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Harold's Cross Stadium

February 27, 2024

Harold's Cross Stadium was a greyhound racing stadium in Harold's Cross, Dublin, owned and operated by the Irish Greyhound Board.

Harold's Cross Greyhound Stadium
Location6 Harold's Cross Road, Dublin, Ireland
Coordinates53°19′26″N 6°16′36″W / 53.32389°N 6.27667°W / 53.32389; -6.27667
Operated byIrish Greyhound Board
Date opened1928
Date closed13 February 2017
Race typegreyhound racing

Facilities included a grandstand restaurant, carvery, a number of bars, totalisator betting and seating.[1]

Racing took place every Tuesday and Friday evening and race distances were 325, 525, 550, 570, and 750 yards and the feature competitions at the track were the Corn Cuchulainn, the Puppy Derby and the Grand National.[2]

The stadium closed on 13 February 2017 due to financial constraints at the owner. The proceeds from the sale were proposed be used to help pay a €20.3 million debt incurred from the construction of Limerick Greyhound Stadium.[3]

Football edit

The stadium was used over the years by five football teams who were competing in the League of Ireland:

  • Brideville played there for eleven seasons from 1929/30-1931/32 and from 1935/36-1942/43
  • Dolphins played there from 1932/33-1933/34
  • Transport played there from 1951/52-1961/62, a total of eleven seasons.
  • Shelbourne played at the stadium from 1975/76-1976/77 and again from 1982/83-1988/89 before moving to Tolka Park
  • St Patrick's Athletic were the last League of Ireland club to play there regularly, from 1989/90 up to November 1993, while work was being done to its Richmond Park home.

Harold's Cross has hosted a number of notable matches. It staged one League of Ireland Cup Final when Limerick City beat St. Patrick's Athletic 2–0 in the 1992/93 decider, whilst the last League of Ireland match ever played in Harold's Cross was a home match for Galway United. On the final weekend of the 1993/94 season, there was no available pitch in Galway due to persistent torrential rain for their match with Shelbourne so the game was switched to Harold's Cross. Shels won the match 5–2 with Barry O'Connor grabbing a hat-trick.

Speedway edit

The stadium was used for speedway racing in 1928.

Greyhound racing edit

Origins and opening edit

On 13 February 1928 a new Irish company was registered called the Dublin Greyhound and Sports Association Ltd. The nominal capital was £25,000 in shares of £1 and the directors were J.B Fraser a timber merchant, John J Flood (retired public official), Walter Butler (architect), Edward Teehan (gentleman) and John McEntagart (motor engineer). Together they would introduce the second greyhound racing track to Dublin in the form of Harold's Cross close to the centre of Dublin (the first was Shelbourne Park).

It became the third greyhound racing venue in Ireland following Shelbourne Park and Celtic Park in Belfast. The opening night was on 10 April 1928 with the first race scheduled for 8 pm. The Irish Times advertised the fact that there was accommodation for 40,000 people and car parking for 1,000 cars. The Riordan family formed the first management with John superseded by his son John F.

In 1928 Harolds Cross introduced a competition that would become the modern day Irish Greyhound Derby, the race was unofficial because Harolds Cross decided to run this 'National Derby' without consulting the Irish racing fraternity. This was a practice they would continue to do until the formation of classic races in 1932.

Pre-war history edit

In 1929 Mick the Miller won the Spring Cup competition here over 525 yards and then finished runner up in the Stayers Cup over 600 yards. The Irish Coursing Club issued a new list of classic races in 1932 and controversy followed because Harolds Cross was given the Oaks and not the Derby. Shelbourne had been given the premier event which did not go down well based on the fact that they had introduced the event. One year later and Harolds Cross were furious that Shelbourne were issued the race again. In a meeting Mr Tynan representing the track, had pointed out that the previous year Paddy O’Donoghue had promised that they could hold the event in 1933. I.C.C chairman John Bruton explained that they could not cancel a ruling by the club already made. Tynan stormed out and Harolds Cross refused to run any classics or their qualifying races and threatened to run their own Irish Championship. Finally in 1934 they were granted permission to run the Derby as long as they contributed a minimum of £100 towards the event. The ICC added a further £50 and it was also agreed that Shelbourne and Harolds Cross would run the competition in alternate years.

The first star of the track was a black bitch called Nanny Goosegog owned by the legendary Arthur Doc Callanan who happened to be the track vet as well in the early days of racing at Harolds Cross. The March 1938 whelp won 37 of her 38 races at the Harolds Cross but because some of these were handicap races the bitch did not set any official records. After 20 consecutive wins she was beaten by Lucky House who received 11 yards, another 17 consecutive victories followed so it is easy to see why she was Dublin's first superstar.

