There was an 'Inside Sumner' hare system and the track was all-grass. Facilities included a licensed club. Fannon remained the owner and, by the late 1980s, the track had become sand and had a McGee hare system. Kennels for 50 greyhounds were on site with car parking for 200 vehicles.
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The circumference was 485 yards and the hare system was an 'outside McKee'. It was closed by the promoter at the time, Dan Pipe.
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Race distances were 325, 550 and 760 yards, and it had an all grass circuit with an inside hare system. The racing finished in 1984.
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Race distances were 530 and 755 yards and races consisted of mainly five dogs and using an 'Inside Sumner' hare system. The racing was independent (unaffiliated to a governing body).
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The hare system had been changed from an 'Inside Sumner' to the new Swaffham, and once again race distances changed, this time to 250, 440 and 630 metres. The Wisbech trainers included Henry Chalkley and Michael Bacon.
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Racing was held on Monday and Thursday evenings at 7.45pm. The Racing consisted of handicap races and level break racing on an all-grass circuit and the main racing distance was 405 yards behind an 'Inside Sumner' hare system.
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The adjacent constituency of Edmonton South had been renamed from the old constituency of Strathcona. The three Edmonton districts were merged to form the Edmonton constituency in 1921, and block voting was established in 1921, to elect five members in the constituency. As a semblance of proportional representation, the UFA government brought in the single transferable vote for all constituencies, and made Edmonton, Calgary and Medicine Hat (for 1926 only) multi-member constituencies, with votes apportioned as per the Hare system, starting in 1924. STV, and the Hare system, where applicable, was also used in provincial by-elections during this period.
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Race day was Saturday evening at 6.30pm and the circumference of the track was 440 yards. It was a simple all-grass track with a 'MacWhirter' hare system and race distances of 375, 525 and 600 yards. The track closed during the 1970s.
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In the late 1960s the track continued to race on Wednesday and Saturday nights at 7.30pm, there were two licensed bars and five buffet bars. The track was all-grass with distances of 275, 300, 500, 525, 750 & 800 yards and an inside hare system.
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The stadium opened to greyhound racing on 11 June 1946 and the racing was independent (not affiliated to the sports governing body the National Greyhound Racing Club). Racing took place every Thursday and Saturday and the hare system used was an inside electric sledge hare.
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There was a covered stand, a restaurant, 35 kennels and an 'Inside Sumner' hare system was used. There were seven on course bookmakers and the principal event was the Vaux Tankard. Facilities included a licensed bar and cafe. The racing was independent (unaffiliated to a governing body).
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The opening meeting was on 5 March 1935 with the stadium consisting of one main grandstand building along the home straight and a capacity of 6,000 spectators. The hare system used was an 'Outside Sumner' with a track circumference of 398 yards grass course with sharp bends.
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The racing was independent (not affiliated to the sports governing body the National Greyhound Racing Club). Five dog races were held on Saturday nights at 7.30pm on a track that had grass straights and sanded bends. Race distances were 314, 525 and 750 yards behind an 'Inside Sumner' hare system.
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Racing began in 1933 but came under new management in 1942. The racing was independent (unaffiliated to a governing body). In the 1960s racing was on Monday and Saturday nights at 7.00pm over distances of 320 and 500 yards. The track circumference was a large 440 yards and an 'Inside Sumner' hare system was used.
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Racing started on 1 June 1964 and was independent (not affiliated to the sports governing body the National Greyhound Racing Club). The circuit was described as a good galloping grass track with distances of 300 and 525 yards behind an inside Sumner hare system. Racing was held on Monday and Friday evenings at 7.30pm.
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The venue was listed as being able to hold 500 spectators and in 1947 had a totalisator turnover of £157,233 which was a large turnover for a small track. In the 1960s the track was all-grass and raced five dog races over 220 and 530 yards and had an inside rail hare system.
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The track was described as a large all grass circuit. Race nights were Monday and Friday at 7.30pm with trials held on Tuesday afternoons. Race distances consisted of 270, 450 and 625 yards and the hare system was an 'Inside Sumner'. Facilities included a licensed club and snack bar on site and a totalisator.
