Boyne Valley Greyhound Stadium was a greyhound racing stadium on Limekiln Hill, East of the Trim Road in Navan, County Meath.[1]
 | |
| Location | Limekiln Hill, Navan, County Meath |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 53°38′35.577″N 6°41′7.946″W / 53.64321583°N 6.68554056°W |
| Opened | 1950 |
| Closed | 1999 |
Opening
editThe opening night at the Boyne Valley Greyhound Stadium was on 21 June 1950. The track was opened by Senator P. Fitzsimons, Chairman of Meath Co. by the director Johnny Cantwell. There were seven races won by Flashlight Freddie, Just a Dog, Trial Times, Baytown Apple, Sky Goal, Few Words and Silver Abbey.[2]
History
editThe track had a large 500 yard circuit circumference and Johnny Cantwell was the first Racing Manager for the Boyne Valley Greyhound Racing Company but following his death the company passed to his sons John and William.[3]
In 1960 the track first ran the Cesarewitch which gained classic status. Winners of the competition included Yanka Boy and Postal Vote before Ritas Choice broke the track record in the final in 1973. The event continued to produce significant winners including Itsachampion, Ballybeg Prim and Rahan Ship.[4]
In 1962 a totalisator was installed and five years later a new viewing area and bar was constructed.[2]
The track was suspended in 1983 by the Bord na gCon after a failure to pay all prize money owed, but despite this setback the track soon returned to action and the Cesarewitch remained one of Ireland’s major events. Roan Hurricane achieved a double in 1995 and then Bonus Prince completed a treble in 1998.[5]
Paddy Barry was the Manager of the Navan Track from 1984-1996.[2]
Closure
editDevelopers bought the track in 1998 for the relatively small figure of £1 million and although the track closed in 1999 it took until 2009 for the site to be developed into a new Lidl supermarket.[2]
Competitions
editTrack records
edit| Yards | Greyhound | Time | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 350 | Oagham Boreen | 19.15 | 1 September 1954 | |
| 350 | Never So Gay | 19.04 | 9 October 1975 | |
| 350 | Princes Pal | 18.76 | 23 July 1987 | National Record |
| 525 | Little Kim | 29.17 | 18 May 1966 | |
| 525 | Trip To Arran | 29.10 | 25 September 1986 | |
| 550 | Sarsfield Castle | 31.20 | 17 October 1951 | |
| 550 | Five Arrow | 31.20 | 31 October 1956 | |
| 550 | Rolling Penny | 31.15 | 1970 | |
| 550 | Murphys Arkle | 30.72 | 2 August 1973 | |
| 550 | Hold Your Coole | 30.40 | 30 July 1987 | |
| 550 | Gourmet Manor | 30.38 | 1988 | |
| 550 | Lispopple Story | 30.26 | 29 July 1989 | |
| 600 | Fleadh Music[6] | 33.42 | August 1963 | Cesarewitch Heats |
| 600 | Brookeville Sputnik[6] | 33.34 | 6 September 1963 | Cesarewitch semi final |
| 600 | Butterfly Billy | 33.26 | 1970 | |
| 600 | Postal Vote | 33.08 | 3 September 1970 | |
| 600 | Ritas Choice | 33.04 | 13 September 1973 | Cesarewitch final |
| 600 | Choice Model | 32.92 | 19 August 1982 | National Record |
| 600 | Ratify | 32.68 | 10 June 1993 | Cesarewitch final |
| 760 | Ratify | 43.44 | 15 August 1993 | |
| 850 | Tiny Tolcas | 48.88 | 23 July 1987 |
References
edit- ^ "Navan". Irish maps. Archived from the original on 29 August 2012. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
- ^ a b c d "Greyhound Racing". Navan & District Historical Society.
- ^ Genders, Roy (1975). The Greyhound and Racing Greyhound. Page Brothers (Norwich). ISBN 0-85020-0474.
- ^ Comyn, John. 50 Years of Greyhound Racing in Ireland. Aherlow Publishers Ltd.
- ^ Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 07207-1106-1.
- ^ a b "Ulster dogs reach final". Ireland's Saturday Night. 7 September 1963. Retrieved 26 May 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.