Derry Greyhound Stadium

Greyhound racing stadium in Northern Ireland
54°59′26″N 7°20′10″W / 54.990552°N 7.336107°W / 54.990552; -7.336107Owned byDerry City and Strabane District CouncilDate opened29 July 1932
19 April 2018
(new track built)Race typegreyhound racingOfficial website

Derry Greyhound Stadium also known as the Brandywell Greyhound Track 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.

History

Northern Irish greyhound tracks are unusual in the sport of greyhound racing within the United Kingdom because they do not fall within the jurisdiction of the Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Instead, the Bord na gCon (the Irish Greyhound Board) oversees 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 was 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 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 Sniper Ria[12] 16.40 28 March 2022
500 Quill Minstral[13] 27.19 25 October 2021
525 Canada Goose[14] 28.59 27 September 2021
745 Townsend Carol[15] 42.05 20 January 2020

New track (former)

Yards Greyhound Time Date Notes
300 Rosshill Rocket [16] 16.51 19 April 2018
300 Caughtbysurprise[17] 16.45 14 January 2019
300 Cromac Willow[18] 16.45 28 September 2020
500 Central Boss [19] 27.51 28 May 2018
500 Nemesis[20] 27.50 21 September 2020
500 Manalishi Chief[21] 27.45 22 June 2021
525 Central Boss[22] 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 October 1979
300 Pipers Gold 16.43 22 September 1989
300 Drumragh Mulder 16.51 8 September 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 9 December 1983
500 Central Supreme 27.85 24 April 1990
500 Tullymurry Toff 27.85 16 March 2001
500 Kinrush 27.84 12 July 2002
500 Cavies Cruncher 27.78 31 October 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 June 1984
525 Lignamonagh Bray 28.90 11 July 2003
600 Leck Venture 34.20 1980
600 Farloe Hall 34.02 24 February 1985
600 Coleraine Jazz 34.02 10 May 1985
600 Pusher Bird 33.99 29 July 1988
600 Winners Flag 33.92 23 October 1992
600 Homefield King 33.92 2002
600 Elm Lass 33.88 9 May 2003
600 Star Model 33.79 24 November 2003
720 Atomic Rebel 40.96 1 April 1948
720 Miss Jahousky 40.20 16 August 1985
720 Farloe Frown 41.01 16 July 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. ^ "Support Your Local Track Sprint". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  13. ^ "Race 4 Greyhound Data Discussion Forum". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  14. ^ "TT Thermal Construction Contractors * Magical Bales Oaks". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  15. ^ "Race 4 Red Shilling 745 Marathon Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  16. ^ "300 Track record". Irish Greyhound Board.
  17. ^ "Race 8 Track Lotto Sprint". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  18. ^ "Race 7 Track Lotto Sponsored". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  19. ^ "500 Track record". Irish Greyhound Board.
  20. ^ "No More Ladders 500 Window Cleaning". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  21. ^ "Race 6 Track Lotto Open 500". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  22. ^ "525 Track record". Irish Greyhound Board.
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Greyhound stadiums in Ireland
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Current (Northern Ireland)
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