 | |
| Location | Blackpool, Lancashire |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 53°47′03″N3°01′57″W / 53.78417°N 3.03250°W |
| Opened | 1927 |
| Closed | 1964 |
Blackpool Greyhound Stadium was a greyhound track in Blackpool, Lancashire. It is not to be confused with the Blackpool Squires Gate Greyhound Stadium, a short-lived track that was nearby to the south.
Blackpool had emerged as a holiday destination by the turn of the 20th century and between the two world wars established itself as one of the leading seaside resorts in England. The subsequent growth of the town resulted in endless forms of entertainment being created for over eight million visitors per year. Greyhound racing was introduced to Britain in 1926 and the newly formed company the British Greyhounds Sports Club (Blackpool) Ltd purchased land on the east side of St Annes Road, south of Highfield Road in order to construct a new greyhound stadium. [1]
In addition the Blackpool Trotting Track and Highfield Road Sports Club was built by Charles Smith who had also purchased land south of the Highfield Road and it would sit next door on the northeast side of the greyhound track. [2]
The stadium opened on the Saturday afternoon of 30 July in front of the 5,000 spectators. The six race card included one hurdle race with all races over the 500 yards distance, the first race was won by Carrow Boy at 3-1 odds in a time of 31.25 secs. The local press mistakenly advertised the meeting being at the Squires Gate racecourse instead of St Annes Road. The racing was initially held under National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC) rules. [3]
The track switched to independent status (unaffiliated to a governing body) in 1929 after the company changed to the Blackpool Greyhound Racing and Sports Company Ltd. The Blackpool Borough Rugby league team played their fixtures at St Annes but Motorcycle Speedway never found its way here but did take place at the short lived Trotting Track at Highfield Road.
The Blackpool owners who also controlled Hanley Greyhound Stadium in Stoke-in-Trent branched out by taking greyhound racing to Craven Park, Barrow-in-Furness but the project only lasted the two summers of 1933 and 1934. After the war St Annes was once again licensed under the jurisdiction of the NGRC. The Director of Racing was H.H.Carver and the Racing Manager was H.S.Long. [4]
Despite the greyhound business boom of 1946 profits dropped the following year and with the growing population of Blackpool the greyhound stadium area was considered an ideal site for housing. Housing was constructed on Lostock Gardens that came right up to the back straight terracing and to the south, Ivy Avenue housing came right up to the back of the home straight and main stand. [5]
Racing ended on 30 October 1964 with the site becoming housing called Stadium Avenue [6] after it was sold to builders for £80,000. [7]
The town was to experience greyhound racing again from 1967 until 1988 on the flapping track at Borough Park.
Dudley Wood Stadium also known as Cradley Heath Greyhound Stadium was a greyhound racing and speedway stadium.
Long Eaton Stadium, previously the Recreation Ground, was a multi-use sports ground in Long Eaton, Derbyshire that staged cricket, cycling, football, greyhound racing and speedway.
Ramsgate Stadium was a greyhound racing stadium also known as Dumpton Park Stadium in Ramsgate.
Warrington Greyhound Stadium was a greyhound racing and speedway stadium in Arpley, Warrington.
Willenhall Greyhound Stadium was a greyhound racing stadium and formerly a football ground known as Spring Bank Stadium situated in Willenhall, West Midlands, England.
Northumberland County Ground or the Gosforth Greyhound Stadium was a rugby stadium and greyhound racing stadium in Gosforth, Tyne And Wear.
Blackburn Greyhound Stadium was a greyhound racing stadium in Blackburn, Lancashire.
Blackpool Squires Gate Greyhound Stadium was a greyhound track in Blackpool, Lancashire. It is not to be confused with the Blackpool St Annes Greyhound Stadium that was nearby but to the north.
Exeter Greyhound Stadium, also known as the Marsh Barton Stadium, was a greyhound racing stadium in Marsh Barton, Exeter.
Huntingdon Greyhound Stadium was a greyhound racing stadium in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire.
Breck Park Stadium was a greyhound racing stadium in Liverpool.
Seaforth Greyhound Stadium was a greyhound racing stadium in Liverpool.
White City Stadium (Liverpool) was a greyhound racing stadium in Liverpool.
Audenshaw Greyhound Racing and Sports Ground was a trotting track, speedway dirt track and greyhound racing track in Audenshaw, near Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester.
The Oldham Greyhound Stadium was a greyhound racing stadium in the Watersheddings area in the north east of Oldham.
Stanley Greyhound Stadium, also known as Murray Park Stadium, was a greyhound racing stadium in Stanley, County Durham.
Borough Park was a rugby league and greyhound racing stadium on Princess Street in Blackpool, Lancashire.
St Helens Greyhound Racing and Sports Stadium was a greyhound racing and former football stadium on Park Road in St Helens, Lancashire
Hyde Park Greyhound Stadium was a greyhound racing stadium on Manor Oaks Road in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England.
Syston Sports Stadium also known as Syston Greyhound Stadium was a greyhound racing and Motorcycle speedway track located at Central Avenue and East Avenue, off the Melton Road in Syston, Leicestershire.