Dundalk Stadium
The total build cost €35million with a modern grandstand, elevated viewing areas, restaurant and bars.
Horse racing
The Dundalk all-weather horse track to go alongside the new greyhound track that had opened earlier, officially opened on 26 August 2007 costing a further €24million.
The course is a floodlit 1¼ mile left-handed oval, and races are run on an all-weather Polytrack surface.
A turf racecourse at Dundalk, which was mainly used for National Hunt events, was closed in 2001. The present all-weather track, reserved for flat races, was opened in August 2007. The highest class horse races to be run at the venue are the Diamond Stakes, which was promoted from Listed to Group 3 status in 2009, and the Mercury Stakes which was upgraded to Group 3 status in 2018.
Notable races
| Month | DOW | Race Name | Type | Grade | Distance | Age/Sex |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March | Friday | Patton Stakes | A W Flat | Listed | 1m | 3yo |
| October | Friday | Diamond Stakes | A W Flat | Group 3 | 1m 2f 150y | 3yo + |
| October | Friday | Mercury Stakes | A W Flat | Group 3 | 5f | 2yo + |
Greyhound racing
In 1999 the Dundalk Race Company PLC and Dundealgan Greyhound Racing Company Limited merged to form Dundalk Racing (1999) Ltd. This would allow a new horse racing circuit to be built over the existing turf course and a greyhound track inside the main course. The previous Dundalk Ramparts Greyhound Stadium was closed on 20 November 2000 during which time the horse racecourse was undergoing major changes and despite resistance from the Horseracing Authority both sides were encouraged by the success of Paschal Taggart's Shelbourne Park venture.
The Irish racing scene was experiencing some promising growth and Dundalk officially opened their new Dundalk Stadium on 29 November 2003 to the cost of €11 million. The minister for sport John O'Donoghue conducted the opening honours and thanks were given by CEO Jim Martin to Paschal Taggart chairman of the Bord na gCon/Irish Greyhound Board for their help.
The track measures 550 yards in circumference providing a galloping circuit as opposed to the previous tight circuit of 440 yards. The kennels are located in a renovated building that was formerly the Tote for the racecourse but plans for a new eighty runner complex are in motion.
Competitions
The Dundalk International is held annually. It is a prestigious invitation event held for Ireland's leading greyhounds and also attracts some of the UK's top hounds. The event is one of the richest one-off races in Ireland (€20,000 in 2016) and is an integral part of the Irish greyhound racing calendar after being inaugurated in 1968. The Irish Sprint Cup (formerly the Irish National Cup) arrived at the track in 2004.
Track records
Current
| Yards | Greyhound | Time | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 350 | Blame the Game | 18.46 | 15 November 2019 | |
| 400 | Broadstrand Syd | 20.57 | 20 July 2024 | Irish Sprint Cup heats |
| 400 hurdles | Distant Legend | 21.90 | 15 August 2009 | |
| 525 | Swanley Chick | 28.14 | 1 August 2020 | |
| 550 | Droopys Verve | 29.39 | 12 July 2018 | |
| 575 | Vaguely Noble | 30.92 | 12 July 2016 | |
| 600 | Boleys Fella | 32.30 | 12 July 2019 | |
| 620 | Dromana Blue | 33.51 | 5 December 2007 | |
| 670 | Prince Monalulu | 36.47 | 4 February 2005 | |
| 900 | Ballymac Bonnie | 49.82 | 12 July 2016 |
Previous
| Yards | Greyhound | Time | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 350 | Mulcair Jo | 18.71 | 12 July 2006 | |
| 350 | Kildallon Ranger | 18.49 | 12 July 2012 | |
| 360 | Copeland Ranger | 19.43 | 15 July 2004 | |
| 360 | Lauragh Empire | 19.43 | 13 August 2004 | |
| 360 | Wellington | 19.12 | 30 October 2004 | |
| 400 | Mabels Dilemma | 21.11 | 15 August 2005 | Irish Sprint Cup Final |
| 400 | Droopys Rodger | 21.06 | 21 July 2006 | |
| 400 | Ciaras Castle | 20.96 | 23 March 2007 | |
| 400 | Gingko | 20.95 | 21 July 2007 | |
| 400 | Heisman | 20.94 | 28 July 2017 | Irish Sprint Cup second round |
| 400 | Droopys Steel | 20.81 | 3 August 2018 | Irish Sprint Cup third round |
| 400 | Grangeview Ten | 20.75 | 8 August 2020 | Irish Sprint Cup semi final |
| 400 | Brodys Magic | 20.73 | 8 August 2020 | Irish Sprint Cup semi final |
| 410 | Geldrops Touch | 21.55 | 26 February 2005 | |
| 525 | Graigues Dynasty | 28.62 | 1 April 2004 | |
| 525 | Killeigh Grand | 28.53 | 15 October 2004 | |
| 525 | Phoenix Paddy | 28.46 | 3 November 2006 | |
| 525 | Open Door | 28.39 | 12 July 2007 | |
| 525 | Ballymac Tipp | 28.31 | 20 September 2010 | |
| 525 | Burnt Beans | 28.17 | 20 May 2017 | |
| 550 | Hes The Bizz | 29.88 | 5 February 2004 | |
| 550 | Holborn Major | 29.85 | 12 July 2004 | |
| 550 | Like A Shot | 29.81 | 25 February 2005 | |
| 550 | Droopys Electric | 29.73 | 12 July 2006 | Dundalk International |
| 550 | Si Senor | 29.47 | 12 July 2007 | |
| 550 | Droopys Roddick | 29.40 | 12 July 2016 | |
| 575 | Lunar Boy | 31.45 | 4 September 2004 | |
| 575 | Dromana Blue | 31.14 | 5 December 2007 | |
| 575 | Stateside Troika | 31.09 | 14 December 2013 | |
| 600 | Mobile Dubh | 32.90 | 4 March 2004 | |
| 600 | Grandad Pat | 32.84 | 19 November 2005 | |
| 600 | Fairly Smart | 32.82 | 21 October 2006 | |
| 600 | Ballyhill Beauty | 32.59 | 23 March 2009 | |
| 600 | Ballycanal Chief | 32.57 | 15 August 2010 | |
| 620 | Air Force Honcho | 33.94 | 22 April 2004 | |
| 620 | Westmead Force | 33.93 | 3 July 2005 | |
| 620 | Martinstown Lass | 33.93 | 15 August 2005 | |
| 620 | Martinstown Lass | 33.86 | 13 January 2006 | |
| 620 | Winetavern Oscar | 33.72 | 4 February 2006 | |
| 900 | Shelbourne Kay | 50.61 | 12 November 2005 | |
| 900 | Hulkster | 50.46 | 12 July 2006 | |
| 900 | Shelbourne Kay | 50.14 | 15 August 2006 | |
| 900 | Flying Winner | 49.99 | 12 July 2008 | |
| 910 | Air Force Honcho | 51.08 | 20 November 2004 | |
| 960 | Beaming Surprise | 54.62 | 22 May 2004 | |
| 400 H | Distant Legend | 21.90 | 15 August 2009 |
References
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