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The track was described as a good size course with a good run- up to the first bend. The hare system was an 'Inside McWhirter track-less' and race distances were now 290, 455, 500 and 715 yards. There were kennel facilities on site for 132 greyhounds; fees were charged at one guinea per week. 3s per day.
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Greyhound racing first took place at the stadium on 5 August 1954. The racing was independent (not affiliated to the sports governing body the National Greyhound Racing Club). Racing was held on Thursday and Saturday evenings. The track was described as a fast galloping grass track with an inside Sumner hare system and race distances of 300, 525, 765 and 990 yards.
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Perth Pat trained by Jim Morgan brought the first ever classic race success to Oxford following her win in the 1970 Oaks. In the same year Henry Kibble secured a tenth track trainers title. In 1974 a new 'Outside Sumner' hare system was introduced. In 1975 Bristol Stadium Ltd agreed a deal worth £235,000 with the Oxford City Council housing committee.
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During the 1950s and 1960s racing was held on Wednesday and Friday evenings at 7.30pm. The track had a circumference of 400 yards with an 'Inside Sumner' hare system and race distances of 275, 500, 675 and 900 yards. Facilities included a licensed bar, tea bar and hot dog bar and totalisator. The track was grass straights and sanded bends.
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The greyhound track was situated inside the trotting track. Race distances were 120, 300, 330, 500 and 550 yards and an 'Inside Sumner' hare system was used. The racing was independent (unlicensed) and took place on Tuesday and Friday evenings. The greyhound racing existed from 1969 until 2010 (although not continuous); It re-opened during September 1984 for the second spell.
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Independent (unaffiliated to a governing body) greyhound racing took place at the Park Road Stadium from 24 April 1987 until March 1991. The owner was Chris Roynon and racing was held every Tuesday and Friday. The hare system was an 'Inside Sumner' and the race distances were 250, 415 and 595 metres. There was car parking for 500 vehicles, a bar and mobile snack bar.
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Race days were Tuesday and Friday evenings at 7.45pm with an 'Inside hare' system and photo finish installed. The main race distance was 487 yards and facilities included two refreshment bars and a licensed bar. During the 1980s additional race distances of 275, 493 and 680 yards had been introduced. The main races were the St Helens Derby and the majority of races were handicap races.
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The racing was independent (unaffiliated to a governing body) and the hare system was an 'Inside Sumner' with photo finish installed. The promoters of the stadium were Hawthorn Greyhounds Ltd which possibly indicates that it was the same management team that ran the Hawthorn Greyhound Track. The stadium was short lived and is now the Rhiw'r Ddar housing estate close to Taff's Well football ground.
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During the 1930s and 1940s the stadium ran mixed meetings where the greyhound races were supplemented by whippet racing. Joe Grant purchased an extra one and a half acres in 1947 and the track was extended. A McWhiter hare system was installed and the track established itself as one of the leading flapping tracks in the country. Flapping was the nickname given to independent tracks.
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There were two large stands and amenities included a sizeable members social club and snack bar. Racing was held on Friday and Saturday nights at 7.30pm. The track itself was a small circumference of 300 yards enabling distances of 200, 375, 525 and 700 yards. The five dog racing was a mixture of handicap races an level breaks racing with an 'Inside Sumner' hare system in use.
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Racing was held on Tuesday and Saturday evenings at 7.30pm, the circumference of the tracks was 410 yards and consisted of race distances over 306 and 518 yards. There was an 'Inside Sumner' hare system and photo finish apparatus. Amenities included a licensed bar a snack bar and car parking. The greyhounds were housed in kennels located three miles from the stadium in Steeton.
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Dunmore was opened as Belfast's second track after Celtic Park by the United Greyhound Association (Northern Ireland) Ltd. The directors were James McKee (responsible for the McKee/Jim Scott electric hare) and Captain John Ross. The hare system was the first to use an underground wire and it was such a success that McKee and Scott started the M.S Cable Hare Company. McKee also introduced the automatic trap release.
