| Sloper Road Stadium | |
Welsh White City Stadium or Ninian Stadium | |
 | |
 | |
| Location | Sloper Road, Cardiff, Wales |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 51°28′03″N3°11′43″W / 51.46750°N 3.19528°W |
| Opened | 1928 |
| Closed | 1937 |
The White City Stadium, officially known as the Sloper Road Stadium, and colloquially known as Welsh White City Stadium or Ninian Stadium, was a former greyhound racing and motorcycle speedway stadium, on Sloper Road in the Grangetown area of Cardiff. [1]
The Greyhound Racing Association (GRA) purchased open land on Sloper Road opposite the Ninian Park Primary School and Sevenoaks Park, an area covered today by housing and retail buildings as the site for the stadium. [2] The stadium name White City originated because the GRA surrounded the arena with white concrete walls and raised terracing capable of holding over 40,000 people and the name had already caught on following the success of their sister track White City in London. The GRA (South Wales) erected six kennel blocks under the grandstand capable of housing 180 dogs.
The White City Stadium, also known as Sloper Road or the Welsh White City opened on Easter Saturday 1928 but persistent rain fell resulting in only 9,000 spectators turning up. The first hurdle event was declared a no-race because the dogs fought each other and none of them completed the 470 yard trip. Fine weather returned on the Easter Monday and 25,000 people paid either 2s 4d or 5/-to get into the stadium. [3]
The track held the prestigious Welsh Greyhound Derby which eventually became a classic race in 1971 and formed part of the triple crown along with the English Greyhound Derby and Scottish Greyhound Derby. [4]
Mick the Miller appeared at the track in the early years; it was in August 1929 that he lost to local favourite Back Isle in a match race before gaining revenge back in London one week later. Back Isle won the Welsh Derby that year but Mick the Miller arrived one year later for a tilt at the competition. On 29 July 1930 he won his first round and then produced two national records in the semi-finals and final. [5]
The GRA realised that they were fighting a losing battle to compete with the rival Cardiff Arms Park that was in a better location in the city and was gaining larger attendances so they decided to put the stadium up for sale. The stadium was sold to the Guest, Keen and Nettlefolds steel works in 1937. [6]
| Distance yards | Greyhound | Time | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 525 | Mick the Miller | 29.60 | 2 August 1930 | National record |
| 525 | Mick the Miller | 29.55 | 9 August 1930 | National record |
Mick the Miller was a male brindle greyhound. He is celebrated as the first great racing greyhound to compete in England. Despite a short three-year racing career, his achievements were highly publicised around the world and by the end of his career he had become an icon in the sport. His achievements include winning nineteen races in a row, including the English Greyhound Derby on two successive occasions. He suffered an injury at Wimbledon Stadium whilst racing which broke the streak in 1931, and once recovered was beaten in the attempt to win a third Derby title. He went on to appear in films, and is still considered one of the greatest sporting heroes in the UK.
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.
Wimbledon Stadium, also known as Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium, was a greyhound racing track located in Wimbledon in southwest London, England.
Belle Vue Stadium was a greyhound racing track in Belle Vue, Manchester, England, where the first race around an oval track in Britain was held on 24 July 1926. It has also been used for motorcycle speedway, as the home ground of Elite League team Belle Vue Aces from 1988 until 2015, and from 1999 until 2019 for stock car racing and banger racing.
White City Greyhounds was the greyhound racing operation held at White City Stadium in London. The venue was regarded as the sport's primary track during its existence.
The Welsh Greyhound Derby was a former classic greyhound competition held in Wales.
White City Stadium was a greyhound racing and speedway stadium in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, England.
The 1927 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the second year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
The 1928 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the third year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
The 1929 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the fourth year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
The 1930 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the fifth year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
The 1931 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the sixth year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The total annual attendance across the country for 1931 increased to 17,906,917 from 17,119,120, a fifth consecutive annual increase.
The 1933 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the eighth year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
The 1945 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 20th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
The 1952 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 27th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
The 1966 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 40th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
The 1971 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 45th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
The 1974 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 48th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
The 1977 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 51st year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Cardiff Greyhounds was the greyhound racing operation held at Cardiff Arms Park in Cardiff from 1927 to 1977. It is not to be confused with the greyhound racing held from 1928 to 1937 at the White City Stadium, Cardiff.
