Nottingham Greyhound Stadium

Nottingham Greyhound Stadium

The grandstand in 2008
Location	Colwick Park, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG2 4BE
Coordinates	52°57′00″N1°06′40″W / 52.950°N 1.111°W / 52.950; -1.111
Owner	Arena Racing Company
Operator	Arena Racing Company
Capacity	1,500
Field size	437 metres (1,434 ft)
Surface	Sand
Construction
Opened	24 January 1980
Expanded	19 August 2008
Website
Official website

Nottingham Greyhound Stadium is a greyhound racing track and stadium on the outskirts of Nottingham, England.

Races at the course are held on Monday and Friday evenings as well as additional matinée meetings every Wednesday & Thursday. ^[1] The circumference of the track is 437 metres (1,434 ft). ^[1]

Competitions

The stadium holds several competitions annually:

• The Select Stakes, (500 metres), invitation event
• The Puppy Classic – August, (500 metres), puppy event
• The British Breeders Stakes – March, (500 metres), British-bred event
• The St Leger, September, (730 metres)
• The Eclipse – November, (500 metres)
• The National Sprint – December, (305 metres)
• The Guineas (500 metres) (former event)

Origins and opening

In 1970 the White City Stadium in Nottingham closed down leaving the city without greyhound racing. However members of the Severn and Trent greyhound clubs had maintained a presence in the council's thoughts and several years later plans for a new track within the Nottingham Racecourse site began to surface. The site of the racecourse was west of the village of Colwick and the racecourse had been open since 1892. ^[2]

On 24 January 1980 the Colwick Park greyhound track opened, it was situated on the north side of the racecourse where a car parking area had stood and previous to that it had been an old bed of the River Trent. The circumference of the track was 442 metres and was described as a very good galloping track with long straights and the sand used was Worksop Grey. The Managing Director Jon Carter announced that there were over 2,000 attending the first meeting which consisted of eight races, six over 500m and two over 295m. The first winner was a greyhound called Tartan Al trained by W Horton who won in 32.98sec at odds of 7–1. ^[2]

History

20th Century

An initial investment of £250,000 included the Panorama Room with a state of the art restaurant and totalisator. The first Racing Manager was Jim Woods, ^[3] the Director of Racing was Terry Meynell and the first trainers were Bill Horton, Christine Lawlor, A Coppin, T Smith and one Charlie Lister. Another trainer that appeared on opening night was Geoff DeMulder and he joined the track in 1984. Racing took place on Monday, Thursday and Saturday evenings and the nature of the large track soon attracted some of the sports best greyhounds including Scurlogue Champ who broke the track record in October 1985 and then Ballyregan Bob who won two races at Nottingham that formed part of his world record breaking run during November 1985 & April 1986 with the first run creating a new track record. It was also in 1986 that Coventry closed resulting in the Eclipse competition finding a new home at Nottingham. In April 1989 the 'Outside Sumner' hare was replaced by the 'Bramich' and race distances were re-measured as 310, 500, 700 & 747m. ^[4]

In 1988 Terry Corden took control of Nottingham from Wiseville Ltd, Corden had recently sold Derby Greyhound Stadium and had been successful during the property boom. Racing Manager Jim Woods left to join Monmore Green Stadium and was replaced by Mick Smith before Peter Robinson took over. One of the first tasks of the new owners was to invest in new facilities and in 1989 the track underwent a considerable upgrade. ^[5]

A new competition introduced to the track in 1990 was the National Sprint, the important race had struggled to find a home since the closure of Harringay Stadium and would be held towards the end of the year and was known as the Peter Derrick Christmas Cracker for a few years. Trainer Dawn Wheatley trained Ayr Flyer, who finished runner-up in the 1994 English Greyhound Derby.

