Harold's Cross Stadium was a greyhound racing stadium in Harold's Cross, Dublin, owned and operated by the Irish Greyhound Board.
Facilities included a grandstand restaurant, carvery, a number of bars, totalisator betting and seating.
Racing took place every Tuesday and Friday evening and race distances were 325, 525, 550, 570, and 750 yards and the feature competitions at the track were the Corn Cuchulainn, the Puppy Derby and the Grand National.
The stadium closed on 13 February 2017 due to the financial constraints of its owner, state greyhound racing body Bord na gCon. Bord na gCon later sold the track to the Department of Education for €23 million in 2018 and apartments have also been built on the site. The proceeds from the sale were proposed be used to help pay a €20.3 million debt incurred from the construction of Limerick Greyhound Stadium.
Football The stadium was used over the years by five football teams who were competing in the League of Ireland: Brideville played there for eleven seasons from 1929/30-1931/32 and from 1935/36-1942/43 Dolphins F.C. played there for two seasons; 1932–33 and 1933–34. Transport F.C. played there for eleven seasons, from 1951–52 until 1961–62. Shelbourne played at the stadium from 1975–76 to 1976–77 and again from 1982–83 to 1988–89 before moving to Tolka Park. St Patrick's Athletic were the last League of Ireland club to play there regularly, from 1989–90 up to November 1993, while work was being done to its Richmond Park home.
Harold's Cross has hosted a number of notable matches. It staged one League of Ireland Cup Final when Limerick City beat St. Patrick's Athletic 2–0 in the 1992/93 decider, whilst the last League of Ireland match ever played in Harold's Cross was a home match for Galway United. On the final weekend of the 1993/94 season, there was no available pitch in Galway due to persistent torrential rain for their match with Shelbourne so the game was switched to Harold's Cross. Shels won the match 5–2 with Barry O'Connor grabbing a hat-trick.
Speedway The stadium was used for speedway racing in 1928.
Greyhound racing Origins and opening On 13 February 1928 a new Irish company was registered called the Dublin Greyhound and Sports Association Ltd. The nominal capital was £25,000 in shares of £1 and the directors were J.B Fraser a timber merchant, John J Flood (retired public official), Walter Butler (architect), Edward Teehan (gentleman) and John McEntagart (motor engineer). Together they would introduce the second greyhound racing track to Dublin in the form of Harold's Cross close to the centre of Dublin (the first was Shelbourne Park).
It became the third greyhound racing venue in Ireland following Shelbourne Park and Celtic Park in Belfast. The opening night was on 10 April 1928 with the first race scheduled for 8 pm. The Irish Times advertised the fact that there was accommodation for 40,000 people and car parking for 1,000 cars. The Riordan family formed the first management with John superseded by his son John F.
In 1928 Harolds Cross introduced a competition that would become the modern day Irish Greyhound Derby, the race was unofficial because Harolds Cross decided to run this 'National Derby' without consulting the Irish racing fraternity. This was a practice they would continue to do until the formation of classic races in 1932.
Pre-war history In 1929 Mick the Miller won the Spring Cup competition here over 525 yards and then finished runner up in the Stayers Cup over 600 yards. The Irish Coursing Club issued a new list of classic races in 1932 and controversy followed because Harolds Cross was given the Oaks and not the Derby. Shelbourne had been given the premier event which did not go down well based on the fact that they had introduced the event. One year later and Harolds Cross were furious that Shelbourne were issued the race again. In a meeting Mr Tynan representing the track, had pointed out that the previous year Paddy O’Donoghue had promised that they could hold the event in 1933. I.C.C chairman John Bruton explained that they could not cancel a ruling by the club already made. Tynan stormed out and Harolds Cross refused to run any classics or their qualifying races and threatened to run their own Irish Championship. Finally in 1934 they were granted permission to run the Derby as long as they contributed a minimum of £100 towards the event. The ICC added a further £50 and it was also agreed that Shelbourne and Harolds Cross would run the competition in alternate years.
