Drumbo Park Set To Return...... {Late June 2019}

[BVADMIN]

Drumbo Park track, formerly known as Ballyskeagh, has shut



Drumbo Park shock as track closes with immediate effect

BY MICHAEL FORTUNE 12:02PM 11 JAN 2019


THE greyhound community in Northern Ireland has been rocked with the shock news that Drumbo Park greyhound stadium is to close with immediate effect.

In a statement issued, the company directors stated that the business was no longer sustainable, blaming a shortage of greyhounds, the impact of online gambling and Northern Ireland’s "restrictive” licensing laws.

They also pointed out that, unlike tracks in the Republic of Ireland, Drumbo Park received no government funding.

Formerly known as Ballyskeagh, the stadium was taken over in 2008 by businessmen John McCollum, Michael McAdam and Tommy Anderson.

Read more in Saturday's Racing Post....

[BVADMIN]

www.belfastlive.co.uk/sport/other-sport/drumbo-park-greyhound-stadium-close-15662964?fbclid=IwAR229k0FJp_0NKg-gVgriuS3zuLzN9JtLoIRlby7K0NZtow5Xg5q4fj60cU


Drumbo Park Greyhound Stadium is to close with immediate effect.....


The directors of the Lambeg venue said a number of factors meant the business was no longer sustainable.


Formerly Ballyskeagh Greyhound Track, the facility was rebranded Drumbo Park in 2009, and is situated on the grounds of Lisburn Distillery Football Club.

In a statement on Friday morning, directors blamed a number of factors on the closure, including a shortage of greyhounds and restrictive licensing laws.

The statement read: "The directors of Drumbo Park regretfully announce that the greyhound stadium is closed with immediate effect.

"A number of factors have meant that after ten years trading the business is no longer sustainable

"This has included: a shortage of greyhounds to provide a full race programme, the impact of online gaming on live racing and Northern Ireland’s restrictive licensing laws preventing the sale of alcohol at the track on a Sunday. In addition, unlike the greyhound racetracks in the Republic of Ireland, Drumbo Park received no government funding.

"In the past two years, the directors invested substantial resources in an effort to turn the business around but a decision had to be taken that it was no longer viable.


"The 14 full time and 30 part time staff were informed on Friday morning.

"The directors would like to thank the staff, customers and dog owners for their support and dedication over the past decade."

[BVADMIN]

TAKEN FROM THE GREYHOUND STAR WEBSITE
greyhoundstar.co.uk/not-shocked-drumbo/
FRIDAY 11/1/19::





‘NOT SO SHOCKED’ BY DRUMBO......


Shelbourne Park GM Patrick Flynn admits to being “surprised but not shocked” by the announcement earlier today of the closure of County Down track Drumbo Park.

Although he has lived in Sourthern Ireland for many years, Patrick knows the place well having run it under its original title of ‘Ballyskeagh’ more than 20 years ago.

He said: “I would have been more shocked but for a conversation I had with one of the directors Michael McAdam more than six months ago when he mentioned how tough trading was.

“The reason that it is still quite surprising is because the three guys who own and ran it are all very successful businessmen in their own right. Some of their initiatives and promotions were absolutely top class. Nobody could ever claim that they didn’t give it their best shot.

“I think it only goes to show how tough it is when a track that is as well run as Drumbo cannot make it pay . There are so many overheads that the average person wouldn’t even consider before you get a customer through the gate, and you can only justify opening the facility for two nights per week.”

The news is better at Shelbourne Park with the track taking more than a year to rally after the protest closure in early 2017 – following the demise of nearby Harolds Cross.

Patrick said: “The attendances later in the year were very disappointing; so many people had got out of the habit of going racing. But we had a good end to 2018 and the best Christmas in many, many years.

“We are down to two meetings per week at the moment, but they are probably holding up as well as we might expect from four meetings, but without the extra overheads.

“But don’t be fooled. It is still very tough running a greyhound track and we are dependent on other things that we do with the stadium, including a car parking business, which brings in a significant six figure sum every year.”

