Galway Greyhound Stadium formerly Galway Sportsgrounds, is the home of greyhound racing in Galway. The operators, Greyhound Racing Ireland host race fixtures throughout the year, primarily on Friday and Saturday evenings[1] and the race distances are 350, 525, 550, and 575 yards.[2] The feature competition at the track is the Champion Bitch Stake.[3] The grass pitch inside the greyhound track is used by Connacht Rugby and when rugby union is held the stadium is known as the Dexcom Stadium for sponsorship purposes.
History
The Galway Greyhound Racing Company was established in 1929 but it took a further three years for the first greyhound racing to take place at the west coast venue on the west side of the Lough Atalia. The opening night was slightly delayed before finally taking place on 1 July 1932. The first Racing Manager was Eugene Kelly.[4] The company was set up with £2,000 of capital by the directors Joseph Young, Henry Anderson, Martin Brennan, C.J. Kerin, John D.Whelan, M.J.Lydon, Thomas McDonagh, Philip O'Gorman, Jeremiah O'Sullivan. J.J. Flavin and Martin McDonagh.[5]
After a successful first season, the track re-opened for 1933, with significant improvements having taken place at the 'Sports Field', including a cover added to the main stand.[6] In 1935, the Galway Greyhound Owners' Association was formed.[7] In 1937, Mr Pat White was appointed the new manager of the track after switching from Enniscorthy Greyhound Stadium.[8]
The stadium operated through the majority of World War II and was a very popular destination, drawing in large attendances, partly due to the lack of other entertainment during the period. By 1946, the track was holding five meetings per week, overseen by Racing Manager M.A Cunningham and some races offered £300 for the win (a significant amount at the time).[9]
In 1959, a dispute over rent increases arose between directors of the greyhound racing and the Galway Sports Society, who owned the grounds and threatened to end the greyhound racing.[10] Edward 'Ned' Shea replaced Martin Divilly as track manager in 1960 and Micheál Ó Droigheaín, another former Galway track manager died in 1964.[11] Another problem arose in 1974, when the track was closed over ownership issues. The issue was that the Galway Agricultural & Sports Society wished to sell the racing licence to the Bord na gCon and refused to let the Galway Racing Company operate (the Galway Racing Company had held the licence since 1932).[12] It finally resulted in the track being taken over by the Bord na gCon in October 1974.[13]
By 1978, the stadium required renovation and the Bord na gCon decided that improvements could only be completed with the closure of the greyhound track. Therefore, in 1978 a new stand with bars and tote facilities was built and the circuit itself was re-laid with increased cambers. The grand re-opening was on 25 May 1979, with the modernisation costing over £500,000.[14]
In March 1998, the track was converted to sand from grass[15] but the owners and breeders were frustrated at the funding levels by the Bord na gCon.[16] In 2003, the track was subject to a major renovation project that cost the Bord na gCon €6m. The project was overseen by Racing Manager Ollie Hester, who joined the track in 2000.
In recent years the stadium has raced on the Friday and Saturday evenings and was also subject to criticism over attendance figures, which were distorted by TV requirements.
