kingdom Greyhound Stadium Explained

Kingdom Greyhound Stadium
Location:Brewery Road, Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland
Coordinates:52°16'29.9"N 9°42'00.0"W
Operator:Greyhound Racing Ireland
Opened:1930
Racetype:greyhound racing
Website:https://www.grireland.ie/go-greyhound-racing/our-stadiums/kingdom-greyhound-stadium/

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

A track known as the Ardfert Greyhound track in Ardfert opened in August 1929 but closed the same year as a result of a larger track arriving in Oakview Village nearer to the Tralee town centre. Despite opposition from the local clergy,[4] 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.[5]

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, MonaleeHiker 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.[5]

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.[6]

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.[7] 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.[8]

Competitions

Track records

Current track records

[9]

width=100Yardswidth=200Greyhoundwidth=50Timewidth=200Datewidth=250Notes
325Flashing Willow[10] 17.1228 May 2022
500 Beaming Mark 26.8415 June 2012
525 Daleroad Duke[11] 27.928 December 2023
550 Explosive Boy[12] 29.2212 June 2021Race of Champions semi final
570 Bobsleigh Dream[13] 30.4011 March 2022
750 Zulu Ella 41.6017 July 2009
525 hurdlesCashen Zig 28.8824 July 2009

Former track records

[14] [15] [16]

width=100Yardswidth=200Greyhoundwidth=50Timewidth=200Datewidth=250Notes
315Annaghs Pride 17.65 1950
315Lemond Laddie 17.45 8 May 1958
315Ballyard Dick =17.45 8 May 1958
325Upourdat 17.95 20 May 1968
325Rosslyn Raider 17.90 8 March 1974
325Glamour Hobo 17.86 15 August 1984
325True Gold 17.84 1988
325Beau Amie 17.76 1988
325Mistreamer 17.72 September 1990
325Michigan Maurice17.52 30 August 1991
325Pineapple Mandy 17.4623 April 1999
325Cashen Malouda 17.40 30 June 2012
325Leeview Dave 17.36 18 June 2013
325Leeview Dave 17.24 21 June 2013
325Holborn Junior 17.23 17 May 2014
325Ballymac Sexton[17] 17.1727 May 2016
500Sugar Prince 28.5522 July 1958
500What About Andy[18] 27.76March 1998
500Long Charlie 27.45 15 March 2002
500Annamore Derry 27.3324 September 2004
500Scarty Lad 27.14 4 May 2007
500Mossend Ronnie 27.14 12 November 2010
500Hernandez 27.07 26 July 2011
500Characterbuildin 26.84 15 June 2012
525Roman Emperor 30.20 1950
525Pouleen Boy 30.20 1950
525Hobos Choice 30.20 1950
525Tellus 29.12 2 September 1964
525Up Early 29.12 29 April 1977
525Gina Girl 29.11 1978
525Buck Hall28.92 1981
525Court Rain 28.90 17 August 1984
525Castleland Mac 28.6926 September 1991
525Rocking Bob 28.41 29 August 1997
525Mountleader Rolf 28.27 29 November 2002
525Deerfield Mover 28.14 14 September 2004
525Deerfield Sings 28.11 1 July 2011
525Mind the Net 28.09 13 December 2003
525Quietly 28.08 13 June 2014
525 Curious Boy 28.056 May 2016
525 Ballinabola Ed[19] 28.0311 March 2022Con & Annie Kirby Memorial Trial Stake
550Another High Jack 31.10 16 May 1960
550Footless =31.10 16 May 1960
550Harpist 30.76 16 July 1976
550Orange Prince 30.72 1979
550Attractive Lad 1980
550Killaclug Jet 30.52 1980
550Realtins Best 30.40 29 April 1983
550Ardfert Sean 30.18 2 December 1988
550Cape Prince 29.78 28 July 1995
550Annamore Billy 29.70 30 July 2002
550Goldstar Premier 29.64 20 May 2005
550Melodys Pat 29.62 6 June 2008
550Dromore Dazzler 29.61 8 October 2010
550Deerfield Music 29.52 17 June 2011
550Farloe Trent 29.43 21 June 2013 Race of Champions
550Native Chimes[20] 29.409 June 2017Race of Champions semi final
550Good News29.349 June 2017Race of Champions semi final
570Sirius 31.34 8 April 1969
570Wise Commander 31.14 26 September 1996
570Three Hells Bells 30.88 17 June 2003
570Green Heat 30.75 30 August 2008
570 Raparee Polly 30.6217 February 2009
570 Toms Brett 30.6230 June 2012
600Glittering Smack 33.65 1960
750Slow Motion 42.40 29 May 1981
750Easter Tidings 42.15 25 May 1999
750I'm Only Sal 42.06 10 December 2004
750Sahara Abbey 42.03 4 June 2005
750Iflookscouldkill 41.88 8 December 2006
750Iflookscouldkill 41.7921 July 2007
750Shakira Live 41.70 2 January 2009
812Kertogue Sarah 45.90 22 July 1983
525 HNervy Peggy 30.68 30 June 1961
525 HBallyard Hurdler 29.8518 August 1973
525 HKeen Captain 29.32 16 September 2003
525 HQueen Christine 29.214 June 2005

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kingdom Greyhound Stadium. Kerry Tourism.
  2. Web site: Kingdom Greyhound Stadium. Greyhound Racing Ireland.
  3. Web site: Tralee. Greyhound Data.
  4. News: Greyhound Racing . Derry Journal . 1 January 1930 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription . 18 August 2024.
  5. Book: Genders, Roy. The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. 1981. Pelham Books Ltd. 07207-1106-1.
  6. Book: Barnes, Julia. Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. 1988. Ringpress Books. 0-948955-15-5.
  7. Web site: Greyhound Racing Ireland Has published the classic and feature events calendar for 2016.. Greyhound Racing Ireland.
  8. Web site: SIS GRA 2024 Agreement . Greyhound Racing Ireland . 9 December 2023.
  9. Web site: Irish Track Records as of January 2024 . Greyhound Star . 14 February 2024.
  10. Web site: Lee Strand 325 . Greyhound Racing Ireland. 9 December 2023.
  11. Web site: 2023 Eric Browne Memorial Kingdom Derby Round 1 . Greyhound Racing Ireland. 9 December 2023.
  12. Web site: Race record. Greyhound Racing Ireland. 20 May 2022.
  13. Web site: All Greyhound Supplies at G&PW 570 . Greyhound Racing Ireland. 9 December 2023.
  14. Web site: Track records. Greyhound Data.
  15. Web site: Track records. Greyhound Star.
  16. Web site: Newbridge Track records. Greyhound Star.
  17. Web site: Kerry Coaches 325. Greyhound Racing Ireland.
  18. News: . 4 . 16 . 4 April 1998 . A new course record at Tralee . Greyhound Star.
  19. Web site: Con & Annie Kirby Memorial Trial Stake. Greyhound Racing Ireland. 20 May 2022.
  20. Web site: Kerry G.A.A.Supporters Race of Champions Semi-Final. Greyhound Racing Ireland. 20 May 2022.