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Boyne Valley Greyhound Stadium

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Boyne Valley Greyhound Stadium
Map
LocationLimekiln Hill, Navan, County Meath
Coordinates53°38′35.577″N 6°41′7.946″W / 53.64321583°N 6.68554056°W / 53.64321583; -6.68554056
Opened1950
Closed1999

Boyne Valley Greyhound Stadium was a greyhound racing stadium on Limekiln Hill, East of the Trim Road in Navan, County Meath.[1]

Opening

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The opening night at the Boyne Valley Greyhound Stadium was on 21 June 1950. The track was opened by Senator P. Fitzsimons, Chairman of Meath Co. by the director Johnny Cantwell. There were seven races won by Flashlight Freddie, Just a Dog, Trial Times, Baytown Apple, Sky Goal, Few Words and Silver Abbey.[2]

History

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The track had a large 500 yard circuit circumference and Johnny Cantwell was the first Racing Manager for the Boyne Valley Greyhound Racing Company but following his death the company passed to his sons John and William.[3]

In 1960 the track first ran the Cesarewitch which gained classic status. Winners of the competition included Yanka Boy and Postal Vote before Ritas Choice broke the track record in the final in 1973. The event continued to produce significant winners including Itsachampion, Ballybeg Prim and Rahan Ship.[4]

In 1962 a totalisator was installed and five years later a new viewing area and bar was constructed.[2]

The track was suspended in 1983 by the Bord na gCon after a failure to pay all prize money owed, but despite this setback the track soon returned to action and the Cesarewitch remained one of Ireland’s major events. Roan Hurricane achieved a double in 1995 and then Bonus Prince completed a treble in 1998.[5]

Paddy Barry was the Manager of the Navan Track from 1984-1996.[2]

Closure

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Developers bought the track in 1998 for the relatively small figure of £1 million and although the track closed in 1999 it took until 2009 for the site to be developed into a new Lidl supermarket.[2]

Competitions

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Track records

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Yards Greyhound Time Date Notes
350 Oagham Boreen 19.15 1 September 1954
350 Never So Gay 19.04 9 October 1975
350 Princes Pal 18.76 23 July 1987 National Record
525 Little Kim 29.17 18 May 1966
525 Trip To Arran 29.10 25 September 1986
550 Sarsfield Castle 31.20 17 October 1951
550 Five Arrow 31.20 31 October 1956
550 Rolling Penny 31.15 1970
550 Murphys Arkle 30.72 2 August 1973
550 Hold Your Coole 30.40 30 July 1987
550 Gourmet Manor 30.38 1988
550 Lispopple Story 30.26 29 July 1989
600 Fleadh Music[6] 33.42 August 1963 Cesarewitch Heats
600 Brookeville Sputnik[6] 33.34 6 September 1963 Cesarewitch semi final
600 Butterfly Billy 33.26 1970
600 Postal Vote 33.08 3 September 1970
600 Ritas Choice 33.04 13 September 1973 Cesarewitch final
600 Choice Model 32.92 19 August 1982 National Record
600 Ratify 32.68 10 June 1993 Cesarewitch final
760 Ratify 43.44 15 August 1993
850 Tiny Tolcas 48.88 23 July 1987

References

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  1. ^ "Navan". Irish maps. Archived from the original on 29 August 2012. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d "Greyhound Racing". Navan & District Historical Society.
  3. ^ Genders, Roy (1975). The Greyhound and Racing Greyhound. Page Brothers (Norwich). ISBN 0-85020-0474.
  4. ^ Comyn, John. 50 Years of Greyhound Racing in Ireland. Aherlow Publishers Ltd.
  5. ^ Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 07207-1106-1.
  6. ^ a b "Ulster dogs reach final". Ireland's Saturday Night. 7 September 1963. Retrieved 26 May 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.