|
The Grand National - Greyhounds
The Grand National is an original classic greyhound racing competition held at Crayford Stadium over the hurdles. It was run at White City Stadium from 1928 until 1984, it moved to Hall Green Stadium in 1985 and then on to Wimbledon Stadium in 1999. In 2012, the Greyhound Racing Association allowed the race to leave their portfolio and it switched to Central Park Stadium in Sittingbourne. Central Park held the event until 2022 when it was cancelled in May before Ladbrokes stepped in to sponsor the event which was then held at Crayford for the first time. Sherrys Prince holds the record of winning the event three times from 1970 to 1972, while trainers Seamus Cahill and Ricky Holloway have both trained four winners. Past winners Venues & Distances *1927–1927 (White City, 500 y hurdles) *1928–1974 (White City, 525 y hurdles) *1975–1984 (White City, 500 m hurdles) *1985–1998 (Hall Green, 474 m hurdles) *1999–2009 (Wimbledon, 460 m hurdle ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Crayford Stadium
Crayford Stadium is a greyhound racing stadium located in the London Borough of Bexley in England. The stadium, which has featured races since 1986, has private suites, a restaurant and a number of bars. An evening meeting takes place every Tuesday, a matinée race meeting takes place on Thursday and morning meetings are held every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. Crayford is owned by Ladbrokes Coral. History 1980s In 1984 Ladbrokes announced that racing would cease at the Crayford & Bexleyheath Stadium to allow plans for rebuilding the entire stadium as part of a development project. The twenty-acre site would be redeveloped, with five acres of it being converted into a new greyhound track and sports stadium. Racing ended on 18 May 1985 and work began on the new stadium. Following sixteen months of development and construction, it was ready for action. The grand opening took place on 1 September 1986, and the new stadium would be called Crayford after the decision was made to ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
White City Greyhounds
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. History Origins After the 1908 Summer Olympics the White City area was used for further exhibitions, including the France-Britain Exhibition of 1908 and the Japan-Britain Exhibition of 1910, but the stadium began to be underused. By 1922 attempts had been made to sell it and it is reputed to have been in a very poor state by 1926. During the Februarys of 1926 and 1927 the stadium was used for the British Industries Fair before the public announcement that the Greyhound Racing Association (GRA) had purchased the stadium following on from the success experienced by the company at the nation's first greyhound meetings in Manchester at Belle Vue Stadium. It would be the GRA's second stadium and the old running and cycle tracks were grassed over. A new restaurant was built and covered terracing was constructed. The ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1940 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
The 1940 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 15th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Roll of honour Summary The government were reportedly on the verge of calling a ban on racing and tracks that remained open were beset with problems with many of their staff being called up to fight in the war. In addition many of the greyhound owners were unable to pay the kennel fees to their respective trainers for the same reason. The Greyhound Express even ran an article about their own dwindling staff at the newspaper. The anti–betting lobby led by the Labour Party wanted a total ban to racing, quoting that the public transport was being used by racegoers and as a result munitions factory workers were having to walk home. The nation was divided in regards to allowing racing to continue. Despite the problems the industry continued to record remarkable results, in terms of attendances and totalisator turnover. The leading greyhound company, the Greyhound ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1939 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
The 1939 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 14th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Roll of honour Summary Despite the outbreak of World War II, another ten tracks opened, buoyed on by the attendances and profits generated. Attendances and totalisator turnover at National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC) licensed tracks was on course for a record year but was disrupted, with many tracks closing in the latter part of the year. A record 92,000 attended the 1939 English Greyhound Derby final at White City and the totalisator turnover for the final was £14,341 and for the meeting it was £114,780 which set a new record for a greyhound meeting. The race was won by Highland Rum. The leading greyhound company, the Greyhound Racing Association (GRA) saw reduced profits, due to the closure of their London tracks from September. The operating net profit for 1939 was £151,000 and attendances at GRA tracks increased rose to 3,808,994. Tracks Oxford Stadium w ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1938 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
The 1938 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 13th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Roll of honour Summary 1938 in the United Kingdom was a place of tension due to the unrest in Europe and the ongoing negotiations between the Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain and Germany. However the public continued to embrace greyhound racing which was an affordable national pastime. Attendances at the National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC) licensed tracks topped 26 million with totalisator turnover recorded as £39,352,839. The track tote deduction was 6% and the government tote tax was an additional 6%. The leading greyhound company, the Greyhound Racing Association (GRA) significantly increased profits once again. The operating profit for 1938 was £278,000 (a substantial figure at the time) and attendances at GRA tracks increased rose to 4,408,412. The GRA also invested heavily into their breeding facility on the company owned Fan Court Farm, on the Longc ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
West Ham Stadium
West Ham Stadium was a stadium that existed between 1928 and 1972 in Custom House, in East London (it was in the County Borough of West Ham, in the county of Essex, at the time of the stadium's construction). The stadium was built in 1928 on Prince Regent Lane, near the site of the present-day Prince Regent DLR station. The venue was used for greyhound racing and speedway on weekdays and had no connection with West Ham United football club, who played at the nearby Boleyn Ground, Upton Park from 1904 until 2016. Greyhound racing Origins Plans for a very large stadium in a rural area near Plaistow Marsh, east of Canning Town were unveiled in the late 1920s and work began on the structure where an old sports ground (built in 1855) was situated that had belonged to the workers of the custom house of Royal Victoria Dock. The stadium was designed by Archibald Leitch, responsible for most of the major football stadia at the time including Anfield and Highbury. There was a large t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Stan Biss
