Dundalk Stadium
Friday, 8th December 2006

Sisk have been appointed as the main contractor for the redevelopment of Dundalk race track. On Friday 8th December 2006 An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, T.D. visited Dundalk Stadium to officially turn the sod for the new development.

Commenting on the new all-weather track, An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, T.D. said: “It gives me great pleasure to turn the sod on Irelands first all weather race track which will be open next August. Horse racing and greyhound racing are significant contributors to the Irish economy and to our way of life and are two sports in which Ireland can genuinely claim world champion status. Horse racing has a significant cross border dimension which I obviously welcome, and the location of Irelands first all weather race track in Dundalk is therefore appropriate. The development will have many positive implications for employment and for sporting activity on both sides of the border.



Dundalk Stadium will have a floodlit all-weather track of 10 furlongs (2,000 metres) oval with a five furlong sprint track. The project will also include an extension to the existing grandstand, new ambulance and access roads, a weigh room, stable yard for 130 horses, parade ring and a new bookmakers ring.



Dundalk Stadium has been allocated 12 fixtures for 2007 — the first evening meeting comes a month after the opening meeting on Thursday, September 27th There will then be two runs of five consecutive Friday evening meetings — from September 28th to October 26th and from November 9h to December 7th (outside the turf season). In 2008, the number of race meetings will increase to a minimum of 25, making Dundalk Stadium the busiest racetrack in the country.

Jim Martin, Dundalk Stadium’s Chief Executive said: “We are eagerly looking forward to next August when we will hold our opening race meeting on the all-weather track. Attendances have surpassed all expectations since the Stadium was reopened in November 2003 and there are even more exciting times ahead with the return of horseracing to Dundalk in 2007. The beauty of the all-weather track is that we’ll be able to stage race meetings in all kinds of weather. There won’t be any cancellations with this sand- based surface.”

Horse Racing Ireland, Chairman, Denis Brosnan, said: “Dundalk’s new all-weather racetrack will make history on a number of fronts: Ireland’s first all-weather track, our first floodlit racetrack and the first combined horse and greyhound racing facility. It will be a wonderful sporting asset for Dundalk, the North-East and the entire border region.”

The all-weather race track is the second phase of a €35m investment.