Oxford Stadium

Oxford Stadium is a former greyhound racing[1] and speedway venue in Oxford, located in Sandy Lane, Cowley.

Oxford Stadium

Location	Sandy Lane, Cowley, Oxfordshire, OX4 6LJ
Coordinates	51°43′35″N 1°12′1″W
Owner	Risk Capital Partners
Surface	Sand
Construction
Opened	31 March 1939
Renovated	1986
Expanded	2000
Closed	2012

Races were historically held every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday evening with afternoon BAGS (Bookmakers Afternoon Greyhound Service) racing on Friday and Sunday. Race evenings also included Friday evenings at various times throughout the history of the stadium.

Stadium facilities

There was a 350-seater grandstand restaurant overlooking the track, with three executive suites and large general public areas named after some of Oxford's most successful greyhounds Sandwinder, Security Sam, Self Made and Perth Pat. Conference and business facilities were also available. There is a go-karting track enclosed within the speedway track, which is popular among Oxfordshire residents.

Origins

The stadium was constructed in 1938 on the site of a 'flapping' (non regulated) track where owners could turn up and run their greyhounds around an oval on the days selected for racing. The rear wheel of a jacked up motor car was used to drive the lure around the track.[2] The location was on Sandy Lane, in Cowley, Oxfordshire and was a short walk from the famous Oxford motor factories built by Morris Motors.[3]

The back straight was adjacent to the Great Western Railway Thame Branch line (now the BMW freight line). A main grandstand building was erected and the stadium joined the regulatory governing body of the National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC).[4] The owner of the land at the time was a Mr Johnson, and he agreed a 99-year lease with a Mr Leslie Vernon Calcutt.

Speedway

Main article: Oxford Cheetahs

Speedway was an integral part of the stadium and was run every year from 1939 up to 2008. The team known as the Oxford Cheetahs won the United Kingdom's premier competition five times. They were champions in 1964, 1985, 1986, 1989 and 2001. The facilities remain intact today.

Speedway at Oxford Stadium

Speedway at Oxford in 1981

Greyhound racing

Opening

The inaugural race night was on 31 March 1939 and was officially opened by Lord Denham with races over 310, 525 and 735 yards. The track trainers were Bill Davies, Bill Higgins, Paddy Mullins and Mr Preston. The first race was won by Hunting Snipe the 2-1 favourite.[5]

1940s

During the second world war the track closed and reopened on several occasions but generally raced on Saturday afternoons. In 1941 Leslie Calcutt purchased Irish Grand National winner 'The Gunner' for £400 and the Jack Young trained hurdler won 11 successive open races drawing in large crowds and in 1943 Dark Tiger won the Trafalgar Cup.[2]

In 1944 a fire destroyed the main stand, it was reported that a newspaper had blown onto a heater. Also in 1944 Winnie of Berrow won the Eclipse Stakes.[6]

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. Amenities included the Oxford Stadium club 5s enclosure, Oxford Stadium racing club 2s 3d enclosure.[4]

In 1947 Calcutt was appointed as Director of Bristol Greyhound Racing Association Ltd and one year later Narrogar Ann won the Western Two-Year Old Produce Stakes.[7]

1950s

In the summer of 1952 Leslie Calcutt fell ill and had to go to hospital for a major operation, whilst recuperating at Acland nursing home he suffered a relapse and died 3 August aged just 49. The Bristol Greyhound Racing Association was soon to change their name to Bristol Stadium Ltd and they took control of Oxford following the death of Calcutt. Kensington Perfection won the 1952 British Breeders Produce Stakes Finals at Catford Stadium and Stamford Bridge and the 1953 Eastville Stadium Produce Stakes and Regency.[2]

Owner-trainers were allowed to race their greyhounds at the track and included Paddy Sweeney a respected veterinary surgeon. In 1957 Racing Manager John Hare introduced the Two Year Old Produce Stakes. Bill Higgins (10) and Jack Young (9) won the first 19 Oxford trainer championship titles between them from 1939-1957. Higgins died in 1958 and was replaced by Joe Farrand for a second spell at Oxford. [2]

1960s

Drum Major II recorded a fiftieth track win in 1961 and in 1964 the Oxfordshire Stakes was introduced. In 1967 Oxford was one of the first four tracks to be awarded an inaugural BAGS (Bookmakers Afternoon Greyhound Service) contract along with Hackney, Kings Heath and Park Royal. The decade ended with new investment which saw a new supporters club building constructed, it would be used for functions.[2]

1970s

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.[2]

