Curraheen Park Greyhound Stadium is a greyhound racing track located in Bishopstown, west of Cork, County Cork, Ireland.
Racing takes place every Friday and Saturday evening and the facilities include the grandstand Laurels restaurant, fast food facilities, a number of bars, totalisator betting and ample seating.
Race distances are 330, 525, 550, 575, 750 and 810 yards and the feature competitions at the track is the Laurels.
History Curraheen Park Greyhound Stadium is situated to the west of Cork on the Curraheen Road in Bishopstown. The track opened in the year 2000 as a replacement for the previous track the Cork (Western Road) Greyhound Stadium which is now the Western Gateway Building (science building of the University College Cork). The stadium is a third generation Cork Greyhound Stadium with the first two being the Show Grounds Greyhound Track (1928-1935) and then the previously mentioned Western Road stadium (1936-1996).
The sale of the old track enabled the Bord na gCon to fund a new stadium with modern facilities). The new stadium opened on 8 April 2000 costing IR£8.5 million and included a glass fronted grandstand as the centrepiece (the glass alone cost IR£400,000). The official opening date was 20 May 2000. The new track offered race distances of 330, 525, 550, 575 and 700 yards and the long serving Noel Holland remained as the Racing Manager but would retire in 2004. The Laurels remains the primary competition held at the track and since 2000 winners have included Sonic Flight, Ardkill Jamie and Razldazl Rioga.
Following the closure of Harolds Cross in 2017 the Grand National was brought to the track. Brian Collins had been racing manager at Curraheen Park for a number of years until 2024, before being replaced by Darren Hogan, as Collins took up a more senior role overseeing the tracks in Munster.
Competitions Laurels Grand National
Current track records
Yards Greyhound Time (sec) Date Notes330 Quietly 17.14 12 March 2016525 Illnotbeback 27.815 November 2022550 Killmacdonagh 29.07 29 June 2019The Shelley Fennely Memorial Final575 Nikita Billie 30.62 12 July 2003750 Airmount Tess 41.02 03 June 2017Barry's Tea Open Stake Semi-Final 810 Shelbourne Kay 45.58 11 June 2005810 Slick Season 45.58 18 March 2011525 H Comeout Russell 28.59 11 July 2015
Former track records
Yards Greyhound Time (sec) Date Notes330 Quarrymount Rory 17.47 20 September 2000330 Kilboy Oak 17.44 13 March 2004330 Paulo Coelho 17.40 17 March 2004330 Leeview Dave 17.34 13 October 2012525 Moyne Rebel 28.25 7 October 2000525 Rutland Budgie 28.25 25 October 2001525 Larkhill River 28.21 28 September 2002525 Coolmona Dave 28.14 14 June 2003525 Fat Budgie 28.08 15 May 2004525 Ardkill Jamie 28.03 23 September 2006525 Droopys Robinho 28.0329 September 2007525 Ballymac Vic 27.94 29 September 2012525 Curious Boy 27.8525 June 2016 Laurels heats525 Droopys Edison 27.8325 October 2022Laurels 2nd round550 Owenabue River 29.90 2 August 2001550 Longvalley Tina 29.84 26 February 2002550Confident Choice 29.74 24 October 2002550 Minglers Prime 29.66 23 November 2002550 Make All 29.46 20 March 2004550 Goldstar Lee 29.42 21 October 2006550 Ghost Town 29.36 28 June 2014550 Velvet John Joe 29.32 22 July 2017550 Killmacdonagh 29.15 22 June 2019700 Drifting Tide 38.80 4 August 2001700 Hello Bud 38.74 24 November 2001700 Blue Boomer 38.61 18 May 2002750 Air Force Honcho 41.53 30 October 2003750 Kilquane Lass 41.51 22 November 2003750 Guess Whos Comin 41.41 20 November 2004750 Heart Rumble 41.30 13 May 2006750 Woe Katie 41.22 31 May 2014750 Woe Katie 41.19 14 June 2014750 Fire Height Amy 41.14 6 June 2015525 HHilldun Pat 30.31 17 August 2002525 H Top Lark 29.5030 October 2004525 H Top Lark 29.1829 October 2005525 H Bay Star 28.9921 October 2006525 H Kiel Razzle 28.84 20 June 2014525 H Shouragh Matty 28.78 28 June 2014550 H Lenson Returns 31.16 14 September 2000
References