Kingdom Greyhound Stadium Guide

There’s nothing like a venue that’s had a few different names to cause confusion. Kingdom Greyhound Stadium has previously been known as both Oakview Park and Tralee Greyhound Stadium, so if you’re trying to find the place where you can watch greyhound races in the town of Tralee, County Kerry then look no further. Located in the South-Western part of Ireland, the stadium can be found not far from the centre of Tralee.

The track’s circumference is such that you can watch races there run over distances of 500 yards, 525 yards, 550 yards, 570 yards and 750 yards. Built in 1930, the stadium boasts a decent grandstand complete with a restaurant, bars, places to grab some fast food and also loads of seating. If you’re a seasoned greyhound race-goer then you’ll be pleased to know that there’s a totalisator betting system in place to help make your wagers.

Race Days & Times

You’re not overly limited with choice when it comes to deciding which day to head to the stadium on. If you like to take your betting seriously and don’t want to get caught up in too much of a party atmosphere, then Tuesday night will likely be for you. If, on the other hand, you like a good laugh and a bit of craic then you’re probably best off heading along on a Friday or Saturday evening when the weekend crowds are in.

The timing of events on a Tuesday reflect the fact that it’s a school night, with doors to the venue opening at 6pm before a first race starting time of 6.59pm. On both Friday and Saturday evenings, it all shifts a little later. You can enter the stadium from 6.45pm and have an hour to eat, drink and place a bet before the first race gets off at 7.45pm.

Visiting

• Ticket Prices: The Irish Greyhound Board are good at doing deals for punters, so you’ll probably be able to find a price for entrance to Kingdom Greyhound Stadium that includes food or a drink. If you can’t find a deal though, don’t worry, as it will only cost you about €10 to get in and that includes your Race Card.
• Getting There: For those of you that are driving, the stadium is located in between the R556 and the R878 with the nearest main roads being the N86 and the N69. When it comes to public transport, there are several options. Bus numbers 13, 14, 40, 271, 272, 273, 274, 275, 278, 279, 283, 284, 314 and 290-A all stop at Tralee Bus Station. That’s right next door to Tralee Train Station and both are less than ten-minutes walk from the venue.
• Parking: There’s a decent sized car park at the stadium, as well as on-street parking nearby, provided you check out any parking restrictions.

History

A greyhound track named Ardfert Greyhound Stadium opened in Ardfelt, around five-miles from Tralee, in August of 1929. Sadly, it lasted less than a few months before closing down because of competition arriving in the form of a much bigger track in Oakview Village. Owing to the fact that this new venue was much nearer to a busier town centre, it immediately became more popular after the first meeting was held there on the 9th of April in 1930.

Over the years, the track has witnessed numerous interesting competitions. These include the likes of the Harp Lager Stakes, the Morale Hiker Stakes, the MJ Hannafin Memorial Cup, the Bloom 500 and the Kingdom Puppy Cup. Because of these races, the Tralee public got to see some of the best Irish greyhound in the business race on their local track. Dogs, such as Spanish Battleship, Ballyhennessey Seal, Ballymac Ball and Priceless Border have visited the stadium since its opening night all those years ago.

The MJ Hannafin Memorial Cup was, as the name suggests, named in honour of MJ Hannafin. He was the racing manager at the stadium from when it first opened until 1950. Another long-standing racing manager then took over in the form of Kevin Laide, who remained there until he relinquished the role to John Ward in 1980. The track didn’t undergo huge changes during any of their reigns, but by the turn of the millennium it was in need of an update. Thankfully, that was the point at which the Irish Greyhound Board was refurbishing most of its stadiums and so the venue in Tralee got a much needed makeover.

Since the turn of the new millennium, two big races have been introduced to Kingdom Greyhound Stadium. Both the Juvenile Classic and the Race of Champions have quickly grown in prestige and importance, cementing themselves as part of the Irish racing world in spite of their relative youth compared to other competitions. Their success at the track may have been part of the reason that the Irish Greyhound Board decided to invest more money in upgrading the stadium in 2012.