Shelbourne Park is a greyhound racing stadium in the south Dublin inner city suburb of Ringsend.
Greyhound racing
Opening The plans to open a greyhound track in Dublin were drawn up by Paddy O’Donoghue, Jerry Collins, Patsy McAlinden and Jim Clarke. Shelbourne Park opened on 14 May 1927 hot on the heels of Celtic Park (Belfast). The stadium located in the docklands in Ringsend was Dublin's answer to the Belfast track and the pair became the two most prestigious greyhound tracks in Irish racing. When opening in 1927 the track employed four resident trainers in Mick Horan, Paddy Quigley, Billy Donoghue and Ben Scally.
History One year later it was decided to introduce the Easter Cup which commemorated the 1916 Easter Monday Rising in Dublin. However, the race soon became known for its own fame rather than its naming origins. The first winner was a greyhound called Odd Blade and the brindle dog went on to successfully defend his title the following year. Famously Mick the Miller equalled the world record time for 500 yards when recording 28.80 in 1928 but he only managed a runner-up spot to Odd Blade in that previously mentioned 1929 Easter Cup final. Mick went on to win the English Greyhound Derby that year for Shelbourne trainer Horan.
Shelbourne Park hosted the first official Irish Greyhound Derby which had been run on four previous occasions from 1928 to 1931 at a rival track Harold's Cross Stadium. The first winner of the Irish Derby at Shelbourne was Guideless Joe owned by champion Irish jockey Jack Moyland and trained by local trainer Mick Horan.
The Oaks came to Shelbourne Park in 1935 and like the Irish Derby, was normally run every other year with Harolds Cross hosting in between. The Grand National took place here in 1933 & 1934 and the St Leger four times in the thirties but it was decided by the Irish Coursing Club that it was better to distribute the classics between several tracks. Another event was inaugurated in 1939 and that was the McAlinden Cup.
The remarkable greyhound called Tanist reached the final of the Easter Cup in April 1940, by smashing the track record at Shelbourne Park in 29.66sec and the legendary Spanish Battleship claimed his second of three Derby victories in 1954, also breaking the track record in the process. On 25 June 1946 Shelbourne used the first photo finish in Ireland during the semi-finals of the McAlinden Cup.
An extraordinary 1956 Irish Derby saw 'Keep Moving' break the track record twice before the sub-29-second barrier was broken by Prince of Bermuda.
Bord na gCon installed a new totalisator system in 1960 and eight years later they purchased the stadium itself to stop the threat of redevelopment that was hanging over the stadium. A £240,000 investment followed and the same year that the Irish Derby found a permanent home at Shelbourne to the dismay of Harolds Cross supporters. The Shelbourne 600 sponsored by Guinness started in 1964 and the Oaks also became permanent at Shelbourne in 1980.
Paddy Ryan who became the Racing Manager in 1974 after taking over the reins from Jack O'Shea would hold the position for over 30 years before becoming general manager and then retiring in 2009. The Derby distance changed to 550 yards in 1986 and after a successful one-off feature in 1979, the Champion Stakes became an annual event in 1986.
With the closure of Celtic Park in 1983 Shelbourne became the premier track in Ireland and continues to provide most of the major events in the Irish racing calendar. In March 2021, the Board of Rásaíocht Con Éireann (Greyhound Racing Ireland) announced a two-stage €2.3 million plan for improvements at the venue.
In a 2009 episode of the British motoring programme Top Gear, Richard Hammond raced a Mazda MX5 against a greyhound around the track at Shelbourne Park.
The 2024 Irish Greyhound Derby was moved from its traditional Summer slot due to a major refurbishment of Shelbourne Park.
