:Dundalk Stadium

{{short description|Horse and greyhound racing venue in County Louth, Ireland}}

{{Infobox racecourse

|name = Dundalk Stadium

|image =

|caption =

|location = Racecourse Road, Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland

|coordinates = {{coord|54.020896|-6.383218|display=inline,title}}

|owner =

|operator =

|opened = 2003

|closed =

|channel =

|racetype = horse & greyhound racing

|coursetype =

|notableraces =

|handle =

|attendance =

|website = http://dundalkstadium.com/

|Image=The Dundalk Stadium - geograph.org.uk - 6208766.jpg}}

Dundalk Stadium is a horse and greyhound racing venue in Ireland. It is located to the north of Dundalk in County Louth.{{cite web|url=http://www.dundalkstadium.com|title=Dundalk Stadium – Irelands only All Weather Horse Racing Track. Greyhound Racing at Dundalk Stadium|work=dundalkstadium.com}}

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.{{cite web|url=http://www.goracing.ie/racecourses-and-events/racecourses/dundalk/information/|title=About Racecourse|publisher=Go Racing}}

The course is a floodlit 1¼ mile left-handed oval, and races are run on an all-weather Polytrack surface.{{cite web|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/article570528.ece|title=Sport - The Times|work=The Times}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}{{cite web|url=http://www.air.ie/aircoursecon087.htm|title=AIR - Association of Irish Racecourse Owners|work=air.ie|access-date=21 January 2009|archive-date=4 October 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081004124611/http://www.air.ie/aircoursecon087.htm|url-status=dead}}

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,{{Cite web|url=http://www.irish-racing.com/v3newsitem?prv=4&prdt=2009-01-16%2010:51:19|title=Waiting for Perfection}} and the Mercury Stakes which was upgraded to Group 3 status in 2018.

= Notable races =

class="wikitable sortable"
Month ! DOW ! Race Name ! Type ! Grade ! Distance ! Age/Sex
style="text-align:center" \|{{Sort\|1\|March}} \| style="text-align:center" \|Friday \| Patton Stakes \| style="text-align:center" \|A W Flat \| style="text-align:center" \| Listed \| style="text-align:center" \|{{Sort\|1609\|1m}} \| style="text-align:center" \|3yo
style="text-align:center" \|{{Sort\|2\|October}} \| style="text-align:center" \|Friday \| Diamond Stakes \| style="text-align:center" \|A W Flat \| style="text-align:center" \| Group 3 \| style="text-align:center" \|{{Sort\|2149\|1m 2f 150y}} \| style="text-align:center" \|3yo +
style="text-align:center" \|{{Sort\|3\|October}} \| style="text-align:center" \|Friday \| Mercury Stakes \| style="text-align:center" \|A W Flat \| style="text-align:center" \| Group 3 \| style="text-align:center" \|{{Sort\|1006\|5f}} \| style="text-align:center" \|2yo +

class="wikitable sortable"

Month

! DOW

! Race Name

! Type

! Grade

! Distance

! Age/Sex

style="text-align:center" |{{Sort|1|March}}

| style="text-align:center" |Friday

| Patton Stakes

| style="text-align:center" |A W Flat

| style="text-align:center" | Listed

| style="text-align:center" |{{Sort|1609|1m}}

| style="text-align:center" |3yo

style="text-align:center" |{{Sort|2|October}}

| style="text-align:center" |Friday

| Diamond Stakes

| style="text-align:center" |A W Flat

| style="text-align:center" | Group 3

| style="text-align:center" |{{Sort|2149|1m 2f 150y}}

| style="text-align:center" |3yo +

style="text-align:center" |{{Sort|3|October}}

| style="text-align:center" |Friday

| Mercury Stakes

| style="text-align:center" |A W Flat

| style="text-align:center" | Group 3

| style="text-align:center" |{{Sort|1006|5f}}

| style="text-align:center" |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.{{cite book|last=Hobbs|first=Jonathan|title=Greyhound Annual 2008|year=2007|publisher=Raceform|isbn=978-1-905153-53-4}}

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.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/dundalk-presents-all-weather-track-plan-164177.html|title=Dundalk presents all-weather track plan|date=30 August 2004|publisher=Irish Examiner}}

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.{{cite web|url=http://www.greyhound-data.com/stadia.htm?land=ie&st=12021|title=Dundalk|publisher=Greyhound Data}}