In 1943 the Puppy Derby was inaugurated here. One year later the track became the first in Ireland to introduce automatic starting traps. 'Doc' Callanan had suffered from ill health in 1945 and died aged 51; Harolds Cross introduced a race in his memory called the Callanan Cup.[4]

Post-war history edit

Spanish Battleship won the first and last of his Derby titles in 1953 and 1955 respectively and the 1955 edition saw the stadium overwhelmed by crowds attempting to get a look at final.

The Bord na gCon funded a new totalisator system at the track in 1960. The Derby was last run at the track in 1967, when it was won by Russian Gun. Rumours had surfaced that developers might purchase the track so the Irish Greyhound Board acted quickly and bought Harolds Cross in 1970 to quash any future re-development plans.

The Corn Cuchulainn for stayers was another major event introduced to the track in 1961 and in 1977 the track went ahead with considerable improvements that included a new stand, restaurant and other facilities. The 1978 running of the Callanan Cup and Oaks did not take place at the Cross with the latter switching to Shelbourne. Stability followed with established races taking centre stage except for the Oaks which would eventually be held at Shelbourne permanently. George Deegan became Racing Manager as the track raced on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday nights.[5]

Despite the stadium being in the hands of the Irish Greyhound Board and Racing Manager Deegan providing security with his long tenure the Dublin track was subject once again to rumours in the early nineties. There were strong indications coming from some quarters that Harolds Cross would close to ease the burden of costs on the IGB. Luckily business began to grow after a tough period of trading and the rumours went away. The Grand National had been held here since 2001, the second time the track has hosted the event following the previous spell during the 1930s.

In 2010 Racing Manager Billy Bell decided to join Mullingar Greyhound Stadium as their Racing Manager leaving Harolds Cross looking for a replacement. Coincidentally Derek Frehill (part of the Mullingar management & former RM there) was the one to fill the gap switching paces when Bell left. The trading of places took place after the Puppy Derby final.[4]

Sale edit

Towards the end of 2014 the Irish Greyhound Board decided to sell the stadium. It was considered that by doing so the debts of the IGB could be drastically reduced. The idea was to transfer all Dublin operations to Shelbourne Park but the decision did not sit well with those involved with Harolds Cross and many others in Irish racing. Even some at Shelbourne expressed concern that they relied on Harolds Cross as a feeder stadium.

The move was confirmed on 13 February 2017, and all IGB operations have since ceased.[6][3]

Competitions edit

Track records edit

At closing [7]

Yards Greyhound Time Date Notes
325 Staley Vegas 17.16 2 September 2005
330 Quarter to Five 17.52 9 April 1999
525 Airport Express 28.15 21 September 2001
550 Quattro Power 29.65 6 July 2001
570 Kiltrea Kev 30.94 19 December 2009
575 Serene Rumble 30.83 24 November 2002
750 Roxholme Girl 41.45 24 June 2005
810 Hovex Brandy 45.17 28 May 2010
830 Brookdale Lady 46.72 23 June 1995
1010 Flying Winner 56.82 19 December 2008
1015 Group Special 58.32 10 January 2003
525 H Toomaline Jack 28.68 23 October 2009
570 H Analyse 31.01 15 December 2006
575 H Lemon Rambo 32.43 25 February 2005

Former [7]

References edit

  1. ^ . Irish Greyhound Board. Archived from the original on 21 May 2015.
  2. ^ "Harolds Cross". Greyhound Data.
  3. ^ a b . Archived from the original on 14 February 2017.
  4. ^ a b Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 07207-1106-1.
  5. ^ Barnes, Julia (1991). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-61-9.
  6. ^ "Harold's Cross Greyhound Stadium to be sold". Irish Independent. 21 October 2014.
  7. ^ a b "Track records". Greyhound Data.
  8. ^ "Shaggy Dog's Record". Belfast Telegraph. 18 October 1945. p. 4 – via British Newspaper Archives.
  9. ^ a b "Remember When - October 1995". Greyhound Star. 28 October 2018.
  10. ^ "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 1946) October 2010 edition". Greyhound Star.
  11. ^ "Remember When - May 2020". Greyhound Star. 3 May 2020.