Competitions Irish Greyhound Derby Champion Stakes Easter Cup Grand National Juvenile Derby McAlinden Cup Oaks Shelbourne Gold Cup Shelbourne 600 St Leger
Current track records Yards Greyhound Time (sec) Date Notes/Ref350 Gizmo Cash 18.1813 May 2022525 Droopys Kathleen 27.599 November 2024550 Bockos Diamond28.942 November 2024Irish Derby 3rd round550 Bockos Diamond =28.9416 November 2024Irish Derby semi-final575 Sentimental Lad30.599 July 2022600 Laughil Duke31.9126 September 2015750 Redzer Ardfert 40.8621 September 2019850 Dana Point47.059 October 20211025 Riverside Honey58.116 December 2019525 hurdlesSecondrate Champ28.7316 April 2005
Former track records
Yards Greyhound Time (sec) Date Notes/Ref350 Cool Performance18.42 9 June 2001 350 Sycamore Dan 18.4118 September 2004350 Ardnasool Jet 18.3810 May 2019350 Ardnasool Jet 18.3324 May 2019360 Counts Cure 20.10 1941360 Kilbelin Battleship 19.80 24 June 1957360 Portumna Wonder 19.80 10 October 1970 360 Toms Pal 19.50 23 September 1972 360 Lauragh Six 19.33 20 August 1983 360 And Again 19.26 1988360 Meet Me Halfway 19.19 18 August 1990 360 Upper Spark 19.05 25 May 1996 500 Mick The Miller 28.809 May 1928Equalled world record time525 Loughadian 30.00 1929525 Mick The Miller 30.0017 June 1929 National Cup Second Round525 Lions Share 30.17 1931 525 Little Chummie 30.16 18 July 1931 National Cup Second Round525 Queen of the Rock 29.87 May 1932 525 Talis 29.80 16 July 1938 525 Tanist 29.66 April 1940 Easter Cup heats525 Smartly Fergus 29.60 25 June 1945 525 Imperial Dancer 29.55 July 1950 Irish Derby first round525 Spanish Battleship 29.50July 1954 Irish Derby first round525 Spanish Battleship 29.50 July 1954 Irish Derby semi-finals525 Keep Moving 29.49 July 1956 525 Keep Moving 29.40 21 July 1956 Irish Derby first round525 Prince of Bermuda 28.9821 July 1956 1956 Irish Greyhound Derby first round525 Yellow Printer 28.83 20 July 1968 Irish Derby first round525 Ballykilty 28.80 August 1972 525 Tantallons Gift 28.7331 July 19761976 Irish Greyhound Derby first round 525 Cool Panther 28.72 5 July 1997 525 Kilmessan Jet 28.43 March 1999 525 Chart King 28.40 3 April 1999 Easter Cup Final525 Priceless Rebel 28.27 27 October 2001 525 Premier Fantasy 28.08 10 April 2004 Easter Cup Final525 Milldean Panther 28.00 29 October 2011 525 Paradise Madison 27.92 17 November 2012525 Paradise Madison 27.678 December 2012550 Buzzing Dick 31.66 7 October 1934550 Chicken Sandwich31.59 13 October 1934 St Leger Final550 Negros Equal 31.29 3 October 1936 550 Ballydancer 31.25 30 September 1939550Westpark Quail 30.74 1965 550 Own Pride 30.60 December 1969Shelbourne Leger second round550 Ivy Hall Flash 30.37 1 November 1971 550 Tommy Astaire 30.35 14 September 1975 550 Jerpoint Paris 30.35 8 November 1976 550 Wise Band 30.23 1988550 Lodge Prince 30.03 9 August 1986From the 525 traps550 Trade Official 29.99 24 July 1995Champion Stakes semi-finals550 Dew Reward 29.97 16 September 1995 550 Eyeman 29.97 20 August 1998 Irish Derby qualifying round550 Eyeman 29.92 9 September 1998 Irish Derby quarter-finals550 Santa Paolo 29.92 24 July 1999 Champion Stakes semi-finals550 Frisby Flashing 29.89 30 December 1999 Magnificent 200 Millennium Club550 Greenfield Deal 29.74 26 August 2000 Irish Derby quarter-finals550 Judicial Pride 29.66 26 August 2000 Irish Derby semi-finals550 Droopys Vieri 29.57 25 August 2001 Irish Derby second round550 Cool Performance29.57 25 August 2001 Irish Derby second round550 Bypass Byway 29.42 14 September 2002 Irish Derby Final550 College Causeway29.21 5 August 2009 550 Tyrur Van Gaal 29.1027 August 2015550 Pestana 28.9922 August 2020Irish Derby 2nd round575 Damthelie 32.09 7 November 1977 575 