Monmore Green Stadium

Monmore Green Stadium

The entrance to the stadium in 2007
Location	Wolverhampton, England
Coordinates	52°34′37.71″N2°6′6.73″W / 52.5771417°N 2.1018694°W / 52.5771417; -2.1018694
Operator	Entain (Ladbrokes Coral)
Opened	1928
Website
monmoregreyhounds.com

Monmore Green Stadium is a greyhound racing and former motorcycle speedway stadium located in Wolverhampton. ^[1] The stadium has private suites, a restaurant and a number of bars. The venue is owned and operated by the Ladbrokes Coral group.

Speedway

Main article: Wolverhampton Wolves

Motorcycle speedway was raced on Monday nights with the Wolverhampton Wolves competing in the top division of the sport. ^[2] The speedway track at Monmore Green is 264 metres (289 yards) long. ^[3]

Greyhound racing

Matinée races take place on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Fridays with evening race meetings on Thursday and Saturday nights. The track hosts several major races including the Ladbrokes Gold Cup, Ladbrokes Puppy Derby, Ladbrokes Festival 630's, Ladbrokes Summer Cup and from 2015 the prestigious puppy competition the Trafalgar Cup. ^[4]

The track features prominently in the song "Monmore, Hare's Running" on the 1997 album Voyage to the Bottom of the Road by the band Half Man Half Biscuit.

History

Monmore Green Stadium, Wolverhampton c.1970

20th Century

Monmore opened in 1928 south-east of Wolverhampton and south of the Sutherland Road between the Great Western Railway line and East Park (a large sculptured park and gardens). The official opening night was Wednesday 11 January 1928 organised by a company called the Midland Greyhound Racing Association. A 10,000 strong crowd witnessed the seven races including two hurdle events and the first greyhound to win a race was Arrow Tranby winning one of the 500 yards races in a time of 32.08 secs at odds of 6-1 when winning the Shirley Stakes. ^[5]

In 1935, the large resident Monmore kennels were split into two sections and also served Willenhall Greyhound Stadium. Unlike many tracks Monmore remained open during the majority of the war and introduced the Midland Puppy Championship in 1943, which would become the Midland Puppy Derby and then the Ladbrokes Puppy Derby (not to be confused with the more prestigious Puppy Derby held at Wimbledon Stadium). The company ran a policy of having joint Racing Managers covering both Monmore and Willenhall. In the fifties Peter Cartwright left his position as Racing Manager to join the National Greyhound Racing Club and was replaced by Bob Harwood. Further competitions were introduced at the track that included the Midland St Leger, Midland Classic Potential, Pride of the Midlands and Staffordshire Knot. ^[6]

In 1963, a devastating fire swept through the main grandstand resulting in the closure of the track for a considerable period whilst repairs were made. The annual Midland Puppy Championship had to be switched to Willenhall. ^[7] The fire instigated a major change with the grandstand undergoing significant investment in the mid-sixties to include an ultra-modern glass fronted restaurant with tiered viewing and waitress service. It brought the facilities up to date and attracted outside interest from the Totalisators and Greyhound Holdings (TGH). In 1970 TGH purchased Willenhall and Monmore from the Midland Greyhound Racing Co Ltd to add to the existing tracks of Crayford & Bexleyheath, Gosforth, Leeds and Brough Park that they already owned. Four years later in 1974 Ladbrokes bought out TGH and added another racetrack Perry Barr. Arthur Aldridge became Racing Director for Ladbrokes and following the 1981 decimation of horse racing fixtures due to bad weather the track held BAGS (Bookmakers’ Afternoon Greyhound Service) fixtures for the first time. ^[8]

The tracks resident kennels were demolished in the late eighties making way for the contract trainer system and Jim Woods arrived from Nottingham Greyhound Stadium to take over as Racing Manager with Bob Harwood General Manager. The stadium hosted the Golden Jacket classic race in 1986 before it moved to Crayford Stadium and a pre-war event the Midland Gold Cup returned in 1994. ^[9] The stadium underwent changes in 1996 including a change of hare system from a Sumner to a Swaffham. ^[10]

21st Century

2011 was a very successful year for the track when they won the BAGS National Track Championship ^[11] and trainer Chris Allsopp became champion trainer. In 2013, Jim Woods retired after a 31-year career handing the reigns to Tony Williamson who had served for twenty years as Wood's assistant. ^[12] The prestigious Trafalgar Cup competition was held for the first time in 2015. ^[13]

