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Newbridge Greyhound Stadium

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Newbridge Greyhound Stadium
LocationMilltown Road, Cornelscourt, Newbridge, County Kildare, Ireland
Coordinates53°11'24.7"N 6°49'20.8"W
Operated byIrish Greyhound Board
Date opened1972
Race typegreyhound racing
Official website

Newbridge Greyhound Stadium is a greyhound racing track located northwest of Newbridge, County Kildare, Ireland.[1]

Racing takes place every Friday and Saturday evening and the facilities include the grandstand Masters Restaurant and Barkers Bar which offers ample seating.[2]

Race distances are 325, 525, 575 and 600 yards and the feature competition at the track is the Cox Cup.[3]

History

Following the closure of the old Newbridge greyhound track around St Conleth's Park in 1968 the operation was relocated to a more rural location north of the town near the Rickardstown/Cornelscourt area. It was still, however, within easy reach of the town and racing would originally take place every Monday and Friday. The new circuit was constructed in 1972, and the management brought the long-running Cox Cup with them. Named after the stadium landlords the Cox family (PJ Cox and sons Dermot and David). The new circuit tended to be a fast track with a large circumference of 520 yards. The new facilities included a glass-enclosed bar which allowed patrons to view not only the racing but the kennels and weighing room as well.[4] During 1978 further changes were made with a facelift for the main stand; this was the same year that long-standing racing manager Denis Brennan gave up the racing manager's seat that was then taken by Christy Connolly.

The Cox Cup allowed the Newbridge public to view some of the sport's fastest greyhounds, including Ardfert Mick, who broke the track record during the 1991 event. Despite the track facing financial problems at various times, there were more track improvements in 2002, which provided a welcome rejuvenation.[5] On 26 March 2011 the Cox family and the Newbridge Greyhound Racing Company called it a day and decided to close following a downturn in the economic climate. The management stated there has been a reduction in attendances, sponsorship and secondary business activity.

Following a five month closure it re-opened in August 2011 under the Morgan & Franklin Consortium headed by Managing Director David Morgan who provided renewed investment.[6] Morgan had worked at a senior level with Irish Greyhound Board (IGB) in the past and was also the stadium director for Semple Stadium. The consortium included Peter Franklin, former head of marketing of the IGB and was called Morwell Racing Ltd.[7] However, problems persisted at the track and in March 2013 Morwell Racing Ltd ceased racing.[8]

Welcome news arrived shortly afterwards in 2013 when the IGB stepped in, this time led by the IGB’s Philip Peake, and took control of the venue. The track recommenced racing once again on Friday and Saturday nights.

Competitions

Track records

Current

Yards Greyhound Time Date Notes
325 Deanridge Onfire[9] 17.21 7 August 2020
525 Droopys Curio[10] 28.07 13 March 2020
550 Redwood Mick[11] 29.50 30 May 2014 Cox Cup semi final
575 Wilcos Mate[12] 31.12 14 July 2006
600 Tyrur Chris[13] 32.40 11 June 2010
750 Maireads Pearl[14] 41.43 5 April 2019
845 Rough Quest[15] 47.38 30 October 2009
525 H Frightened Pig[16] 29.14 9 July 2004

Former [17]

References

  1. ^ "Newbridge Greyhound Racing Track". County Kildare Tourism.
  2. ^ "Newbridge Greyhound Stadium". Irish Greyhound Board.
  3. ^ "Newbridge". Greyhound Data.
  4. ^ Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 07207-1106-1.
  5. ^ Hobbs, Jonathan (2007). Greyhound Annual 2008. Raceform. ISBN 978-1-905153-53-4.
  6. ^ "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 2011) September 2012 edition". Greyhound Star.
  7. ^ "Speaking Notes". agriculture.gov.ie. Archived from the original on 18 November 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  8. ^ "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 2013) April edition". Greyhound Star.
  9. ^ "The Welcome to Newbridge Stadium 325". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  10. ^ "Brownstown Tango/NTSC Open Unraced Bitch Round 1 Heat 4". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  11. ^ "The 2014 Cox Cup Open 550 Semi-Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  12. ^ "GER CANTY ' WINNER OF THREE' 575 2nd Rd. Heat 2". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  13. ^ "The Channon Family Open 600". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  14. ^ "€11.50 Sizzler Package Novice 750". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  15. ^ "Finnegan / Dowling Family Open Marathon 845". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  16. ^ "THE NEWBRIDGE OPEN HURDLE". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  17. ^ "Track records". Greyhound Data.
  18. ^ "Bounce City S1/S2 325". Irish Greyhound Board.
  19. ^ "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 1974) November edition". Greyhound Star.
  20. ^ "J.P. Moran & T.O'Donnell Newbridge Oaks Round 2 Heat 2". Irish Greyhound Board.
  21. ^ "2018 Texacloth Juvenile Derby Open 525 Round 2 Heat 2". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  22. ^ "2018 Texacloth Juvenile Derby Open 525 Semi-Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
  23. ^ "The Masters Restaurant D1/D2 750". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  24. ^ "Scope Healthcare D1/D2 750". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 30 December 2020.

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