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Celtic Park (Belfast)

Former sports stadium and greyhound track in Belfast

Former sports stadium and greyhound track in Belfast

FieldValue
nameCeltic Park
pushpin_mapUnited Kingdom Greater Belfast
nicknameParadise
locationBelfast, Northern Ireland
broke_ground1899
opened1901
closed1983
demolished1986
surfaceGrass
tenantsBelfast Celtic
Greyhound Racing
seating_capacity5,000 seated, overall 50,000.

Greyhound Racing Celtic Park was a multi-use stadium in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It was used for football matches and was the home of Belfast Celtic F.C. Throughout the majority of its existence it was a greyhound racing track. The stadium was able to hold 50,000 spectators at its height, with 5,000 of those spectators seated.

Football

The stadium ceased to host Belfast Celtic matches when the team stopped playing competitive matches in 1949.

Greyhound Racing

Origins

Two Belfast bookmakers called Joe Shaw and Hugh McAlinden visited to Belle Vue Stadium in 1926 to view the new form of greyhound racing around an oval. They duly formed the National Racing Greyhound Company with the assistance of Paddy O’Donoghue and James Clarke. It was the first greyhound track to open in Ireland on Easter Monday 18 April 1927, and one of the first in the United Kingdom. The company would take control of Ireland's second track Shelbourne Park in 1927.

McAlinden was the chairman of Belfast Celtic and he instigated the lease of the stadium for the racing which would be governed by the Irish Coursing Club, the official regulatory body of greyhound racing in Ireland. On opening night racing consisted of two hurdles races in the six race card and one race ended with a dead heat between Keep Whistling and Imperial Jimmy.

Early history

The first ever winner (not only at Celtic Park but in Ireland) was a greyhound called Mutual Friend (Three Speed x Lazy Peggy) on the Easter Monday; the April 1923 whelp was owned by Jim Tuite of Railway House, Oldcastle, County Meath. The 55th Old Boys Silver Band provided entertainment on the opening night.

Duneynie Castle claimed the Belfast Telegraph Cup competition in the summer of 1927 and re-opening for a second season in March 1928 patrons were able to purchase a complete form guide of the previous season from all Irish Coursing Club tracks for one shilling. Two months later on 11 May Mick the Miller finished third in the Abercorn Cup final at the track over 526 yards.

A major event introduced in 1926 was the Trigo Cup; William Barnett presented a cup to Celtic Park after his horse Trigo won The Derby and St Leger Stakes. The Trigo Cup would gain classic status some years later in 1944 and second major competition called the McAlevey Gold Cup was inaugurated in 1938. In 1932 and 1943 the track hosted the Irish St Leger one of Ireland's premier races and in July 1946, the first case of a greyhound traveling by air took place. Warrington greyhound Clady Border trained by Ken Newham went from Manchester airport to Belfast to take part in an event at Celtic Park in which he won.

The first Racing Manager at the Track was Jim Rice and after his passing he was honoured by the track hosting the Jim Rice Memorial Trophy. Another competition called the Ulster Sprint Cup was a regular event from 1930 and the Trigo Cup was also known as the Ulster Derby for many years.

Later history

In 1955, Spanish Battleship appeared at the track for his final race in Ireland. The track suffering from a lack of investment and hampered by the troubles in Northern Ireland began to go downhill. However, in 1978 a new board of directors took over, Sean and Brian Graham and Jim Delargy closed the track to allow for refurbishment and Eddie O'Hagan the Racing Manager retired. The changes included an all-sand track from grass. The track finally opened two years later during April 1980.

Closure

Brookmount Properties bought the site for redevelopment and the last meeting was held on 31 October 1983. The site of Celtic Park is now occupied by a shopping centre.

