Newbridge Greyhound Stadium

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

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

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 [9] [10]

Yards Greyhound Time Date Notes
325Junior Jet [11]17.2716.06.2017
525Ballymac Anton [12]28.1807.09.2018Texacloth Juvenile Derby semi final
550Redwood Mick29.5030.05.2014
575Wilcos Mate31.1214.07.2006
600Tyrur Chris32.4011.06.2010
750Bricken Maley41.8207.06.2013
845Rough Quest47.3830.10.2009
525 HFrightened Pig29.1409.07.2004

Former [13]

Yards Greyhound Time Date Notes
300Clane Mint16.5011.06.1976
300Joannes Treasure16.4431.08.1990
300Rockspring Peer16.2005.05.2000
325Cool Gamble17.3817.01.2003
325Kafima17.3714.10.2005
325Yes Boss17.3508.11.2009
525Shamrock Point [14]29.0810.1974
525Some Skinomage29.0206.06.1977
525Wise Band29.0221.06.1985
525Airmount Grand28.86Sep 1988
525Ardfert Mick28.6822.06.1991Cox Cup Heats
525Judicial Pride28.5814.06.1999
525Velvet Commander28.5825.10.2003
525Droopys Stacey28.5328.10.2005
525Spell Bound28.4231.10.2003
525Hillcroft Josie28.3919.10.2007
525Maireads Fantasy [15]28.2323.10.2009Newbridge Oaks 2nd round
550Track Whisper30.4617.07.1987
550Carlow Country30.1823.09.1988
550Droopys Mossie29.9603.07.1994
550Premier County29.9330.11.2001
550Ten Men29.8111.07.2003
550Simply Vintage29.7111.07.2003
550Top Boe29.6202.07.2004Cox Cup second round
550Definate Opinion29.5604.06.2010Cox Cup semi-finals
550Tyrur Bucko29.5111.06.2010Cox Cup Final
550Redwood Mick29.5030.05.2014Cox Cup semi-finals
575The Other Master32.5602.08.2002
575Sonic Pearl32.4205.08.2002
575Pickwick Song31.8709.08.2002
575Curryhills Wade31.5016.08.2002
575Cabbage White31.2623.08.2002
575Awesome Impact31.2426.05.2003
600Red Smoke33.3409.04.1976
600Synone Crest32.9724.07.1987
600Lisk Raven32.9004.09.1989
600Guess Twice32.8628.06.1991
600Charlie Bird32.7219.07.2002
600Walking Sunday32.7119.07.2002
600Pennys Sunstar32.6906.09.2008
600Dangerous Man32.6404.09.2009
750Loch Bo Anchor42.3403.07.1994
750Me Rocket42.1802.06.2003
750Beaming Surprise41.9816.01.2004
750Hulkster41.8505.11.2005
820August Blossom46.9004.10.1991
820Fast Remark46.7630.06.2000
845Metric Tiger47.7521.07.2002
845Recovery Mission47.7323.05.2003
845Marshalls Trigger47.6830.12.2004
845Pretty Fantasy47.5716.12.2007
525 HMoreen Flamingo30.0806.07.1977
525 HNo Promises29.9203.07.1987
525 HSwiss Champ29.1829.04.2002

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. "Track records". Greyhound Star.
  10. "Newbridge Track records". Greyhound Star.
  11. "Bounce City S1/S2 325". Irish Greyhound Board.
  12. "2018 Texacloth Juvenile Derby Open 525 Semi-Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
  13. "Track records". Greyhound Data.
  14. "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 1974) November edition". Greyhound Star.
  15. "J.P. Moran & T.O'Donnell Newbridge Oaks Round 2 Heat 2". Irish Greyhound Board.

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