Wembley closed to greyhound racing in 1996 and Nottingham was awarded the prestigious Select Stakes as a consequence in 1997. Trainer Charlie Lister won the 1997 English Greyhound Derby and Scottish Greyhound Derby with Some Picture. ^[6]

It was voted 'Central Region Racecourse of the Year' by the British Greyhound Racing Board for 1998–1999. ^[7]

21st Century

The track was voted 'Central Region Racecourse of the Year' by the British Greyhound Racing Board for a second time in 2001–2002. ^[7] A new kennel range costing £250,000 was introduced in 2003. ^[8] Stadium owner Terry Corden brought his daughter Rachel and son Nathan into the business and they are now both heavily involved in the running of the track. Another event (the Produce Stakes taken from Hall Green Stadium) came to the track in 2009. ^[9]

In 2018 the stadium signed a deal with Arena Racing Company (ARC) to race every Monday and Friday evening and a matinée meeting every Tuesday. ^[10] During 2019 the track was chosen as the new venue for the sport's most famous event, the English Greyhound Derby which switched from Towcester. ^[11]

In 2020 the stadium was sold by Nottingham Greyhound Stadium Ltd to ARC. The Director of Nottingham Greyhound Stadium Rachel Corden was retained by ARC and appointed ARC Greyhound Operations Director. ^[12] In 2021 the Derby returned to Towcester following two years at Nottingham. ^[13] In 2022, the stadium owners ARC signed a long term deal with Entain for media rights, starting in January 2024. ^[14]

In 2024, Nottingham received the prestigious St Leger to be held for the first time at the track in 2025. ^[15]

Track records

^[16]

Current

Metres	Greyhound	Time	Date	Notes
255	Skate On [17]	14.84	18 August 2014
305	Target Harris [18]	17.34	2 June 2014
480	Swift Hoffman [18]	28.07	15 July 2014
500	Skywalker Logan [19]	29.05	25 May 2019	Derby first round
680	Fabulous Shanty [18]	41.06	4 March 2013
730	Romantic Rambo [18]	44.11	15 July 2014
905	Festival Time [20]	56.46	18 November 2014
925	Fearsome Liberty [18]	57.86	18 November 2013

Former

Extended content

Metres Greyhound Time Date Notes 255 Mother Shauna [21] 14.88 9 June 2014 295 Tims Crow [22] 17.45 24 November 2003 295 Laser Beam 17.43 26 August 2005 300 Nervous Paddy 17.81 24 December 2001 300 Hawk I Hunt 17.68 2 June 2003 305 Laser Beam 17.77 14 November 2005 305 Carrib Prince 17.73 12 December 2005 National Sprint heats 305 Ningbo Jack 17.73 12 December 2005 National Sprint heats 305 Ballydaniel Bozz 17.73 9 January 2006 305 Ballydaniel Bozz 17.57 20 February 2006 305 Ningbo Jack 17.55 29 May 2006 305 Against the Lead 17.55 18 July 2006 305 Against the Lead 17.51 21 August 2006 305 Rotar Wing 17.47 13 December 2010 National Sprint semi-final 305 Jumeirah Dubai 17.45 3 December 2012 310 Yellow Jersey 18.58 1989 310 Cocktail Darkie 18.18 4 September 1989 312 Fagans Friend 18.41 24 January 1987 460 Myth Maker 28.01 20 August 1990 460 Carmels Prince 27.75 1 October 1990 460 Stop To Conquer 27.75 20 June 1991 460 Almost New 27.66 31 October 1992 480 Tullerboy Lass 28.83 12 June 2001 480 Larkhill Lo 28.82 26 November 2002 480 Baliff Spring 28.71 27 July 2004 480 Pennys Shakira 28.60 23 July 2007 480 Lively Arthur 28.59 21 August 2007 480 Farloe Reason 28.39 21 December 2007 480 Bit View Micko 28.32 22 October 2012 480 Diesel Blue 28.31 21 January 2013 480 Bower Stone 28.25 30 July 2013 485 Sun Ging 29.50 26 December 1986 485 Fearless Ace 29.26 1987 500 Holyhill Way 30.35 10 March 1987 500 Drumgoon Swallow 30.53 1989 500 Fires of War 30.00 30 July 1990 500 World Wind 29.98 29 October 1990 500 Westmead Merlin 29.65 17 October 1994 500 Droopys Rhys 29.77 23 April 2001 500 Top Savings 29.67 30 August 2001 500 Top Savings 29.43 14 April 2003 500 Droopys Shearer 29.34 4 August 2003 500 Fear Me 29.45 14 November 2005 Eclipse heats 500 Shelbourne Rene 29.28 18 September 2006 500 Ballymac Eske 29.28 22 October 2012 500 Ballymac Eske 29.21 29 October 2012 500 Sawpit Sensation [23] 29.16 28 November 2012 Eclipse final 530 Decoy Gold 32.03 16 October 1980 680 Ballyregan Bob 41.87 9 November 1985 Part of the 32 world record 680 Wailea Flash 41.67 1987 680 Wentworth Which 41.36 9 July 2007 680 Aero Rebel 41.26 19 November 2012 700 Hot News 44.24 1989 700 Doves Delight 43.50 18 September 1989 700 Mobile Magic 43.06 28 January 1993 700 Lavally Pete 43.43 29 April 1999 700 Sexy Delight 42.73 11 September 2000 700 Top Plan 42.66 9 June 2003 700 Tinrah Lad 42.87 11 April 2005 722 Farloe Bonus 42.89 24 May 1999 722 El Poker 45.38 28 August 2000 722 Farloe Bonus 43.70 27 November 2000 730 Droopys Kenny 45.36 4 November 2005 730 Gunner Black 45.00 9 January 2006 730 Fabulous Sophie 44.99 30 January 2006 730 Blonde Pearl 44.19 20 February 2006 747 Manx Marajax 47.03 1989 747 Road Princess 46.87 27 August 1990 747 Penny I Am 46.50 16 September 1991 747 Miss Piggy 46.12 26 September 1994 754 Scurlogue Champ 47.30 17 October 1985 754 Change Guard 47.02 1987 885 Ericas Equity 56.32 19 January 2004 885 Lisnakill Cathal 55.68 27 July 2004 900 Easy Field 57.76 27 August 1990 900 Clonbrin Basket 57.52 11 July 1991 900 Clonbrin Basket 56.91 8 August 1991 900 Red Arrow Lady 56.76 24 October 1991 902 Let Us Know 57.25 11 March 2002 905 Ziggy Girl 57.56 12 January 2004 905 Flying Winner 56.99 20 November 2008 905 Art Banksy 56.90 15 July 2014 905 Mays Petal 56.58 28 October 2014 925 Seathwaite Robby 58.13 20 November 2006 927 Limekiln Pearl 59.60 25 August 1987 937 Deenside Fire 59.74 30 August 1993 485 H Distant Echo 30.15 24 August 1987 500 H Speedy Tiger 30.99 17 October 1985 500 H El Tenor [18] 30.71 21 June 1999

