A newly formed committee is looking for funding and support for the 2019 Irish St Leger and other key events to be held at Limerick Greyhound Stadium.
Following discussions within the greyhound community, the ‘Friends of Limerick Greyhound Stadium’ campaign has been established with the aim of supporting racing at the track. The objectives of the campaign include the following:
To facilitate those who wish to support local greyhound racing under the ‘Friends of Limerick Greyhound Stadium’ umbrella and to ensure that funds generated will increase financial support for various racing events, benefitting owners, breeders and trainers while investing in the grass roots of the industry.
The group has held recent discussions with the management of Limerick Greyhound Stadium and the Irish Greyhound Board and are now proposing to raise sponsorship from within the greyhound fraternity and Limerick’s business community for the Leger and other events.
Over 36,000 people passed through the turnstiles of Limerick Greyhound Stadium in 2018, making it the fourth best attended greyhound track in the country.
“Greyhound racing has been part and parcel of life in Limerick for a number of generations,” said CEO of the Irish Greyhound Board, Gerard Dollard.
“Many people have fond memories of racing at the Markets Field, before relocating to the current stadium on the Dock Road in the heart of the city.
“This initiative comes after a hugely successful committee that has been established in Cork and has secured sponsorship of the Irish Laurels for four years.
“We are looking forward to working with the Friends of Limerick Greyhound Stadium group during the rest of 2019 and beyond.”
Co-chair of the Friends of Limerick Greyhound Stadium group, Dan Flynn, added:
“Greyhound racing is a huge Limerick tradition and this year marks the 76th running of the Irish St Leger Classic in the Treaty county.
“Our good friends the Barry’s won the Leger in 1966 with Movealong Santa. I was eight years old at the time and still remember the buzz it brought to our local community.
“There have been many memorable occasions over the last 75 years and we are again looking forward to exciting racing in this year’s St Leger competition.”
There are 703 owners and 42 active trainers in Limerick, according to a report prepared by Jim Power on the economic and financial significance of the Irish greyhound industry in 2017.
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