Harold's Cross Stadium


Harold's Cross Stadium was a greyhound racing stadium in the south Dublin city district of Harold's Cross, owned and operated by the Irish Greyhound Board.
Facilities included a grandstand restaurant, carvery, a number of bars, totalisator betting and seating.
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.
The stadium closed on 13 February 2017 due to financial constraints at the owner – the sale proceeds will be used to help pay a €20.3 million debt incurred from the construction of Limerick Greyhound Stadium.

Football

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

The stadium was used for speedway racing in 1928.

Greyhound Racing

Origins and Opening

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, Walter Butler, Edward Teehan and John McEntagart. Together they would introduce the second greyhound racing track to Dublin in the form of Harold's Cross close to the centre of Dublin.
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 The Riordan family formed the first management with John superseded by his son John F.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

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.

Post-war history

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.
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 was the one to fill the gap switching paces when Bell left. The trading of places took place after the Puppy Derby final.

Sale

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.

Competitions

At closing
YardsGreyhoundTimeDateNotes
325Staley Vegas17.162 September 2005
330Quarter to Five17.529 April 1999
525Airport Express28.1521 September 2001
550Quattro Power29.656 July 2001
570Kiltrea Kev30.9419 December 2009
575Serene Rumble30.8324 November 2002
750Roxholme Girl41.4524 June 2005
810Hovex Brandy45.1728 May 2010
830Brookdale Lady46.7223 June 1995
1010Flying Winner56.8219 December 2008
1015Group Special58.3210 January 2003
525 HToomaline Jack28.6823 October 2009
570 HAnalyse31.0115 December 2006
575 HLemon Rambo32.4325 February 2005

Former
YardsGreyhoundTimeDateNotesYardsGreyhoundTimeDateNotes
325Ballinclea Dancer18.301955580King Niall32.621962
325The Mall18.2626.09.1958580Hurry Guy32.30 04.07.1968
325Sporting Huzzar17.2416.11.2001580Rail Ship31.8221.09.1973
325Dalcash Black17.2028.11.2003580Treacys Triumph31.6810.1995
330Gortnaclohy Mover18.301970600Yardley Whistler34.001946
330Toms Pal18.2819.11.1971600Mad Astley33.801954
330Kojak15.04.1976750Soaring Leary45.301950
330Bray Vale17.7621.07.1978750Chieftains Envoy1964
330Ballyoughter Lad17.7205.04.1991750Ballybeg Pride42.1523.07.1968
350Count Cure19.701941750Rita's Choice42.1008.06.1973
350Roseide Ilene19.6911.09.1941750Azuri42.0024.06.1983
350Sky Patrol19.50 1950750Making Merry41.5812.10.2001
480Nelson Pillar26.8026.04.1968810Recovery Mission45.3517.10.2003
500Shaggy Lad27.961950810Ferdia Bound45.2306.11.2009
525Mad Tanist29.9127.07.1945830Ballygall Point47.3214.04.1978
525Astra29.8802.08.1945830Donore Boy47.0004.07.1986
525Baytown Ivy29.8719461010Ericas Equity57.8819.09.2003
525Cold Christmas29.8619461010Air Force Honcho57.7603.12.2004
525Friends Everywhere29.7419491010Debidee Lane57.6823.12.2005
525Baytown Brunette29.6629.05.1951Callanan Cup 2nd Rd1010Flying Winner58.6705.12.2008
525Carmodys Tanist29.6417.08.1951Irish Derby Final1015I'm A Copper58.5804.07.1986
525Spanish Battleship29.5319551015Bongo Squaw58.3725.09.2000
525Noisy Sam29.4130.07.1957Irish Derby 2nd Rd1025Bodies Lisa59.5204.12.1992
525Clomoney Grand29.0329.04.1966350 HPrinter20.361950
525Romping To Work28.8614.09.1973Irish Oaks heats500 HInly30.081950
525Pulse Tube28.7806.06.1985525 HGeneral Kildare30.721950
525Wheres Carmel28.7828.06.1985525 HMake Sure30.6513.07.1961
525Droopys Vieri28.2008.09.2000525 HRoss River Skip30.1425.04.1975
550Mile Bush Pat30.7512.06.1964525 HIvys Fantasy30.1402.09.1975
550Seskin Mist30.7528.06.1968=equalled525 HKeeragh Sambo29.901975
550Move First30.4825.07.1975525 HRing Gortnadi29.7812.09.1986
550Son of Silver30.4613.07.1984525 HRun On Tar29.5220.03.1990
550Commache Run30.4608.05.1987525 HDebs The Best29.1903.12.2001
550Barefoot Band30.4417.11.1989525 HSelby Ben29.1906.10.2003
550Barneys Alarm30.2002.08.1991525 HJimmy The Lad29.1801.10.2004
570Greenwell Flash31.0230.09.2005525 HDistant Legend29.0924.10.2008
570Analyse31.0115.12.2006570 HDruids Forrest32.6626.05.2006
570Springmount Loco30.9714.11.2008575 HKikis First32.5817.10.2003
570Ballyard Timmy30.9702.10.2009575 HHoncho Belle32.5411.02.2005
575Veras Rovey31.1316.11.2001580 HDruze34.731950
575Unsinkable Boxer31.1209.08.2002580 HDark Cowboy32.8816.05.1975
580Dee Diabolo33.351950------