Kingdom Greyhound Stadium is a greyhound racing track located in Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland. It has been known as Oakview Park and the Tralee Greyhound Stadium previously.
Racing takes place every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday evening and the facilities include a grandstand restaurant, fast food facilities, a number of bars, totalisator betting and seating. It also has a large car park around the stadium.
Race distances are 500, 525, 550, 570, and 750 yards and the feature competitions at the track are the Juvenile Classic and the Race of Champions.
History A track known as the Ardfert Greyhound track in Ardfert opened in August 1929 but closed the same year as a result of a larger track arriving in Oakview Village nearer to the Tralee town centre. Despite opposition from the local clergy, the first meeting was held on 9 April 1930 at Oakview Park and the circumference was 476 yards making for a nice comfortable course for the greyhounds.
The great Ballyhennessy Seal made his debut here in 1943 followed by Spanish Battleship, Ballymac Ball, Priceless Border and Patricias Hope, a quite remarkable list of greyhounds that graced the track over the years. In addition a series of competitions have been introduced over the years providing the Tralee public with regular annual events. The events were the Bloom 500, Harp Lager Stakes, Rose of Tralee, Clarke Cup, Kingdom Puppy Cup, Monalee Hiker Stakes and the MJ Hannafin Memorial Cup. The last mentioned event the MJ Hannafin Memorial Cup was named in memory of the Racing Manager at the track when it opened in 1930. His brothers to Jerry and Dennis Hannafin were two highly respected trainers in the industry.
MJ Hannafin was Racing Manager until 1950 and then the hot seat was taken up by Kevin Laide for over thirty years before John Ward took over.
At the turn of the 21st century, many Irish tracks received a boost from Greyhound Racing Ireland with refurbishment on the agenda. Tralee was no exception and underwent a major refit with the stadium redesigned for the new Millennium under the ownership of the Board.
Two new competitions the Juvenile Classic and Race of Champions have been introduced and they have quickly established themselves as leading feature events in the Irish racing calendar despite the fact that they have only been inaugurated in recent years. The stadium underwent further upgrading in 2012 following extra investment by Greyhound Racing Ireland.
In December 2023, the stadium renewed the contract agreement (as part of the GRI) with S.I.S for 2024.
Competitions Juvenile Classic Race of Champions
Track records Current track records Yards Greyhound Time (sec) Date Notes/ref325Flashing Willow 17.1228 May 2022500 Magical Luka 26.6120 June 2025525 In Good Time27.914 May 2024550 Seven Beach29.0913 June 2024Race of Champions final570 Bobsleigh Dream 30.4011 March 2022750 Tuono Charlie 40.7627 July 2024525 hurdlesCashen Zig 28.8824 July 2009
Former track records
Yards Greyhound Time (sec) Date Notes/ref315 Annaghs Pride 17.65 1950315 Lemond Laddie 17.45 8 May 1958315 Ballyard Dick =17.45 8 May 1958325 Upourdat 17.95 20 May 1968325 Rosslyn Raider 17.90 8 March 1974325 Glamour Hobo 17.86 15 August 1984325 True Gold 17.84 1988325 Beau Amie 17.76 1988325 Mistreamer 17.72 September 1990325 Michigan Maurice17.52 30 August 1991325 Pineapple Mandy 17.46 23 April 1999325 Cashen Malouda 17.40 30 June 2012325 Leeview Dave 17.36 18 June 2013325 Leeview Dave 17.24 21 June 2013325 Holborn Junior 17.23 17 May 2014325Ballymac Sexton 17.1727 May 2016500 Sugar Prince 28.55 22 July 1958500What About Andy27.76March 1998500 Long Charlie 27.45 15 March 2002500 Annamore Derry 27.33 24 September 2004 500 Scarty Lad27.14 4 May 2007 500 Mossend Ronnie 27.14 12 November 2010 500 Hernandez 27.07 26 July 2011500 Characterbuildin 26.84 15 June 2012500Beaming Mark 26.8415 June 2012500 Daleroad Devon 26.706 September 2024500 Magical Luka 26.6413 June 2025525 Roman Emperor30.20 1950525 Pouleen Boy 30.20 1950525 Hobos Choice30.20 1950525 Tellus29.12 2 September 1964 525 Up Early29.12 29 April 1977 525 Gina Girl 29.11 1978 525Buck Hall28.92 1981525 Court Rain 28.90 17 August 1984525 Castleland Mac 28.69 26 September 1991525 Rocking Bob 28.41 29 August 1997525 Mountleader Rolf 28.27 29 November 2002525 Deerfield Mover 28.14 14 September 2004 525 Deerfield Sings 28.11 1 July 2011525 Mind the Net 28.09 13 December 2003525 Quietly 28.08 13 June 2014525 Curious Boy 28.056 May 2016525 Ballinabola Ed28.0311 March 2022Con & Annie Kirby Memorial Trial Stake525 Daleroad Duke27.928 December 2023550 Another High Jack 31.10 16 May 1960 550 Footless =31.10 16 May 1960550 Harpist 30.76 16 July 1976550 Orange Prince 30.72 1979550 Attractive Lad 1980550 Killaclug Jet 30.52 1980550 Realtins Best 30.40 29 April 1983 550 Ardfert Sean 30.18 2 December 1988 550 Cape Prince 29.78 28 July 1995550 Annamore Billy 29.70 30 July 2002550 Goldstar Premier 29.64 20 May 2005 550 Melodys Pat 29.62 6 June 2008550 Dromore Dazzler 29.61 8 October 2010550 Deerfield Music 29.52 17 June 2011550 Farloe Trent 29.43 21 June 2013 Race of Champions550Native Chimes29.409 June 2017Race of Champions semi final550Good News29.349 June 2017Race of Champions semi final550 Explosive Boy 29.2212 June 2021Race of Champions semi final550 Dashing Toro29.207 June 2024550 Cheque For Cash29.206 June 2024550 Seven Beach29.156 June 2024570 Sirius 31.34 8 April 1969 570 Wise Commander 31.14 26 September 1996570 Three Hells Bells 30.88 17 June 2003 570 Green Heat 30.75 30 August 2008570 Raparee Polly 30.6217 February 2009570 Toms Brett 30.6230 June 2012600 Glittering Smack 33.65 1960750 Slow Motion 42.40 29 May 1981 750 Easter Tidings 42.15 25 May 1999 750 I'm Only Sal 42.06 10 December 2004750 Sahara Abbey 42.03 4 June 2005750 Iflookscouldkill 41.88 8 December 2006750 Iflookscouldkill 41.79 21 July 2007 750 Shakira Live 41.70 2 January 2009750 Zulu Ella 41.6017 July 2009812 Kertogue Sarah 45.90 22 July 1983525 HNervy Peggy 30.68 30 June 1961 525 HBallyard Hurdler 29.85 18 August 1973525 HKeen Captain 29.32 16 September 2003525 HQueen Christine 29.214 June 2005
References