53°19′25″N 6°16′39″W / 53.3236°N 6.2775°W / 53.3236; -6.2775

February 27, 2024
harold, cross, stadium, greyhound, racing, stadium, harold, cross, dublin, owned, operated, irish, greyhound, board, harold, cross, greyhound, stadiumlocation6, harold, cross, road, dublin, irelandcoordinates53, 32389, 27667, 32389, 27667operated, byirish, gre. Harold s Cross Stadium was a greyhound racing stadium in Harold s Cross Dublin owned and operated by the Irish Greyhound Board Harold s Cross Greyhound StadiumLocation6 Harold s Cross Road Dublin IrelandCoordinates53 19 26 N 6 16 36 W 53 32389 N 6 27667 W 53 32389 6 27667Operated byIrish Greyhound BoardDate opened1928Date closed13 February 2017Race typegreyhound racingFacilities included a grandstand restaurant carvery a number of bars totalisator betting and seating 1 Racing took place every Tuesday and Friday evening and race distances were 325 525 550 570 and 750 yards and the feature competitions at the track were the Corn Cuchulainn the Puppy Derby and the Grand National 2 The stadium closed on 13 February 2017 due to financial constraints at the owner The proceeds from the sale were proposed be used to help pay a 20 3 million debt incurred from the construction of Limerick Greyhound Stadium 3 Contents 1 Football 2 Speedway 3 Greyhound racing 3 1 Origins and opening 3 2 Pre war history 3 3 Post war history 3 4 Sale 3 5 Competitions 3 6 Track records 4 ReferencesFootball editThe stadium was used over the years by five football teams who were competing in the League of Ireland Brideville played there for eleven seasons from 1929 30 1931 32 and from 1935 36 1942 43 Dolphins played there from 1932 33 1933 34 Transport played there from 1951 52 1961 62 a total of eleven seasons Shelbourne played at the stadium from 1975 76 1976 77 and again from 1982 83 1988 89 before moving to Tolka Park St Patrick s Athletic were the last League of Ireland club to play there regularly from 1989 90 up to November 1993 while work was being done to its Richmond Park home Harold s Cross has hosted a number of notable matches It staged one League of Ireland Cup Final when Limerick City beat St Patrick s Athletic 2 0 in the 1992 93 decider whilst the last League of Ireland match ever played in Harold s Cross was a home match for Galway United On the final weekend of the 1993 94 season there was no available pitch in Galway due to persistent torrential rain for their match with Shelbourne so the game was switched to Harold s Cross Shels won the match 5 2 with Barry O Connor grabbing a hat trick Speedway editThe stadium was used for speedway racing in 1928 Greyhound racing editOrigins and opening edit On 13 February 1928 a new Irish company was registered called the Dublin Greyhound and Sports Association Ltd The nominal capital was 25 000 in shares of 1 and the directors were J B Fraser a timber merchant John J Flood retired public official Walter Butler architect Edward Teehan gentleman and John McEntagart motor engineer Together they would introduce the second greyhound racing track to Dublin in the form of Harold s Cross close to the centre of Dublin the first was Shelbourne Park It became the third greyhound racing venue in Ireland following Shelbourne Park and Celtic Park in Belfast The opening night was on 10 April 1928 with the first race scheduled for 8 pm The Irish Times advertised the fact that there was accommodation for 40 000 people and car parking for 1 000 cars The Riordan family formed the first management with John superseded by his son John F In 1928 Harolds Cross introduced a competition that would become the modern day Irish Greyhound Derby the race was unofficial because Harolds Cross decided to run this National Derby without consulting the Irish racing fraternity This was a practice they would continue to do until the formation of classic races in 1932 Pre war history edit In 1929 Mick the Miller won the Spring Cup competition here over 525 yards and then finished runner up in the Stayers Cup over 600 yards The Irish Coursing Club issued a new list of classic races in 1932 and controversy followed because Harolds Cross was given the Oaks and not the Derby Shelbourne had been given the premier event which did not go down well based on the fact that they had introduced the event One year later and Harolds Cross were furious that