In 1975 Bristol Stadium Ltd agreed a deal worth £235,000 with the Oxford City Council housing committee. A group formed SOS (Save Our Stadium) and a petition with 27,000 names was lodged with the council. Local MP Michael Heseltine called for a public meeting which gave SOS the chance to find a buyer. The stadium closed on 31 December 1975 until further notice but reopened during March 1976 and eventually found a buyer in 1977 when Northern Sports purchased the track for £250,000. The threat of permanent closure had been prevented by David Hawkins the Managing Director of Northern Sports.[2]

1980s

The resident kennels were demolished in 1980 because the contract trainers were now employed and one of the trainers called Jack Coker reached the final of the 1980 English Greyhound Derby with Young Breeze. In 1981 Careless Dragon trained by Jim Morgan won the Trafalgar Cup one year before Northern Sports announced plans to invest heavily into Oxford and sister track Ramsgate Stadium. Mick Wheble arrived as Racing Manager in 1984, Joe Farrand retired after 45 years as a trainer and Arthur Hitch won the 1984 BBC TV Trophy with Weston Prelude.

The investment promised came to fruition in 1986 when Northern Sports spent £1.5 million on a new three tier grandstand restaurant and sports centre including squash courts, a snooker club, gymnasium, sauna and various other facilities. The stadium underwent considerable success with significant increases in attendances and totalisator turnover. Charity events featured appearances from Desert Orchid, Bob Champion, Henry Cooper, Jenny Pitman and many others. The sports leading trainer Geoff De Mulder joined the track and the speedway team became the leading team in the United Kingdom with four times World Champion Hans Nielsen as their captain.[2]

In 1987 Sandwinder trained by Vicky Holloway became the track champion and in 1988 the Pall Mall Stakes was switched from the closing Harringay Stadium to Oxford. The first running was won by Fearless Ace and the winning trophy was presented by George Best. As the 1980s ended Maurice Massey won a fifth trainers track title.[2]

1990s

The recent success had made Oxford one of the leading provincial tracks in the UK and the first ever Derby success came in 1994 when Ringa Hustle trained by Tony Meek won the 1994 English Greyhound Derby. Kind of Magic won the 1993 Scurry Gold Cup for Litzi Miller who herself would win eight trainers titles. However, as the 90s progressed Northern Sports parent company Hawkins of Harrow were beginning to suffer from the recession that was affecting their other business interests in construction and garden centres.[2]

In 1995 Hawkins of Harrow called in the receivers and Oxford was made a going concern. The stadium attracted a list of potential buyers but it was Donald Joyce a former member of SOS who purchased the stadium in 1996 and then sold it on for a considerable profit to the Greyhound Racing Association (GRA) in 1999.[8]

2000-2012

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.

A classic race called the Cesarewitch switched to Oxford from Catford in 2001 and the major competitions were screened live on SKY television.[9] Angie Kibble won six trainers titles and traditional boxing day meetings continued to draw in a capacity attendance from the local population. The stadium continued to be frequented by the famous which included Ant & Dec, Zara Phillips and Vinnie Jones.[2]

Closure

The closure of the stadium was sealed when GRA's parent company Wembley plc was broken apart and GRA were subject to a takeover by Risk Capital Partners with development partner Galliard Homes in 2005 for £52.4m. Plans for 150 houses and 75 flats were mooted but the council publicly stated they were in favour of keeping the site for leisure use.[10] The racing continued for seven years until the GRA closed the stadium with the last greyhound meeting was held on 29 December 2012 in front of a capacity crowd with the last winner being Moorstown Mystiq trained by Richard Baker.

Competitions

During the year there were five main greyhound events held at Oxford up until the end of 2012, they were -

• The prestigious Pall Mall Stakes (450 m)
• The original classic race The Cesarewitch (645 m)
• The Trafalgar Cup for puppies (450 m)
• The Oxfordshire Stakes (Greyhounds) (450 m)
• The Oxfordshire Gold Cup (450 m)
• The Two Year Old Produce Stakes (450 m - discontinued in 1975).

