Enniscorthy Greyhound Stadium Guide

Virtually midway between Cork and Dublin is the second-largest town in County Wexford, Enniscorthy. On the Western edge of the town is Enniscorthy Greyhound Stadium, a venue that opened in 1933. For the uninitiated, greyhound racing is fast, furious and plenty of fun. For the seasoned punter, it’s a chance to have a few bets and a decent night in a place with a cracking atmosphere.

If you’ve got a family, then don’t be thinking that this isn’t something for you. Greyhound stadiums are family friendly affairs and the Enniscorthy venue is no exception. The kids will enjoy seeing the dogs race, whilst the adults will be pleased to have a chance to get a drink and a bite to eat, as well as maybe placing a couple of bets on the racing. If this sounds good to you then read on.

Race Days & Times

The racecourse hosts official trials every Monday, excluding bank holidays, as well as on Thursdays. There are unofficial trials on Wednesdays and Friday, but that’s just to let you know what’s happening if you drive past the stadium and see a load of action going on all around the place. The truth is that you can only actually get in to watch proper racing on Mondays and Thursdays, so they’re the days you’ll want to head down.

Timing-wise, greyhound racing at Enniscorthy is very much an evening business. The doors to the stadium open at 7pm, so get down for then if you fancy grabbing a bite to eat or wetting your whistle. The racing starts at 8pm on both Mondays and Thursdays, but if you only arrive at 7.55pm then fret not, as you’ll still be able to get a drink and some food.

Visiting

• Ticket Prices: There are deals throughout the year for both patrons that wish to go to the restaurant within the stadium, as well as those who just want to see the racing. The important thing to know is that general admission costs are £10 for adults and that price includes your Race Card.
• Getting There: The geography of the N30 and the N11 means that they appear to curve around with the former running into the latter. Enniscorthy Greyhound Stadium is in the middle of that curve. Enniscorthy Train Station is about fifteen minutes walk away from the venue on the other side of the river. Bus numbers 2, 132, 369, 375, 377, 740 and X2 all stop on the other side of the river from the stadium, too.
• Parking: There’s limited parking near to the stadium with on-street options being your best bet. Make sure to check for any parking restrictions, though.

History

Racing has taken place on numerous occasions at the site where the Enniscorthy Greyhound Stadium now stands well before its official opening on the 3rd of August, 1933. It was when eight businessmen got together to fun the building of a track proper that things really got serious, however. Denis O’Brien, James McCrea, R. McCrea, William Stamp, Tim Larkin, Doctor Bowen and P.J. O’Loughlin were the men who decided that Enniscorthy would do well to have its own racetrack, so they put money into taking over the land and building on it accordingly.

Since those early days when the track was first built, the running of the board has very much been a family affair. Barbara Teehan and Mary Nolan have both sat on the board, for example, and they are each granddaughters of Denis O’Brien and Tim Larkin. Paul McCrea, Mary and Billy Stamp and Harry Larkin have also appeared on the board at one point or another, all of whom are relatives of the track’s original founders. Continuing the family theme, Ireland’s first female timekeeper, Kay Prendergast, was the daughter of Denis O’Brien.

Since the track’s opening it has hosted a number of competitive races with some being more successful than others. The Grand Prize was one such race, with others including the Leinster Puppy Cup and the Wexford Leger. The current premier competition at Enniscorthy is the Future Champion Unraced Stake. That is, as the name suggests, a race for young dogs who have yet to make a name for themselves and the competition is sponsored by the pet and agricultural feed producer Connolly’s RED MILLS.