[appleton]

What a shame.
It's a business at the end of the day but no consideration shown to the staff involved whatsoever, just a thank you for all the hard work you've done.
No warning signs
People going home to their families tonight with no work or financial support tomorrow
This is what will happen to our beloved track

[johnlamb41]

Really tragic, I suppose Drumbo won't be the last this year the games on it's arse.Feel for the staff at the track.

[RUGBY-BALL]

Sad day for greyhound racing over in Northern Ireland.

[SALFORD GIRL]

Terrible news for our sport.

Here's hoping things can get sorted and racing can one day return to Drumbo.

[BVADMIN]

DRUMBO PARK PRESS RELEASE...

Friday 17th May 2019



After working as Racing Manager at the Laganside venue for the past ten years, John Connor is delighted to announce that Drumbo Park will be reopening in late June 2019 under new management.

Although John grew up steeped in the greyhound game, it is intended that this new venture should have a broader appeal and offer something for everyone. The upcoming program includes family days, qurrky blogger events, e-sports, silent cinema for kids and ladies fashion events as well as a calendar of excellent racing, weddings, hen and stag parties, corporate and charity events at the stadium’s extensive conference facilities and excellent restaurant.

The new management team would like to thank everyone in the greyhound community for their support over the last six months.

Please follow @drumbopark on Facebook to receive the latest progress reports – and tag a friend for a great night out”

[BVADMIN]

TAKEN FROM THE GREYHOUND STAR

RUNNING ON PASSION – DRUMBO RE-OPENS.....




Drumbo Park



“Every success story is a tale on constant revision, adaption and change”- writes Michael Watts

Richard Branson the famous entrepreneur, balloonist and wearer of woolly jumpers is supposed to have said. If he didn’t, he certainly should have.

Thus it was that so many of the greyhounds that had trialled at Belfast’s Drumbo Park in anticipation of the Laganside venue re-opening were in danger of going out of their time, that it was decided to stage a meeting in advance of the official cutting of the ribbon.

One trainer who in the past sent out plenty of winners at Drumbo commented that with the Brandywell being a ninety-five mile round trip from his yard and entries hard to get at Dundalk which has its own trainers to cater for, he had sold off all the younger dogs in his kennel and turned the older ones out for a holiday, essentially shutting up shop until better times.

With three litters of saplings in the pipeline, he is hoping that the track prospers under its new promoters Run With Passion Ltd. Fortune favours the brave, and a nine-race card was run off in idyllic weather conditions last Saturday, 13th July. There were sadly a few absentees from the ranks of The Usual Suspects, among their number Mabel Blair from Larne, who lost her long battle with cancer scant weeks before the track re-opened.

There were also some new faces, notably two new bookmakers so that a total of six firms were shouting the odds, taking advantage of the temporary lack of tote facilities. The racing surface had been completely re-laid since the stadium closed its doors in January of this year, and although the cognoscenti reckoned the track was running a bit slow, Roll The Tiger, the winner of the first race, a 335 yard unraced contest, was out and gone from Trap 5 to score by twelve lengths in 17:78 secs.

Connections of the July 2017 brindle son of Droopys Jet, which is owned and trained by Kevin Rocks from Newry had a good old-fashioned punt on their fellow who went to traps as the 4/5 favourite,

The time-honoured battle with the bookies was not however to be a one-sided affair, with four dogs in one of the later races being well backed while the eventual winner was friendless in the ring.

Following the recent exposé of all the ills of the Irish greyhound game on Raidio Telefís Éireann, new working practices, such as mandatory pre-race veterinary inspection of all runners, have been put in place at Drumbo Park, putting down a marker that the previous high standard of greyhound welfare at the track will be improved upon.

Relaunching greyhound racing at a venue, where others have tried and failed, may not be a walk in the park, but you have to admire the chutzpah of the new team and the cut of their jib.

No guts, no glory!