= Competitions =

The Dundalk International is held annually.{{cite book|last=Genders|first=Roy|title=The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing|year=1981|publisher=Pelham Books Ltd|isbn=07207-1106-1}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.igb.ie/globalassets/2016-classic--feature-events.pdf|title=Feature Events|publisher=Irish Greyhound Board|access-date=13 July 2016|archive-date=20 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171120235153/https://www.igb.ie/globalassets/2016-classic--feature-events.pdf|url-status=dead}} The Irish Sprint Cup (formerly the Irish National Cup) arrived at the track in 2004.{{cite book|last=Hobbs|first=Jonathan|title=Greyhound Annual 2008, page 173|year=2007|publisher=Raceform|isbn=978-1-905153-53-4}}

= Track records =

Current

{{cite web|url=http://greyhoundstar.co.uk/irish-track-records-breeding/|title=Track records|date=22 January 2018|publisher=Greyhound Star}}{{cite web|url=http://greyhoundstar.co.uk/irish-track-records-breeding-2/|title=Dundalk Track records|date=7 January 2019|publisher=Greyhound Star}}{{cite web|url=https://greyhoundstar.co.uk/irish-track-records-2/ |title=Irish Track Records as of January 2024 |website=Greyhound Star |date=10 January 2024 |access-date=14 February 2024}}

width=100\| Yards !width=200\| Greyhound !width=50\| Time !width=250\| Date !width=250\| Notes
class="wikitable" style="font-size: 100%"
align=center \|350	Blame the Game{{cite web\|url=https://www.grireland.ie/results/view-results/?track=DLK&date=15-Nov-19#race2\|title=Find us on Facebook SS0/S0 350\|publisher=Greyhound Racing Ireland\|access-date=30 December 2020}}	18.46	15 November 2019
align=center \|400	Broadstrand Syd{{cite web\|url=https://www.grireland.ie/results/view-results/?track=DLK&date=20-Jul-24#race2\|title=Bar One Racing Irish Sprint Cup Open 400 Round 1 Heat 2\|publisher=Greyhound Racing Ireland\|access-date=22 July 2024}}{{cite web\|url=https://greyhoundstar.co.uk/sunday-round-up-36/\|title=Sunday Round up\|date=21 July 2024 \|publisher=Greyhound Star\|access-date=22 July 2024}}	20.57	20 July 2024	Irish Sprint Cup heats
align=center \|400 hurdles	Distant Legend	21.90	15 August 2009
align=center \|525	Swanley Chick{{cite web\|url=https://www.grireland.ie/results/view-results/?track=DLK&date=01-Aug-20#race1\|title=THE DUNDALK STADIUM A0/A1 525\|publisher=Greyhound Racing Ireland\|access-date=30 December 2020}}	28.14	1 August 2020
align=center \|550	Droopys Verve{{cite web\|url=https://www.igb.ie/results/view-results/?track=DLK&date=12-Jul-2018\|title=Dundalk International final meeting\|publisher=Irish Greyhound Board}}	29.39	12 July 2018
align=center \|575	Vaguely Noble{{cite web\|url=https://www.grireland.ie/results/view-results/?track=DLK&date=12-Jul-17#race4\|title=Racing Post A3 Tri Distance(525/550/575) Final\|publisher=Greyhound Racing Ireland\|access-date=30 December 2020}}	30.92	12 July 2016
align=center \|600	Boleys Fella{{cite web\|url=https://www.grireland.ie/results/view-results/?track=DLK&date=12-Jul-19#race10\|title=Fanfruit Ltd. Open 600\|publisher=Greyhound Racing Ireland\|access-date=30 December 2020}}	32.30	12 July 2019
align=center \|620	Dromana Blue	33.51	5 December 2007
align=center \|670	Prince Monalulu	36.47	4 February 2005
align=center \|900	Ballymac Bonnie{{cite web\|url=https://www.grireland.ie/results/view-results/?track=DLK&date=12-Jul-16#race12\|title=REDBOOK.IE est 1980 Open 900\|publisher=Greyhound Racing Ireland\|access-date=30 December 2020}}	49.82	12 July 2016