The first star of the track was a black bitch called Nanny Goosegog owned by the legendary Arthur Doc Callanan who happened to be the track vet as well in the early days of racing at Harolds Cross. The March 1938 whelp won 37 of her 38 races at the Harolds Cross but because some of these were handicap races the bitch did not set any official records. After 20 consecutive wins she was beaten by Lucky House who received 11 yards, another 17 consecutive victories followed so it is easy to see why she was Dublin's first superstar.
In 1943 the Puppy Derby was inaugurated here. One year later the track became the first in Ireland to introduce automatic starting traps. 'Doc' Callanan had suffered from ill health in 1945 and died aged 51; Harolds Cross introduced a race in his memory called the Callanan Cup.
Post-war history Spanish Battleship won the first and last of his Derby titles in 1953 and 1955 respectively and the 1955 edition saw the stadium overwhelmed by crowds attempting to get a look at final.
The Bord na gCon funded a new totalisator system at the track in 1960. The Derby was last run at the track in 1967, when it was won by Russian Gun. Rumours had surfaced that developers might purchase the track so the Irish Greyhound Board acted quickly and bought Harolds Cross in 1970 to quash any future re-development plans.
The Corn Cuchulainn for stayers was another major event introduced to the track in 1961 and in 1977 the track went ahead with considerable improvements that included a new stand, restaurant and other facilities. The 1978 running of the Callanan Cup and Oaks did not take place at the Cross with the latter switching to Shelbourne. Stability followed with established races taking centre stage except for the Oaks which would eventually be held at Shelbourne permanently. George Deegan became Racing Manager as the track raced on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday nights.
Despite the stadium being in the hands of the Irish Greyhound Board and Racing Manager Deegan providing security with his long tenure the Dublin track was subject once again to rumours in the early nineties. There were strong indications coming from some quarters that Harolds Cross would close to ease the burden of costs on the IGB. Luckily business began to grow after a tough period of trading and the rumours went away. The Grand National had been held here since 2001, the second time the track has hosted the event following the previous spell during the 1930s.
In 2010 Racing Manager Billy Bell decided to join Mullingar Greyhound Stadium as their Racing Manager leaving Harolds Cross looking for a replacement. Coincidentally Derek Frehill (part of the Mullingar management & former RM there) was the one to fill the gap switching paces when Bell left. The trading of places took place after the Puppy Derby final.
Sale Towards the end of 2014 the Irish Greyhound Board decided to sell the stadium. It was considered that by doing so the debts of the IGB could be drastically reduced. The idea was to transfer all Dublin operations to Shelbourne Park but the decision did not sit well with those involved with Harolds Cross and many others in Irish racing. Even some at Shelbourne expressed concern that they relied on Harolds Cross as a feeder stadium.
The move was confirmed on 13 February 2017, and all IGB operations have since ceased.