Greenhill Paddy 32.04 29 July 1978 575 Hume Highway 31.97 1979 575 Lax Law 31.79 1979 575 Noisy Party 31.74 20 September 1986 575 Alans Judy 31.74 1990575 Fly Cruiser 31.61 16 September 1990 575 Popov 31.5815 October 1994 575 Concorde Direct 31.092 September 2000 575 Mr Jay Jay 31.34 25 August 2001 575 Peter Optimist 31.32 14 September 2002 575 Smiling Man 31.13 10 April 2004575 Ronans Delight 31.09 25 September 2004 575 Ronans Delight 31.04 16 October 2004575 Broadacres Turbo30.89 13 September 2008 575 Airport Pilot 30.89 3 October 2009 575 Mall Brandy 30.88 13 September 2013575 Greenwell Hulk 30.85 7 June 2014 575 Milldean Puma30.6530 April 2016600 Son of the Road 34.95 March 1935 600 Baytown Ivy 34.40 27 October 1945 600 Galloping Home 33.95 1950600 Cranog Bet 33.60 1964600 Vals Prince 33.53 August 1965600 Westpark Quail 33.49 August 1965600 Lazy Tim 33.07 24 August 1966600 Fly Cruiser 33.00 May 1991600 Deerfield Pier 32.99 May 1994Shelbourne 600 heats600 Cool Panther 32.94 18.04.1998 Shelbourne 600 heats600 Kilmessan Jet 32.72March 1999600 Kilmessan Jet 32.58 24 April 1999 600 Joannestown Cash 32.496 May 2000 Shelbourne 600 final600 Late Late Show 32.2917 May 2001 600 Late Late Show 32.20 09.06.2001 Shelbourne 600 final600 Sparta Maestro 32.108 September 2012750 Rita's Choice July 1973 Irish TV Trophy750 Waverly Supreme 42.39 6 July 1974750 Chicita Banana 42.36 6 August 1988 750 Rush For Silver 42.19 22 October 1990 750 Millstream Lad 42.04 5 August 1998750 Get Connected 42.01 10 October 1998750 Making Merry 41.59 15 September 2001750 Longtail Rebel 41.34 10 October 2009 750 Ceroc Shaneboy 41.34 22 October 2011750Airforce Duke 41.1128 September 2013750 Redzer Ardfert 41.0626 July 2019850 Glenske Nijinski48.07 14 July 2001850 Hulkster 47.81 30 July 2005 850Corporate Attack 47.1112 September 2009860 Martins Ghost 49.1327 March 2000 1025 Ruscar Dana 59.91 6 August 19881025 Let Us Know 58.86 16 March 20021025 Jaytee Patriot 58.6222 December 20171025 Ballykett Beauty58.3422 December 2017525 HCormorant 29 sec 4.5 May 1928 525 HCormorant 29 sec 4.52 June 1928525 HTable Cut 30.98 1950525 HHillcrest Pride 30.71 30 August 1969 525 HKnockreigh Dawn 29.68 1 November 1975 525 HSand Blinder 29.46 4 October 1986 525 HKildare Slippy 29.18 3 October 1992 525 HAutumn Merlin 29.12 14 October 2000 525 HJoe Bananas 28.99 18 September 2004525 HSecondrate Champ28.73 16 April 2005 550 HKyleside 32.60 1970 600 HOld Son 35.82 3 July 1935
Football The stadium also played host to the home matches of Shelbourne FC, who play in the League of Ireland, from 1913/14 to 1948/49. The first match was a 1–1 draw against Bohemians and their last match there was a 2–2 draw against Waterford. Shels left Shelbourne Park with the intention of building a new stadium in the nearby district of Irishtown.
While Shelbourne Park was the home of Shelbourne FC, they won one Irish Cup while competing in the Irish League and upon becoming founder members of the League of Ireland in 1921, won five league titles and one FAI Cup before moving on.
Shelbourne Park was the venue for two FAI Cup Final replays, in 1927 and 1929.
In 1928, Shelbourne Park hosted an inter-league challenge match between the League of Ireland XI and the Irish League XI with the home side winning 3:1 in front of a crowd of 12,000.
Speedway racing Shelbourne Park staged Motorcycle speedway racing from 1950 to 1954, again in 1961 and again in 1970 and 1971. In 1951 it was a base for a team of American speedway riders including Nick Nicolaides, Don Hawley, Johnny Roccio, Manuel Trujillo, and Lloyd Campbell. The team raced at most of the UK tracks and often featured Ernie Roccio who was based at Wimbledon.
References