Newbridge Greyhound Stadium

Newbridge Greyhound Stadium is a greyhound racing track located northwest of Newbridge, County Kildare, Ireland.[1]

Newbridge Greyhound Stadium

Location	Milltown Road, Cornelscourt, Newbridge, County Kildare, Ireland
Coordinates	53°11'24.7"N 6°49'20.8"W
Operated by	Irish Greyhound Board
Date opened	1972
Race type	greyhound racing
Official website

Racing takes place every Friday and Saturday evening and the facilities include the grandstand Masters Restaurant and Barkers Bar which offers ample seating.[2]

Race distances are 325, 525, 575 and 600 yards and the feature competition at the track is the Cox Cup.[3]

History

Following the closure of the old Newbridge greyhound track around St Conleth's Park in 1968 the operation was relocated to a more rural location north of the town near the Rickardstown/Cornelscourt area. It was still, however, within easy reach of the town and racing would originally take place every Monday and Friday. The new circuit was constructed in 1972, and the management brought the long-running Cox Cup with them. Named after the stadium landlords the Cox family (PJ Cox and sons Dermot and David). The new circuit tended to be a fast track with a large circumference of 520 yards. The new facilities included a glass-enclosed bar which allowed patrons to view not only the racing but the kennels and weighing room as well.[4] During 1978 further changes were made with a facelift for the main stand; this was the same year that long-standing racing manager Denis Brennan gave up the racing manager's seat that was then taken by Christy Connolly.

The Cox Cup allowed the Newbridge public to view some of the sport's fastest greyhounds, including Ardfert Mick, who broke the track record during the 1991 event. Despite the track facing financial problems at various times, there were more track improvements in 2002, which provided a welcome rejuvenation.[5] On 26 March 2011 the Cox family and the Newbridge Greyhound Racing Company called it a day and decided to close following a downturn in the economic climate. The management stated there has been a reduction in attendances, sponsorship and secondary business activity.

Following a five month closure it re-opened in August 2011 under the Morgan & Franklin Consortium headed by Managing Director David Morgan who provided renewed investment.[6] Morgan had worked at a senior level with Irish Greyhound Board (IGB) in the past and was also the stadium director for Semple Stadium. The consortium included Peter Franklin, former head of marketing of the IGB and was called Morwell Racing Ltd.[7] However, problems persisted at the track and in March 2013 Morwell Racing Ltd ceased racing.[8]

Welcome news arrived shortly afterwards in 2013 when the IGB stepped in, this time led by the IGB’s Philip Peake, and took control of the venue. The track recommenced racing once again on Friday and Saturday nights.

Competitions

• Cox Cup

Track records

Current

Yards	Greyhound	Time	Date	Notes
325	Deanridge Onfire[9]	17.21	7 August 2020
525	Droopys Curio[10]	28.07	13 March 2020
550	Redwood Mick[11]	29.50	30 May 2014	Cox Cup semi final
575	Wilcos Mate[12]	31.12	14 July 2006
600	Tyrur Chris[13]	32.40	11 June 2010
750	Maireads Pearl[14]	41.43	5 April 2019
845	Rough Quest[15]	47.38	30 October 2009
525 H	Frightened Pig[16]	29.14	9 July 2004

Former [17]