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The first night of racing was held on 31 July 1933 The track circumference as was 434 yards and it was described as a fast, average sized course with short 80-yard straights and banked bends of wide radius. Railers showed a slight advantage and the greyhounds were supplied by the famous GRA Hook Estate and Kennels in Northaw. The hare system was an outside McKee Cable hare.
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The stadium was able to accommodate 20,000 people and facilities included a licensed club and bar. Racing was on Tuesday and Friday evenings at 7.30pm. The track circumference was 430 yards with race distances of 330, 530 and 730 yards and the hare system was an 'Inside Sumner' and annual events called the Somerset Derby, Somerset Cesarewitch, Charrington Cup and Mayors Cup took place. There were ten on course bookmakers.
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The greyhound racing was independent (not affiliated to the sports governing body the National Greyhound Racing Club). It was known as a flapping track which was the nickname given to independent tracks. Racing took place on Monday and Thursday evenings on an all-grass circuit and race distances of 280, 470 and 680 yards behind an 'Inside Sumner' hare system. Facilities included a licensed club and bar and on course bookmakers.
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Racing took place on Tuesday and Saturday evenings at 7.15pm on a track circumference of 410 yards. In 1949 it was featured by the National Coal Board when a television documentary was filmed there. It could accommodate 10,000 spectators and annual events included the Yorkshire Sprint and Yorkshire Derby on the all-grass track. The race distances were 360, 460 and 700 yards with an 'Inside Sumner' hare system.
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Racing was held every Thursday and Saturday evening with trial sessions on a Sunday. The track circumference was 440 metres and race distances of 277, 471, 655 and 877 metres were used. The hare system was an 'Inside Sumner' and annual competitions consisted of the Spring and Summer Cup and Magna Carta Stakes. There was car parking for 150 vehicles and 48 kennels on site with ten on-course bookmakers.
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The racing was independent (not affiliated to the National Greyhound Racing Club) and racing was held on Tuesday nights and Saturday afternoons on a grass track 390 yards in circumference. Race distances were 290, 480 and 675 yards with an inside Sumner hare system. Facilities included a licensed club and free car park with the principal race being the Houghton Feast handicap. There were on course bookmakers and a totalisator in operation.
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The GRA made immediate changes with a new multimillion-pound extension completed during 2000. The old supporters club had been demolished making way for an extension to the grandstand restaurant and addition of three large executive suites. In addition there was a new racing surface and Swaffham hare system costing a further £130,000. The circumference of the track remained at 395 metres, with race distances of 250, 450, 595, 645 and 845 metres.
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Independent (unaffiliated to a governing body) greyhound racing took place at the County Ground Stadium. The opening meeting was held on Saturday 13 December 1930 and the track had a 370-yard circumference with race distances over 250, 440, 620 and 810 metres. The track was described as a tight circuit with an almost square shaped track. Main competitions included the Spring Cup, Derby and St Leger and they had an 'Inside Sumner' hare system.
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By 1960s the McWhirter hare system was replaced by the 'Inside Sumner' on a track measuring a 400 yard circumference with race distances over 300, 500, 710 and 900 yards. Racing was held on Wednesday and Saturday evening at 7.30pm. In 1972 Tom Grant took over from Joe after his death in 1972. During the 1980s and 1990s the track had a covered stand, car parking for 200 vehicles and a computerised totalisator.
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Hislop drafted the Fair Rent Bill, which was introduced by the fifth Atkinson Ministry, and passed through the Lower House. He also introduced labour bills, factory and shop hours, and employers’ liability bills, also building liens and the Truck Act, which, however, were not passed. He was successful in passing the Shipping and Seamen's Act. He also affected some useful legal reforms, and introduced the Representation Bill, a measure based on the Hare system, but this was withdrawn.
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The area contained a strong mining community and attracted patronage from nearby Rotherham, Doncaster and Barnsley. In the 1970s racing was held on Tuesday evenings and Saturday afternoons over 340 and 450 yards. It was an all-grass track and was described as a good galloping track with wide easy bends and an 'Inside Sumner' hare system. By the late 1980s the circumference was 440 metres with race distances of 260, 304, 414, 590 and 740 metres.
