Dundalk Stadium will shortly become Ireland's first all-weather racetrack, and looking forward to the opening race meeting next August is the Stadium's chief executive officer Jim Martin. Dundalk Stadium's new all-weather racetrack will make history as Ireland's first all-weather horse track when it stages its first meeting on the afternoon of Sunday, August 26 2007. It will also have the distinction of being Ireland's first floodlit racetrack and first combined horse and greyhound racing facility. Work on the new facilities is at an advanced stage and when completed, will transform Dundalk Stadium into one of the finest venues of its kind anywhere in the world. "We're eagerly looking forward to next August when we will hold our opening race meeting on the all-weather track," says Dundalk Stadium chief executive officer Jim Martin. "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." Dundalk Stadium has been allocated 12 race fixtures for 2007. The first evening meeting comes a month after the opening meeting on Thursday, September 27. There will then be two runs of five consecutive Friday evening meetings - from September 28 to October 26 and from November 9 to December 7 (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. "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 surface, which is sand-based. I can't imagine any of the horses having problems adjusting to it. In fact, many of the leading trainers are already using this surface themselves," Jim explains. 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. It is the second phase of a EUR35 million investment. Phase one was completed in late 2003 with the official opening following in February 2004. The redevelopment of the Stadium has been part-funded by Horse Racing Ireland (HRI), Bord na gCon and private investors. Plans for the all-weather track were given the go-ahead in September 2005 when the board of Horse Racing Ireland approved maximum grant aid of EUR10.276 million for the project. Commenting on the new all-weather track, Sports Minister John O'Donoghue 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 is an ambitious project and I am sure it will be a successful one and a wonderful sporting asset for Dundalk, the North-East and the entire border region." Bord na gCon chairman Paschal Taggart remarked: "Bord na gCon will contribute grant aid of EUR2.5 million to help fund the extension of the existing grandstand. We very much welcome the creation of this unique horse and greyhound venture. Since Dundalk opened for greyhound racing in 2003 it has been one of our most successful stadiums." The all-weather track, which is a new generation Polytrack surface, has been supplied by Martin Collins International. The surface is a combination of plastic fibres, PVC granules, soft rubber blend and high grade sand which are all blended with a coating wax. A proprietary plastic fibre is produced in a manner which provides an irregular cut and supplies the same characteristics as the root structure in good turf. The sand used comprises carrying gradients which consequently provides an interlocking effect. When mixed with the sand, the fibre reduces hoof penetration and keeps the horses on the top, decreasing the risk of stress and strain as well as improving energy return. The PVC is a washed, clean, granule and has a hole where the copper wise has been extracted. This increases the absorption rate and when coupled with the soft rubber blend increases both energy return and drainage efficiency. The fibre, PVC and rubber are very resilient and give long life to the product. Brian Kavanagh, chief executive of Horse Racing Ireland Ltd said: "The new Polytrack gallop on The Curragh appears to have been well received by trainers, and the Polytrack has operated effectively for some time on the all-weather tracks in the UK. It is a pleasure to now have the construction phase underway." Polytrack is used in training yards, studs and racecourses worldwide, including prestigious sites at Newmarket, Epsom, North Yorkshire, Chantilly, Maisons Lafitte and Keeneland as well as at Lingfield Park, Wolverhampton, Kempton Park and Turfway Park racetracks. Dundalk Racecourse covers approximately 159 acres, extending from the town's inner relief road to the west, and the tidal estuary of the Blackwater and Dundalk Bay to the east. There has been a long tradition of racing in the border town - horseracing since 1889 and greyhound racing since the 1930s. However, by the late 1990s, the facilities at Dundalk Racecourse were in need of major redevelopment and substantial investment in order to sustain and develop racing in the town. In 1999, Dundalk Race Company PLC and Dun Dealgan Greyhound Racing Company Ltd merged to form Dundalk Racing. Within four years, Dundalk Stadium had become the most modern entertainment facility in the North-East, incorporating top class elite dining facilities, three bars and a fast food outlet. From the luxurious surroundings of the Champion's Restaurant, guests can enjoy a panoramic view of the race circuit while they dine. The Gallop's Bar boasts eagle-eye views of the track, as well as providing the backdrop to post-race music and dancing. The Sprinter's Bar is bright and spacious with direct access to the open terracing which can cater for 1,500 people. The Sprinter's Bar also incorporates a Mullen's fast food outlet. Dundalk Stadium is the ideal venue for any occasion, boasting facilities that can accommodate both small and large parties. The Stadium is currently being utilised only three days a week on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings, therefore its facilities can be hired by companies, charities, clubs or individuals for their own use at any stage in the week provided that the management feels it is an appropriate outlet. "We provide a different night's entertainment and that is one of the main reasons why the Stadium has been such a success. Our restaurant is booked out two and three months in advance all-year round. "A night at the dogs, or at the horses from next year, is an ideal way for a company to entertain guests. Our location between Dublin and Belfast means that we have three million people living within an hour's drive of us. Dundalk is a perfect location for this facility," Jim concludes. * Admission prices for adults are EUR10, EUR5 for students/OAPs and EUR2 for children. A family ticket (two adults and two children) costs EUR20. Group bookings of 15 people or more can pre-book for a reduced admission rate. Telephone: 042-9334438. Tweet

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