Towcester Greyhound Stadium

Last updated

Towcester Greyhound Stadium
Towcester Greyhound Track.jpg
View of Towcester Greyhound Track from the main grandstand
Towcester Greyhound Stadium
Location Towcester Racecourse,
Watling Street,
Towcester,
Northamptonshire
Coordinates 52°07′25″N0°58′12″W / 52.1237°N 0.9701°W / 52.1237; -0.9701
Field size420 metres (1,380 ft)
SurfaceSand
Opened6 December 2014
re-opened
22 May 2020
Website
Official website

Towcester Greyhound Stadium is a greyhound racing track located within Towcester Racecourse at Towcester in Northamptonshire, England. [1] It has been the home of the English Greyhound Derby since 2021, having previously hosted the event from 2017 to 2018.

Contents

Opening

Towcester opened on 6 December 2014 becoming the first track in Britain to open since the 1995 openings of Harlow and Sittingbourne. The idea of a track inside the horse racing course was created by Lord Hesketh the racecourse owner and Chief Executive Kevin Ackerman. Former Walthamstow Racing Manager Chris Page, Deputy Racing Manager Andy Lisemore and Steve Cale were recruited to run the operation. [2]

Construction

At a cost of £1.5 million the 420 metres circumference circuit was created by laying down 60,000 tonnes of soil so that the greyhound racing surface met the horse racing home straight at a level setting, resulting in a six-metre rise. The bends are very wide which assists the occasional eight dog race. The kennels were constructed inside unused horse stables and new trainers included five times champion trainer Mark Wallis, 2011 champion trainer Chris Allsopp, Kevin Hutton and Matt Dartnall. The distances are 260, 480, 500, 655, 686 and 906 metres and the first race was won by 4-1 shot Fairest Royal trained by Wallis. [3] A big screen situated on the home straight was a new feature to greyhound tracks.

Achievements

2018 administration

In August 2018 the future of Towcester racecourse was put in doubt. A statement released by the racecourse on 16 August read: "Towcester Racecourse Company Limited, proprietors of Towcester Racecourse, are currently experiencing trading difficulties and are in discussions with key stakeholders and professional advisers on the way forward. However, the directors have concluded that they have no alternative in the short term but to seek court protection and are now taking steps to place the company into administration. As a result, the last greyhound meeting was on 12 August.

On 23 August KPMG were appointed as administrators and 134 out of 137 members of staff at the racecourse were made redundant. [13] Eight trainers joined Henlow, including Mark Wallis and Nick Savva while Kevin Hutton joined Monmore.

On 13 November it was announced by the administrators that the racecourse's assets were being sold to a company called Fermor Land LLP. [14] [15] This company was formed on 18 October (26 days before the sale) and is headed by Lord Hesketh's brother-in-law Mark Westropp, a trustee of the Hesketh Family trusts. [14] [16]

Re-opening

In October 2019 Kevin Boothby, promoter of Henlow Stadium, signed a deal for a 10-year lease at Towcester, with the intention that greyhound racing would re-start in March 2020. [17] The stadium's re-opening was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic before eventually opening on 22 May 2020. [18] [19] Several major competitions returned to the track including the English Greyhound Derby, Puppy Derby and Juvenile. [20] [21]

Competitions

Track records

(new track 2020 onwards)

MetresGreyhoundTime (sec)DateNotes
270Flashing Willow [22] 15.4211 June 2022
500Romeo Command [23] 28.6431 December 2023
712Havana Lover [24] 42.7616 October 2022 Hunt Cup semi final
942Aayamza Royale [25] 58.1515 August 2021

Former (2020 onwards)

Extended content
MetresGreyhoundTime (sec)DateNotes
270Bentley Crew [26] 15.6129 June 2021
270Bockos Jon Jo [27] 15.6430 March 2021Northamptonshire Sprint
270Shrewd Call [28] 15.6418 May 2021
270Havana Class [29] 15.4510 July 2021
500Priceless Jet [30] 29.1111 May 2021
500Warzone Tom [31] 29.0818 May 2021
500Bockos Belly [32] 29.0311 June 2021 2021 English Greyhound Derby 2nd round
500Lautaro [33] 28.8419 May 2022 2022 English Greyhound Derby 1st round
500Priceless Jet [22] 28.7811 June 2022 2022 English Greyhound Derby quarter final
500Swords Rex [34] 28.767 May 2023 2023 English Greyhound Derby trial stake
500Clona Duke [35] 28.7326 May 2023English Greyhound Derby 1st Round
500Clona Duke28.6924 June 2023English Greyhound Derby semi final
500King Memphis [36] 28.6619 November 2023 Puppy Derby semi final
712Blue Mischief [37] 43.4730 March 2021
712Night Time Danny [38] 43.2030 March 2021
712Kishlawn Shakira [39] 43.002 July 2021
712Salacres Pippy [40] 42.9014 November 2021Hunt Cup final
712Bockos Brandy [41] 42.8024 April 2022

(2014-2018)

