Crayford Stadium

For the former Crayford Stadium, see Crayford & Bexleyheath Stadium.

Crayford Stadium

The entrance in 2008
Location	Bexley, Greater London, England
Coordinates	51°26′53″N0°10′35″E / 51.448°N 0.17629°E / 51.448; 0.17629
Operator	Entain (Ladbrokes Coral)
Opened	1986
Website
Official website

Crayford Stadium is a greyhound racing stadium located in the London Borough of Bexley in England. ^[1] The stadium, which has featured races since 1986, has private suites, a restaurant and a number of bars.

Evening meetings takes place every Tuesday and Sunday, a matinée race meeting takes place on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Crayford is owned by Ladbrokes Coral. ^[2]

History

1980s

In 1984 Ladbrokes announced that racing would cease at the Crayford & Bexleyheath Stadium following the sale of part of the site to Sainsbury's. ^[3] The sale also included plans for rebuilding the entire stadium on the west side of the closing stadium. Five acres of the twenty-acre site would be converted into a new greyhound track and sports stadium. Racing ended on 18 May 1985 and work began on the new stadium. Following sixteen months of development and construction, it was ready for action. ^[4] The press falsely claimed it was the first greyhound track to be built for 30 years because several had been constructed within the previous decade including Nottingham and Reading.

The grand opening took place on 1 September 1986, ^[5] and the new stadium would be called Crayford after the decision was made to drop the Bexleyheath part; the stadium was situated in a different five-acre part of the original twenty acres. ^[4] The stadium was opened by the mayor of Bexley and Ladbrokes Chairman Cyril Stein. ^[6]

In 1987 the track took possession of a major competition called the Golden Jacket which had struggled to find a new home since the demise of Harringay. The event had been temporarily held at Hall Green and Monmore and was a popular afternoon competition with television exposure. Crayford also provided a new matinee meeting for their Ladbrokes betting shops and another new competition called the Crayford Rosebowl was inaugurated. ^[7] In 1988 Dinky Luckhurst trained Breeks Rocket to Grand National success.

The dimensions of the all-sand circuit were a small 334 m circumference with distances of 380, 540, 714 and 874 metres with an outside Sumner hare. Facilities included a restaurant for 138 covers, two bars and a twin-tier glass-fronted covered stand. Also within the stadium was a sports hall complex, a fitness area and a swimming pool. The racing manager was Roy Dwight and general manager Roger Lakey, soon to be replaced by Paul Lawrence and Barry Stanton respectively.

1990s

Crayford Ladbrokes Greyhound Stadium c.1990

In 1996 Dynamic Display repeated the Grand National achievement for trainer Barry O'Sullivan. The Guys and Dolls competition arrived at the track in 1997. Pure Patches won the 1998 Gold Collar and also made the 1999 English Greyhound Derby final and Bubbly Prince won the 1999 Cesarewitch.

2000s

Lady Jean won the 2000 Cesarewitch, and Haughty Ted won the 2001 Gold Collar for Dinky Luckhurst. Racing manager Paul Lawrence parted company with the track in 2000, replaced by Harry Bull, with Danny Rayment promoted to deputy. ^[8] Trainer Lorraine Sams introduced a greyhound to the industry in 2006 called Spiridon Louis. The black-and-white dog would become the 2007 Greyhound of the Year after winning the St Leger, TV Trophy and Regency.

2010s

A third Grand National win by the Gemma Davidson-trained Plane Daddy, in 2010, continued Crayford's success with hurdle racing. In 2015, Danny Rayment became the Racing Manager taking over from Harry Bull.

In 2015 the track resurrected the original classic Gold Collar competition and the Guys and Dolls. ^[9] In 2017 Ladbrokes merged with Gala Coral to form Ladbrokes Coral. ^[10]

In 2018, the stadium signed a deal with SIS to race every Tuesday morning and evening, Thursday afternoon, Friday morning and Saturday morning. ^[11]

2020s

In 2022, Entain signed a long-term deal with the Arena Racing Company for media rights, starting in January 2024. ^[12] In 2023, the stadium held the Champion Hurdle for the first time. ^[13] In 2024, Crayford trainer Ricky Holloway won the Golden Jacket with Dazl Rolex, the first home victory since 2007.