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The stadium was up for sale in November 1932 for the sum of £150,000. It is believed that the sale eventually took place several years later sometime around 1936 when Shand sold it to the Anfield Greyhound and Sports Club Limited. The circuit was described as a fair-size course with the surface thatched all year round for insulation. There was an 'Outside Sumner' hare system and facilities included a large Members Club situated in the best enclosure.
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Pay was later replaced by Hendon Racing Manager D G Lewis before Michael Marksbecame Racing Manager for three decades until the day the stadium closed. The stadium offered eight buffet and licensed bars during racing held on Thursday and Saturday nights at 7.45pm. The circuit had a circumference of 472 yards and the greyhounds raced behind an 'Outside Sumner' hare system. Trainers in the 1960s included Annetts, Reg Bosley, Brown, Colebrooke, Cox, Paddy Gordon, Hedley and Lionel Maxen.
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During the 1950s and 1960s racing was held on Tuesday evenings with trial sessions on a Sunday. The track had an 'Inside Sumner' hare system and race distances of 300, 515 and 700 yards. By the 1980s racing was held on Tuesday and Saturday and facilities included a glass fronted stand with car parking for 300 vehicles. The Halfway House pub on Belvoir Road backed on to the track acting as licensed facility for the stadium.
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The sum of the candidates' vote totals below do not equal the votes cast recorded here because of the number of spoiled ballots, an unfortunate by-product of STV. 15,130 valid ballots were cast in Edmonton in this election. Under the STV procedure used (the Hare system), the quota necessary to win a seat was 3026 (15,130 divided by 5, the number of seats being contested). Prevey and Duggan won seats without the quota in the last counts, after other candidates were dropped out.
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The idea of constructing a greyhound track in Middlesbrough came from Jack French who formed the National Greyhounds Middlesbrough Ltd. An eleven-acre site of former allotments in the Ayresome Ward, south of the River Tees and directly south of the Tees Marshalling Yard Railways and Stockton Road Tramway was chosen in 1928. Originally the greyhound track had a circumference of and used a Mono-Rail type hare system running on a bogie which would later be replaced by an 'Inside Sumner' in 1939.
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The opening meeting was held on Christmas Day 1934, with the first winner being a greyhound called 'Must Win' who recorded a winning time of 27.07secs. During the war, Lord Haw-Haw famously said, "This week the people of Easington will be eating greyhounds not racing them". During the 1960s and 1970s, racing was directed by Mrs H Taylor and distances raced were 270, 460, 525 and 640 yards on 380 track circumference. There were 70 kennels and a Ball hare system was used.
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The Midland Greyhound Racing Co Ltd also owned Monmore Green Stadium which housed the greyhounds attached to Willenhall. The 'Outside Sumner' hare system was added in 1938 with distances becoming 400 and 565 yards. Willenhall suffered considerable disruption during the war and remained closed from 1943 to 1945 before the stadium re-opened in June 1946 before a crowd of 3,500, sixty bookmakers and having the benefit of the industry’s peak spending period. Peter Cartwright replaced Turnpenny who moved to the Derby Greyhound Stadium.
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During the 1960s the track raced on Monday and Friday. The circuit was large with a circumference of 440 yards resulting in race distances of 285, 358, 453, 480, 510 and 700 yards. The hare system was an 'Inside Sumner' and races were both level break races (normal) and handicap races. By 1985 the stadium was owned by Albert Ullyett and J Liles and facilities had improved with veterinary surgeon attendance, a totalisator, car parking for 400 vehicles, a new stand and refreshment bar.
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A seven-year lease had been agreed despite reservations from the Football Association. The Racing Manager was T F Fenton- Livingstone and the timekeeper was Les Cox who would later become Racing Manager at Romford Greyhound Stadium. The circuit was 465 yards in circumference and was described as a particularly easy galloping track with good straights which gradually merge into the banked bends. The hare system was an 'Outside Sumner' and the racing kennels were located behind the east stand that now included a restaurant and the Greycing Club with dance floor.