Competitions

  • Trigo Cup/Ulster Derby
  • McAlevey Gold Cup
  • Irish St Leger

Notable track records

YardsGreyhoundTime (sec)DateNotes/ref
375Caim Star21.4-517 May 1929
375Solitude Star21.2-528 April 1930
375Confusion21.401 August 1930
375Divorced Princess20.928 May 1931
375You Have Me=20.9224 August 1934
375You Have Me20.8931 August 1934
375Dark December20.8723 September 1935
375Lone Keel20.8318 September 1936
375Derryten20.6424 October 1941
375Fair Mistress20.5222 April 1942
375Hilarious Champion20.169 July 1956
375Rito20.1326 October 1962
375Tanyard Chief20.081962url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004162/19621208/099/0007title=Record Holderswork=Ireland's Saturday Nightdate=8 December 1962via=British Newspaper Archiveurl-access=subscriptionaccess-date=17 December 2024 }}
375Fiery Effort20.0725 October 1965
375Kirkland Darkie19.9410 September 1971
525Guiding Pal=30.6018 July 1930url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001542/19300808/043/0002title=the Stewards Cup finalwork=Northern Whigdate=8 August 1930via=British Newspaper Archiveurl-access=subscriptionaccess-date=30 November 2024 }}
525Mike's Fancy=30.6021 July 1930
525Sister Olive30.4910 August 1931
525Queen of the Rock30.406 May 1932
525Maghereagh Soldier30.3717 May 1935
525Maghereagh Soldier30.2529 May 1936
525Morning Signal30.167 October 1936
525Myroe Roving Boy=30.12June 1939
525Braemar Monty29.9515 September 1939
525S. M. Oddity29.6018 October 1940National record
525Smartly Fergus=29.6026 June 1945McAlevey Gold Cup heats
525Priceless Border29.5423 May 1947
525Ballymore Cottage29.3827 June 1947Trigo Cup
525Coolkill Hero29.364 June 1954
525Dunmore King29.364 May 1956McAlevey Gold Cup semifinal
525Cautious Customer29.1914 September 1956
525Nimble Star28.9830 May 1958
525True Picture28.972 June 1958National record
525Dillies Pigalle28.8613 May 1966McAlevey Gold Cup final, National record
525Kirkland Darkie28.7911 May 1970National record, McAlevey Cup heats
525Jemmy John28.6126 June 1970National record, Ulster Derby final
550Maghereagh Soldier31.6724 May 1935Trigo Cup heats
550Maghereagh Soldier31.5031 May 1935Trigo Cup semi-final
550Maghereagh Soldier31.457 June 1935Trigo Cup final
550Maghereagh Soldier31.3515 June 1936Trigo Cup first round
550Strong Mutton31.2811 June 1936Trigo Cup semifinal
550Mazurka30.9830 April 1948
550Racing Nig30.6031 July 1959
550Racing Luck30.541 August 1960Ulster St Leger 2nd rd
550Normac Venture30.5322 May 1964
550There's Hope30.5129 July 1964Ulster St Leger
550Tom's Dog30.4813 August 1965Ulster St Leger final
550Sulky Mac30.387 August 1967Ulster St Leger SF
600Moorland Rover34.3-522 April 1929
600Aughamore Lass34.548 April 1938
600Sullivan's Mild34.3130 April 1945
600Smartly Fergus33.9915 June 1945National record
600Multiforbo33.914 October 1957
600Ashley Park Boy33.6011 July 1958
600Ashley Park Boy33.4518 July 1958
600Yellow Streak33.4028 September 1966Ulster Cesarewitch heats
600Circular Grand33.3930 September 1966Ulster Cesarewitch rd2
600Clahane Flash33.389 June 1967
600Fiery Sahara33.3621 August 1967
600Itsamint33.3420 October 1969Ulster Cesarewitch final
600Blissful Pride32.904 October 1971Ulster Cesarewitch 1st Rd
640Dragon's Flight37.3-59 September 1928Trigo Cup heats
640Bright Bundle37.1217 May 1931
860Clovis52.2011 October 1929
860Ilene Darling51.9514 October 1931
860Ilene Darling51.5530 October 1931url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004162/19580621/080/0006title=Drumskea Champion takes the Trigo Cupwork=Ireland's Saturday Nightdate=21 June 1958via=British Newspaper Archiveurl-access=subscriptionaccess-date=17 December 2024 }}
375 HSoft Slide22.2815 March 1935
375 HNeidin's Carnero21.4615 June 1936
525 HFlail32.0012 September 1930
525 HMacaroni31.1228 June 1935
525 HMagheragh Major31.0722 May 1936
525 HNicotina31.0524 June 1938
550 HNeiden's Beautiful32.7010 September 1937
600 HDrumhaw37.1-517 May 1929
600 HFlail36.401930
600 HAnother Circle36.2821 August 1936
  • H=Hurdles