In November 2024 Entain announced their intention to close the stadium, stating that "it is no longer viable for us to continue operating the site". ^[14] The stadium is under consultation. ^[15]

Competitions

Golden Jacket

Main article: Golden Jacket

Gold Collar

Main article: Gold Collar

Kent St Leger

Main article: Kent St Leger

Guys And Dolls

Main article: Guys and Dolls (greyhounds)

Champion Hurdle

Main article: Champion Hurdle (greyhounds)

Crayford/Kent Vase

^{[16] [17]}

Year	Winner	Breeding	Trainer	Time (sec)	SP	Notes/ref
1967	Millies Valley	Pigalle Wonder – Racing Millie	Gordon Hodson (White City)	29.17
1968	Ambiguous	Crazy Parachute – The Mistress	Paddy McEvoy (Wimbledon)	29.10	5/2
1969	Quarrymount Bill	Boro Parachute – Ballinasloe Judy	Frank Melville Harringay)	28.69	10/1
1970	Lord Phil	Lucky Wonder – Lachienne	Dennis Mansfield (Southend)	29.21	7/2
1971	Mad Risk	Carry On Oregon – Mad Girl	Charlie Coyle (Private)	28.77	4/1
1972	Fragrant Flyer	Prince of Roses – Forest Brown	Bill Westcott (Crayford & Bexleyheath)	28.41	11/10f
1973	Kilmac Chieftan	Own Pride – Stolen Tilly	Vernon Ford (Private)	28.58	5/4
1974	Money Again	Clomoney Jet – Leades Again	John Coleman (Wembley)	28.92	16/1
1975	London Spec	Spectre II – Hi Lasinagh	Pat Mullins (Ipswich)	28.41	5/4
1976	Gin And Jass	Kilbeg Kuda – Liberty Bell	Dave Drinkwater (Rye House)	28.54	9/4
1977	Colonel Pearloma	Lively Band – Certral	John Coleman (Wembley)	28.70	1/1f
1978	Proud Time	Time Up Please – Girvin Kate	John Gibbons (Private)	28.40	7/2
1979	Fearna Cobbler	Cobbler – Aidans Lady	John Sherry (Walthamstow)	28.38	5/2
1980	Johns Luck	Westmead Bounty – Kiltean Fawn	John Coleman (Wembley)	28.47	4/1
1981	Deel Joker	Free Speech – Leaping Lady	John Gibbons (Crayford & Bexleyheath)	28.11	4/6f
1982	General Fun	Laurdella Fun – Satin Sash	Terry Duggan (Romford)	29.02	7/1
1983	Sammy Bear (dead-heat)	Mexican Chief – Lady Laurdella	George Curtis (Brighton)	28.53	5/2jf
1983	Cashen Son (dead-heat)	Jimsun – Minty Lady	George Curtis (Brighton)	28.53	5/1
1984	Gortatlea Brigg	Noble Brigg – Lartigue Rose	Michael Gallagher (Rye House)	28.17	10/1
1985-1986, not held (closure and subsequent rebuilding of new stadium
1987	Sand Streak	Sand Man – Rapid Lady	David Ingram-Seal (Ramsgate)	34.68	8/1
1988	Foretop	Blue Train – Green Slieve	Kenny Linzell (Walthamstow)	34.59	4/6f
1989	Fennessys Gold	Soda Fountain – Fast Mission	Ray Peacock (Catford)	34.33	4/5f
1990	Hello Blackie	Daleys Gold – Ashcarne Chips	Roger York (Hackney)	34.12	1/4f
1991	Appleby Lisa	Whisper Wishes – Moon Bran	Harry Dodds (Norton Canes)	34.87	8/1
1992	Ballarue Hove	Curryhills Fox – Ballarue Suzy	Derek Knight (Hove)	33.98	7/2
1993	Ardcollum Hilda	Druids Johno – Seventh Dynamic	Patsy Byrne (Wimbledon)	33.87	2/5f
1994	Ashfield Arrow	Slippys Quest – Alf Arrow	Bill Masters (Hove)			[18]
1995	Heaven Sent	Lodge Prince – Murlens Mandy	Peter Rich (Romford)	34.05	4/1
1996	El Tenor	Ratify – Ballygar Rose	Linda Mullins (Walthamstow)	33.81	7/4f
1997	El Tenor	Ratify – Ballygar Rose	Linda Mullins (Walthamstow)	33.83	10/11f
1998	Rio Shadow	Adraville Bridge – Droopys Aliysa	Daniel Riordan (Harlow)	34.45	5/4f
1999	Lake Shadow	Come on Ranger – Lake Tricks	Dinky Luckhurst (Crayford)	34.64	7/4f
2000	Baby Courtney	Slipaway Jaydee – Lady Little	Les Lawrence (Harlow)	34.47	5/4f
2001	Little Vintage	Vintage Prince – Treasure Beo	Linda Jones (Walthamstow)	33.77	11/4
2002	Top Power	Top Honcho – Able Ivy	Linda Jones (Walthamstow)	33.93	5/4f
2003	Droopys Regina	Top Honcho – Doopys Kylie	Gary Sallis (Private)	33.63	6/1
2004	Topmeup	Carlton Bale – Metric Flower	Paul Garland (Wimbledon)	33.89	3/1jf
2005	Merton Flower	Top Honcho – Metric Flower	Paul Garland (Wimbledon)	33.68	4/5f
2006	Xamax Johndee	Droopys Kewell – Xamax Xylograph	John Davidson (Crayford)	33.87	6/1
2007	Fear Martina	Never Give Up – Expert View	Steve Willey (Sittingbourne)	33.75	2/1jf
2008	Barnfield Slippy	Crash – Blues Best Buzz	Sam Poots (Private)	33.25	1/2f
2010	Freedom Cody	Pacific Mile – Synone Starlight	Matt Dartnall (Private)	33.66	6/4f
2019	Crossfield Vince	Kinloch Brae – Crossfield Alba	Julie Luckhurst (Crayford)	33.81	3/1	[19]
2020	cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021	Ballynabee Jet	Sh Avatar – Monleek Dawn	Samantha West (Hove)	34.03	100/30	[20]
2022	Bandicoot Sammy	Droopys Sydney – Samiya	Ron Grey (Private)	33.90	5/1	[21]
2023	Beebee Bianco	Droopys Sydney – Clounamon Diva	Julie Luckhurst (Crayford)	34.22	8/1	[22]
2024	Kuda Honey	Magical Bale – Brynoffa Honey	Jean Liles (Romford)	34.01	6/1	[23]

