Boyne Valley Greyhound Stadium
LocationLimekiln Hill, Navan, County Meath
Coordinates53°38′35.577″N 6°41′7.946″W / 53.64321583°N 6.68554056°W / 53.64321583; -6.68554056
Opened1950
Closed1999

Boyne Valley Greyhound Stadium was a greyhound racing stadium on Limekiln Hill, East of the Trim Road in Navan, County Meath.[1]

Opening

The 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

The 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

Developers 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

Track records

Yards Greyhound Time Date Notes
350Oagham Boreen19.151 September 1954
350Never So Gay19.049 October 1975
350Princes Pal18.7623 July 1987National Record
525Little Kim29.1718 May 1966
525Trip To Arran29.1025 September 1986
550Sarsfield Castle31.2017 October 1951
550Five Arrow31.2031 October 1956
550Rolling Penny31.151970
550Murphys Arkle30.722 August 1973
550Hold Your Coole30.4030 July 1987
550Gourmet Manor30.381988
550Lispopple Story30.2629 July 1989
600Fleadh Music[6]33.42August 1963Cesarewitch Heats
600Brookeville Sputnik[6]33.346 September 1963Cesarewitch semi final
600Butterfly Billy33.261970
600Postal Vote33.083 September 1970
600Ritas Choice33.0413 September 1973Cesarewitch final
600Choice Model32.9219 August 1982National Record
600Ratify32.6810 June 1993Cesarewitch final
760Ratify43.4415 August 1993
850Tiny Tolcas48.8823 July 1987

References

  1. "Navan". Irish maps. Archived from the original on 29 August 2012. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Greyhound Racing". Navan & District Historical Society.
  3. Genders, Roy (1975). The Greyhound and Racing Greyhound. Page Brothers (Norwich). ISBN 0-85020-0474.
  4. Comyn, John. 50 Years of Greyhound Racing in Ireland. Aherlow Publishers Ltd.
  5. Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 07207-1106-1.
  6. 1 2 "Ulster dogs reach final". Ireland's Saturday Night. 7 September 1963. Retrieved 26 May 2022 via British Newspaper Archive.
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