Shelbourne were issued the race again In a meeting Mr Tynan representing the track had pointed out that the previous year Paddy O Donoghue had promised that they could hold the event in 1933 I C C chairman John Bruton explained that they could not cancel a ruling by the club already made Tynan stormed out and Harolds Cross refused to run any classics or their qualifying races and threatened to run their own Irish Championship Finally in 1934 they were granted permission to run the Derby as long as they contributed a minimum of 100 towards the event The ICC added a further 50 and it was also agreed that Shelbourne and Harolds Cross would run the competition in alternate years The first star of the track was a black bitch called Nanny Goosegog owned by the legendary Arthur Doc Callanan who happened to be the track vet as well in the early days of racing at Harolds Cross The March 1938 whelp won 37 of her 38 races at the Harolds Cross but because some of these were handicap races the bitch did not set any official records After 20 consecutive wins she was beaten by Lucky House who received 11 yards another 17 consecutive victories followed so it is easy to see why she was Dublin s first superstar In 1943 the Puppy Derby was inaugurated here One year later the track became the first in Ireland to introduce automatic starting traps Doc Callanan had suffered from ill health in 1945 and died aged 51 Harolds Cross introduced a race in his memory called the Callanan Cup 4 Post war history edit Spanish Battleship won the first and last of his Derby titles in 1953 and 1955 respectively and the 1955 edition saw the stadium overwhelmed by crowds attempting to get a look at final The Bord na gCon funded a new totalisator system at the track in 1960 The Derby was last run at the track in 1967 when it was won by Russian Gun Rumours had surfaced that developers might purchase the track so the Irish Greyhound Board acted quickly and bought Harolds Cross in 1970 to quash any future re development plans The Corn Cuchulainn for stayers was another major event introduced to the track in 1961 and in 1977 the track went ahead with considerable improvements that included a new stand restaurant and other facilities The 1978 running of the Callanan Cup and Oaks did not take place at the Cross with the latter switching to Shelbourne Stability followed with established races taking centre stage except for the Oaks which would eventually be held at Shelbourne permanently George Deegan became Racing Manager as the track raced on Tuesday Thursday and Saturday nights 5 Despite the stadium being in the hands of the Irish Greyhound Board and Racing Manager Deegan providing security with his long tenure the Dublin track was subject once again to rumours in the early nineties There were strong indications coming from some quarters that Harolds Cross would close to ease the burden of costs on the IGB Luckily business began to grow after a tough period of trading and the rumours went away The Grand National had been held here since 2001 the second time the track has hosted the event following the previous spell during the 1930s In 2010 Racing Manager Billy Bell decided to join Mullingar Greyhound Stadium as their Racing Manager leaving Harolds Cross looking for a replacement Coincidentally Derek Frehill part of the Mullingar management amp former RM there was the one to fill the gap switching paces when Bell left The trading of places took place after the Puppy Derby final 4 Sale edit Towards the end of 2014 the Irish Greyhound Board decided to sell the stadium It was considered that by doing so the debts of the IGB could be drastically reduced The idea was to transfer all Dublin operations to Shelbourne Park but the decision did not sit well with those involved with Harolds Cross and many others in Irish racing Even some at Shelbourne expressed concern that they relied on Harolds Cross as a feeder stadium The move was confirmed on 13 February 2017 and all IGB operations have since ceased 6 3 Competitions edit Corn Cuchulainn Puppy Derby Grand National Irish Greyhound Derby Oaks Callanan CupTrack records edit At closing 7 Yards Greyhound Time Date Notes325 Staley Vegas 17 16 2 September 2005330 Quarter to Five 17 52 9 April 1999525 Airport Express 28 15 21 September 2001550 Quattro Power 29 65 6 July 