James Stanley Biss known as Stan (1892–1952) was a leading English greyhound trainer. He was a seven times winner of the Oaks in addition to winning the Scottish Greyhound Derby and Welsh Greyhound Derby. Early life Biss spent his childhood living at the Queens Head public house in Waltham Abbey before becoming an Assurance Agent. In 1917 he joined the Navy and Royal Air Force as a Corporal mechanic. He married Agnes Oyler in 1923. Racing career Biss was one of the original trainers at Wimbledon Stadium when the stadium opened in 1928 during the pioneer years of oval racing. In 1929 Biss trained out of Burhill Kennels and was in charge of some of the leading greyhounds in the country which included Bradshaw Fold and Queen of the Suir. He also helped fellow Burhill trainer Sidney Orton and the Kempton family acquire the legendary Mick The Miller. During 1930 he joined West Ham Stadium, the same year that Bradshaw Fold finished second to Mick The Miller in the 1930 English Gre ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1937 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
The 1937 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 12th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Roll of honour Summary The industry showed no sign of a slow down, with attendances at UK tracks surpassing twenty million for the sixth year in succession. The leading company, the Greyhound Racing Association (GRA) increased profits again. The operating profit for 1937 was £241,000 (a substantial figure at the time) and attendances at GRA tracks increased slightly to 3,849,513. The GRA also took a controlling interest in New Cross Stadium and boasted that they had the largest totalisator in the world at White City, with 634 issuing machines. Wattle Bark won the 1937 English Greyhound Derby defeating 1936 star Shove Halfpenny into second place. Tracks Just five known tracks opened but Crayford & Bexleyheath Stadium underwent a significant £50,000 renovation, with no provision made for speedway. Tracks opened Competitions London based trainers monopolised t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Clapton Stadium
The Clapton Stadium, also known as Millfields Road, was a football ground and greyhound racing stadium in the Lower Clapton area of London. History The stadium was originally named Whittles Athletic Ground and was mostly used for whippet racing. It was built on top of an old fireworks manufactory on the north side of Millfields Road. Football In 1896 Clapton Orient moved to the site from Pond Land Bridge, after which it became known as Millfields Road. The football club began redeveloping the stadium, with large embankments built around the pitch using slag from an adjacent power station.Paul Smith & Shirley Smith (2005) ''The Ultimate Directory of English & Scottish Football League Grounds Second Edition 1888–2005'', Yore Publications, p83, Clapton Orient were elected to the Second Division of the Football League in 1905, and the first Football League was played at the ground on 9 September 1905, with Orient beating Hull City 1–0 in front of 3,000 spectators. In 1906 th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1936 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
The 1936 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 11th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Summary The nations leading Greyhound company, the Greyhound Racing Association (GRA) continued to grow and recorded record profits. The operating profit for 1936 was £215,583 (a substantial figure at the time) and attendances at GRA tracks increased from 3,817,934 to 3,849,513 despite the fact that the company held 160 fewer meetings. The GRA then opened Harringay Arena on 10 October, which would become famous for ice hockey and boxing. At least ten more tracks opened as racing retained its status as a national pastime. Fine Jubilee trained by Marjorie Yate was the star of the year, after winning the 1936 English Greyhound Derby and the Gold Collar. Roll of honour Tracks The Dolphin Stadium in Slough, was bought by New Clapton Stadium Co. Ltd and they renamed it the Slough Stadium. Rochester and Chatham Sports Stadium opened and was listed as the 55th Nationa ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1935 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
The 1935 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the tenth year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Roll of honour Summary The sport remained extremely popular, with attendances exceeding 20 million for a fourth successive year. Racing was an affordable national pastime in the United Kingdom and Ireland and profits made by the tracks enabled the greyhound companies to flourish. Major-General Lord Loch (chairman) announced that the nations leading Greyhound company, the Greyhound Racing Association (GRA) made an operating profit of over £136,000 during 1935 (a substantial figure at the time). The construction of new tracks had slowed considerably but the GRA announced their plans to build Harringay Arena. and also purchased Stenhouse Stadium. Greta Ranee won the 1935 English Greyhound Derby before a record crowd of 88,700. Tracks Clyde F.C.'s financial difficulties led to them selling Shawfield Stadium to the Shawfield Greyhound Racing Company Ltd, continuing ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1934 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
The 1934 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the ninth year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Roll of honour Summary The 1934 Betting and Lotteries Act came into force which limited the number of racing days held at tracks but enabled totalisators to be used. The latter was particularly welcomed by the industry because they were very profitable. Each track was to hold no more than 104 meetings per year. The industry continued to grow with an estimated 270 tracks (licensed and independent) in operation during 1934 and attendances surpassing 20 million for the third successive year. However unlike previous years only a handful of new tracks were opened. The 1934 English Greyhound Derby saw the likes of Wild Woolley, Brilliant Bob and Davesland compete with the eventual winner being Davesland trained by Jack Harvey. News Arthur Elvin, owner of Wembley built the Empire Pool to introduce ice hockey, ice shows, tennis and boxing. The Greyhound Racing Assoc ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
