Opening of new track in Dundalk heralded a fresh start

It’s Great To Be Back 525 was the name given to the first race on the card for the opening of the new Dundalk Stadium on Saturday, November 22nd, 2003.

And so it was. Allaying fears that greyhound racing might be lost to the town following the closure of the old track on The Ramparts three years earlier, the tape was cut to herald a new beginning.

Bórd na gCon chairman, Paschal Taggart, did the honours in the presence of the new track CEO, Jim Martin, whose family had been associated with the sport for the 70 years it had been practised in Dundalk.

Also there were members of the Kerley and McGahon families, two others who also had a strong link with the sport in town. Colin Mulhall was racing manager, while Seán Gamble and his grounds staff had the task of getting the racing surface in prime condition.

Seán remains in place with the additional responsibility of also caring for the race track, opened four years later.

It was appropriate that Paschal Taggart had pride of place on the opening night. Knowing how important racing was to the area, he had been directly responsible for Bórd na gCon, as the authority was then known, financing over €2 million towards the project.

There was a huge crowd present for the opening, and there to facilitate the punters among them were 16 bookmakers. Tote bettors had several stations open and like the layers outdoors, it operators were kept busy.

And that opening race? It was won by Dermot’s Rocket, running from the inside trap. M/s Ester McGahon, wife of track director, Hugh, was owner, and Anne Wade, coming all the way from Tipperary, was trainer.

There was a reward for Paschal Taggart when a dog he owned in partnership with others won a sprint, which at the time covered the 410 distance. It could be said the winner was well named given the initiative Taggart had displayed in his role – We Get Results.

Local kennels were successful on the 10-race card. Billy’s Glen, owned by Francis Toner and trained in Drogheda by Joe Kelly, won a 550, and in the concluding contest, a 620, Lunar Boy was successful for the Reaghstown father and son combination, Owenie and Eugene Duffy.

In the two decades since then, some of this country’s best greyhounds have competed at the track, the majority of them running in either the Bar One Racing Sprint Cup or the International. The latter is an event that has certainly stood the test of time, having first featured on Dundalk programmes in 1968.

Winners of the International that come to mind are the Carrickmacros runner, Jemmy John, English Dery winners, Mutt’s Silver and Hit The Lid, and the twice successful trio of Farloe Melody, Definate Opinion and Dynamic Fair. The 2012 winner, Quail Hollow, owned by Castleblayney’s Kieran Lonergan, was one of the most popular.

Sycamore Dan, trained on the Cooley Peninsula by Larry Dunne, was first winner of the Sprint Cup. Heisman from the same Jones kennel that sent out Jemmy John, was also popular with locals, and Ardnasool Jet stands as the only dual winner of this Classic.

Greyhound racing nationwide has been in decline for a number of years now, with tracks having to deal with falling attendances and the closure of kennels. Harold’s Cross, Dungannon and Longford have shut their doors in the twenty years of Dundalk’s new track existence.

However, racing continues, and there hopes it can gain its former glory. There is a greater emphasis than ever on facilities for patrons, and here Dundalk is a leader.

Its spacious and well-appointed restaurant, with a tremendous view of both tracks, has gained a huge reputation, being much in demand throughout the year, but particularly in the months before Christmas. The carvery is very popular of horse racing days.

Greyhound racing in Dundalk has a long and honourable tradition, extending over seven decades. The Dowdallshill facility will remain as long as there are owners and trainers keen to avail of it. Free admission is there for all at the anniversary meeting tomorrow night, when the card will be of the highest order.