# Shelbourne Park

Shelbourne Park is a greyhound racing stadium in the south Dublin inner city suburb of Ringsend.

## Greyhound Racing
### Opening

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.

### History

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 a 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 a 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 in between. 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.
The remarkable greyhound called Tanist reached the final of the Easter Cup in April 1940, by smashing the track record at Shelbourne Park in 29.66sec and the legendary Spanish Battleship claimed his second of three Derby victories in 1954, also breaking the track record in the process. On 25 June 1946 Shelbourne used the first photo finish in Ireland during the semi-finals of the McAlinden Cup.
An extraordinary 1956 Irish Derby saw 'Keep Moving' break the track record twice before the sub-29-second barrier was broken by Prince of Bermuda.
Bord na gCon installed a new totalisator system in 1960 and eight years later they purchased the stadium itself to stop the threat of redevelopment that was hanging over the stadium. A £240,000 investment followed and the same year that the Irish Derby found a permanent home at Shelbourne to the dismay of Harolds Cross supporters. The Shelbourne 600 sponsored by Guinness started in 1964 and the Oaks also became permanent at Shelbourne in 1980.
Paddy Ryan who became the Racing Manager in 1974 after taking over the reins from Jack O'Shea would hold the position for over 30 years before becoming general manager and then retiring in 2009. The Derby distance changed to 550 yards in 1986 and after a successful one-off feature in 1979, the Champion Stakes became an annual event in 1986.
With the closure of Celtic Park in 1983 Shelbourne became the premier track in Ireland and continues to provide most of the major events in the Irish racing calendar. In March 2021, the Board of Rásaíocht Con Éireann (Greyhound Racing Ireland) announced a two-stage €2.3 million plan for improvements at the venue.
The 2024 Irish Greyhound Derby was moved from its traditional Summer slot due to a major refurbishment of Shelbourne Park.

## Competitions

* Irish Greyhound Derby
* Champion Stakes
* Easter Cup
* Grand National
* Juvenile Derby
* McAlinden Cup
* Oaks
* Shelbourne Gold Cup
* Shelbourne 600
* St Leger

## Current track records

| Yards | Greyhound | Time (sec) | Date | Notes/Ref |
| 350 | Gizmo Cash | 18.18 | 13 May 2022 | |
| 525 | Droopys Kathleen | 27.59 | 9 November 2024 | |
| 550 | Bockos Diamond | 28.94 | 2 November 2024 | Irish Derby 3rd round |
| 550 | Bockos Diamond | =28.94 | 16 November 2024 | Irish Derby semi-final |
| 575 | Sentimental Lad | 30.59 | 9 July 2022 | |
| 600 | Laughil Duke | 31.91 | 26 September 2015 | |
| 750 | Redzer Ardfert | 40.86 | 21 September 2019 | |
| 850 | Dana Point | 47.05 | 9 October 2021 | |
| 1025 | Riverside Honey | 58.11 | 6 December 2019 | |
| 525 hurdles | Secondrate Champ | 28.73 | 16 April 2005 | |