(1967–1984 held at Crayford & Bexleyheath over 490 yards/462 metres), (1987–2010 held at Crayford over 540 metres)

Crayford/Kent Rosebowl

^[24]

Year	Winner	Breeding	Trainer	Time (sec)	SP	Notes/ref
1987	Lisnakill Ruby	I'm Slippy – Midland Mist	Linda Mullins (Crayford)	25.46
1990	Clonlusk Villa	Strom Villa – Clonlusk Dell	Hazel Dickson (Wembley)	23.93	2/1
1993	Loch Bo Lucky	I'm Slippy – Loch Bo Goldie	John Coleman (Walthamstow)	23.78	4/1
1994	Lemon Raider	I'm Slippy – Lemon Miss	John McGee Sr. (Hackney)	23.33	6/4jf
1995	Dongadong	Deenside Spark – Keltic Cracker	Chris Duggan (Walthamstow)	24.18
1997	Kiel Casino	Daleys Gold – Kiel Glory	Roy Towner (Crayford)	23.70	14/1
1998	Curryhills Steve	Cool Prince – Iona Lass	Linda Jones (Romford)	24.28	10/1
1999	Dower Diamond	Highway Leader – Dower Celt	Roy Towner (Crayford)	24.05	5/2
2000	Respect	New Level – Hello Gorgeous	x	23.91	8/1
2001	Marinas Pride	Thorgil Tex – Marinas Machine	Pat Thompson (Crayford)	23.86	7/4jf
2002	Silver Tail	Roanokee – Ardera Melody	Diane Platts (Rye House)	23.22	5/1
2003	Patchit	Cool Performance – Chartwell Flyer	Patsy Cusack (Crayford)	23.30	11/4jf
2004	Rockmount Gael	Prince of Tinrah – Slaney Lady	Dinky Luckhurst (Crayford)	23.47	11/4
2005	Lenson Ace	Judicial Pride – Any Time Soon	Seamus Cahill (Wimbledon)	23.83	2/1f
2006	Lenson Ace	Judicial Pride – Any Time Soon	Seamus Cahill (Wimbledon)	23.68	2/1f
2007	Xamax Johndee	Droopys Kewell – Xamax Xylograph	John Davidson (Crayford)	23.95	5/4f
2008	Farloe Nipper	Droopys Kewell – Farloe Edge	Arun Green (Crayford)	23.54	6/1
2009	Ardbeg Kate	Daves Mentor – Farantane Sinead	Michael Fawsitt (Private)	23.10	4/5f
2010	Me Buddy	Ballymac Maeve – Ballymac Peg	Matt Dartnall (Private)	23.64	2/1
2011	Ministry Mayhem	Ballymac Maeve – Lady Freckles	Kelly Findlay (Private)	23.63	4/5f
2012	Selkirk Souter	Boherduff Light – Memphis May	Julie Luckhurst (Crayford)	23.35	6/1
2013	Murlens Crash	Crash – Murlens Snowdrop	Mark Wallis (Yarmouth)	23.33	7/2
2019	Sleepy Genie	Laughil Blake – Whiteys Buddelia	David Puddy (Harlow)	23.29	4/9f	[25]
2020	Signature Callum	Tullymurry Act – Franks Dream	Michelle Brown (Henlow)	23.43	6/4f	[26]
2021	Icaals Rocco	Pat C Sabbath – Quivers Duchess	John Mullins (Towcester)	23.38	8/1	[27]
2022	Adeles Duke	Good News – Tullovin Fire	Diane Henry (Towcester)	23.27	6/4f	[28]
2023	Oh Cosmopolitan	Laughil Blake – Ballykett Beauty	John Mullins (Towcester)	23.28	9/2	[29]
2024	Yahoo Megan	Droopys Sydney – Geelo Gold Dust	Patrick Janssens (Towcester)	23.13	15/8f	[30]

