Longford Greyhound Stadium


Longford Greyhound Stadium was a greyhound racing track located on the south side of Longford, County Longford, Ireland.
The stadium was a ten-minute walk from the town centre and had a large customer car park. Racing took place every Monday and Friday evening and the facilities included a fast food bar and totalisator betting. Race distances were 525, 550, 750 and 805 yards.

History

Longford Greyhound Stadium was accessed via Earl Street and was the most centrally located track in Ireland. The south Longford venue had a circumference of 485 yards and opened in May 1939. It was organised by two men called Matthew J. Lyons and John E. Dorris who purchased the Sligo greyhound operation and brought it to Longford.
Initially the stadium opened for a racing season, starting in the Spring and closing before Winter each year. The track hosted the Longford Derby & Longford Puppy Derby and other events to have taken place previously here are the Padian Cup and Smithwicks 550.
In July 1966, John McDermott died aged 73, he had been the manager of the track from its opening night. A later pioneer of the track was Jim Conroy. Also in 1966, the track closed for the winter break and looked unlikely to re-open, but the owner Thomas Packenham sold the site to Longford Sports Ltd.
In 1974, the track only raced on Friday nights due to the effect of the 1973 oil crisis. In September 1985, the Longford Greyhound Supporters Club was formed.
In June 1989, the track celebrated its 50th anniversary with a special a meeting that was attended by Frank Berry, Larry Cunningham, Eddie Macken and Ray Flynn.
In the new millennium, the track battled for survival during hard financial climates, led by Racing Manager Patrick Farrington and the voluntary committee. In July 2014, the sale of the Park Road track was agreed to Scottish-based greyhound owner Howard Wallace.
In 2018, it was announced that the track was closing for good but it gained a reprieve.
In 2020, the stadium closed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and never recovered from the financial loss, holding its last meeting on 23 March 2020.

Competitions

  • Longford Derby
  • Longford Puppy Derby

Track records

At closing
YardsGreyhoundTimeDateNotes
330Bay Sun 17.3311.07.2008
525Dustin Fox 28.1514 July 2006
550Tyrur Harold 29.4516 June 2017
570Frisky Fantasy30.732 August 2010
805Posh Again 44.8711 July 2008

Former
YardsGreyhoundTimeDateNotes
330 Richmont Mick18.691950
330 Portumna Bouncer18.4411 July 1969
330 Scaragh Prairie18.3230 August 1974
330 Cast No Stones18.2224 May 1985
330 Tubbercurry Lad18.2212 July 1985
330 Athboy Vintage17.6920 July 2001
330 Comans Express17.6810 June 2002
330 Silkey Joe17.6211 July 2003
330 Lethal Party17.617 October 2005
330 Petes Noble17.5921 October 2005
330 Duke of Ross17.529 December 2005
330 Gingko17.3513 July 2007
525 Cooleeny Twister29.98c.1948
525 Lovely Rambler29.382 July 1965
525 Sampson Flash29.285 July 1974 Longford Derby final
525 Pepsi Princess28.821 September 1989
525 Athboy Vintage28.2710 August 2001
525 Get Here28.2619 July 2002
525 Dundrum Prince28.2118 June 2004
525 Hi King Closure28.1917 June 2005
550 Design31.151970
550 Claddagh Quail31.0411 September 1970
550 Bermadaghs Shay30.8017 July 1985
550 Break The Clock29.781 August 2003
550 Coolamber Prunty29.7711 July 2008
550 Pepsi Kev29.773 October 2008
550 Rince Boy29.7620 October 2008
550 Bunlahy Brett29.662 August 2010
550 Clydal Jack29.6321 June 2013Longford Derby second round
550 Surley Bassi29.51 20 June 2014
570 Angel Wonder32.859 June 1967
570 Couch Trip31.0428 September 2001
570Emdee Boys30.9213 May 2002
570 Dundrum Prince30.801 April 2005
570 Dunsany30.881 April 2005
570 Dundrum Prince30.74 5 April 2005
600 Danba34.67 14 April 1967
805 Thanks Jim46.98August 1991
805 Clydal Pigeon45.89 30 September 2003
805 Hidden Solo45.105 December 2003
330 HBenas Gift19.95c.1940
330 HCave View Clipper19.4823 October 1959
525 HFortwilliam Pagan31.44c.1941