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The stadium was known as the Rochester and Chatham Sports Stadium when it first hosted greyhound racing on 1 June 1936. When it opened it in 1936 it became the 55th National Greyhound Racing Club licensed track that year. It had a course circumference of 455 yards and was described as a good sized course with long straights but fairly difficult turns proving difficult for wide runners but with a good run-in to the finish. There was an 'Outside Sumner' hare system and race distances of 275, 525, 480 and 700 yards.
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In 1935 the BGTCS disbanded leaving Oldham with independent status (unaffiliated to a governing body) and the track chose not to become affiliated with the NGRC. In the 1960s the track raced on Thursday evenings running graded races and handicap races. In 1983 the track celebrated fifty years as a flapper (nickname for independents); racing had been extended to Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday evenings with a trial session on a Sunday. The circumference was listed as 350 yards with race distances of 240, 417, 585 and 767 yards behind an 'Inside Sumner' hare system.
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It would be the only recorded instance of a Southampton greyhound competing in major races. The track layout was described as a fair-sized course, 393 yards in circumference with easy bends and short straights. The hare system used was an 'Inside Sumner'. Although the track did not have a principal event they did hold a race called the "Patrons Nominations Sweepstakes", for 36 runners which were nominated by their owners with the winner from each of the six heats going forward to the final to receive prizes.
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Only Gateshead and South Shields remained in the combine following the withdrawal of Stanley. On Saturday 2 October 1954 the track re-opened to independent racing with the press reporting a packed house and it remained as a 'flapper' (nickname for unaffiliated tracks) afterwards. Throughout the 1960s racing took place on Thursday and Saturday nights at 7.15pm over distances of 277, 460 and 637 yards behind an 'Inside Sumner' hare system. The main races hosted at the track were the Sprint Classic, Stanley Derby and Stanley St Leger.
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The hare system was an 'Inside Sumner' and the racing kennels were behind the main grandstand but parallel to the railway line, the resident kennels could be found adjoining the stadium on the south side alongside Slutchers Lane. The stadium came under the control of Clapton Stadium Ltd in the early 1950s which resulted in the leading trainer Jowett was moving to Clapton Stadium. The Director of Racing was Eric Godfrey and the Racing Manager was H Hunt. Clapton Stadium Ltd owned five tracks that consisted of Clapton, Reading, Slough, Warrington and South Shields.
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The healthy bank balance of the New Cross Greyhounds Ltd Company and the GRA allowed the construction of three new covered stands, two on the home straight and one on the back straight. Restaurant buffet bars, tea buffet bars and licensed bars were to be found in all three enclosures. In 1946 a new competition called the Greenwich Cup was introduced at the track. The hare system used was a 'Sumner' and the kennel facilities for the New Cross trainers were situated at nearby Silwood Street within ten minutes walking distance of the track.
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The racing is independent (unaffiliated to a governing body) and is believed to have started in 1939. In the 1980s the track had a circumference of 350 yards and race over distances of 225, 425m and 600 metres with an Inside Sumner hare system. Described as a tight circuit with a short run to the first bend it had a club house and car park for 100 vehicles. Today race distances remain as 225, 425 and 600 metres and the track also runs some races for whippets and lurchers.
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Greyhound racing arrived on 28 April 1967 with the racing being independent (not affiliated to the sports governing body the National Greyhound Racing Club). The track hosted one of the biggest independent races in the country called the Blackpool Derby and the seaside track ran every Monday, Wednesday and Friday evening with an additional fixture on Saturday evenings during summer. The track had an 'Outside Sumner' hare system and fourteen bookmakers on course. In 1968 new American type lighting was installed at the cost of £5,000 and one year later a new totalisator was installed.
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Greyhound racing started on 29 February 1988 and the first race was won by Go Ben Go. The greyhound racing was independent (not affiliated to the sports governing body the National Greyhound Racing Club) and was known as a flapping track, which was the nickname given to independent tracks. Racing took place on Monday and Saturday evenings. The track circumference was 410 yards, with original race distances of 310, 525, 650 and 710 yards. The hare system was an 'Inside Sumner' and the track had long straights and exceptionally wide bends.
