Newbridge Greyhound Stadium


Newbridge Greyhound Stadium is a greyhound racing track located northwest of Newbridge, County Kildare, Ireland.
Racing takes place every Friday evening and the facilities include the grandstand Masters Restaurant and Barkers Bar which offers ample seating.
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.

History

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. 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.
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. 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. Morgan had worked at a senior level with Irish Greyhound Board 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. However, problems persisted at the track and in March 2013 Morwell Racing Ltd ceased racing.
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

Track records

Current
YardsGreyhoundTimeDateNotes
325Deanridge Onfire17.217 August 2020
525Droopys Curio28.0713 March 2020
550Redwood Mick29.5030 May 2014Cox Cup semi final
575Wilcos Mate31.1214 July 2006
600Tyrur Chris 32.4011 June 2010
750Maireads Pearl41.435 April 2019
845Rough Quest47.3830 October 2009
525 HFrightened Pig29.149 July 2004

Former
YardsGreyhoundTimeDateNotes
300 Clane Mint16.5011 June 1976
300 Joannes Treasure16.4431 August 1990
300 Rockspring Peer16.205 May 2000
325 Cool Gamble17.3817 January 2003
325 Kafima17.3714 October 2005
325 Yes Boss17.358 November 2009
325Junior Jet17.2716 June 2017
525 Shamrock Point29.08October 1974
525 Some Skinomage29.026 June 1977
525 Wise Band29.0221 June 1985
525 Airmount Grand28.86September 1988
525 Ardfert Mick28.6822 June 1991Cox Cup heats
525 Judicial Pride28.5814 June 1999
525 Velvet Commander28.5825 October 2003
525 Spell Bound28.4231 October 2003
525 Hillcroft Josie28.3919 October 2007
525Maireads Fantasy 28.2323 October 2009Newbridge Oaks 2nd round
525Cushie Jet 28.2131 August 20182018 Juvenile Derby Round 2
525Ballymac Anton 28.187 September 2018Texacloth Juvenile Derby semi final
550 Track Whisper30.4617 July 1987
550 Carlow Country30.1823 September 1988
550 Droopys Mossie29.963 July 1994
550 Premier County29.9330 November 2001
550 Ten Men29.8111 July 2003
550 Simply Vintage29.7111 July 2003
550 Top Boe29.622 July 2004 Cox Cup second round
550 Opinion29.564 June 2010 Cox Cup semi-finals
550 Tyrur Bucko29.5111 June 2010 Cox Cup Final
550 Redwood Mick29.5030 May 2014 Cox Cup semi-finals
575 The Other Master32.562 August 2002
575 Sonic Pearl32.425 August 2002
575 Pickwick Song31.879 August 2002
575 Curryhills Wade31.5016 August 2002
575 Cabbage White31.2623 August 2002
575 Awesome Impact31.2426 May 2003
600 Red Smoke33.349 April 1976
600 Synone Crest32.9724 July 1987
600 Lisk Raven32.904 September 1989
600 Guess Twice32.8628 June 1991
600 Charlie Bird32.7219 July 2002
600 Walking Sunday32.7119 July 2002
600 Pennys Sunstar32.696 September 2008
600 Dangerous Man32.644 September 2009
750 Loch Bo Anchor42.343 July 1994
750 Me Rocket42.182 June 2003
750 Beaming Surprise41.9816 January 2004
750 Hulkster41.855 November 2005
750Bricken Maley41.827 June 2013
750Jet Stream View 41.5929 March 2019
820August Blossom46.904 October 1991
820Fast Remark46.7630 June 2000
845 Metric Tiger47.7521 July 2002
845 Recovery Mission47.7323 May 2003
845 Marshalls Trigger47.6830 December 2004
845 Pretty Fantasy47.5716 December 2007
525 HMoreen Flamingo30.086 July 1977
525 HNo Promises29.923 July 1987
525 HSwiss Champ29.1829 April 2002