2001570 Kiltrea Kev 30 94 19 December 2009575 Serene Rumble 30 83 24 November 2002750 Roxholme Girl 41 45 24 June 2005810 Hovex Brandy 45 17 28 May 2010830 Brookdale Lady 46 72 23 June 19951010 Flying Winner 56 82 19 December 20081015 Group Special 58 32 10 January 2003525 H Toomaline Jack 28 68 23 October 2009570 H Analyse 31 01 15 December 2006575 H Lemon Rambo 32 43 25 February 2005Former 7 Yards Greyhound Time Date Notes325 Ballinclea Dancer 18 30 1955325 The Mall 18 26 26 09 1958325 Sporting Huzzar 17 24 16 11 2001325 Dalcash Black 17 20 28 11 2003330 Gortnaclohy Mover 18 30 1970330 Toms Pal 18 28 19 11 1971330 Kojak 15 04 1976330 Bray Vale 17 76 21 07 1978330 Ballyoughter Lad 17 72 05 04 1991350 Count Cure 19 70 1941350 Roseide Ilene 19 69 11 09 1941350 Sky Patrol 19 50 1950480 Nelson Pillar 26 80 26 04 1968500 Shaggy Lad 8 27 96 17 October 1945 Irish Puppy Derby semi final525 Mad Tanist 29 91 27 07 1945525 Astra 29 88 02 08 1945525 Baytown Ivy 29 87 1946525 Cold Christmas 29 86 1946525 Friends Everywhere 29 74 1949525 Baytown Brunette 29 66 29 05 1951 Callanan Cup 2nd Rd525 Carmodys Tanist 29 64 17 08 1951 Irish Derby Final525 Spanish Battleship 29 53 1955525 Noisy Sam 29 41 30 07 1957 Irish Derby 2nd Rd525 Clomoney Grand 29 03 29 04 1966525 Romping To Work 28 86 14 09 1973 Irish Oaks heats525 Pulse Tube 28 78 06 06 1985525 Wheres Carmel 28 78 28 06 1985525 Droopys Vieri 28 20 08 09 2000550 Mile Bush Pat 30 75 12 06 1964550 Seskin Mist 30 75 28 06 1968 equalled550 Move First 30 48 25 07 1975550 Son of Silver 30 46 13 07 1984550 Commache Run 30 46 08 05 1987550 Barefoot Band 30 44 17 11 1989550 Barneys Alarm 30 20 02 08 1991570 Greenwell Flash 31 02 30 09 2005570 Analyse 31 01 15 12 2006570 Springmount Loco 30 97 14 11 2008570 Ballyard Timmy 30 97 02 10 2009575 Veras Rovey 31 13 16 11 2001575 Unsinkable Boxer 31 12 09 08 2002580 Dee Diabolo 33 35 1950580 King Niall 32 62 1962580 Hurry Guy 32 30 04 07 1968580 Rail Ship 9 31 82 21 09 1973580 Treacys Triumph 9 31 68 10 1995600 Yardley Whistler 10 34 00 1946600 Mad Astley 33 80 1954750 Soaring Leary 45 30 1950750 Chieftains Envoy 1964750 Ballybeg Pride 42 15 23 07 1968750 Rita s Choice 42 10 08 06 1973750 Azuri 42 00 24 06 1983750 Making Merry 41 58 12 10 2001810 Recovery Mission 45 35 17 10 2003810 Ferdia Bound 45 23 06 11 2009830 Ballygall Point 47 32 14 04 1978830 Donore Boy 47 00 04 07 19861010 Ericas Equity 57 88 19 09 20031010 Air Force Honcho 57 76 03 12 20041010 Debidee Lane 57 68 23 12 20051010 Flying Winner 58 67 05 12 20081015 I m A Copper 58 58 04 07 19861015 Bongo Squaw 58 37 25 09 20001025 Bodies Lisa 59 52 04 12 1992350 H Printer 20 36 1950500 H Inly 30 08 1950525 H General Kildare 30 72 1950525 H Make Sure 30 65 13 07 1961525 H Ross River Skip 30 14 25 04 1975525 H Ivys Fantasy 30 14 02 09 1975525 H Keeragh Sambo 29 90 1975525 H Ring Gortnadi 11 29 78 12 09 1986525 H Run On Tar 29 52 20 03 1990525 H Debs The Best 29 19 03 12 2001525 H Selby Ben 29 19 06 10 2003525 H Jimmy The Lad 29 18 01 10 2004525 H Distant Legend 29 09 24 10 2008570 H Druids Forrest 32 66 26 05 2006575 H Kikis First 32 58 17 10 2003575 H Honcho Belle 32 54 11 02 2005580 H Druze 34 73 1950580 H Dark Cowboy 32 88 16 05 1975References edit Harolds Cross Greyhound Stadium Irish Greyhound Board Archived from the original on 21 May 2015 Harolds Cross Greyhound Data a b IGB confirms closure of Harold s Cross Greyhound Stadium Archived from the original on 14 February 2017 a b Genders Roy 1981 The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing Pelham Books Ltd ISBN 07207 1106 1 Barnes Julia 1991 Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File Ringpress Books ISBN 0 948955 61 9 Harold s Cross Greyhound Stadium to be sold Irish Independent 21 October 2014 a b Track records Greyhound Data Shaggy Dog s Record Belfast Telegraph 18 October 1945 p 4 via British Newspaper Archives a b Remember When October 1995 Greyhound Star 28 October 2018 Monthly Greyhound Star Remember When 1946 October 2010 edition Greyhound Star Remember When May 2020 Greyhound Star 3 May 2020 53 19 25 N 6 16 39 W 53 3236 N 6 2775 W 53 3236 6 2775 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Harold 27s Cross Stadium amp oldid 1204087840, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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