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The track characteristics were described as a very handy and sharp little track, 322 yards in circumference (the smallest in Britain) with bends that are well banked and perfect going was ensured throughout the year with the aid of an automatic watering system. Distances were 400, 555 and 715 yards with an 'Inside McWhirter Trackless' hare system and ray timing and photo finish were also installed. The home straight contained the main grandstand and club with hare control and judges box opposite the winning post. The members club was a spacious modern club room with fully licensed bar and buffet.
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Darnall owned by the Associated Greyhound Racecourse Ltd (AGR Ltd) had a rival when in 1929 Owlerton Stadium was constructed. AGR Ltd opened a second track called the Burnley Greyhound Stadium in September 1927 and also secured the lease at Craven Park, Hull before going bankrupt during 1931. Darnall continued to trade under a company called the Darnall Greyhound Racecourse Company Ltd and the totalisator turnover figures increased steadily throughout the war years up until a peak in 1946. The track itself was 393 yards in circumference with distances of 475, 530 and 650 yards behind an 'Inside McWhirter' hare system.
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The Gosforth Stadium Greyhound Racing Company Ltd established the track being just behind Brough Park in terms of totalisator turnover and attendances. Following the closure of White City Stadium in Newcastle in 1951 the Racing Manager Mr Greggs joined Gosforth before Mr Martin became Racing Manager succeeded by Mr Slater in 1959. Just like White City the majority of the greyhounds were owned by the company and trained by the resident trainers resulting in very little open race action. Racing took place on Monday and Friday evenings at 7.30pm on a peat surface with an 'Inside Sumner' hare system.
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It being relatively low means that the largest party is likely to take the majority of the seats in a district. The Hare quota, which was used in the original proposals by Thomas Hare, ensures greater representation to less-popular parties within a district. The easiest methods of transferring surpluses involve an element of randomness; partially random systems, such as the Hare system, are used in the Republic of Ireland (except Senate elections) and in Malta, among other places. The Gregory method (also known as Newland-Britain or Senatorial rules) eliminates randomness by allowing for the transfer of fractions of votes.
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The whippet racing gradually disappeared and was replaced entirely by the greyhound racing. The racing was independent (not affiliated to the sports governing body the National Greyhound Racing Club) and it was known as a flapping track which was the nickname given to independent tracks. The stadium offered basic facilities with a fully licensed bar (serving Barnsley bitter), lounge area and snack bar in the main stand with panoramic views of the racing. The track was all-grass, 330 yards in circumference and used an 'Inside Sumner' hare system with race distances of 400, 500, 650 and 800 yards.
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A greyhound racing track was constructed on the final turn inside the racecourse in 1974 following the closure of the Halfway Greyhound Track in Kingskerswell. The opening night was 2 May 1974 and races featured regularly until 2005. The track featured a grandstand that could be dismantled when horse racing took place, it was all-sand circuit and had an 'Inside Sumner' hare system. The greyhound racing was independent (not affiliated to the sports governing body the National Greyhound Racing Club) and was known as a flapping track which was the nickname given to independent tracks.
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The greyhound racing was independent (not affiliated to the sports governing body the National Greyhound Racing Club) and was known as a flapping track which was the nickname given to independent tracks. Built in 1927 Warwick is believed to be one of the first flapping tracks to be constructed but did not trade continuously until 2007. The track had a 360 metre circumference with sharp second and third bends with race distances of 90, 275, 450, 610 and 810 metres. Principal events were the Warwick St Leger and Warwick and an 'Outside Sumner' hare system was used.
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In 1952 the track underwent changes, the circumference was shortened to 435 metres and the Inside MacWhirter Trackless hare system was replaced by an Outside McKee Scott. Three of the most well-known owners the all ran their greyhounds at Wembley; the trio of George Flintham, Noel Purvis and Norman Dupont purchased and owned many of the sports leading greyhounds. In 1953, which was the year Elvin died, 30,000 people watched the final of the St Leger with Magourna Reject and the race was screened on television. John Jolliffe had taken over as Racing Manager in the late 1940s and he recruited Jack Tetlow as his deputy.