(held over 380 metres)

Track records

^[31]

Current

Metres	Greyhound	Time	Date	Notes
380	Brinkleys Poet [32]	22.85	29.05.2018
540	Aayamza Sydney [33]	32.85	24 November 2024	Gold Collar final
714	Stardom [34]	44.52	24 August 2019
874	Burgess Borna [35]	55.89	26 December 2014
1048	Roxholme Magic [36]	67.83	21 February 2017
380 H	Lenson Doolin [13]	23.10	15 April 2023	Champion Hurdle final
540 H	Razldazl Raidio [37]	33.57	21 February 2017

Former

Extended content

Metres Greyhound Time (sec) Date Notes 380 Justa Mo 23.66 9 May 1987 380 Sail on Delaney 23.53 28 January 1989 380 Clonlusk Villa 23.46 26 January 1991 380 Genotin Laura 23.31 17 May 1993 380 Lots of Jolly 23.31 16 July 1994 380 Rossa Ranger 23.36 15 April 2002 380 Chasing A Dream 23.18 5 May 2002 380 Skibbs Flyer 23.06 14 October 2002 380 Kingdom Club 23.01 27 September 2003 Guys and Dolls Final 380 Tictac Tyson 22.97 7 May 2011 380 You Never Listen 22.97 19 February 2015 =equalled 380 Target Harris 22.88 18 July 2015 540 Baby Pol 34.01 4 August 1987 540 Hello Blackie 33.93 11 August 1990 540 Side Wink 33.46 9 January 1992 540 Break On Thru 33.43 14 October 2002 540 Sportsman 33.26 3 February 2003 540 Sunshine Sophie 33.13 28 February 2004 540 Mayshighlandreel [38] 33.09 26 September 2017 Gold Collar final 714 Favourite Return 46.86 22 May 1987 714 Harry Lime 46.17 31 August 1987 714 Fort Leader 45.61 16 February 1989 714 Heavenly Lady 45.25 8 February 1993 714 Blues Best Tayla 45.19 24 February 2001 714 Rosden Image 45.07 14 October 2002 714 Foreign Chick 45.13 14 October 2002 714 Centour Corker 45.02 3 February 2003 714 Centour Corker 44.74 3 March 2003 Golden Jacket Final 714 Double Take 44.57 21 February 2004 Golden Jacket semi-final 874 Astrosyn Trace 57.21 26 October 1987 874 Clonbrin Black 56.15 15 October 1993 1048 Stansted Flyer 69.81 7 September 1996 1048 Musical Fawn 68.80 22 February 2014 1048 Roxholme Magic 68.59 23 February 2016 380 H Off You Sail 24.29 15 June 1987 380 H Parktown Ranger 23.96 21 January 1989 380 H Ladys Champion 23.86 24 September 1994 380 H Dynamic Display 23.70 1996 380 H Razldazl Raidio 23.28 26 March 2016 380 H Razldazl Raidio [39] 23.18 8 October 2016 380 H Droopys Cruiser [40] 23.18 28 September 2019 540 H Breeks Rocket 35.30 1988 540 H Cahara Gamble 35.08 17 June 1991 540 H Cahara Gamble 35.01 3 August 1991 540 H Rainys Pet 34.85 10 August 1991 540 H Rainys Pet 34.67 17 August 1991 540 H Sunshine Sandy 34.32 11 March 1993 540 H El Tenor 34.16 13 April 1998 540 H Selby Ben 33.68 26 May 2003