References

References

  1. "Belfast Celtic". Groundtastic.
  2. Genders, Roy. (1975). "The Greyhound and Racing Greyhound, page 98-100". Page Brothers (Norwich).
  3. Genders, Roy. (1981). "The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing, page 279-282". Pelham Books Ltd.
  4. (19 April 1927). "Belfast's New Sport". Northern Whig.
  5. "Belfast Celtic Park Greyhound Stadium".
  6. Comyn, John. "50 Years of Greyhound Racing in Ireland". Aherlow Publishers Ltd.
  7. Barnes, Julia. (1988). "Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File". Ringpress Books.
  8. . (4 April 1998). "All Those Aprils". *Greyhound Star*.
  9. Barnes/Sellers, Julia/John. (1992). "Ladbrokes Greyhound Fact File". Ringpress Books.
  10. (18 May 1929). "Track Records at Celtic Park". Belfast News-Letter.
  11. (29 April 1930). "Track Record equalled in Sprint Event". Belfast News-Letter.
  12. (2 August 1930). "Celtic Park results". Belfast News-Letter.
  13. (7 September 1931). "Celtic Park Card". Belfast Telegraph.
  14. (7 September 1931). "You Have Me Ties With Record". Belfast News-Letter.
  15. (1 September 1934). "You Have Me Wins Trophy and Sets Up Record". Belfast News-Letter.
  16. (24 September 1935). "Celtic Park Results". Belfast News-Letter.
  17. (19 September 1936). "Lone Keel Wins Final and Sets up Track record". Belfast News-Letter.
  18. (25 October 1941). "Celtic Park results". Belfast News-Letter.
  19. (24 September 1942). "Dog-Racing". Larne Times.
  20. (10 July 1956). "Celtic results". Belfast News-Letter.
  21. (27 October 1962). "Rito Breaks Celtic Track Record". Belfast News-Letter.
  22. (8 December 1962). "Record Holders". Ireland's Saturday Night.
  23. (26 October 1965). "New Celtic Park record". Belfast News-Letter.
  24. (11 September 1971). "Celtic results". Belfast News-Letter.
  25. (8 August 1930). "the Stewards Cup final". Northern Whig.
  26. (11 August 1931). "Scottish Champion breaks Celtic Park record". Northern Whig.
  27. (7 May 1932). "Celtic Park record broken by Queen of the Rock". Belfast Telegraph.
  28. (18 May 1935). "Three-year-old record Broken". Belfast News-Letter.
  29. (30 May 1936). "Celtic Park Results". Belfast News-Letter.
  30. (8 October 1936). "Celtic Park Results". Belfast News-Letter.
  31. (22 June 1939). "Celtic Park Results". Belfast News-Letter.
  32. (16 September 1939). "Celtic Park Results". Belfast News-Letter.
  33. (19 October 1940). "Celtic Park Results". Belfast News-Letter.
  34. (15 September 1928). "Cormorant's Record Equalled at Celtic Park record". Belfast News-Letter.
  35. (24 May 1947). "Record Broken at Celtic". Belfast Telegraph.
  36. (28 June 1947). "The Trigo Cup". Belfast News-Letter.
  37. (5 June 1954). "New Celtic Park Track Record". Northern Whig.
  38. (5 May 1956). "New Celtic Record". Northern Whig.
  39. (15 September 1956). "Race of the Century is definitely on". Ireland's Saturday Night.
  40. (31 May 1958). "Celtic results". Belfast News-Letter.
  41. (14 May 1966). "Dillie's Pigalle storms home". Belfast News-Letter.
  42. "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 1970) May edition". Greyhound Star.
  43. (27 June 1970). "Jemmy John sets new record". Belfast Telegraph.
  44. (25 May 1935). "Track Record Broken in Trigo Cup Heat". Belfast News-Letter.
  45. (1 June 1935). "Celtic Park Results". Belfast News-Letter.
  46. (8 June 1935). "Trigo Cup Final at Celtic Park". Belfast Telegraph.
  47. (12 June 1937). "New Record in Trigo Cup by Strong Mutton". Belfast News-Letter.
  48. (1 May 1948). "Mazurka Breaks Celtic Record". Northern Whig.
  49. (1 August 1959). "Amazing Success". Ireland's Saturday Night.
  50. (23 May 1964). "Celtic results". Belfast News-Letter.
  51. (30 July 1964). "Thrilling Race at Celtic". Belfast News-Letter.
  52. (14 August 1965). "Tom's Dog breaks record". Belfast News-Letter.
  53. (8 August 1967). "Record at Celtic". Belfast News-Letter.
  54. (16 June 1933). "Rustic Martin Fancied". Northern Whig.
  55. (9 April 1938). "Aughamore Lass wins in record time". Belfast News-Letter.
  56. (1 May 1945). "Sullivan's Mild breaks track record at Celtic". Northern Whig.
  57. (5 October 1957). "Multiforbo makes 13th a record". Belfast Telegraph.
  58. (12 July 1958). "Celtic results". Belfast News-Letter.
  59. (8 December 1962). "Record Holders". Belfast Telegraph.
  60. (1 October 1966). "Celtic results". Belfast News-Letter.
  61. (10 June 1967). "Celtic results". Belfast News-Letter.
  62. (22 August 1967). "Fiery Sahara sets up new track record". Belfast News-Letter.
  63. (21 October 1969). "Itsamint sets new record". Belfast News-Letter.
  64. (10 September 1929). "Dragon's Flight's Performance". Northern Whig.
  65. (12 October 1929). "Clovis establishes a Record for 860 yards distance". Belfast News-Letter.
  66. (16 October 1931). "Celtic Park Programme". Belfast News-Letter.
  67. (21 June 1958). "Drumskea Champion takes the Trigo Cup". Ireland's Saturday Night.
  68. (16 March 1935). "Celtic Park Results". Belfast News-Letter.
  69. (13 September 1930). "Flail's Record". Northern Whig.
  70. (29 June 1935). "A New Track Record". Belfast News-Letter.
  71. (23 May 1936). "Magheragh Major Breaks Track Record". Belfast News-Letter.
  72. (18 May 1929). "Track Records at Celtic Park". Belfast News-Letter.
  73. (11 July 1930). "Greyhound Racing". Northern Whig.
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