Huge blow with cut to dog-track fixtures

TRALEE’S post-COVID economic recovery took another hit this week following news that Kingdom Greyhound Stadium is to lose three race nights a month after the Irish Greyhound Board (IGB) decided to relocate the fixtures to tracks in Cork and Limerick.

The move to cut fixtures from 16 to 13 meetings a month has angered local greyhound owners and trainers who say the decision is at odds with the success of the track, which is a ‘flagship track’ in Ireland for promoting live SIS racing around the globe.

But a major fallout from the decision is expected to be the job losses, as the venue employs upwards of 40 and 50 staff on busy nights. The decision is also devastating for numerous charity and sporting organisations who use ‘A Night at the Dogs’ as a vital fundraiser that has helped raise millions in funding for hospital equipment, GAA clubs and cancer charities.

Tourists to Tralee also regularly enjoy nights out at Kingdom Greyhound Stadium. In 2018 alone, some 8,000 German and 3,000 French tourists visited the track.

The IGB decision comes as a blow to the Tralee economy as it looks to bounce back from the crippling months spent in economic lockdown.

With the loss of this year’s Rose of Tralee Festival, and Tralee Aqua Dome’s closure until Easter 2021, Tralee could ill-afford to lose fixtures at Kingdom Greyhound Stadium, which is a key contributor to the local economy at peak and off-peak times in the year.

Chairperson of The Kingdom Greyhound Advisory Council, Paul O’Connor, said the move will hit around 33 percent of the commercial viability and productivity of Kingdom Greyhound Stadium.

“This is going to have a massive impact on the town of Tralee. It works out at about 180 dogs less a month that will be racing; that equates to around 100 people or more that go to Tralee in any given month that is being taken away from the track,” Mr O’Connor said.

“There is more at stake here than just the racing. This is a loss to the town’s economy and social profile. This is leaving down the town of Tralee,” Mr O’Connor said. In a statement, the IGB said they are conscious that the reduction in race schedules will cause ‘some concern locally’, but the decision is being made to sustain activity throughout the industry at what is a very difficult period for all.

Photo by Domnick Walsh Paul O’Connor from Cahersiveen, chairperson of the Tralee Greyhound Stadium Council.