Newbridge Greyhound Stadium
| Location | Milltown Road, Cornelscourt, Newbridge, County Kildare, Ireland |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 53°11'24.7"N 6°49'20.8"W |
| Operated by | Irish Greyhound Board |
| Date opened | 1972 |
| Race type | greyhound 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
 | This section may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. The specific problem is: Dates don't conform to MOS:DATEFORMAT. (June 2019) |
| Yards | Greyhound | Time | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 325 | Junior Jet [11] | 17.27 | 16.06.2017 | |
| 525 | Ballymac Anton [12] | 28.18 | 07.09.2018 | Texacloth Juvenile Derby semi final |
| 550 | Redwood Mick | 29.50 | 30.05.2014 | |
| 575 | Wilcos Mate | 31.12 | 14.07.2006 | |
| 600 | Tyrur Chris | 32.40 | 11.06.2010 | |
| 750 | Bricken Maley | 41.82 | 07.06.2013 | |
| 845 | Rough Quest | 47.38 | 30.10.2009 | |
| 525 H | Frightened Pig | 29.14 | 09.07.2004 |
Former [13]
| Yards | Greyhound | Time | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 300 | Clane Mint | 16.50 | 11.06.1976 | |
| 300 | Joannes Treasure | 16.44 | 31.08.1990 | |
| 300 | Rockspring Peer | 16.20 | 05.05.2000 | |
| 325 | Cool Gamble | 17.38 | 17.01.2003 | |
| 325 | Kafima | 17.37 | 14.10.2005 | |
| 325 | Yes Boss | 17.35 | 08.11.2009 | |
| 525 | Shamrock Point [14] | 29.08 | 10.1974 | |
| 525 | Some Skinomage | 29.02 | 06.06.1977 | |
| 525 | Wise Band | 29.02 | 21.06.1985 | |
| 525 | Airmount Grand | 28.86 | Sep 1988 | |
| 525 | Ardfert Mick | 28.68 | 22.06.1991 | Cox Cup Heats |
| 525 | Judicial Pride | 28.58 | 14.06.1999 | |
| 525 | Velvet Commander | 28.58 | 25.10.2003 | |
| 525 | Droopys Stacey | 28.53 | 28.10.2005 | |
| 525 | Spell Bound | 28.42 | 31.10.2003 | |
| 525 | Hillcroft Josie | 28.39 | 19.10.2007 | |
| 525 | Maireads Fantasy [15] | 28.23 | 23.10.2009 | Newbridge Oaks 2nd round |
| 550 | Track Whisper | 30.46 | 17.07.1987 | |
| 550 | Carlow Country | 30.18 | 23.09.1988 | |
| 550 | Droopys Mossie | 29.96 | 03.07.1994 | |
| 550 | Premier County | 29.93 | 30.11.2001 | |
| 550 | Ten Men | 29.81 | 11.07.2003 | |
| 550 | Simply Vintage | 29.71 | 11.07.2003 | |
| 550 | Top Boe | 29.62 | 02.07.2004 | Cox Cup second round |
| 550 | Definate Opinion | 29.56 | 04.06.2010 | Cox Cup semi-finals |
| 550 | Tyrur Bucko | 29.51 | 11.06.2010 | Cox Cup Final |
| 550 | Redwood Mick | 29.50 | 30.05.2014 | Cox Cup semi-finals |
| 575 | The Other Master | 32.56 | 02.08.2002 | |
| 575 | Sonic Pearl | 32.42 | 05.08.2002 | |
| 575 | Pickwick Song | 31.87 | 09.08.2002 | |
| 575 | Curryhills Wade | 31.50 | 16.08.2002 | |
| 575 | Cabbage White | 31.26 | 23.08.2002 | |
| 575 | Awesome Impact | 31.24 | 26.05.2003 | |
| 600 | Red Smoke | 33.34 | 09.04.1976 | |
| 600 | Synone Crest | 32.97 | 24.07.1987 | |
| 600 | Lisk Raven | 32.90 | 04.09.1989 | |
| 600 | Guess Twice | 32.86 | 28.06.1991 | |
| 600 | Charlie Bird | 32.72 | 19.07.2002 | |
| 600 | Walking Sunday | 32.71 | 19.07.2002 | |
| 600 | Pennys Sunstar | 32.69 | 06.09.2008 | |
| 600 | Dangerous Man | 32.64 | 04.09.2009 | |
| 750 | Loch Bo Anchor | 42.34 | 03.07.1994 | |
| 750 | Me Rocket | 42.18 | 02.06.2003 | |
| 750 | Beaming Surprise | 41.98 | 16.01.2004 | |
| 750 | Hulkster | 41.85 | 05.11.2005 | |
| 820 | August Blossom | 46.90 | 04.10.1991 | |
| 820 | Fast Remark | 46.76 | 30.06.2000 | |
| 845 | Metric Tiger | 47.75 | 21.07.2002 | |
| 845 | Recovery Mission | 47.73 | 23.05.2003 | |
| 845 | Marshalls Trigger | 47.68 | 30.12.2004 | |
| 845 | Pretty Fantasy | 47.57 | 16.12.2007 | |
| 525 H | Moreen Flamingo | 30.08 | 06.07.1977 | |
| 525 H | No Promises | 29.92 | 03.07.1987 | |
| 525 H | Swiss Champ | 29.18 | 29.04.2002 |
References
- ^ "Newbridge Greyhound Racing Track". County Kildare Tourism.
- ^ "Newbridge Greyhound Stadium". Irish Greyhound Board.
- ^ "Newbridge". Greyhound Data.
- ^ Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 07207-1106-1.
- ^ Hobbs, Jonathan (2007). Greyhound Annual 2008. Raceform. ISBN 978-1-905153-53-4.
- ^ "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 2011) September 2012 edition". Greyhound Star.
- ^ "Speaking Notes". agriculture.gov.ie. Archived from the original on 18 November 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
- ^ "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 2013) April edition". Greyhound Star.
- ^ "Track records". Greyhound Star.
- ^ "Newbridge Track records". Greyhound Star.
- ^ "Bounce City S1/S2 325". Irish Greyhound Board.
- ^ "2018 Texacloth Juvenile Derby Open 525 Semi-Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
- ^ "Track records". Greyhound Data.
- ^ "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 1974) November edition". Greyhound Star.
- ^ "J.P. Moran & T.O'Donnell Newbridge Oaks Round 2 Heat 2". Irish Greyhound Board.
External links