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Speedway took place in 1947 and ran until 1950 with the speedway track inside the greyhound circuit and pits behind the main stand. The greyhound circuit consisted of race distances over 268, 500 and 700 yards races and appointed race days in 1949 were Monday and Friday at 7.30pm. It was described as an average size course with a 432 yards circumference and an 'Outside Sumner' hare system. Facing the Watling Street side (the back straight) was a covered stand and a Junior Club with refreshments and on the home straight was the main covered stand and Senior Club featuring a restaurant and snack bar.
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After the war the circuit was 428 yards in circumference with long 125 yard straights and a good run-up but bends were described as very sharp. The Outside M.S Cable hare system was in operation with distances of 280, 500 and 650 yards being used. The north covered stand was called the popular enclosure and had a licensed club next to it and there was also a smaller south covered stand with an enclosure separating a further covered popular enclosure and licensed club. Unusually the hare control was between the first and second bends but the small judge's box was directly next to the winning line.
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The paddock and racing kennels were situated near the first bend with the resident and isolation kennels set further back on the second bend. It was described as a very good galloping track with long 100 yard straights and easy bends with a 550-yard distance in one circuit behind an 'Inside Sumner' hare system. By 1940 the distances were established as 325, 525, 550 and 700 yards and were verified with a racecard notice by the NGRC's official measurer Mr G E Marshall. As the war approached business remained steady under the leadership of General Manager Mr J A Melville and the Racing Manager Mr T Greggs.
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It was the end for Dagenham as the company sold the track for £185,000 to a packaging business. Training appointments towards the end of the decade and start of the 1970s included John Coleman and Terry Duggan and in 1975 a second feature event was added to the tracks portfolio when they introduced the Romford Puppy Cup. During 1976 Arthur Leggett, the Managing Director, on behalf of the company agreed the sale of Romford to Corals. The new owners invested heavily into the track building a new grandstand which included a state of the art glass-fronted restaurant, the tote and hare system were also replaced.
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The hare system was an 'Inside Sumner' and amenities included a steak bar, 2 buffet bars and 4 licensed bars. In 1971 Slough and Reading changed to the contract trainer system, a policy that many stadia had adopted and three years later in 1974 sister track Clapton closed resulting in the prestigious Classic the Scurry Gold Cup being transferred to Slough. The 1977 running of the Scurry ended with a three-way battle between two promising newcomers Wired To Moon and Cahurmore Speech and defending champion Xmas Holiday. Cahurmore Speech broke the Slough track record in the semi-finals before finishing runner up to Wired To Moon in the final with Xmas Holiday finishing third.
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Dungannon became the third Northern Irish greyhound track behind Celtic Park and Dunmore Stadium in July 1930. Being a greyhound track in Northern Ireland it was neither under the jurisdiction of the National Greyhound Racing Club which was the governing body for UK Tracks or the Bord na gCon (the Irish Greyhound Board) which is the governing body for Irish tracks, the latter did however publish the results for Northern Ireland. The track was 485 yards in circumference and racing took place every Tuesday or Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday evening and used an Outside Sumner hare system. The Ulster Oaks was introduced in 1970 establishing itself as the main event run at the track.
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During the 1960s the independent track used an 'Inside Sumner' hare system and had race distances of 300, 500 and 700 yards, race day was Monday at 7pm and there was a licensed club for patrons and 60 kennels for the greyhounds. By 1980 there were additional race nights on Thursday and Saturday evenings and there were six bookmakers in attendance with trials held on a Sunday. The immediate area had changed significantly over the years with a very large Merrington Lane Industrial Estate constructed to the south-east and the smaller Coulson Industrial Estate to the north replacing the old miners housing. Changes also took place at the stadium with a development company owning it at one stage before Neville Porter purchased it in 1991.
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In 1930 the stadium opened its first restaurant and the stands were renovated becoming covered stands. The first Managing Director was H.Garland Wells who was joint vice president of the National Greyhound Racing Society and the company were called Clapton Stadium Ltd and also owned Reading, and later South Shields and Warrington. Clapton was described as a small difficult course with short straights (76 yards) and easy bends on a circumference of 359 yards with the hare system being a 'Centre Scott Magee Silent'. The nearby training quarters at Claverhambury Farm in Waltham Abbey had two hundred acres of grassland in rural surroundings with six resident trainers and six ranges of kennels with each range having a five acre plot for exercising.
