 | |
| Location | Portsmouth |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 50°48′12.657″N1°3′30.943″W / 50.80351583°N 1.05859528°W |
| Opened | 1928 |
| Closed | 1930 |
| Tenants | |
| Greyhound racing motorcycle speedway | |
Portsmouth Greyhound Track (Copnor) also known as the Wessex Stadium was a greyhound racing and motorcycle speedway track in Portsmouth. [1]
The city of Portsmouth first experienced greyhound racing at a track known as Copnor. This is a little misleading because the actual site was on Langstone Road between the Walsall and Tamworth Roads which is considerably south of Copnor. [2]
The first meeting was held on Saturday 30 June 1928 and was held under National Greyhound Racing Club rules based on the fact that the results appeared in the NGRC calendar. The NGRC were vehemently opposed to independent racing and continued to be so more most of its existence. [3]
The Portsmouth Greyhound Racecourse Company initially opened the track [4] but the Greyhound Racing Association (GRA) clearly had an interest in the track as they did with many others because they presented the GRA cup to a Brighton greyhound called Bloxham, the winner of the hurdles match race on opening night. The trophy on behalf of the GRA was presented by Mrs Dixon the wife of the well-known GRA company director Major Dixon. The six five-dog races that supported the hurdle match went the way of the orange jacket of trap five and the first ever winner was Biddy Blue in 33.67 secs at odds of 4-6f. [5]
The Portsmouth Greyhound Racecourse Company were responsible for bringing the racing to the public that night despite the financial backing of the GRA. It was common for the GRA to have financial shares in new ventures to ensure their domination of the sport.
The track used a 'Trackless' hare which left the paying public in awe and required an explanation of its workings. The hare attached to a green cord was pulled around the track by a hand powered windlass through specially made clip pulleys. It was claimed to have been invented by Captain Nixon. [5]
For speedway, the venue was known as the Wessex Stadium, Copnor Gardens. [6] It hosted racing on an open licence from 1929 to 1930. [7] [8] The site suffered from waterlogging problems. [9]
The racing although a success only lasted two years and the track closed on 29 November 1930, changing to football and playing fields. It is probable that it closed due to competition; a bigger track at Target Road in Tipner opened. [1]
The site of the Copnor track today is known as Tamworth Park.
Harringay Stadium was a major greyhound racing and motorcycle speedway venue in Harringay, north London. It was built and opened in 1927 and closed in 1987.
Perry Barr Stadium (also known as Perry Barr Greyhound Stadium and previously as Alexander Sports Ground(s)) is a greyhound racing and motorcycle speedway stadium on Aldridge Road in Perry Barr, Birmingham, England. The track is operated by the Arena Racing Company (ARC), who lease it from owners the National Asset Management Agency. Racing takes place every Saturday evening, in addition to their four ARC fixtures.
Oxford Stadium is a greyhound racing and speedway venue in Oxford, located in Sandy Lane, Cowley.
Monmore Green Stadium is a greyhound racing and former motorcycle speedway stadium located in Wolverhampton. The stadium has private suites, a restaurant and a number of bars. The venue is owned and operated by the Ladbrokes Coral group.
Portsmouth Greyhound Stadium was a greyhound racing stadium in Tipner north west of Portsmouth, England.
Warrington Greyhound Stadium was a greyhound racing and speedway stadium in Arpley, Warrington.
White City Stadium (Nottingham) was a greyhound racing and motorcycle speedway stadium in Trent Lane, Nottingham.
Stanley Greyhound Stadium (Liverpool) was a greyhound racing track in east Liverpool, England. It is not to be confused with Stanley Greyhound Stadium in County Durham also known as Murray Park.
The Doncaster Greyhound Stadium was a greyhound racing stadium in Doncaster. It was sometimes incorrectly referred to as Sprotbrough Greyhound Track due to its location near the Sprotbrough Road.
Victoria Park, Bournemouth is a football ground in Victoria Park in Bournemouth and has been the home of Bournemouth F.C. since 1890. It was also a short lived greyhound racing track from 1928 to 1934.
Exeter Greyhound Stadium, also known as the Marsh Barton Stadium, was a greyhound racing stadium in Marsh Barton, Exeter.
White City Stadium (Liverpool) was a greyhound racing stadium in Liverpool, England.
Wembley Greyhounds was the greyhound racing operation held at Wembley Stadium in London.
White City Stadium was a greyhound racing and speedway stadium in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, England.
Banister Court Stadium was a greyhound racing and speedway stadium in Court Road, Southampton, Hampshire.
Stanley Greyhound Stadium, also known as Murray Park Stadium, was a greyhound racing stadium in Stanley, County Durham.
The 1936 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 11th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
The 1964 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 38th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
The 1972 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 46th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
The 1975 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 49th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.