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. Like Celtic Park in Glasgow, Scotland, it was known as "Paradise" by its fans. The football team ran into financial issues and finally dissolved in 1960 but the stadium was then firmly established as a greyhound stadium.

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 Yards Greyhound Time (sec) Date Notes/ref375 Caim Star 21.4-5 17 May 1929 375 Solitude Star 21.2-5 28 April 1930 375 Confusion 21.40 1 August 1930 375 Divorced Princess 20.92 8 May 1931 375 You Have Me =20.92 24 August 1934 375 You Have Me 20.89 31 August 1934 375 Dark December 20.87 23 September 1935 375 Lone Keel 20.83 18 September 1936 375 Derryten 20.64 24 October 1941375 Fair Mistress 20.52 22 April 1942375 Hilarious Champion 20.16 9 July 1956 375 Rito 20.13 26 October 1962 375 Tanyard Chief 20.08 1962 375 Fiery Effort 20.07 25 October 1965375 Kirkland Darkie 19.94 10 September 1971 525 Guiding Pal =30.60 18 July 1930 525 Mike's Fancy =30.60 21 July 1930 525 Sister Olive 30.49 10 August 1931525 Queen of the Rock 30.40 6 May 1932 525 Maghereagh Soldier 30.37 17 May 1935 525 Maghereagh Soldier 30.25 29 May 1936 525 Morning Signal 30.16 7 October 1936 525 Myroe Roving Boy =30.12 June 1939 525 Braemar Monty 29.95 15 September 1939 525 S. M. Oddity 29.60 18 October 1940 National record525 Smartly Fergus =29.60 26 June 1945 McAlevey Gold Cup heats525 Priceless Border 29.54 23 May 1947 525 Ballymore Cottage 29.38 27 June 1947 Trigo Cup525 Coolkill Hero 29.36 4 June 1954 525 Dunmore King 29.36 4 May 1956 McAlevey Gold Cup semifinal525 Cautious Customer 29.19 14 September 1956 525 Nimble Star 28.98 30 May 1958 525 True Picture 28.97 2 June 1958 National record525 Dillies Pigalle 28.86 13 May 1966 McAlevey Gold Cup final, National record525 Kirkland Darkie 28.79 11 May 1970 National record, McAlevey Cup heats525 Jemmy John 28.61 26 June 1970 National record, Ulster Derby final550 Maghereagh Soldier 31.67 24 May 1935 Trigo Cup heats550 Maghereagh Soldier 31.50 31 May 1935 Trigo Cup semi-final550 Maghereagh Soldier 31.45 7 June 1935 Trigo Cup final550 Maghereagh Soldier 31.35 15 June 1936 Trigo Cup first round550 Strong Mutton 31.28 11 June 1936 Trigo Cup semifinal550 Mazurka 30.98 30 April 1948 550 Racing Nig 30.60 31 July 1959 550 Racing Luck 30.54 1 August 1960 Ulster St Leger 2nd rd550 Normac Venture 30.53 22 May 1964 550 There's Hope 30.51 29 July 1964 Ulster St Leger550 Tom's Dog 30.48 13 August 1965 Ulster St Leger final550 Sulky Mac 30.38 7 August 1967 Ulster St Leger SF600 Moorland Rover 34.3-5 22 April 1929 600 Aughamore Lass 34.54 8 April 1938 600 Sullivan's Mild 34.31 30 April 1945 600 Smartly Fergus 33.99 15 June 1945 National record600 Multiforbo 33.91 4 October 1957 600 Ashley Park Boy 33.60 11 July 1958 600 Ashley Park Boy 33.45 18 July 1958 600 Yellow Streak 33.40 28 September 1966 Ulster Cesarewitch heats600 Circular Grand 33.39 30 September 1966 Ulster Cesarewitch rd2600 Clahane Flash 33.38 9 June 1967 600 Fiery Sahara 33.36 21 August 1967 600 Itsamint 33.34 20 October 1969 Ulster Cesarewitch final600 Blissful Pride 32.90 4 October 1971 Ulster Cesarewitch 1st Rd640 Dragon's Flight 37.3-5 9 September 1928 Trigo Cup heats640 Bright Bundle 37.12 17 May 1931860 Clovis 52.20 11 October 1929 860 Ilene Darling 51.95 14 October 1931 860 Ilene Darling 51.55 30 October 1931 375 H Soft Slide 22.28 15 March 1935 375 H Neidin's Carnero 21.46 15 June 1936 525 H Flail 32.00 12 September 1930 525 H Macaroni 31.12 28 June 1935 525 H Magheragh Major 31.07 22 May 1936 525 H Nicotina 31.05 24 June 1938 550 H Neiden's Beautiful 32.70 10 September 1937 600 H Drumhaw 37.1-5 17 May 1929 600 H Flail 36.40 1930 600 H Another Circle 36.28 21 August 1936 H=Hurdles

References

External links Stadium information Stadium information History of Dog Racing in Ireland