References

1. "Track Search". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 25 December 2011. Retrieved 24 December 2011.
2. "Opening Days". Crayford Stadium. Archived from the original on 10 December 2017. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
3. "Open and Shut Case at Crayford" . Daily Express. 18 May 1985. Retrieved 22 November 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
4. Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File, page 91. Ringpress Books. ISBN   0-948955-15-5.
5. "Crayford backing high-tech winner" . Daily Express. 2 September 1986. Retrieved 22 November 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
6. "Remember When - September 1986". Greyhound Star. 30 September 2018.
7. Barnes/Sellers, Julia/John (1992). Ladbrokes Greyhound Fact File, pages 53-58. Ringpress Books. ISBN   0-948955-22-8.
8. Hobbs, Jonathan (2007). Greyhound Annual 2008, page 184. Raceform. ISBN   978-1-905153-53-4.
9. "Crayford wait on clearance to bring back the Gold Collar". Greyhound Star. 30 March 2015.
10. "Ladbrokes finalises merger with Coral". igaming business. November 2016.
11. "SIS announces schedule for SIS British Greyhound Service for 2018". SIS. Archived from the original on 27 August 2018. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
12. "No Competition - No Progress". Greyhound Star. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
13. "LADBROKES CHAMPION HURDLE - Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
14. Brown, Paul (20 November 2024). "'It is no longer viable for us to continue operating the site' - Entain announce intention to close Crayford greyhound stadium after 38 years". Racing Post. Archived from the original on 20 November 2024. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
15. "Crayford greyhound track to close after Christmas". BBC. 22 November 2024. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
16. Barnes, Julia (1991). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File, Vol Two. Ringpress Books. p. 49. ISBN   0-948955-61-9.
17. Barnes/Sellers, Julia/John (1992). Ladbrokes Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. p. 58. ISBN   0-948955-22-8.
18. Fry, Paul (1995). The Official NGRC Greyhound Racing Yearbook. Ringpress Books. pp. 109–110. ISBN   186054-010-4.
19. "Ladbrokes.com Crayford Vase - Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
20. "Crayford race meeting". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
21. "Crayford, Saturday 21 May". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
22. "LADBROKES KENT VASE - Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
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24. Fry, Paul (1995). The Official NGRC Greyhound Racing Yearbook. Ringpress Books. p. 199. ISBN   186054-010-4.
25. "LADBROKES.COM CRAYFORD ROSE BOWL - Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
26. "Crayford 17 October 2020". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
27. "LADBROKES.COM KENT ROSE BOWL - Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
28. "Ladbrokes Gold Collar Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
29. "2023 LADBROKES GOLD COLLAR - Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
30. "Ladbrokes Kent Rosebowl final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
31. "British Track Records as of January 2024". Greyhound Star. 11 January 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
32. "POET IS RECORD BREAKING MOTION". Greyhound Star. 30 May 2018.
33. "Gold Collar final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
34. "DEANRIDGE TROPHY". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
35. "874m". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
36. "LADBROKES 1048". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
37. "Chief Rasmsbottom Hurdle". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
38. "Ladbrokes Gold Collar final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
39. "CRAYFORD BOOKMAKERS HURDLE". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
40. "track record". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.