References

1. "Track Info: Nottingham Greyhound Stadium". thedogs.co.uk (Greyhound Board of Great Britain website). Greyhound Board of Great Britain. 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
2. Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing, pages 58-61. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN   07207-1106-1.
3. "REMEMBER WHEN: SEPTEMBER". Greyhound Star. September 2019.
4. Genders, Roy (1990). NGRC book of Greyhound Racing, pages 49-50. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN   0-7207-1804-X.
5. Barnes, Julia (1991). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File, page 72. Ringpress Books. ISBN   0-948955-61-9.
6. "1997 Derby". Greyhound Derby.com.
7. British Racing Greyhound Annual 2003. Raceform. 2004. ISBN   1-904317-07-3.
8. "Remember When - February 2003". Greyhound Star. 2018.
9. Hobbs, Jonathan (2007). Greyhound Annual 2008, page 194. Raceform. ISBN   978-1-905153-53-4.
10. "Arc Schedule Released". Greyhound Star. 21 December 2017.
11. "Nottingham to stage 2019 English Derby". Greyhound Star. 13 December 2018.
12. "PRESS RELEASE – ARC CONFIRMS ACQUISITION OF NOTTINGHAM GREYHOUND STADIUM". Greyhound Star. 21 February 2020.
13. "Greyhound racing news: Latest updates including 'new' Derby home". Sporting Life. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
14. "No Competition - No Progress". Greyhound Star. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
15. "English Greyhound Derby, St Leger and Oaks dates for 2025 announced". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. 4 October 2024. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
16. "British Track Records as of January 2024". Greyhound Star. 11 January 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
17. "2014 track record result". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
18. "Nottingham track records". Greyhound Data. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
19. "25 May heats". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
20. "2014 Track record result". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
21. "2014 track record result". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 3 January 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
22. "Track records". Greyhound Data.
23. "Betfred Eclipse final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.