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Totalisator turnover in 1946 was £1,549,732. The principal event was the St Dunstan’s Trophy over 525 yards and distances by were 362 and 525 yards behind an 'Inside Sumner' hare system and it was not long before undersoil heating was also installed. During the 1950s the Racing Manager Mr B Pash was replaced by Mr F Sharpe and controversy ensued in 1957 over a situation that involved the owner and General Manager, eighty year old Elias Jolley. Jolley had to stand trial after being accused of widespread rigging of tote odds and destroying evidence but by the mid-1960s Mr Jolley took a back seat with General and Racing Manager Mr F W Shaw ensuring that the racing was conducted correctly.
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The greyhound racing only lasted until April 1934 when the whole operation went up for auction as a result of liquidation. Advertised as the Audenshaw Greyhound Racing and Sports Ground the offer included 21½ acres of freehold land with a half mile cinder track suitable for speedway, a 460 yards greyhound oval and a track suitable for trotting or athletic meetings. Other items included in the sale were the Sumner electric hare system, one hundred company owned greyhounds, kennels, stables, stand accommodation, members club house, floodlighting and a public address system. It is believed that the site had been subject to housing redevelopment since March 1930 and the local corporation must have become involved due to the fact that the whole site was demolished and became housing soon after.
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The track was described in 1947 as having a 347-yard circumference with straights of 95 yards, the inside draw offering a slight advantage. Distances were now 400 and 500 yards behind an 'Outside Sumner' hare system with the principal events consisting of the Durham Cup and South Shields Cup. It is known that Clapton Stadium Ltd had a financial interest in the track; the Managing Director H Garland Wells had been in the forefront of negotiations to purchase Reading Stadium in 1934 and Slough Stadium in 1936. It is not quite clear when the track came under the Clapton Stadium Ltd group but it is known that the Director of Racing in the 1950s was Eric Godfrey, the same man that was the Director of Racing at all Clapton Stadium tracks.
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However the project did not go ahead and following much deliberation towards the end of 2008 it was decided that the financial position of Kilkenny made it no longer viable to operate. After the meeting on 30 January 2009 the track closed its doors until further notice. However a group of local owners, breeders and supporters got together forming the Kilkenny Track Supporters Club and re-opened Kilkenny on 17 May 2009, they met with the IGB and agreed a funding policy and re-laid the entire track surface in addition to installing new rails and a new hare system. Despite the small nature of the track it is regarded as an important contributor to the local economy and is still supported strongly by the same Kilkenny Track Supporters Club.
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Arthur 'Doc' Callanan joined the training ranks in 1931 which included Alf Mulliner, Thomas Cudmore, Bob Burls, Sidney Probert and Jim Syder Sr. The track characteristics were described as a fast galloping track 463 yards in circumference with long straights and easy turns, it was also noted that the track was well kept and well turfed but the course was too rigorous for the smaller type of dog and an 'Inside MacWhirter Trackless' hare system was used. The greyhounds were kept on site in the grounds of the stadium with facilities found on the left hand side of the famous Twin Towers, they included six sets of kennels housing 300 greyhounds in total with incorporated kitchens, each had its own paddock area and they were situated next door to the racing and administration offices. In addition there were isolation kennels for sick greyhounds, a large training gallop a large paddock by the racing kennels, and a veterinary surgery. The racing kennels were only on race nights.
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Despite opening close to the start of Second World War the stadium flourished causing the authorities to question issues such as the use of public transport for non essential travel and the morality of racing during the war. In 1942 the track was subject to an identity swoop by military police looking for service absentees and civilians with defective identity cards. In December 1941 two teenagers carrying a ladder hit an overhanging electric cable killing 16 year old Harold Brindley and badly burning his friend 17 year old John Love and in March 1944 West Ham Stadium switched their racing to Dagenham for a short time whilst the West Ham track was closed. The circuit had a circumference of 380 yards and was therefore described as a little track with sharp turns favouring railers, the distances raced were 460 and 650 yards and the greyhounds raced behind a 'Trackless McWhirter' hare system.
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