Derry Greyhound Stadium

Derry Greyhound Stadium is the greyhound racing operation held at the Brandywell Showgrounds next to the new Brandywell Stadium in Northern Ireland. The track was relocated from around the football pitch to next door to it, opening in 2018. Racing takes place every Monday evening.

Derry Greyhound Stadium

Location	Brandywell Showgrounds, Lone Moor Road Derry Northern Ireland
Owner	Derry City and Strabane District Council
Construction
Opened	29 July 1932
Renovated	19 April 2018 (new track built)

History

Northern Irish greyhound tracks are unusual in the sport of greyhound racing within the United Kingdom due to the fact that they do not fall within the jurisdiction of the Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Instead, the Bord na gCon (the Irish Greyhound Board) oversee proceedings.

The track in Derry raced for the first time on 29 July 1932 under the leadership of Hugh Duffy.[1] The track was constructed around the Brandywell Stadium football stadium, home of Derry City.

The original track was regarded as being one of the smallest in Ireland. The Brandywell Greyhound Racing Company were responsible for ensuring that racing continued over the years, even during the period from 1971 until 1985[2] when the football was cancelled here due to the unrest in Northern Ireland. The greyhound racing was fortunate to experience just one short closure which took place in 1971 following the loss of 20 fixtures previously.[3] There was however a dispute between Derry FC and the greyhound management in 1968 when the weekly rent was increased from £12-6 to £20 per week.[4]

The track hosts an Irish Greyhound Derby trial stake every year and major events have included the James Corry Marathon, Festival Derby and Ulster 500.[5]

New track

The greyhound race track closed on Saturday 3 December 2016. The stadium was demolished, with plans announced for a new stadium and a stand-alone greyhound track.[6] [7] The new stand-alone greyhound track was part of the 2018 £7m development for a new state-of-the-art stadium.[8] The facility, funded by Derry City and Strabane District Council in conjunction with the Executive Office, included the track, which was opened for trials by the Brandywell Greyhound Racing Company on 9 February 2018.[9] Racing continues every Monday evening. [10]

Track records

New track (current) [11]

Yards	Greyhound	Time	Date	Notes
300	Rosshill Rocket [12]	16.51	19 April 2018
500	Central Boss [13]	27.51	28 May 2018
525	Central Boss [14]	28.78	6 August 2018

Old track

Yards	Greyhound	Time	Date	Notes
300	Currowgariff Border	16.83	1950
300	Black Velvet	16.55	1978
300	Bright Oliver	16.45	19.10.1979
300	Pipers Gold	16.43	22.09.1989
300	Drumragh Mulder	16.51	08.09.2000
300	Cobra	16.46	17 August 2009
400	Beefeater	28.77	2002
440	True Record	25.56	1950
440	Local Sweep	25.08	1970
440	High Footstick	25.05	1978
440	Street Cat	24.94	13 July 1981
500	Sandy Lee	28.20	1970
500	Drumahisky Champ		1978
500	Glackmore Island	27.98	1978
500	Seaway Joe	27.96	09.12.1983
500	Central Supreme	27.85	24.04.1990
500	Tullymurry Toff	27.85	16.03.2001
500	Kinrush	27.84	12.07.2002
500	Cavies Cruncher	27.78	31.10.2003
500	Eden Brett	27.64	22 September 2008
525	Hale Farloe	30.64	1950
525	Prisona Nuath	29.56	1978
525	Glenroe Champ	29.54	1979
525	Drumahisky Champ	29.51	1980
525	Westpark City	29.04	15.06.1984
525	Lignamonagh Bray	28.90	11 July 2003
600	Leck Venture	34.20	1980
600	Farloe Hall	34.02	24.02.1985
600	Coleraine Jazz	34.02	10.05.1985
600	Pusher Bird	33.99	29.07.1988
600	Winners Flag	33.92	23.10.1992
600	Homefield King	33.92	2002
600	Elm Lass	33.88	09.05.2003
600	Star Model	33.79	24 November 2003
720	Atomic Rebel	40.96	01.04.1948
720	Miss Jahousky	40.20	16.08.1985
720	Farloe Frown	41.01	16.07.2001
720	Farloe Tico	40.42	12 June 2008
920	Tullys Passion	53.96	31 May 2007

References

1. Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. p. 21. ISBN 07207-1106-1.
2. Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 07207-1106-1.
3. "Remember When - September". Greyhound Star.
4. "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 1968) March edition". Greyhound Star.
5. Barnes, Julia (1991). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-61-9.
6. "Brandywell Closes". Greyhound Star.
7. "End of an era at Brandywell as greyhound racing in Derry makes tracks to its new home". Derry Now.
8. "Work on £7m Brandywell redevelopment to be completed before end of the year". Irish News.
9. "GREYHOUNDS: New Brandywell track hosts first trials". Derry Journal.
10. "Results". Irish Greyhound Board.
11. "Cork Track records". Greyhound Star.
12. "300 Track record". Irish Greyhound Board.
13. "500 Track record". Irish Greyhound Board.
14. "525 Track record". Irish Greyhound Board.