Elland Road Greyhound Stadium

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Elland Road Greyhound Stadium
Elland Road Greyhound Stadium
Location Leeds, West Yorkshire
Coordinates 53°46′30″N1°34′30″W / 53.77500°N 1.57500°W / 53.77500; -1.57500 Coordinates: 53°46′30″N1°34′30″W / 53.77500°N 1.57500°W / 53.77500; -1.57500
Field size456 yards
Opened1927
Closed1982
Tenants
Greyhound racing

Elland Road Greyhound Stadium also known as Leeds Greyhound Stadium was a greyhound racing stadium in Leeds, West Yorkshire.

Contents

The stadium is not to be confused with the football ground Elland Road or Fullerton Park.

Origins and opening

Elland Road football stadium was built in 1897 and thirty years later in 1927 two stadiums were constructed on its west side. The first Fullerton Park was built directly next door to the football stadium on the north side of Elland Road and the second Elland Road Greyhound Stadium was constructed opposite Fullerton Park on the south side of Elland Road. [1]

The stadium opened on Saturday 16 July 1927 and featured racing every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday evening with an additional Saturday matinee at 3.00pm. Races took place over 300, 500 and 750 yards on a circuit with a tight 400 yard circumference. Resident kennels within the stadium grounds numbered 120 and exercise grounds were situated adjacent to the stadium. [2]

Pre Second World War history

A bitter battle took place during 1927 between the Leeds Greyhound Association Ltd (LGA) owners of the Elland Road track and the Greyhound Racing Association (GRA) owners of Fullerton Park which had opened just three months later. The LGA took the GRA to court for false advertising following the public claim by the GRA that they had sole rights of greyhounds chasing electric hares and this upset other companies because it implied that they were the only company allowed to race greyhounds. [3] [4]

The GRA quickly realised that their greyhound stadium being so close to Elland Road stadium would not be able to monopolise trade in the city. This resulted in them closing Fullerton Park to greyhound racing and buying a stake in the LGA. The early 1930s brought about government legislation issues with the totalisator; it would have to be closed down on more than one occasion following questions over the legality of using the system. Despite the issues the track maintained a very healthy business and even introduced professional baseball before the start of the war. Mark Barker the Racing Manager and a Director at Leeds United died in 1943 following illness and the racing was held sporadically during the duration of the war. [5]

Post Second World War history

Elland Road Greyhound Stadium c.1950 Leeds Elland Road Greyhound Stadium c.1950.png
Elland Road Greyhound Stadium c.1950

Following the war business boomed in 1946 with the tote turnover being £1,167,103. [6] The profits enabled the company to upgrade the facilities and Harold Richards was brought in as Racing Manager in the early 1950s. Two competitions were inaugurated; the Ebor Stakes was introduced in 1951 followed by the Yorkshire Two Year Old Produce in 1958.

In the early 1960s Totalisators and Greyhound Holdings (T.G.H) purchased the track and added it to their portfolio of existing tracks. Racing was held on Monday and Saturday evenings and the amenities included five buffet bars, five licensed bars and a restaurant. The hare was an 'Outside Sumner' hare and the resident trainers were Tommy Brown, Joe Kelly, Alf Eggleston and Ann Harrison.

Successful Leeds greyhounds were Lisamote Precept trained by Joe Kelly who won the International, Lincoln and the 1968 Scottish Greyhound Derby, Brilane Clipper won the 1970 Scottish Derby. In 1971 Leeds won the annual Duke of Edinburgh Cup after defeating Clapton Stadium in the final.

During the 1970s Ladbrokes acquired the Totalisators and Greyhound Holdings (T.G.H) group which included the tracks at Brough Park, Crayford & Bexleyheath Stadium, Gosforth, Willenhall and Monmore. The track kennels were demolished in 1979 forcing Tommy Brown and Jim Brennan to retire and Joe Kelly switched to Owlerton; they were replaced by contracted trainers Pete Beaumont, Jim Brown and Ray Andrews. [7]

Between 1973 and 1980 the stadium was the home ground of Hunslet RLFC, the original club's Parkside ground not being available to the new club.

Closure

Elland Road police station on the grounds of the former greyhound stadium (2015) Elland Road police station, Leeds (7th June 2015) 001.JPG
Elland Road police station on the grounds of the former greyhound stadium (2015)

Tim Hale and Derek Bowman replaced Racing Manager Harry Bridger on 1 January 1981 but would only oversee the action for one year because Ladbrokes closed the track. The last meeting was held on 15 March 1982 with the last winner being Mike Supreme. [8] In 2014 the new Leeds District Police HQ opened on the site of the stadium.