Extended content
MetresGreyhoundTimeDateNotes
260Razldazl Banjo15.636 December 2014
260Opus Star15.5413 December 2014
260Mays Teejay15.4720 December 2014
260Club Notes15.4627 December 2014
260Leaveittome15.303 January 2015
260Mays Teejay15.0722 January 2015
260Cloudbursting [42] 15.001 February 2015
480Fairest Royal28.556 December 2014
480King Dec28.466 December 2014
480Killglen Chief28.446 December 2014
480Priests Place28.4112 December 2014
480Ballymac Brogan28.3013 December 2014
480King Dec28.2013 December 2014
480Ballymac Mossjoe28.0922 January 2015
480Blue Moment27.9122 January 2015
480Domino Storm27.842 January 2015
480Forest Twilight27.7215 August 2015Lowther Stakes heats
480Forest Twilight [43] 27.5922 August 2015Lowther Stakes final
500Tyrur Shay [44] 28.729 June 2017 2017 English Greyhound Derby 2nd round
655Billys Bullet39.696 December 2014
655Holdem Hawk39.4213 December 2014
655Billys Bullet [45] 38.908 February 2015
686Touch Tackle41.916 December 2014
686Vanrooney41.5513 December 2014
686Black Francis41.4522 January 2015
686Vanrooney40.978 February 2015
686Rubys Rascal [46] 40.8924 June 2017Derby Stayers heat
906Supreme Rossie57.096 December 2014
906Supreme Rossie56.756 December 2014
906Ribble Atom55.4625 July 2015 TV Trophy Trial Stakes
906Ballymac Bonnie55.298 August 2015 TV Trophy heats
906Droopys Cottage [47] 55.178 August 2015 TV Trophy heats
480 HRazldazlnewstalk28.4118 August 2015
480 HBallymac Manix [48] 28.3824 June 2017 Champion Hurdle heats

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References

  1. ↑ "Track Search". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
  2. ↑ "Towcester opens greyhound track in £15m redevelopment". BBC Sport.
  3. ↑ "Results". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
  4. ↑ "Chelsea Glass GTA Trainers' Championship - Sittingbourne". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
  5. ↑ "Hutton again". Greyhound Star.
  6. ↑ "Towcester are the champions". Greyhound Star.
  7. ↑ "Latest News". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
  8. ↑ "Towcester set for green light to stage Greyhound Derby". Racing Post .
  9. ↑ "2017 ECC TIMBER PUPPY DERBY". Towcester Stadium.
  10. ↑ "Towcester gets the Oaks, Leger Stays at the Barr". Greyhound Star.
  11. ↑ "Arc Schedule Released". Greyhound Star.
  12. ↑ "Star Sports/TRC Events & Leisure English Greyhound Derby 2021 Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  13. ↑ Barber, Bill (23 August 2018). "BHA to decide fate of Towcester fixtures as 134 staff are made redundant". Racing Post .
  14. 1 2 "Towcester racecourse assets sold to company linked to Hesketh family". Racing Post .
  15. ↑ "SALE OF TOWCESTER – PRESS RELEASE FROM ADMINISTRATORS". Greyhound Star.
  16. ↑ "Fermor Land LLP". Endole.
  17. ↑ "BOOTHBY SIGNS 10 YEAR DEAL TO RE-OPEN TOWCESTER". Greyhound Star. 20 October 2019.
  18. ↑ "Towcester decision on Friday". Greyhound Star.
  19. ↑ "Yes– it's really back!". Greyhound Star.
  20. ↑ "Greyhound racing is back at Towcester". At The Races. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  21. ↑ "TOWCESTER UNVEIL THEIR NINE CAT 1S". Greyhound Star. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  22. 1 2 "2022 Derby quarter finals". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  23. ↑ "Towcester Racecourse Standard - Div 1". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  24. ↑ "STADIUM BOOKMAKERS HUNT CUP 1st SEMI-FINAL". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  25. ↑ "The Stadium Bookmakers Marathon Trophy - Heat 2". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  26. ↑ "Towcester D1". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  27. ↑ "TRC HEALTH & HYGIENE NORTHAMPTONSHIRE SPRINT (HEAT 2)". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  28. ↑ "Towcester Racecourse Sprint". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  29. ↑ "The RPGTV Watling Street Sprint Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  30. ↑ "JET DERBY DISTANCE CLOCK". Greyhound Star. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  31. ↑ "Towcester Racecourse Maiden". Greyhound Star. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  32. ↑ "Star Sports/TRC Events & Leisure English Greyhound Derby 2021 2nd Round Ht5". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  33. ↑ "The Star Sports & TRC English Greyhound Derby 2022, First Round, Heat 6". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  34. ↑ "STAR SPORTS/TRC ENGLISH GREYHOUND DERBY TRIAL STAKE". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  35. ↑ "THE STAR SPORTS & TRC ENGLISH GREYHOUND DERBY - First Round - Heat 12". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  36. ↑ "Monday Round Up". Greyhound Star. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
  37. ↑ "Towcester S1 712m". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  38. ↑ "Gain Greyhound Nutrition Challenge Cup - Heat 2". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  39. ↑ "Gain Greyhound Nutrition Challenge Cup - Heat 3". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  40. ↑ "THE STADIUM BOOKMAKERS HUNT CUP - FINAL". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  41. ↑ "THE MATCHBOOK BETTING EXCHANGE MAIDEN STAYERS TROPHY". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  42. ↑ "260m track record". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
  43. ↑ "480m track record". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
  44. ↑ "Star Sports English Greyhound Derby 2nd round". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
  45. ↑ "655 track record result". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
  46. ↑ "Star Sports Derby Stayers heat 1". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
  47. ↑ "906 track record result". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
  48. ↑ "Star Sports Champion Hurdle heat 2". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
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