Dungannon Greyhound Stadium or Oaks Park was a greyhound racing track held on Oaks Road, Dungannon, County Tyrone, BT71 4BA, Northern Ireland.
History Dungannon became the third Northern Irish greyhound track behind Celtic Park and Dunmore Stadium in July 1930. Being a greyhound track in Northern Ireland it was neither under the jurisdiction of the National Greyhound Racing Club which was the governing body for UK Tracks or the Bord na gCon (the Irish Greyhound Board) which is the governing body for Irish tracks, the latter did however publish the results for Northern Ireland.
The track was 485 yards in circumference and racing took place every Tuesday or Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday evening and used an Outside Sumner hare system.
The Ulster Oaks was introduced in 1970 establishing itself as the main event run at the track. Other competitions of note were the Mick Horan Puppy Championship (Horan was Mick the Miller's first trainer), the Tuborg Viceroy Cup and the Harry McCrory Memorial Cup (McCrory had a 30-year association with the track).
In 1962 Tommy McCombe became the General and Racing Manager after Clones closed.
In 1990 a fire destroyed a large part of the main stand around the same time that a letter was sent to the Bord na gCon threatening further attacks on the racecourse unless they stopped supporting coursing clubs.
Closure The Dungannon (Oaks Park) Stadium Greyhound Racing Limited who had taken over the track in 1995 saw the opportunity to make a substantial profit by developing the site and the track closed down in 2003. It was not until 2011 that planning permission was granted for 120 mixed residential dwellings, with a Sainsbury's shopping centre to the West and Dunlea Vale directly to the North. In 2014 the derelict grandstand was subject to an arson attack and completely destroyed.
Track records Yards Greyhound Time (sec) Date Notes/ref325 Millionaire 18.11 1950325 Hi Spy 17.65 1970325 Kensington Lil 17.64 7 October 1969 325 Cornetto 17.62 1970325 Beautiful Sara 17.35 15 September 1982325 Hard Ecu 17.27 17 October 1991325 Cassie Boy 17.25 5 February 1992400 Belmont Villa 33.55 13 June 1990500 Head Over 29.96 1950500 Stoneville Queen28.171970500 Kensington Lil 27.64 c.1970500 Sheilas Emma 1979500 Stradey Park 27.92 July 1981500Easterly Gale 27.70 4 August 1984500 Rooskey Rose 27.65 4 April 1990500 Praidora 27.50 14 August 1991500 Speedy Shane 27.087 July 1999525 Paulas Pal 29.18 1960525 Leitrim Solo 29.06 1981525 Chief Ironside 28.80 11 June 1984525 Glenhill Pride 28.70 14 August 1991525Gems Whisper 28.65 29 April 1992550 Kilcool Mounty 31.97 1950550 Newdown Son 31.33 1970550 Dicks Bridge 30.91 1978550 Merchants Bound 30.75 1980550 Carters Lad 30.05 27 May 1987550 Glenhill Pride 29.75 9 October 1991600 Rose Velvet 33.78 1960600 Brookvale Pride 33.57 11 June 1981780 Twelfth Man 45.29 1970780 Rosevale Desire 44.67 1980780 Moyletra 44.40 15 September 1982780 Braccan Connie 43.94 9 October 1991325 hurdles Calrossie Morning Star 19.39 1960525 hurdles Maggies Pup 31.75 1950
Ulster Oaks Winners 1971 Kilwoney Rose 1972 Trace of Red 1973 Ashling Ban 1974 Rokeel Rebel 1975 Bright Evening 1976 Kisses For Me 1998 Toumpane Valley 1999 Rosalettos Girl 2000 Tullymurry Tango 2001 Shanless Park 2002 Baltic Star
References