Sat on the banks of the River Suir, Clonmel Greyhound Stadium, in the Republic of Ireland, typically hosts its racing on Friday and Sunday evenings. The grandstand was refurbed in 2012 and now has a trackside restaurant offering lunch and dinner on racedays.
The County Tipperary track hosted the Irish versions of the Oaks and the St Leger in its early days but is now most famous for the National Produce. This is definitely a track where you might see a diamond in the making – the 2022 English Derby winner, Romeo Magico, was schooled and trialled here so why not see if you can spot another superstar of the future?
What’s On Offer at Clonmel?
Racing takes place on Friday and Sunday evenings with the first race usually starting at around 7.30pm. Obviously schedules are subject to change so check the official site for the latest information.
The biggest meeting includes the running of the National Produce Stakes and is held annually in February. In 2022, that 525-yard contest was won Gaston Pecas. The track also hosts a number of fundraising meetings and special nights around Christmas.
What Can You Expect?
The tracked was refurbished in 2012 with a new modern grandstand replacing the old one. The track now features a grandstand restaurant, food outlets, a few bars and totaliser betting facilities. Parking is free and plentiful.
Admission is €10 and under 14s get in free of charge. A dinner menu with a view of the racing is available at the Suirside Restaurant for €28.
How to Get There
The track is located on the banks of the River Suir at Clonmel Greyhound Stadium, Davis Road, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary. It is a short walk from the town centre and the 55 bus will take you to the train station. Clonmel is just over two hours from Dublin by car.
How to Get in Touch
- Tel: – 052 6183333 / 052 6183334
- Email: – cmltrack@gmail.com
- Twitter: – @Clonmeltrack
- Booking Office Opening Times: – Monday to Friday 09:00 – 15:00
- Restaurant Booking: – 086 1445764 suirsidebookings@gmail.com
What Else Do I Need to Know?
Racing started at Clonmel on 20 March 1931. The top event to take place at the track these days is the National Breeders Produce Stakes. This was first run as the National Sapling Stakes in 1939 with Sporting Fancy coming home ahead of the others. The year after that, Tanist became the first greyhound to break 30 seconds with a time of 29.85 over 525 yards. This record was broken by Quare Time who recorded an impressive 29.75 in 1946.
Early Days
In the early 1930s, the track hosted both the Irish Oaks and the Irish St Leger. Queen of the Suir won the former in 1932, while the legendary Brilliant Bob took the St Leger over 550 yards in 31.53 in 1933.
Recent Winners
In 2022, the English Derby Champion, Romeo Magico received a great reception when he was paraded at the track. He was schooled and trialled at Clonmel from the age of 15 months by Graham Holland before winning the Derby run at Towcester.
Flooding Issues
Due to its location next to the River Suir, this stadium has flooded many times in the past. This has impacted local life a great deal, as well as hitting racing at the track. In more recent years, the town has invested in flood defences so hopefully this will be less of an issue going forward.
Irish Coursing Club
As well as greyhound racing, the stadium is also the home of the Irish Coursing Club and the National Meeting is held in Clonmel in February. Coursing sees two greyhounds chase a hare and has a long history in Ireland. Unlikely to be a hit with animal-rights lovers, the sport continues to enjoy reasonable popularity in Ireland.