Competitions

Ebor Stakes

The Ebor Stakes was a competition held from 1951 until the stadium closed. [10]

YearWinnerBreedingTrainerTimeSP
1951 BearnaburnRon Chamberlain (Private)28.88
1952 Richards ChoiceBahs Choice – Gay PrimrosePaddy McEvoy (Private)28.461-1f
1953 Town BelleRon Chamberlain (Private)28.5413-8
1954 Rushton SpotRushton News - Rushton PandaFrank Johnson (Private)28.736-4f
1955 Rushton SpotRushton News - Rushton PandaFrank Johnson (Private)28.544-6f
1959 Champion Swank Ballymac Ball - VandadoAlf Eggleston (Leeds)28.514-9f
1960 SufiBroadway Darkie II - StyloJohn Bassett (Coventry) 28.582-1jf
1961 West BermudaPrince of Bermuda – OrelinoTed Brennan (Sheffield)28.67
1962 Cushmine SnobRacing Snob – Rolling TideA.Dryhurst (Darnall) 28.82
1963 Super CarGlittering Coin – Tansys Daughter Norman Oliver (Brough Park) 28.27
1964 Autumn TwilightThe Grand Canal – Rosegarland LassTed Brennan (Sheffield)28.545-1
1965 Batchelor PaysJockeys Glen – Bleville Lass Norman Oliver (Brough Park) 28.40
1966 Stately BoyKnockrour Again – Little MargoGeorge Gooch (Preston) 28.45
1967 Union CertJerpoint Prince – Scottish WelcomeW.Fletcher (Bradford) 28.53
1968 Shady PagodaCrazy Parachute – Shady Contempera Norman Oliver (Brough Park) 28.07
1970 Colonel ImpBooked Out – Hi GracieBarbara Tompkins (Private)37.2716-1
1972 Dramatic AceYanka Boy – Sheilas PrizeTed Brennan (Sheffield)37.927-1
1973 Pit LampBooked Out – Ballingaddy Fly Norman Oliver (Brough Park) 36.954-7f
1974 Black CapriceSupreme Fun – Funny FlashJimmy Smith (Brough Park) 37.521-1f
1975 Star PortIrish Airport – Love A Lassie Paddy Milligan (Private)37.08
1976 Ardbeg StarBallyseedy Star – Betsys FlashAndy Agnew (Perry Barr) 40.276-1
1977 Kinards CrossMonalee Champion – Tetty BoweKen Reynolds (Wolverhampton) 39.985-1
1978 Be SplendidCragville Jet – Melodic ThemeJim Brennan (Leeds)40.94
1979 Lime LaneMortor Light – Lemon PrizePete Beaumont (Leeds)40.63
1980 Tory KottyTory Snowball – Monalee Sunset41.85
1981 Lois LaneTullig Rambler – Misty KilbegTerry Munslow (Derby) 41.0211-4
1982 Hopalong DandyLinacre – Hopalong MillieChristine Lawlor (Sheffield)39.767-2

Yorkshire Two-Year Old Produce Stakes

YearWinnerBreedingTrainerTimeSP
1958 Beaurepaire Reject Magourna Reject – Rimmells Pearl Jim Hookway (Owlerton) 28.75
1959 Canadian CrawlerRushton Spot – Gentle Flame Jim Hookway (Owlerton) 28.674-6f
1960 Waldorf FlameThe Grand Fire – Local Brunette Jimmy Jowett (Clapton) 28.877-2
1961 Old Berry SilverArdskeagh Ville - SkylarkJack Toseland (Perry Barr) 28.42
1962 Spartan SacrificeFord Spartan – Madam RicheTed Brennan (Owlerton) 28.82
1963 Burniston BoyFirst Prize – Burniston BeautyP.Goodison (Bradford) 28.68
1964 Konig SeigerLow Pressure – Dark KnightLen Bane (Kings Heath) 28.038-1
1965 Batchelor PaysJockeys Glen – Belville Lass Norman Oliver (Brough Park) 28.32
1966 Ryedale OwlChubbys Choice – Printing RosedaleHarry Bidwell (Owlerton) 28.71
1967 Sutton ValleyWonder Valley – Peace SpriteColin McNally (Perry Barr) 28.02
1968 Whistling Rusty Pigalle Wonder – Whistling Duchess Jim Hookway (Owlerton) 28.52
1969 Rum ClubMaryville Hi – Lindsay SueGordon Hodson (White City) 29.027-2

(1958-1969 500 yards)

Track records

Distance
yards		GreyhoundTimeDate
325Celtic Chief18.1617 March 1945
325Hepicoleum17.9528 June 1947
500Flinstone28.0120 June 1964
500Fly Dazzler27.921972
500Princess Quail27.921972
512Chatterton29.041947
512Cheerful Comedy28.7525.10.1947
650Marvellous City37.4017.05.1965
650Elland Rumba37.101970
650Passing Look36.981968
650Shady Pagoda36.851972
700Western Stream1954
700The Cherry Tree40.3623.06.1960
700Passing Look40.171968
700Gleneagle Comedy40.161972
743All Out44.021947
743Paddy the Gag43.8410.11.1948
880Claudyne23.05.1966
880Miss Thorn51.951970
500 HHigh St Boy28.951970
512 HKyle Champion30.5302.06.1945

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References

  1. ↑ "OS County Series Yorkshire 1938". old-maps.co.uk.
  2. ↑ Genders, Roy (1975). The Greyhound and Racing Greyhound. Page Brothers (Norwich). p. 95. ISBN   0-85020-0474.
  3. ↑ "Warning to Investors, 5 April". Daily Press, Bristol. 1927.
  4. ↑ "The Law Courts, June". Yorkshire Evening. 1927.
  5. ↑ Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. pp. 56–57. ISBN   07207-1106-1.
  6. ↑ Particulars of Licensed tracks, table 1 Licensed Dog Racecourses. Licensing Authorities. 1946.
  7. ↑ Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. pp. 56–57. ISBN   07207-1106-1.
  8. ↑ Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. p. 419. ISBN   0-948955-15-5.
  9. ↑ "Remember When - September 1977". Greyhound Star.
  10. ↑ Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. pp. 56–57. ISBN   07207-1106-1.
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