In 2018 the stadium signed a deal with SIS to race every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday afternoon and every Thursday and Saturday evening. ^[14] Leading trainer Kevin Hutton joined the track in August 2018. ^[15]

In 2022, Entain signed a long term deal with the Arena Racing Company for media rights, starting in January 2024. ^[16] In 2023, the stadium owners announced that speedway would cease after the 2023 season. ^[17]

Major competitions

• Ladbrokes Gold Cup
• Ladbrokes Puppy Derby
• Trafalgar Cup
• Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic

Track records

^[18]

Current

Metres	Greyhound	Time	Date	Notes
210	Crossfield Larry [19]	12.34	9 September 2023
264	Jetharts Here [20]	14.95	8 September 2007
416	Southfield Jock [21]	24.01	4 December 2015
480	Ballymac Eske [22]	27.48	28 June 2012
630	Iceman Brutus [23]	37.07	20 August 2007	Ladbrokes Gold Cup heats
684	Centour Corker [24]	40.60	29 May 2003	Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic Final
835	Slick Strauss [25]	51.00	17 August 2017

Previous (post-metric)

Extended content

Metres Greyhound Time Date Notes 210 Cry Havoc 12.64 20 March 1997 210 Andlyns Asabat [26] 12.45 8 May 2014 264 Parliament Act 15.32 28 August 2001 264 Boher Chief 15.30 27 May 2004 264 La Galga 15.24 11 August 2005 264 La Galga 15.23 26 August 2005 264 Winnies Dancer 15.22 8 October 2005 264 Ningbo Jack 15.09 12 June 2006 264 Paid Boss 15.08 24 August 2007 277 Cross Bar 16.66 19 April 1984 277 Fearless Champ 16.34 9 November 1985 416 Devitos Chance 24.96 10 December 1997 416 Moynies Cash 24.57 3 July 2004 416 Woodcroft Jo 24.51 4 September 2004 416 Belindas Company 24.33 23 September 2006 416 Funtime Chunky 24.33 24 August 2007 416 Last Mohican 24.30 5 July 2008 416 Loughbeag Roopy 24.22 26 June 2010 416 Guinness Sky 24.21 24 June 2013 460 Larkhill Jo 27.15 10 April 1997 462 Hume Silver 28.15 14 April 1984 462 Fearless Champ 28.12 18 January 1986 480 Larkhill Jo 27.95 7 July 1997 Midland Gold Cup semi-final 480 Knocktoosh Queen 27.93 9 August 2003 480 Express Hancho 27.91 23 August 2003 Ladbrokes Gold Cup semi-finals 480 Westmead Eagle 27.85 17 March 2005 480 Ballymac Pires 27.82 17 March 2005 Ladbrokes Puppy Derby final 480 Blonde Dino 27.81 8 September 2007 480 Ballymac Ruso 27.79 6 December 2008 480 Bandicoot Tipoki 27.76 12 March 2009 Ladbrokes Puppy Derby heats 480 Farloe Lee =27.76 12 March 2009 Ladbrokes Puppy Derby heats 480 Target Classic 27.71 7 December 2009 480 Farley Blitz 27.60 13 February 2010 484 Duke of Avon 29.22 5 July 1979 484 Keen Mint 29.55 11 October 1982 484 Fearless Power 29.26 8 November 1986 484 Darragh Commet 29.08 11 February 1989 630 Spring Rose 37.90 10 May 1997 630 Slippy Elite 37.81 28 November 1998 630 Form of Magic 37.56 16 May 2002 Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic heats 630 Marmions 37.42 20 May 2004 Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic semi 630 Westmead Hawk 37.08 20 May 2005 647 Telecomm Tiger 40.42 18 October 1986 647 Catunda Flame 40.33 8 July 1989 647 Easy Bimbo 40.18 13 July 1991 647 Highmoor Glen 40.10 10 July 1993 684 True Honcho 41.03 14 April 2001 692 Desert Fame 43.41 25 April 1984 692 Miss Bluebird 43.37 29 October 1985 815 Lizzies Girl 52.16 23 April 1975 BBC TV Trophy Final 815 Scurlogue Champ 51.80 15 May 1985 BBC TV Trophy heats 815 Scurlogue Champ 51.64 22 May 1985 BBC TV Trophy final 835 Spenwood Gem 52.09 17 September 1998 835 Knappogue Oak 52.09 28 August 2001 835 Minglers Moth 52.01 15 August 2002 835 Hesley Gale 51.95 27 May 2004 835 Head Iton Tonge 51.60 21 June 2007 835 Flying Winner 51.26 29 August 2009 880 Thornfield Pride 54.79 19 July 1997 900 Make It Not 58.05 5 November 1983 900 Angelas Girl April 1983 900 Lilac Wonder 57.83 5 December 1992 900 Ladys Storm 57.02 9 July 1998 900 Aayamza Royale [27] [28] 55.95 27 February 2021 900 Aayamza Royale [29] 55.00 22 May 2021 TV Trophy final 1067 Belladare 70.74 9 May 1987 1067 Coverall 70.34 29 October 1990 1104 Travel Now 72.66 25 March 2000 460 H James Wish 28.19 1998 480 H Brave Ruler [30] 28.88 26 July 1999 484 H Distant Echo 30.54 18 July 1987 484 H Nifty Kid 30.32 28 November 1988 484 H Run On King 30.09 10 April 1991 647 H Tebroc Heathen 42.60 20 April 1989

