Shelbourne Park
| Location | Ringsend, Dublin |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 53°20′25″N 6°13′49″W / 53.340378°N 6.230236°WCoordinates: 53°20′25″N 6°13′49″W / 53.340378°N 6.230236°W |
| Operated by | Irish Greyhound Board |
| Race type | Greyhound |
| Notable races | Irish Greyhound Derby |
| Official website | |
Shelbourne Park is a greyhound racing stadium in the south Dublin inner city suburb of Ringsend.
The plans to open a greyhound track in Dublin were drawn up by Paddy O’Donoghue, Jerry Collins, Patsy McAlinden and Jim Clarke. Shelbourne Park opened on 14 May 1927 hot on the heels of Celtic Park (Belfast). The stadium located in the docklands in Ringsend was Dublin’s answer to the Belfast track and the pair became the two most greyhound prestigious tracks in Irish racing. When opening in 1927 the track employed four resident trainers in Mick Horan, Paddy Quigley, Billy Donoghue and Ben Scally.
One year later it was decided to introduce the Easter Cup which commemorated the 1916 Easter Monday Rising in Dublin. However the race soon became known for its own fame rather than its naming origins. The first winner was a greyhound called Odd Blade and the brindle dog went on to successfully defend his title the following year. Famously Mick the Miller equalled the world record time for 500 yards when recording 28.80 in 1928 but he only managed runner up spot to Odd Blade in that previously mentioned 1929 Easter Cup final. Mick went on to win the English Greyhound Derby that year for Shelbourne trainer Horan.
Shelbourne Park hosted the first official Irish Greyhound Derby which had been run on four previous occasions from 1928 to 1931 at rival track Harold's Cross Stadium. The first winner of the Irish Derby at Shelbourne was Guideless Joe owned by champion Irish jockey Jack Moyland and trained by local trainer Mick Horan.
The Oaks came to Shelbourne Park in 1935 and like the Irish Derby was normally run every other year with Harolds Cross hosting inbetween. The Grand National took place here in 1933 & 1934 and the St Leger four times in the thirties but it was decided by the Irish Coursing Club that it was better to distribute the classics between several tracks. Another event was inaugurated in 1939 and that was the McAlinden Cup.
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