Dungannon Greyhound Stadium

Dungannon Greyhound Stadium or Oaks Park was a greyhound racing track held on Oaks Road, Dungannon, County Tyrone, BT71 4BA, Northern Ireland.[1] [2]

Dungannon Greyhound Stadium
LocationOaks Road
Dungannon, County Tyrone, BT71 4BA, Northern Ireland[1]
Coordinates54°30′40″N 6°45′36″W
Opened1930
Closed2003

History

Dungannon became the third Northern Irish greyhound track behind Celtic Park and Dunmore Stadium in July 1930.[3] Being a greyhound track in Northern Ireland it was neither under the jurisdiction of the National Greyhound Racing Club which was the governing body for UK Tracks or the Bord na gCon (the Irish Greyhound Board) which is the governing body for Irish tracks, the latter did however publish the results for Northern Ireland.

The track was 485 yards in circumference and racing took place every Tuesday or Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday evening and used an Outside Sumner hare system.[3]

The Ulster Oaks was introduced in 1970 establishing itself as the main event run at the track. Other competitions of note were the Mick Horan Puppy Championship (Horan was Mick the Miller's first trainer), the Tuborg Viceroy Cup and the Harry McCrory Memorial Cup (McCrory had a 30-year association with the track).[4]

In 1962 Tommy McCombe became the General and Racing Manager after Clones closed.[4]

In 1990 a fire destroyed a large part of the main stand around the same time that a letter was sent to the Bord na gCon threatening further attacks on the racecourse unless they stopped supporting coursing clubs.

Closure

The Dungannon (Oaks Park) Stadium Greyhound Racing Limited who had taken over the track in 1995 saw the opportunity to make a substantial profit by developing the site and the track closed down in 2003. It was not until 2011 that planning permission was granted for 120 mixed residential dwellings, with a Sainsbury's shopping centre to the West and Dunlea Vale directly to the North. In 2014 the derelict grandstand was subject to an arson attack and completely destroyed.

Track records

Distance (yards) Greyhound Time Date
325Millionaire18.111950
325Hi Spy17.651970
325Kensington Lil17.641970
325Cornetto17.621970
325Beautiful Sara17.3515.09.1982
325Hard Ecu17.2717.10.1991
325Cassie Boy17.2505.02.1992
400Belmont Villa33.5513.06.1990
500Head Over29.961950
500Stoneville Queen28.171970
500Kensington Lil27.641980
500Easterly Gale27.7004.08.1984
500Rooskey Rose27.6504.04.1990
500Praidora27.5014.08.1991
500Speedy Shane27.0807.07.1999
525Paulas Pal29.181960
525Leitrim Solo29.061981
525Chief Ironside28.8011.06.1984
525Glenhill Pride28.7014.08.1991
525Gems Whisper [5]28.6529.04.1992
550Kilcool Mounty31.971950
550Newdown Son31.331970
550Dicks Bridge30.911978
550Merchants Bound30.751980
550Carters Lad30.0527.05.1987
550Glenhill Pride29.7509.10.1991
600Rose Velvet33.781960
600Brookvale Pride33.5711.06.1981
780Twelfth Man45.291970
780Rosevale Desire44.671980
780Moyletra44.4015.09.1982
780Braccan Connie43.9409.10.1991
325 hurdlesCalrossie Morning Star19.391960
525 hurdlesMaggies Pup31.751950

Ulster Oaks Winners

  • 1971 Kilwoney Rose
  • 1972 Trace of Red
  • 1973 Ashling Ban
  • 1974 Rokeel Rebel
  • 1975 Bright Evening
  • 1976 Kisses For Me
  • 1998 Toumpane Valley
  • 1999 Rosalettos Girl
  • 2000 Tullymurry Tango
  • 2001 Shanless Park
  • 2002 Baltic Star

References

  1. "PRONI Historical Maps". NI Direct.gov.
  2. "DUNGANNON GREYHOUND STADIUM". Greyhound Derby.com.
  3. Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. p. 325. ISBN 0-948955-15-5.
  4. Comyn, John. 50 Years of Greyhound Racing in Ireland. Aherlow Publishers Ltd.
  5. "Track record". Greyhound Star.
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