Newbridge Greyhound Stadium
| Location | Milltown Road, Cornelscourt, Newbridge, County Kildare, W12 FV06 Ireland |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 53°11'24.7"N 6°49'20.8"W |
| Operated by | Greyhound Racing Ireland |
| 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 evening and the facilities include the grandstand Masters Restaurant and Barkers Bar which offers ample seating.[2]
Race distances are 325, 525, 550, 575 and 750 yards and the feature competitions are the Unraced Bitch Stake, the Juvenile Derby and the Newbridge Oaks.[3][4]
History
[edit]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.[5] 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.[6] 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. The Cox Cup was held from 1964 to 2018.
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.[7] 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.[8] However, problems persisted at the track and in March 2013 Morwell Racing Ltd ceased racing.[9]
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. Following the COVID-19 pandemic the track was forced into temporary closure but re-opened later, although racing is currently held on Friday evenings only.
Former Competitions
[edit]Track records
[edit][10] Current
| Yards | Greyhound | Time | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 325 | Deanridge Onfire[11] | 17.21 | 7 August 2020 | |
| 525 | Droopys Curio[12] | 28.07 | 13 March 2020 | |
| 550 | Redwood Mick[13] | 29.50 | 30 May 2014 | Cox Cup semi final |
| 575 | Wilcos Mate[14] | 31.12 | 14 July 2006 | |
| 600 | Tyrur Chris[15] | 32.40 | 11 June 2010 | |
| 750 | Maireads Pearl[16] | 41.43 | 5 April 2019 | |
| 845 | Rough Quest[17] | 47.38 | 30 October 2009 | |
| 525 H | Frightened Pig[18] | 29.14 | 9 July 2004 |
Former [19]
| Yards | Greyhound | Time | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 300 | Clane Mint | 16.50 | 11 June 1976 | |
| 300 | Joannes Treasure | 16.44 | 31 August 1990 | |
| 300 | Rockspring Peer | 16.20 | 5 May 2000 | |
| 325 | Cool Gamble | 17.38 | 17 January 2003 | |
| 325 | Kafima | 17.37 | 14 October 2005 | |
| 325 | Yes Boss | 17.35 | 8 November 2009 | |
| 325 | Junior Jet[20] | 17.27 | 16 June 2017 | |
| 525 | Shamrock Point [21] | 29.08 | October 1974 | |
| 525 | Some Skinomage | 29.02 | 6 June 1977 | |
| 525 | Wise Band | 29.02 | 21 June 1985 | |
| 525 | Airmount Grand | 28.86 | September 1988 | |
| 525 | Ardfert Mick | 28.68 | 22 June 1991 | Cox Cup heats |
| 525 | Judicial Pride | 28.58 | 14 June 1999 | |
| 525 | Velvet Commander | 28.58 | 25 October 2003 | |
| 525 | Spell Bound | 28.42 | 31 October 2003 | |
| 525 | Hillcroft Josie | 28.39 | 19 October 2007 | |
| 525 | Maireads Fantasy [22] | 28.23 | 23 October 2009 | Newbridge Oaks 2nd round |
| 525 | Cushie Jet[23] | 28.21 | 31 August 2018 | 2018 Juvenile Derby Round 2 |
| 525 | Ballymac Anton[24] | 28.18 | 7 September 2018 | Texacloth Juvenile Derby semi final |
| 550 | Track Whisper | 30.46 | 17 July 1987 | |
| 550 | Carlow Country | 30.18 | 23 September 1988 | |
| 550 | Droopys Mossie | 29.96 | 3 July 1994 | |
| 550 | Premier County | 29.93 | 30 November 2001 | |
| 550 | Ten Men | 29.81 | 11 July 2003 | |
| 550 | Simply Vintage | 29.71 | 11 July 2003 | |
| 550 | Top Boe | 29.62 | 2 July 2004 | Cox Cup second round |
| 550 | Definate Opinion | 29.56 | 4 June 2010 | Cox Cup semi-finals |
| 550 | Tyrur Bucko | 29.51 | 11 June 2010 | Cox Cup Final |
