Fullerton Park was a former

speedway Speedway may refer to: Racing Race tracks *Daytona International Speedway, a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida. *Edmonton International Speedway, also known as Speedway Park, a former motor raceway in Edmonton, Alberta. *Indianapolis Motor Spe ...

and greyhound track in

Leeds Leeds is a city in West Yorkshire, England. It is the largest settlement in Yorkshire and the administrative centre of the City of Leeds Metropolitan Borough, which is the second most populous district in the United Kingdom. It is built aro ...

Origins and Opening

Fullerton Park Stadium originally known as 'The Kennels' was constructed by the

Greyhound Racing Association The Greyhound Racing Association was a UK-based private company founded in 1925 and existed until 2019. It was involved in the management of sports venues, notably greyhound racing stadia. The GRA was responsible for introducing Greyhound racing ...

(GRA) in 1927 and opened just three months after the

Elland Road Greyhound Stadium Elland Road Greyhound Stadium also known as Leeds Greyhound Stadium was a Greyhound racing in the United Kingdom, greyhound racing stadium in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The stadium is not to be confused with the football ground Elland Road or Full ...

; it was located on the opposite side (north side) of the Elland Road. The opening night was on Tuesday 4 October 1927 with gates opening at 6.30pm and a first race time of 7.30pm. The public were able to reserve boxes in the grandstand to view the racing, an incentive used in an attempt to rival the Elland Road Greyhound Stadium which was run by the Leeds Greyhound Association Ltd (LGA). The popular rings were able to accommodate 30,000 spectators. The initial greyhound trials featured not only Leeds greyhounds but also greyhounds from the new Greenfield Stadium, Bradford because their hare had not yet been installed there. Four licensed trainers took up residence looking after 100 greyhounds in the resident kennels on site made up from runners sent from other GRA tracks at

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, White City and

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. The new general manager was Captain McNaughton and the Racing Manager was George Malcaster and racing was planned for Tuesday, Friday and Saturday nights. Permits had been issued to 127 on course bookmakers issued as follows – the 10s and 5s Tattersall's ring (25), the 2s 4d enclosure (20), the 1s 4d enclosure (82).

Controversy & Greyhound racing closure

A bitter battle took place during 1927 between the

(GRA) owners of Fullerton Park and the Leeds Greyhound Association Ltd (LGA) owners of the Elland Road track. 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. The GRA quickly realised that with their greyhound stadium being so close to Elland Road stadium they would not be able to monopolise trade in the city. This resulted in the closing of Fullerton Park to greyhound racing and the GRA buying a stake in the LGA. The last meeting was held on 30 April 1928.

Speedway

The empty stadium soon had speedway when promoters acquired an option from the GRA. The grass greyhound circuit was dug up and widened for the dirt track. The first meeting was held on 13 October 1928. The speedway continued for another ten years until 1938 when it closed.

Closure

The stadium closed in 1938 and was later demolished; today the site is a car park for the Elland Road football stadium.

References

{{Motorcycle speedway tracks Defunct greyhound racing venues in the United Kingdom Defunct speedway venues in England Sports venues in Leeds Defunct sports venues in West Yorkshire