Youghal Greyhound Stadium
| Location | Claycastle, Youghal, County Cork, Ireland |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 51°56'24.5"N 7°51'25.4"W |
| Operated by | Greyhound Racing Ireland |
| Date opened | 1948 |
| Race type | greyhound racing |
| Official website | |
Youghal Greyhound Stadium is a greyhound racing track located south of Youghal, County Cork, Ireland. The stadium is a 20 minutes walk from the town centre.[1]
History
[edit]On 30 July 1948 a greyhound called Hackles Spring won the first ever race at Youghal. The seaside track on the Upper Strand was run by the Youghal Racing Company before rásaíocht con éireann took over in 1972.[2]
The circuit is 464 yards in circumference and the track originally raced on Tuesday and Friday nights. Finbarr Coleman was racing manager for thirty years, from 1972 until 2002. Main events have included the Blackwater Cup, Paddy Stakes and Aherne Memorial Cup.[3]
Brian Collins and Pat Leahy both had short stints as Racing Manager until 2006 when Kathleen Lennon (daughter of the well-known breeder and trainer Denny) took over and became Ireland’s first female Racing Manager. Lennon left in 2012 to take over at Kilcohan Park.
John McGrath was appointed as the Racing and Commercial Manager from 2012.[4]
In 2012 Greyhound Racing Ireland announced plans to spend over €100,000 to deliver improvements at the track. The improvements were completed in April 2014 and Tom Hayes, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine opened the newly built facility. The refurbishment including a new judges box, and cost €134,000 in the end. Hayes complimented Bertie Lupton and the board of directors for their efforts at Youghal.[5]
It was announced that Curraheen Park and Youghal Greyhound Stadium had helped raise more than €5m for charities, clubs and other good causes in 2015.[6]
In 2023, the stadium signed a contract agreement with S.I.S regarding the broadcasting rights for early evening fixtures (6.05pm) that were introduced. Consequently, criticism arose over the €763,000 in state funding that had been received from 2020 to 2023 and GRI statement the meetings were not conducive to attracting public attendance.[7] In December 2023, the stadium renewed the contract agreement (as part of the GRI) with S.I.S for 2024.[8]
Operations
[edit]Racing takes place every Monday and Friday evening and the facilities include a fast food outlet, a bar, totalisator betting and inside and outside viewing areas.[9]
Race distances are 325, 525 and 550 yards [10] and the track has several feature events in the Irish racing calendar.[11]
Track records
[edit]Current [12]
| Yards | Greyhound | Time | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 325 | Lemon Clover | 17.34 | 11 October 1996 | |
| 525 | Whitty Guinness[13] | 28.54 | 29 October 2010 | |
| 550 | Whatsupjack | 29.91 | 18 September 2009 | |
| 700 | Tinas Girl | 38.79 | 19 August 2003 | |
| 790 | Shining Rumble | 44.76 | 13 July 2004 |
| Yards | Greyhound | Time | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 325 | Wonderful Era | 17.80 | 20 September 1968 | |
| 325 | Spotlight Mark | 17.80 | 21 September 1971 | |
| 325 | Basking Shark | 17.70 | 23 August 1974 | |
| 325 | Lough Tan | 17.48 | 15 August 1986 | |
| 325 | Greenane Catcher | 17.46 | 7 September 1990 | |
| 350 | Joyful Bob | 19.65 | 1953 | |
| 500 | Tillie O'Lear | 28.90 | 1960 | |
| 525 | Speedyman | 29.45 | 28 June 1968 | |
| 525 | Special Check | 29.00 | 27 July 1976 | |
| 525 | Glenpark Dancer | 28.90 | 15 November 1985 | |
| 525 | Gabirel Wonder | 28.82 | 20 August 1991 | |
| 525 | Gold Spitfire | 28.80 | 22 August 1997 | |
| 525 | Coolmona Dave | 28.66 | 9 May 2003 | |
| 525 | Boherduff Light | 28.66 | 10 October 2003 | |
| 525 | Boherduff Light | 28.61 | 25 June 2004 | |
| 525 | Boherduff Light | 28.61 | 2 July 2004 | |
| 550 | Pools Punter | 30.85 | 2 August 1968 | |
| 550 | Clashing Breeze | 30.80 | 19 August 1977 | |
| 550 | Glorious Champ | 30.75 | 1978 | Paddy Stakes semi-final |
| 550 | Glorious Champ | 30.75 | 1978 | Paddy Stakes Final |
| 550 | Blanco Kerry | 30.65 | 13 July 1978 | |
| 550 | Killaclug Jet | 30.60 | 1979 | Paddy Stakes Final |
| 550 | Lispopple Tiger | 30.20 | 31 May 1985 | |
| 550 | Borna Best | 29.94 | 9 May 1997 | |
| 550 | Clover Hare | 29.92 | 13 September 2002 | |
| 700 | Baylough Proud | 40.35 | 2 September 1977 | |
| 700 | Huberts Thacher | 40.35 | 13 July 1978 | |
| 700 | Man of Ice | 40.20 | 1980 | |
| 700 | Blondie Brown | 39.68 | 26 August 1983 | |
| 700 | Barbery Glade | 39.68 | 13 August 1989 | |
| 700 | Gaytime Blonde | 39.36 | 29 August 1997 | |
| 700 | Toms Mixture | 39.09 | 20 August 2002 | |
| 790 | Rovigno | 45.70 | 27 June 1969 | |
| 790 | Whittle Off | 45.30 | 18 July 1972 | |
| 790 | Fen Tiger | 44.92 | 4 July 1986 | |
| 990 | Wonderful Meudy | 59.18 | 2 August 1986 | |
| 990 | Queenies Fire | 59.14 | 15 June 1990 | |
| 525 H | Super Fellow | 30.70 | 17 July 1962 |
References
[edit]- ^ "Greyhound Track". Discover Ireland.
- ^ Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 07207-1106-1.
- ^ Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-15-5.
- ^ "GRI announces Youghal Appointment". Youghal online.
- ^ "Hayes opens refurbished stand at Youghal Greyhound Stadium". merrionstreet.ie.
- ^ "Curraheen Park and Youghal Greyhound stadia helped raise more than €5m". Cork.ie. February 2016.
- ^ Brennan, Cianan (17 July 2023). "Bailed-out Youghal Greyhound Track attracts just three fans to each meeting". Irish Examiner.
- ^ "SIS GRA 2024 Agreement". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
- ^ "Youghal greyhound Stadium". Greyhound Racing Ireland.
- ^ "Youghal". Greyhound Data.
- ^ "Feature Events" (PDF). Greyhound Racing Ireland.
- ^ "Irish Track Records as of January 2024". Greyhound Star. 10 January 2024. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
- ^ "The Friends of Youghal A2 Stakes Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland.
- ^ "Track records". Greyhound Data.
- ^ "Track records". Greyhound Star. 22 January 2018.
- ^ "Newbridge Track records". Greyhound Star. 7 January 2019.