Previous (pre-metric)

Extended content

Yards Greyhound Time Date Notes 300 General Radiance 17.22 27 May 1937 300 Hurry Kitty 17.17 8 November 1945 475 Neidins Bunty 27.53 23 March 1939 475 Coynes Castle 27.14 8 August 1946 500 Rushton Mac 1954 500 Lucky Joan 28.10 October 1962 525 Kilpeacon Bride 30.09 5 February 1944 525 Red Captain 29.34 April 1965 525 Aughrim Glen 29.19 1970 650 Derry Fame 37.04 June 1964 650 Hogans Express 37.04 1970 =equalled 700 Half Term 40.79 14 October 1944 700 Clahane Girl 40.05 September 1962 700 Forward King 39.82 September 1967 Steward's Cup final 880 Chantilly Lace 51.80 April 1960 880 Old Irish 51.10 1970 525 H Baytown Express 30.90 29 October 1944 525 H Coast Raider 30.60 September 1957

References

1. "Track Search". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 25 December 2011. Retrieved 24 December 2011.
2. Wolverhampton Wolves website
3. Wolverhampton Wolves club and track information
4. "Resurrecting the great Trafalgar was pure class". Racing Post . Archived from the original on 9 September 2015.
5. Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File, page 106. Ringpress Books. ISBN   0-948955-15-5.
6. Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing, pages 57-58. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN   07207-1106-1.
7. "Piper Apache in Open at Wolverhampton" . Birmingham Mail. 10 September 1963. Retrieved 2 April 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
8. Genders, Roy (1990). NGRC book of Greyhound Racing, page 60. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN   0-7207-1804-X.
9. Fry, Paul (1995). The Official NGRC Greyhound Racing Yearbook. pages 225-226. Ringpress Books. ISBN   186054-010-4.
10. "Remember When - October". Greyhound Star. 27 October 2017.
11. "2011 Bags Intertrack Championship". Greyhound Star.
12. "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 2013)". Greyhound Star.
13. "Resurrecting the great Trafalgar was pure class". Racing Post . Archived from the original on 9 September 2015.
14. "SIS announces schedule for SIS British Greyhound Service for 2018". SIS. Archived from the original on 27 August 2018. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
15. "More Towcester Trainers Relocate". Greyhound Star. 17 August 2018.
16. "No Competition - No Progress". Greyhound Star. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
17. "STATEMENT: WOLVERHAMPTON SPEEDWAY". British Speedway. 17 April 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
18. "British Track Records as of January 2024". Greyhound Star. 11 January 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
19. "Lawrence Jones Memorial Festival 210". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 25 January 2024.}
20. "M.M.C. WOLVERHAMPTON TROPHY". Greyhound Data. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
21. "LAWRENCE JONES MEMORIAL FESTIVAL 416 (HEAT 1)". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
22. "Monmore (Wolverhampton) 28 JUN 2012 HT 5". Greyhound Data. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
23. "LADBROKES GOLD CUP 630 (HEAT 2)". Greyhound Data. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
24. "Summer Classic". Greyhound Data. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
25. "LADBROKES 835". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
26. "LADBROKES.COM 210". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 2 March 2021.}
27. "British performances of the week". Greyhound Star. March 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
28. "LADBROKES.COM 900". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
29. "LADBROKES TV TROPHY 2021 FINAL". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
30. "Monmore track records". Greyhound Data. Retrieved 17 October 2021.