Lifford Greyhound Stadium

Lifford Greyhound Stadium is a greyhound racing track located in Lifford, County Donegal, Ireland.[1]

Lifford Greyhound Stadium
LocationBallyduff Road, Lifford, County Donegal, Ireland
Coordinates54°50'05.7"N 7°29'04.3"W
Operated byLifford Greyhound Racing Company Limited
Date opened1959
Race typegreyhound racing

The facilities include the Champion Stakes Restaurant, fast food facilities, a number of bars, totalisator betting and seating.[2] Racing takes place every Friday and Sunday (it was formerly held on Saturday evenings).[3]

Race distances are 325, 525, 550, 575 and 750 yards.[4]

History

The Lifford Greyhound Stadium was built in 1959 when cattle dealer James Magee decided to convert some more of his grazing land from a schooling track into a professional 495 yard circumference circuit. Magee died in 1971 and his sons Cathal and Seamus took over the track as the Racing and General Managers around the same time that a new stand was erected at the venue.[5]

The main event originally held at the track was the Irwin Cup but it did not feature highly on the Irish racing calendar and during the late 1970s an event called the Abraham David Trophy was contested featuring significant prize money. Many top greyhounds have appeared here including Yellow Printer who began his career at Lifford as a puppy.[6] Race distances were 350, 525, 550, 575, 750 and 820 yards.[7]

After 32 years association the track was put up for sale by the Magee family in 1991 and was eventually bought by new owners in 2001 when Willie, Hugh and Patrick Duffy formed the Lifford Greyhound Racing Company.[8] On 11 September 2003 the track re-opened after undergoing a €12m refit with a new grandstand, two restaurants and improved facilities.[9]

Closure and reopening

During 2018, the stadium was put up for sale at a price of 1.9 million euros. The following year it was announced that the last race meeting would be on Saturday 17 August 2019 before the stadium was closed. Racing Manager Matthew Duffy blamed the lack of support from the Irish Greyhound Board.[10][11]

During October 2021 it was confirmed that the track would reopen on Sunday 6 March 2022. The racing was brought back by a syndicate called the Lifford Greyhound Racing Club - Canaradzo Ltd headed by Harry Findlay.[12][13][14] The track reopened for trials on 29 March (slightly later than planned).[15] However, despite trials taking place the first race meeting was delayed further and the date put back until 2 April 2023.[3]

Track records

Current records

[16][17][18][19]

Yards Greyhound Time Date Notes
325Jamellas Phantom17.3826 January 2003
350Mustangsteviegee[20]18.301 June 2008
525Rough Laura28.2513 September 2008
550College Causeway29.3126 October 2008
575Line Of Fire31.057 October 2007
600Always A Rumble32.5021 September 2003
750Droopys Quiff41.385 October 2008
820Recovery Mission45.7411 September 2003
525 hurdlesSefanta29.488 August 2004
550 hurdlesLemon Rambo30.8128 November 2004

Former records

References
  1. "Lifford Greyhound Stadium". irishtourist.com.
  2. "Lifford Greyhound Stadium". Irish Greyhound Board.
  3. "LIFFORD ANNOUNCE OPENING HOURS AND TRIAL TIMES". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  4. "Lifford". Greyhound Data. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  5. Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 07207-1106-1.
  6. Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 07207-1106-1.
  7. "Lifford". Greyhound Data.
  8. "Lifford Greyhound Stadium for sale". Donegal News.
  9. "Lifford greyhound stadium opens". Health Club Management.
  10. "End of an era as Lifford Greyhound Stadium set to close". Donegal Daily. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  11. "Lifford Greyhound Stadium is set to close next week". Highland Radio. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  12. "Date Confirmed for reopening of Lifford Greyhopund Track". Donegal News. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  13. "Lifford name opening date". Greyhound Star. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  14. "UK Tote Group confirms reopening of Lifford dog track". Donegal News. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  15. "LIFFORD BACK UP AND RUNNING". Greyhound Star. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  16. "Track records". Greyhound Data.
  17. "Track records". Greyhound Star.
  18. "Lifford Track records". Greyhound Star.
  19. "Lifford track records". Greyhound Data.
  20. "THE Hugh Duffy Memorial Open 350 Round 1 Heat 2". Irish Greyhound Board.

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