## Former track records

| Yards | Greyhound | Time (sec) | Date | Notes/Ref |
| 350 | Cool Performance | 18.42 | 9 June 2001 | |
| 350 | Sycamore Dan | 18.41 | 18 September 2004 | |
| 350 | Ardnasool Jet | 18.38 | 10 May 2019 | |
| 350 | Ardnasool Jet | 18.33 | 24 May 2019 | |
| 360 | Counts Cure | 20.10 | 1941 | |
| 360 | Kilbelin Battleship | 19.80 | 24 June 1957 | |
| 360 | Portumna Wonder | 19.80 | 10 October 1970 | |
| 360 | Toms Pal | 19.50 | 23 September 1972 | |
| 360 | Lauragh Six | 19.33 | 20 August 1983 | |
| 360 | And Again | 19.26 | 1988 | |
| 360 | Meet Me Halfway | 19.19 | 18 August 1990 | |
| 360 | Upper Spark | 19.05 | 25 May 1996 | |
| 500 | Mick The Miller | 28.80 | 9 May 1928 | Equalled world record time |
| 525 | Loughadian | 30.00 | 1929 | |
| 525 | Mick The Miller | 30.00 | 17 June 1929 | National Cup Second Round |
| 525 | Lions Share | 30.17 | 1931 | |
| 525 | Little Chummie | 30.16 | 18 July 1931 | National Cup Second Round |
| 525 | Queen of the Rock | 29.87 | May 1932 | |
| 525 | Talis | 29.80 | 16 July 1938 | |
| 525 | Tanist | 29.66 | April 1940 | Easter Cup heats |
| 525 | Smartly Fergus | 29.60 | 25 June 1945 | |
| 525 | Imperial Dancer | 29.55 | July 1950 | Irish Derby first round |
| 525 | Spanish Battleship | 29.50 | July 1954 | Irish Derby first round |
| 525 | Spanish Battleship | 29.50 | July 1954 | Irish Derby semi-finals |
| 525 | Keep Moving | 29.49 | July 1956 | |
| 525 | Keep Moving | 29.40 | 21 July 1956 | Irish Derby first round |
| 525 | Prince of Bermuda | 28.98 | 21 July 1956 | 1956 Irish Greyhound Derby first round |
| 525 | Yellow Printer | 28.83 | 20 July 1968 | Irish Derby first round |
| 525 | Ballykilty | 28.80 | August 1972 | |
| 525 | Tantallons Gift | 28.73 | 31 July 1976 | 1976 Irish Greyhound Derby first round |
| 525 | Cool Panther | 28.72 | 5 July 1997 | |
| 525 | Kilmessan Jet | 28.43 | 03.1999 |
| 525 | Chart King | 28.40 | 3 April 1999 | Easter Cup Final |
| 525 | Priceless Rebel | 28.27 | 27 October 2001 | |
| 525 | Premier Fantasy | 28.08 | 10 April 2004 | Easter Cup Final |
| 525 | Milldean Panther | 28.00 | 29 October 2011 | |
| 525 | Paradise Madison | 27.92 | 17 November 2012 | |
| 525 | Paradise Madison | 27.67 | 8 December 2012 | |
| 550 | Buzzing Dick | 31.66 | 7 October 1934 | |
| 550 | Chicken Sandwich | 31.59 | 13 October 1934 | St Leger Final |
| 550 | Negros Equal | 31.29 | 3 October 1936 | |
| 550 | Ballydancer | 31.25 | 30 September 1939 | |
| 550 | Own Pride | 30.60 | December 1969 | Shelbourne Leger second round |
| 550 | Ivy Hall Flash | 30.37 | 1 November 1971 | |
| 550 | Tommy Astaire | 30.35 | 14 September 1975 | |
| 550 | Jerpoint Paris | 30.35 | 8 November 1976 | |
| 550 | Wise Band | 30.23 | 1988 | |
| 550 | Lodge Prince | 30.03 | 9 August 1986 | From the 525 traps |
| 550 | Trade Official | 29.99 | 24 July 1995 | Champion Stakes semi-finals |
| 550 | Dew Reward | 29.97 | 16 September 1995 | |
| 550 | Eyeman | 29.97 | 20 August 1998 | Irish Derby qualifying round |
| 550 | Eyeman | 29.92 | 9 September 1998 | Irish Derby quarter-finals |
| 550 | Santa Paolo | 29.92 | 24 July 1999 | Champion Stakes semi-finals |
| 550 | Frisby Flashing | 29.89 | 30 December 1999 | Magnificent 200 Millennium Club |
| 550 | Greenfield Deal | 29.74 | 26 August 2000 | Irish Derby quarter-finals |
| 550 | Judicial Pride | 29.66 | 26 August 2000 | Irish Derby semi-finals |
| 550 | Droopys Vieri | 29.57 | 25 August 2001 | Irish Derby second round |
| 550 | Cool Performance | 29.57 | 25 August 2001 | Irish Derby second round |
| 550 | Bypass Byway | 29.42 | 14 September 2002 | Irish Derby Final |
| 550 | College Causeway | 29.21 | 5 August 2009 | |
| 550 | Tyrur Van Gaal | 29.10 | 27 August 2015 | |
| 550 | Pestana | 28.99 | 22 August 2020 | Irish Derby 2nd round |
| 575 | Damthelie | 32.09 | 7 November 1977 | |
| 575 | Greenhill Paddy | 32.04 | 29 July 1978 | |
| 575 | Lax Law | 31.79 | 1979 | |
| 575 | Noisy Party | 31.74 | 20 September 1986 | |
| 575 | Alans Judy | 31.74 | 1990 | |
| 575 | Fly Cruiser | 31.61 | 16 September 1990 | |
| 575 | Popov | 31.58 | 15 October 1994 | |
| 575 | Concorde Direct | 31.09 | 2 September 2000 | |
| 575 | Mr Jay Jay | 31.34 | 25 August 2001 | |
| 575 | Peter Optimist | 31.32 | 14 September 2002 | |
| 575 | Smiling Man | 31.13 | 10 April 2004 | |
| 575 | Ronans Delight | 31.09 | 25 September 2004 | |
| 575 | Ronans Delight | 31.04 | 16 October 2004 | |
| 575 | Broadacres Turbo | 30.89 | 13 September 2008 | |
| 575 | Airport Pilot | 30.89 | 3 October 2009 | |
| 575 | Mall Brandy | 30.88 | 13 September 2013 | |
| 575 | Greenwell Hulk | 30.85 | 7 June 2014 | |
| 575 | Milldean Puma | 30.65 | 30 April 2016 | |
| 600 | Son of the Road | 34.95 | March 1935 | |
| 600 | Baytown Ivy | 34.40 | 27 October 1945 | |
| 600 | Galloping Home | 33.95 | 1950 | |
| 600 | Cranog Bet | 33.60 | 1964 | |
| 600 | Vals Prince | 33.53 | August 1965 | |
| 600 | Westpark Quail | 33.49 | August 1965 | |
| 600 | Lazy Tim | 33.07 | 24 August 1966 | |
| 600 | Fly Cruiser | 33.00 | May 1991 | |
| 600 | Cool Panther | 32.94 | 18.04.1998 | Shelbourne 600 heats |
| 600 | Kilmessan Jet | 32.72 | March 1999 | |
| 600 | Kilmessan Jet | 32.58 | 24 April 1999 | |
| 600 | Joannestown Cash | 32.49 | 6 May 2000 | Shelbourne 600 final |
| 600 | Late Late Show | 32.29 | 17 May 2001 | |
| 600 | Late Late Show | 32.20 | 09.06.2001 | Shelbourne 600 final |
| 600 | Sparta Maestro | 32.10 | 8 September 2012 | |
| 750 | Rita's Choice | | July 1973 | Irish TV Trophy |
| 750 | Waverly Supreme | 42.39 | 6 July 1974 | |
| 750 | Chicita Banana | 42.36 | 6 August 1988 | |
| 750 | Rush For Silver | 42.19 | 22 October 1990 | |
| 750 | Millstream Lad | 42.04 | 5 August 1998 | |
| 750 | Get Connected | 42.01 | 10 October 1998 | |
| 750 | Making Merry | 41.59 | 15 September 2001 | |
| 750 | Longtail Rebel | 41.34 | 10 October 2009 | |
| 750 | Ceroc Shaneboy | 41.34 | 22 October 2011 | |
| 750 | Airforce Duke | 41.11 | 28 September 2013 | |
| 750 | Redzer Ardfert | 41.06 | 26 July 2019 | |
| 850 | Glenske Nijinski | 48.07 | 14 July 2001 | |
| 850 | Hulkster | 47.81 | 30 July 2005 | |
| 850 | Corporate Attack | 47.11 | 12 September 2009 | |
| 860 | Martins Ghost | 49.13 | 27 March 2000 | |
| 1025 | Ruscar Dana | 59.91 | 6 August 1988 | |
| 1025 | Let Us Know | 58.86 | 16 March 2002 | |
| 1025 | Jaytee Patriot | 58.62 | 22 December 2017 | |
| 1025 | Ballykett Beauty | 58.34 | 22 December 2017 | |
| 525 H | Cormorant | 29 sec 4.5 | May 1928 | |
| 525 H | Cormorant | 29 sec 4.5 | 2 June 1928 | |
| 525 H | Table Cut | 30.98 | 1950 | |
| 525 H | Hillcrest Pride | 30.71 | 30 August 1969 | |
| 525 H | Knockreigh Dawn | 29.68 | 1 November 1975 | |
| 525 H | Sand Blinder | 29.46 | 4 October 1986 | |
| 525 H | Kildare Slippy | 29.18 | 3 October 1992 | |
| 525 H | Autumn Merlin | 29.12 | 14 October 2000 | |
| 525 H | Joe Bananas | 28.99 | 18 September 2004 | |
| 525 H | Secondrate Champ | 28.73 | 16 April 2005 | |
| 550 H | Kyleside | 32.60 | 1970 | |
| 600 H | Old Son | 35.82 | 3 July 1935 | |