Competitions Corn Cuchulainn Puppy Derby Grand National Irish Greyhound Derby Oaks Callanan Cup
Track records At closing
Yards Greyhound Time (sec) Date Notes/ref325 Staley Vegas 17.16 2 September 2005330 Quarter to Five17.529 April 1999525 Airport Express28.1521 September 2001550 Quattro Power29.656 July 2001570 Kiltrea Kev30.94 19 December 2009575 Serene Rumble30.83 24 November 2002750 Roxholme Girl41.45 24 June 2005810 Hovex Brandy45.17 28 May 2010830 Brookdale Lady46.72 23 June 19951010 Flying Winner 56.82 19 December 20081015 Group Special58.32 10 January 2003525 H Toomaline Jack28.68 23 October 2009570 H Druids Forrest 32.66 26 May 2006575 H Lemon Rambo32.43 25 February 2005 Former
Yards Greyhound Time (sec) Date Notes/Ref325 Ballinclea Dancer18.301955325 The Mall 18.26 26 September 1958325 Sporting Huzzar17.2416 November 2001325 Dalcash Black 17.20 28 November 2003330 Gortnaclohy Mover18.301970330 Toms Pal 18.28 19 November 1971330 Kojak 15 April 1976330 Bray Vale 17.7621 July 1978330 Ballyoughter Lad17.725 April 1991 350 Count Cure 19.70 1941350 Roseide Ilene 19.69 11 September 1941350 Sky Patrol 19.501950480 Nelson Pillar 26.80 26 April 1968500 Fawn Cherry 28.36 29 October 1943 Irish Puppy Derby final500 Shaggy Lad 27.96 17 October 1945 Irish Puppy Derby semi final525 Mad Tanist 29.91 27 July 1945525 Astra 29.882 August 1945525 Baytown Ivy 29.871946525 Cold Christmas29.86 1946525 Friends Everywhere29.741949525 Baytown Brunette29.6629 May 1951Callanan Cup 2nd Rd525 Carmodys Tanist29.6417 August 1951Irish Derby Final525 Spanish Battleship29.53 1955525 Noisy Sam 29.41 30 July 1957Irish Derby 2nd Rd525 Clomoney Grand29.03 29 April 1966525 Romping To Work28.8614 September 1973 Irish Oaks heats525 Pulse Tube 28.78 6 June 1985525 Wheres Carmel 28.78 28 June 1985525 Droopys Vieri 28.20 8 September 2000 550 Mile Bush Pat 30.75 12 June 1964550 Seskin Mist 30.75 28 June 1968=equalled550 Move First 30.48 25 July 1975550 Son of Silver 30.46 13 July 1984 550 Commache Run 30.46 8 May 1987 550 Barefoot Band 30.44 17 November 1989 550 Barneys Alarm 30.20 2 August 1991 570 Greenwell Flash31.0230 September 2005570 Analyse 31.0115 December 2006 570 Springmount Loco30.9714 November 2008 570 Ballyard Timmy30.97 2 October 2009 575 Veras Rovey 31.13 16 November 2001 575 Unsinkable Boxer31.129 August 2002580 Dee Diabolo 33.35 1950 580King Niall 32.621962580Hurry Guy 32.304 July 1968580Rail Ship 31.82 21 September 1973 580 Treacys Triumph 31.68 October 1995600Yardley Whistler 34.00 1946 600Mad Astley 33.80 1954750Soaring Leary 45.30 1950750Chieftain's Envoy 42.70 1964Corn Cuchulainn final750Westpark Quail 42.42 1965Corn Cuchulainn final 750Ballybeg Pride 42.15 23 July 1968750Rita's Choice 42.10 8 June 1973 750Azuri 42.00 24 June 1983 750Making Merry 41.5812 October 2001 810Recovery Mission 45.35 17 October 2003 810Ferdia Bound 45.23 6 November 2009 830Ballygall Point 47.32 14 April 1978830Donore Boy47.004 July 1986 1010Ericas Equity 57.88 19 September 20031010Air Force Honcho 57.76 3 December 2004 1010Debidee Lane 57.68 23 December 2005 1010Flying Winner 58.67 5 December 20081015I'm A Copper 58.58 4 July 1986 1015Bongo Squaw 58.37 25 September 20001025Bodies Lisa 59.52 4 December 1992350 HPrinter 20.36 1950500 HInly 30.08 1950525 HGeneral Kildare 30.721950 525 HMake Sure 30.65 13 July 1961 525 HRoss River Skip 30.14 25 April 1975525 HIvys Fantasy 30.14 2 September 1975525 HKeeragh Sambo 29.901975 525 HRing Gortnadi29.78 12 September 1986525 HRun On Tar 29.52 20 March 1990 525 HDebs The Best 29.19 3 December 2001 525 HSelby Ben 29.196 October 2003 525 HJimmy The Lad 29.18 1 October 2004 525 HDistant Legend 29.09 24 October 2008 575 HKikis First 32.58 17 October 2003 575 HHoncho Belle 32.54 11 February 2005 580 HDruze 34.73 1950580 HDark Cowboy 32.88 16 May 1975
References