![]() | |
Location | Staines, Surrey |
---|---|
Coordinates | 51°26′22″N0°31′56″W / 51.43944°N 0.53222°W |
Opened | 1928 |
Closed | 1960 |
Staines Greyhound Stadium was a greyhound racing stadium in Staines, Surrey (Middlesex at the time). [1]
Staines Greyhound track opened on 21 January 1928, and the first race was won by a greyhound called Oojah over 55 yards. [2] The stadium was at Hythe End just north of the River Thames, south of Wraysbury Road. Previously this area was an unpopulated rural area that today makes up some of the Colne Valley Parks. [3] The track was very basic with one main stand on the home straight. [4] During its early existence it was sometimes referred to as Bell Weir Park. [5]
It is believed that this track may have been affiliated to a governing body at one stage but for the majority of its existence traded as an independent (unaffiliated to a governing body) and therefore nicknamed a flapping track. [6]
In 1936 Arthur Leggett, the owner of Romford Greyhound Stadium, decided to bring cheetah racing to the UK. Twelve cheetahs arrived from Kenya in December 1936, courtesy of explorer Kenneth Gandar-Dower. After six months of quarantine, the cheetahs were given time to acclimatise before Romford, Harringay Stadium and Staines were earmarked for the experiment with the cheetahs, running for the first time on Saturday 11 December 1937 at Romford.
The experiment failed and the racing was stopped because although the cheetahs were able to better the greyhound times, they had to be let off first when racing greyhounds, and when they raced against each other they became uninterested and stopped chasing the lure. [7] [8]
In 1938 a Putt Mossman Motorcycle rodeo took place (this was a form of motorcycle tricks and skills). Stock car racing was also popular in the late 1950s.
Staines owner Jack Walsh was in partnership with fellow bookmaker William Hill and they won the English Greyhound Derby with Lone Keel in 1938. [9]
The track could hold a maximum of 5,000 spectators and supplied a tote with a turnover in 1947 of £47,165. [10]
In 1949 Jack Walsh expressed his frustration with the authorities after his application to join the National Greyhound Racing Society was withheld. After agreeing to the completion and upgrading of facilities he was upset that the application also meant he would have to race on selected days as chosen by the NGRC as to avoid competition with Slough Stadium which was against his given rights as a track promoter as stated in the 1934 Betting and Lotteries Act, [11] an action that he could not agree with. [12]
The track closed in 1960 and was dismantled in 1965, making way for a section of M25 cutting through the nearby land west of the Queensmead Lake Reservoir. [6] The derelict track appears in the 1964 movie Séance on a Wet Afternoon . [13]
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.
Romford Greyhound Stadium, referred to as Coral Romford Greyhound Stadium is a greyhound racing track located in Romford town centre in the London Borough of Havering in east London which is owned and operated by the Ladbrokes Coral group. The stadium has a capacity for over 1,700 people.
Kenneth Cecil Gandar-Dower was a leading English sportsman, aviator, explorer and author.
Kingsmead Stadium was a greyhound racing and motorcycle speedway track and Association football ground in Canterbury. It was host to Canterbury City F.C. and the Canterbury Crusaders speedway team.
The 1938 Greyhound Derby took place during June with the final being held on 25 June 1938 at White City Stadium.
Wembley Greyhounds was the greyhound racing operation held at Wembley Stadium in London.
Chesterfield Sports Stadium was a greyhound racing stadium in Station Road, Brimington, Chesterfield, Derbyshire.
The 1932 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the seventh year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The total annual attendance across the country for 1932 topped 20 Million, increasing to 20,178,260 from 17,906,917, a sixth consecutive annual increase.
The 1934 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the ninth year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
The 1937 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 12th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
The 1938 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 13th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
The 1960 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 34th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
The 1965 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 39th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
The 1978 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 52nd year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
The 1981 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 55th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Kenneth W Linzell also known as Kenny or Ken,, is a former British greyhound trainer. He was UK Champion trainer in 1985 and twice winner of the Trainers Championship.
The 1987 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 61st year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
The 1990 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 64th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Mexborough Greyhound Stadium also called the Dog Daisy Stadium was a greyhound racing stadium located in Mexborough, South Yorkshire.
Thurnscoe Greyhound Racing Track was a football and a greyhound racing and whippet track located in Thurnscoe East, part of the metropolitan borough of Barnsley in South Yorkshire.