## Football

The stadium also played host to the home matches of Shelbourne FC, who play in the League of Ireland, from 1913/14 to 1948/49. The first match was a 1–1 draw against Bohemians and their last match there was a 2–2 draw against Waterford. Shels left Shelbourne Park with the intention of building a new stadium in the nearby district of Irishtown.
While Shelbourne Park was the home of Shelbourne FC, they won one Irish Cup while competing in the Irish League and upon becoming founder members of the League of Ireland in 1921, won five league titles and one FAI Cup before moving on.
Shelbourne Park was the venue for two FAI Cup Final replays, in 1927 and 1929.
In 1928, Shelbourne Park hosted an inter-league challenge match between the League of Ireland XI and the Irish League XI with the home side winning 3:1 in front of a crowd of 12,000.

## Trivia

Shelbourne Park appeared in the British motoring programme, Top Gear where Richard Hammond using a Mazda MX5 raced against a greyhound around the track. Despite Hammond's best efforts, the greyhound won.

## Speedway Racing

Shelbourne Park staged Motorcycle speedway racing from 1950 to 1954, again in 1961 and again in 1970 and 1971. In 1951 it was a base for a team of American speedway riders including Nick Nicolaides, Don Hawley, Johnny Roccio, Manuel Trujillo, and Lloyd Campbell. The team raced at most of the UK tracks and often featured Ernie Roccio who was based at Wimbledon.

## Car park

Shelbourne Park provides pay and display car parking on days without major events. Hourly, daily, weekly and monthly rates are available. The car park is open on weekdays 6am to 10pm and not accessible during the night and on weekends.