Dundalk Stadium


Dundalk Stadium is a horse and greyhound racing venue in Ireland. It is located to the north of Dundalk in County Louth.
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

Greyhound racing

In 1999 the Dundalk Race Company PLC and Dundealgan Greyhound Racing Company Limited merged to form Dundalk Racing 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 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 and is an integral part of the Irish greyhound racing calendar after being inaugurated in 1968. The Irish Sprint Cup arrived at the track in 2004.
Current
YardsGreyhoundTimeDateNotes
350Kildallon Ranger 18.4912.07.2012
400Droopys Steel 20.8103.08.2018Irish Sprint Cup third round
400 hurdlesDistant Legend 21.9015.08.2009
525Burnt Beans 28.1720.05.2017
550Droopys Verve 29.3912.07.2018
575Vaguely Noble 30.9212.07.2016
600Ballycanal Chief 32.5715.08.2010
620Dromana Blue 33.5105.12.2007
670Prince Monalulu 36.4704.02.2005
900Ballymac Bonnie 49.8212.07.2016

Previous
YardsGreyhoundTimeDateNotes
350 Mulcair Jo18.7112.07.2006
360 Copeland Ranger19.4315.07.2004
360 Lauragh Empire19.4313.08.2004
360 Wellington19.1230.10.2004
400 Mabels Dilemma21.1115.08.2005 Irish Sprint Cup Final
400 Droopys Rodger21.0621.07.2006
400 Ciaras Castle20.9623.03.2007
400 Gingko20.9521.07.2007
400Heisman 20.9428.07.2017Irish Sprint Cup second round
410 Geldrops Touch21.5526.02.2005
525 Graigues Dynasty28.6201.04.2004
525 Killeigh Grand28.5315.10.2004
525 Phoenix Paddy28.4603.11.2006
525 Open Door28.3912.07.2007
525 Ballymac Tipp28.3120.09.2010
550 Hes The Bizz29.8805.02.2004
550 Holborn Major29.8512.07.2004
550 Like A Shot29.8125.02.2005
550 Droopys Electric29.7312.07.2006 Dundalk International
550 Si Senor29.4712.07.2007
550Droopys Roddick 29.4012.07.2016
575 Lunar Boy31.45 04.09.2004
575 Dromana Blue31.14 05.12.2007
575 Stateside Troika31.0914.12.2013
600 Mobile Dubh32.9004.03.2004
600 Grandad Pat32.8419.11.2005
600 Fairly Smart32.8221.10.2006
600 Ballyhill Beauty32.5923.03.2009
620 Air Force Honcho33.9422.04.2004
620 Westmead Force33.9303.07.2005
620 Martinstown Lass33.9315.08.2005
620 Martinstown Lass33.8613.01.2006
620 Winetavern Oscar33.7204.02.2006
900 Shelbourne Kay50.6112.11.2005
900 Hulkster50.4612.07.2006
900 Shelbourne Kay50.1415.08.2006
900 Flying Winner49.9912.07.2008
910 Air Force Honcho51.0820.11.2004
960 Beaming Surprise54.6222.05.2004
400 HDistant Legend21.9015.08.2009