Thurles Greyhound Stadium

Thurles Greyhound Stadium is a greyhound racing track located on Castlemeadows opposite Semple Stadium in Thurles, County Tipperary, Ireland.
Racing takes place every Thursday and Saturday evening and the facilities include a trackside restaurant, fast food facilities, a number of bars and totalisator betting. Race distances are 330, 525, 570 and 600 yards.
The stadium has a car park which is also used for overflow parking for Semple Stadium and a farmers market on Saturday mornings.

History

Just off the Castlemeadows in Thurles is the Townpark Greyhound Stadium which opened on 13 September 1948. Major events to have taken place over the years at the track and they are called the Tipperary Cup, Guinness 575, the Champion Bitch Stakes and Puppy Stakes. A very large circumference of 509 yards allows greyhounds a good gallop although the track is considered slow.
In 1962 the Grand National came to Townpark and would stay for 26 years until 1984 when it then moved to Shelbourne Park. The premier hurdle event in Ireland was won no less than three times by Special from 1972–1974.
The Thurles Greyhound Racing & Sports Association Limited continually ensured that the venue was kept in good order and it held many charity nights. The Racing Manager for many years was Eamonn Bourke before Paul Hayes took over the chair. In 2011 the stadium underwent significant refurbishment resulting in an extension to the main upstairs bar areas and facilities to cater for events.

Competitions

current and former

Track records

Former

Yards	Greyhound	Time	Date	Notes
330	Move Handy	18.05	19 November 1966
330	Top Customer	18.04	8 August 1976
330	Lemon King	17.94	28 July 1990
330	Quarter To Five	17.64	11 May 1999
330	Pretty Smokey	17.64	27 May 2001
330	Minnies Pavlova	17.54	25 July 2009
360	Lisboney Grosvenor	20.20	8 August 1960
360	Pretty Smokey	19.46	2 June 2001
360	Cloughmartin Lad	19.29	21 September 2002
360	Behind The Clock	19.10	30 September 2003
360	Positive Option	19.08	27 November 2004
525	Spanish Battleship	29.96	August 1954	Tipperary Cup second round
525	Spanish Battleship	29.85	21 August 1954
525	Fearless Mac	=29.75	16 August 1960	Tipperary Cup 3rd round
525	Jerrys Clipper	29.45	26 August 1961	Tipperary Cup final
525	Flaming King	29.25	10 August 1968
525	Sailing Weather	29.20	6 August 1983
525	Moyne Rebel	28.86	9 April 2000	National Produce Stakes heats
525	Moyne Rebel	28.76	23 April 2000	National Produce Stakes semi finals
525	Moyne Rebel	28.70	30 April 2000	National Produce Stakes final
525	Smoking Ban	28.43	12 July 2003
525	Charity Jack	28.28	9 July 2005
550	Maltan Flame	30.85	31 August 1965
550	Lissadell Ranger	30.62	25 July 1987
550	Ardfert Sean	30.26	1988
550	Mathews Gold	30.58	28 July 1990
550	Coalbrook Tiger	30.44	27 July 1991
550	Gunboat Jeff	30.42	1992
550	Moyne Rebel	30.01	4 July 2000
570	Ambleside Amy	31.40	21 September 2002
570	Prince Ned	31.23	3 May 2003
570	Born Flyer	31.14	4 November 2003
570	Charity Jack	31.10	28 August 2004
570	Ronans Delight	30.98	11 December 2004
575	Ballybeg Pride	32.00	4 June 1968
575	Ballybeg Maid	31.94	21 June 1975
575	Gastrognome	31.76	16 June 1984
575	Deenside Lion	31.73	24 May 1998
600	July Sister	33.90	7 May 1960
600	Cool Lad	33.90	11 June 1960	=equalled
600	Articifer	33.12	20 October 2001
600	Silver Shout	32.71	1 February 2003
700	Orwell Wonder	40.00	20 June 1964
750	Getwhoyoulike	42.56	22 September 2001
750	Lovely Rumble	42.10	7 December 2002
750	O Learys Peggy	42.09	3 June 2006
750	Olympic Show	41.88	2 February 2008
840	Clanboy	48.16	30 August 1986
840	Manx Sand	47.84	17 August 1991
840	Bluetoon Solo	47.13	11 October 2003
1035	Indian Hallie	60.75	2 February 2008
1035	Forest Heidi	60.46	1 November 2008
1035	Big Flop	59.88	13 November 2010
330 H	Rambler Tonic	18.80	9 July 1960
525 H	Olivers Leader	30.20	17 September 1966
525 H	Special	29.75	15 September 1973
525 H	Frightened Pig	29.58	20 December 2003