The August Unraced NO2 330

Starts Aug 5th, entries close July 30th

The Beehive Kennels A5 525
Winner 1200
Must have at least 2 races at Longford, back graders allowed.
Entries close August 9th

The Jackie's Flyer at Stud A4 525
Winner 650
Must have at least 2 races at Longford, back graders allowed.
Entries close August 13th

The stadium has been met with a number of challenging economic conditions over the last number of years, including falling attendances, a current requirement for expensive fire safety works and rising insurance costs. Our insurance premium quote for this year was more than double the amount paid last year, reflecting challenges across the wider sports, entertainment and hospitality sectors. Even if the stadium could find the money needed to pay these bills, this would only be a short term measure without further financial assistance from the IGB. The IGB have stated that it is not within their mandate to offer assistance in meeting any of these costs.

Longford Greyhound Stadium first opened in 1939 and like a number of tracks across the country, has a vast history, culture and tradition attached to it. We are in our eightieth year of business and the greyhound industry has changed immeasurably in that time.

Longford has had a strong greyhound racing tradition for generations, with the track being a signature schooling track for young greyhounds. Many greyhounds and their connections have gone on to achieve great things in the industry after laying down their roots in Longford. We thank them for their participation and support over eight decades.

We have been fortunate to receive wonderful support from many prominent local businesses throughout our 80 years. We would like to thank all of those that have provided sponsorship to events at Longford Greyhound Stadium, however big or small.

To all who have ever passed through the turnstiles at Longford Greyhound Stadium, we thank you as well. You have enjoyed many nights here over the years and we have enjoyed providing high quality greyhound racing for you.

We wish the very best to all involved in the Irish greyhound industry in the years ahead.

Due to a HR dispute, Hillary Forde has been on paid leave for years as Director of Racing Governance & Compliance with the IGB. The cost of this dispute alone would be enough to keep Longford and Lifford open.

The cost of the sales & booking centre in Thurles is another example of funds wasted that could have been spent on saving Longford and Lifford. This centre is a complete waste when you consider that these bookings could be done through the IGB website.

For example Shelbourne Park paid 85,660 p.a. in 2015 and 85,690 p.a. in 2014 while Limerick paid 38,409 p.a. in 2015 and 38,422 p.a. in 2014. EXTERNAL LINK

In fact the closure of the sales & booking centre was used in the 2014 Comptroller and Auditor General Special Report titled Development of Limerick Greyhound Racing Stadium EXTERNAL LINK to justify the spend on the Limerick development.

Included in the figures to economically justify the investment were projected savings and page 31 (3.21) stated that these included expected manpower savings, information technology savings and rent savings as set out in Figure 3.5.

When we examine figure 3.5 we discover that 0.3 million was allocated as projected savings by moving the sales & booking centre to Limerick.

But the IGB never implemented these savings and the sales & booking centre has cost millions since 2014.

Bottom line is that the IGB are paying in excess of 350,000 pa for an unnecessary call centre in Thurles but won't pay 20,000 to keep Longford open.

The IGB get 16.8 million per year from the Governments horse & greyhound fund to run this industry, that is equal to 323.000+ per week to keep the show on the road, when you take out the large IGB salaries which amounts to 13.4 million per year that leaves 3.4 million to provide for everything else, it does not stack up, where is all the money going? the IGB yearly accounts are still not published WHY??? the books are in a total mess again & again & again, how much more has to happen before it will become clean to everyone what is happening, i am not writing this for the crack its facts and if we dont get this board shifted they will shift us all JMHO.