| 550 | Redwood Mick | 29.50 | 30 May 2014 | Cox Cup semi-finals |
| 575 | The Other Master | 32.56 | 2 August 2002 | |
| 575 | Sonic Pearl | 32.42 | 5 August 2002 | |
| 575 | Pickwick Song | 31.87 | 9 August 2002 | |
| 575 | Curryhills Wade | 31.50 | 16 August 2002 | |
| 575 | Cabbage White | 31.26 | 23 August 2002 | |
| 575 | Awesome Impact | 31.24 | 26 May 2003 | |
| 600 | Red Smoke | 33.34 | 9 April 1976 | |
| 600 | Synone Crest | 32.97 | 24 July 1987 | |
| 600 | Lisk Raven | 32.90 | 4 September 1989 | |
| 600 | Guess Twice | 32.86 | 28 June 1991 | |
| 600 | Charlie Bird | 32.72 | 19 July 2002 | |
| 600 | Walking Sunday | 32.71 | 19 July 2002 | |
| 600 | Pennys Sunstar | 32.69 | 6 September 2008 | |
| 600 | Dangerous Man | 32.64 | 4 September 2009 | |
| 750 | Loch Bo Anchor | 42.34 | 3 July 1994 | |
| 750 | Me Rocket | 42.18 | 2 June 2003 | |
| 750 | Beaming Surprise | 41.98 | 16 January 2004 | |
| 750 | Hulkster | 41.85 | 5 November 2005 | |
| 750 | Bricken Maley[25] | 41.82 | 7 June 2013 | |
| 750 | Jet Stream View[26] | 41.59 | 29 March 2019 | |
| 820 | August Blossom | 46.90 | 4 October 1991 | |
| 820 | Fast Remark | 46.76 | 30 June 2000 | |
| 845 | Metric Tiger | 47.75 | 21 July 2002 | |
| 845 | Recovery Mission | 47.73 | 23 May 2003 | |
| 845 | Marshalls Trigger | 47.68 | 30 December 2004 | |
| 845 | Pretty Fantasy | 47.57 | 16 December 2007 | |
| 525 H | Moreen Flamingo | 30.08 | 6 July 1977 | |
| 525 H | No Promises | 29.92 | 3 July 1987 | |
| 525 H | Swiss Champ | 29.18 | 29 April 2002 |
References
[edit]- ^ "Newbridge Greyhound Racing Track". County Kildare Tourism.
- ^ "Newbridge Greyhound Stadium". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
- ^ "Newbridge". Greyhound Data. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
- ^ "Features and Classics". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Irish Track Records as of January 2024". Greyhound Star. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
- ^ "The Welcome to Newbridge Stadium 325". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
- ^ "Brownstown Tango/NTSC Open Unraced Bitch Round 1 Heat 4". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
- ^ "The 2014 Cox Cup Open 550 Semi-Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
- ^ "Ger canty Winner of Three 575 2nd Rd Heat 2". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
- ^ "The Channon Family Open 600". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
- ^ "€11.50 Sizzler Package Novice 750". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
- ^ "Finnegan / Dowling Family Open Marathon 845". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
- ^ "The Newbridge Open Hurdle". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
- ^ "Track records". Greyhound Data.
- ^ "Bounce City S1/S2 325". Greyhound Racing Ireland.
- ^ "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 1974) November edition". Greyhound Star.
- ^ "J.P. Moran & T.O'Donnell Newbridge Oaks Round 2 Heat 2". Greyhound Racing Ireland.
- ^ "2018 Texacloth Juvenile Derby Open 525 Round 2 Heat 2". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
- ^ "2018 Texacloth Juvenile Derby Open 525 Semi-Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland.
- ^ "The Masters Restaurant D1/D2 750". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
- ^ "Scope Healthcare D1/D2 750". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 30 December 2020.