Yards	Greyhound	Time	Date	Notes
300	Clane Mint	16.50	11 June 1976
300	Joannes Treasure	16.44	31 August 1990
300	Rockspring Peer	16.20	5 May 2000
325	Cool Gamble	17.38	17 January 2003
325	Kafima	17.37	14 October 2005
325	Yes Boss	17.35	8 November 2009
325	Junior Jet[18]	17.27	16 June 2017
525	Shamrock Point [19]	29.08	October 1974
525	Some Skinomage	29.02	6 June 1977
525	Wise Band	29.02	21 June 1985
525	Airmount Grand	28.86	September 1988
525	Ardfert Mick	28.68	22 June 1991	Cox Cup Heats
525	Judicial Pride	28.58	14 June 1999
525	Velvet Commander	28.58	25 October 2003
525	Spell Bound	28.42	31 October 2003
525	Hillcroft Josie	28.39	19 October 2007
525	Maireads Fantasy [20]	28.23	23 October 2009	Newbridge Oaks 2nd round
525	Cushie Jet[21]	28.21	31 August 2018	2018 Juvenile Derby Round 2
525	Ballymac Anton[22]	28.18	7 September 2018	Texacloth Juvenile Derby semi final
550	Track Whisper	30.46	17 July 1987
550	Carlow Country	30.18	23 September 1988
550	Droopys Mossie	29.96	3 July 1994
550	Premier County	29.93	30 November 2001
550	Ten Men	29.81	11 July 2003
550	Simply Vintage	29.71	11 July 2003
550	Top Boe	29.62	2 July 2004	Cox Cup second round
550	Definate Opinion	29.56	4 June 2010	Cox Cup semi-finals
550	Tyrur Bucko	29.51	11 June 2010	Cox Cup Final
550	Redwood Mick	29.50	30 May 2014	Cox Cup semi-finals
575	The Other Master	32.56	2 August 2002
575	Sonic Pearl	32.42	5 August 2002
575	Pickwick Song	31.87	9 August 2002
575	Curryhills Wade	31.50	16 August 2002
575	Cabbage White	31.26	23 August 2002
575	Awesome Impact	31.24	26 May 2003
600	Red Smoke	33.34	9 April 1976
600	Synone Crest	32.97	24 July 1987
600	Lisk Raven	32.90	4 September 1989
600	Guess Twice	32.86	28 June 1991
600	Charlie Bird	32.72	19 July 2002
600	Walking Sunday	32.71	19 July 2002
600	Pennys Sunstar	32.69	6 September 2008
600	Dangerous Man	32.64	4 September 2009
750	Loch Bo Anchor	42.34	3 July 1994
750	Me Rocket	42.18	2 June 2003
750	Beaming Surprise	41.98	16 January 2004
750	Hulkster	41.85	5 November 2005
750	Bricken Maley[23]	41.82	7 June 2013
750	Jet Stream View[24]	41.59	29 March 2019
820	August Blossom	46.90	4 October 1991
820	Fast Remark	46.76	30 June 2000
845	Metric Tiger	47.75	21 July 2002
845	Recovery Mission	47.73	23 May 2003
845	Marshalls Trigger	47.68	30 December 2004
845	Pretty Fantasy	47.57	16 December 2007
525 H	Moreen Flamingo	30.08	6 July 1977
525 H	No Promises	29.92	3 July 1987
525 H	Swiss Champ	29.18	29 April 2002

References

1. "Newbridge Greyhound Racing Track". County Kildare Tourism.
2. "Newbridge Greyhound Stadium". Irish Greyhound Board.
3. "Newbridge". Greyhound Data.
4. Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 07207-1106-1.
5. Hobbs, Jonathan (2007). Greyhound Annual 2008. Raceform. ISBN 978-1-905153-53-4.
6. "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 2011) September 2012 edition". Greyhound Star.
7. "Speaking Notes". agriculture.gov.ie. Archived from the original on 18 November 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
8. "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 2013) April edition". Greyhound Star.
9. "The Welcome to Newbridge Stadium 325". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
10. "Brownstown Tango/NTSC Open Unraced Bitch Round 1 Heat 4". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
11. "The 2014 Cox Cup Open 550 Semi-Final". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
12. "GER CANTY ' WINNER OF THREE' 575 2nd Rd. Heat 2". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
13. "The Channon Family Open 600". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
14. "€11.50 Sizzler Package Novice 750". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
15. "Finnegan / Dowling Family Open Marathon 845". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
16. "THE NEWBRIDGE OPEN HURDLE". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
17. "Track records". Greyhound Data.
18. "Bounce City S1/S2 325". Irish Greyhound Board.
19. "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 1974) November edition". Greyhound Star.
20. "J.P. Moran & T.O'Donnell Newbridge Oaks Round 2 Heat 2". Irish Greyhound Board.
21. "2018 Texacloth Juvenile Derby Open 525 Round 2 Heat 2". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
22. "2018 Texacloth Juvenile Derby Open 525 Semi-Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
23. "The Masters Restaurant D1/D2 750". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
24. "Scope Healthcare D1/D2 750". Greyhound Racing Ireland. Retrieved 30 December 2020.