Previous

width=100\| Yards !width=200\| Greyhound !width=50\| Time !width=250\| Date !width=250\| Notes
class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="font-size: 100%"
align=center \|350	Mulcair Jo	18.71	12 July 2006
align=center \|350	Kildallon Ranger	18.49	12 July 2012
align=center \|360	Copeland Ranger	19.43	15 July 2004
align=center \|360	Lauragh Empire	19.43	13 August 2004
align=center \|360	Wellington	19.12	30 October 2004
align=center \|400	Mabels Dilemma	21.11	15 August 2005	Irish Sprint Cup Final
align=center \|400	Droopys Rodger	21.06	21 July 2006
align=center \|400	Ciaras Castle	20.96	23 March 2007
align=center \|400	Gingko	20.95	21 July 2007
align=center \|400	Heisman{{cite web\|url=https://www.igb.ie/results/view-results/?track=DLK&date=28-Jul-17#race2\|title=400y track record\|publisher=Irish Greyhound Board}}	20.94	28 July 2017	Irish Sprint Cup second round
align=center \|400	Droopys Steel{{cite web\|url=https://www.igb.ie/results/view-results/?track=DLK&date=03-Aug-18#race6\|title=400 track record\|publisher=Irish Greyhound Board}}	20.81	3 August 2018	Irish Sprint Cup third round
align=center \|400	Grangeview Ten{{cite web\|url=https://www.grireland.ie/results/view-results/?track=DLK&date=08-Aug-20#race3\|title=The BarOne Racing.com Irish Sprint Cup Semi-Final\|publisher=Greyhound Racing Ireland\|access-date=30 December 2020}}	20.75	8 August 2020	Irish Sprint Cup semi final
align=center \|400	Brodys Magic{{cite web\|url=https://www.grireland.ie/results/view-results/?track=DLK&date=08-Aug-20#race3\|title=The BarOne Racing.com Irish Sprint Cup Semi-Final\|publisher=Greyhound Racing Ireland\|access-date=30 December 2020}}	20.73	8 August 2020	Irish Sprint Cup semi final
align=center \|410	Geldrops Touch	21.55	26 February 2005
align=center \|525	Graigues Dynasty	28.62	1 April 2004
align=center \|525	Killeigh Grand	28.53	15 October 2004
align=center \|525	Phoenix Paddy	28.46	3 November 2006
align=center \|525	Open Door	28.39	12 July 2007
align=center \|525	Ballymac Tipp	28.31	20 September 2010
align=center \|525	Burnt Beans	28.17	20 May 2017
align=center \|550	Hes The Bizz	29.88	5 February 2004
align=center \|550	Holborn Major	29.85	12 July 2004
align=center \|550	Like A Shot	29.81	25 February 2005
align=center \|550	Droopys Electric	29.73	12 July 2006	Dundalk International
align=center \|550	Si Senor	29.47	12 July 2007
align=center \|550	Droopys Roddick {{cite web\|url=https://www.igb.ie/results/view-results/?track=DLK&date=12-Jul-16#race8\|title=Track record 2016\|publisher=Irish Greyhound Board}}	29.40	12 July 2016
align=center \|575	Lunar Boy	31.45	4 September 2004
align=center \|575	Dromana Blue	31.14	5 December 2007
align=center \|575	Stateside Troika	31.09	14 December 2013
align=center \|600	Mobile Dubh	32.90	4 March 2004
align=center \|600	Grandad Pat	32.84	19 November 2005
align=center \|600	Fairly Smart	32.82	21 October 2006
align=center \|600	Ballyhill Beauty	32.59	23 March 2009
align=center \|600	Ballycanal Chief	32.57	15 August 2010
align=center \|620	Air Force Honcho	33.94	22 April 2004
align=center \|620	Westmead Force	33.93	3 July 2005
align=center \|620	Martinstown Lass	33.93	15 August 2005
align=center \|620	Martinstown Lass	33.86	13 January 2006
align=center \|620	Winetavern Oscar	33.72	4 February 2006
align=center \|900	Shelbourne Kay	50.61	12 November 2005
align=center \|900	Hulkster	50.46	12 July 2006
align=center \|900	Shelbourne Kay	50.14	15 August 2006
align=center \|900	Flying Winner	49.99	12 July 2008
align=center \|910	Air Force Honcho	51.08	20 November 2004
align=center \|960	Beaming Surprise	54.62	22 May 2004
align=center \|400 H	Distant Legend	21.90	15 August 2009

References

Category:Horse racing venues in the Republic of Ireland

Category:Greyhound racing venues in the Republic of Ireland

Category:Sports venues in County Louth

Category:Sport in County Louth

Category:Sport in Dundalk

Category:Sports venues completed in 2003

Category:2003 establishments in Ireland

Category:21st-century architecture in the Republic of Ireland