Track records

At closing

Distance metres	Greyhound	Time	Date	Trainer
250	Miss Lee	14.65 sec	24 March 2009	David Pruhs
450	Up For Sam	26.20 sec	11 February 2010	Carol Weatherall
595	Bower Turbo	35.87 sec	25 March 2008	Richard Yeates
645	Primitive Way	38.98 sec	25 March 2008	David Pruhs
845	Tralee Crazy	52.16 sec	22 March 1998	Nick Savva
1040	Honeygar Belle	67.63 sec	14 November 1989	Peter Billingham
450 H	Druids Mickey Joe	27.12 sec	5 April 2005	Seamus Cahill
645 H	Bozy Blue Blaze	40.94 sec	6 February 2001	John Mullins

Former (Pre-metric)

Yards	Greyhound	Time	Trainer	Date		Yards	Greyhound	Time	Trainer	Date
290	Golden Monarch II	16.26	Mrs.V.Bevis	17.07.1948		500	Lucky Me	27.87	Len Drewery	04.07.1967
290	Gortnagory	16.16	P.J.Power	18.09.1948		500	Lucky Me	27.79	Len Drewery	07.07.1967
310	Hunting Castle	17.86	Bill Higgins	10.04.1939		500	Billy The Mink	27.74	Cutler	18.08.1967
310	Oldcastletown Hope	17.52	Jimmy Rimmer	13.04.1939		500	Discretions	27.70	David Geggus	23.08.1968
310	Manhattan Mercury	17.48	Bill Savage	19.05.1939		525	Connors Company	30.05	Paddy Mullins	14.04.1939
310	Hot Knight	17.44	Philip Dooley	27.06.1939		525	Grosvenor Friendship	30.05	Jim Syder Sr.	26.07.1940
310	John Reaper	17.36	Jack Young	20.09.1940		525	Much Jay	29.99	Bill Davies	13.06.1941
310	Galtee Ham	17.36	Bill Davies	09.11.1940		525	Whitey Marsh	29.95	Jack Young	10.03.1945
310	Galtee Ham	17.28	Bill Davies	23.11.1940		525	Garnaman Invader	29.85	Bill Higgins	17.03.1945
310	Black Invasion	17.26	Bill Higgins	24.05.1947		525	Winnie of Berrow	29.84	Joe Farrand	20.07.1945
455	Earl of Kilally	26.22	Reg Holland	24.07.1948		525	Good West End	29.84	Bill Higgins	28.04.1946
455	Lucky Stoker	26.15	Bill Gigg	24.08.1948		525	Ryans Rose	29.78	Jack Young	17.05.1946
455	Knocker's Latest	26.00	J.P.H.Bott	07.09.1948		525	Latest Surprise	29.55	Lilah Shennan	16.08.1947
475	Lord Peter	27.88	Jack Young	24.03.1945		715	Northam Star	41.18	Leslie Reynolds	06.07.1948
475	Sound Touch	27.59	Jack Young	07.04.1945		715	Come Up First	40.72	Bob Burls	13.07.1948
475	Anglesey Angel	27.45	Paddy Boyle	14.06.1945		715	Carmen Lad	40.95*	Unknown	09.08.1964
475	Special Display	27.40	Unknown	1945		715	Loyal Blue	40.89	George Waterman	03.05.1963
475	Please Peter	27.39	G Scadgell	05.08.1946		735	Duke McNab	42.80	Bill Davies	10.04.1939 dh
475	Please Peter	27.22	G Scadgell	05.08.1946		735	Courtenay Nigger	42.80	Paddy Mullins	10.04.1939 dh
475	Rushbrooke Bob	27.04	Stan Raymond	23.08.1946		735	Milton Maggie	42.25	Culley	21.04.1939
500	Colin Ranger	28.60	Norman Merchant	03.07.1948		735	Nazeing Ambitious	43.39	Unknown	1946
500	Pembroke Fair	28.32	Jack Young	06.07.1948		735	Mischievous Red	43.20	C Crowley	20.08.1946
500	Patsys Record	28.24	Fred Farey	13.07.1948		735	Mayfair Mite	42.92	Leslie Reynolds	26.06.1948
500	Pembroke Fair	28.15	Jack Young	13.07.1948		915	Jesters King	54.54	Unknown	07.04.1964
500	Don Gipsey	28.04	Leslie Reynolds	14.09.1948		500 H	Muncross Dan	29.95	Hugh Kennedy	26.08.1949
500	Kensington Perfection	28.25*	Bill Higgins	11.05.1954		500 H	Outlaw O'Leer	29.59	Jack Chadwick	19.06.1954
500	Lauradella Champion	28.19	Unknown	1963		500 H	Outlaw O'Leer	29.48	Jack Chadwick	27.05.1955
500	Lindsay Sue	28.12	Henry Kibble	20.08.1965		500 H	Drealistown Leader	29.60*	Ernie Westcott	03.05.1963
500	Tony's Blaze	28.10	Frank White	20.08.1965		525 H	Brindled Beggar	30.91	Culley	30.06.1939
500	Orphan Swan	28.10	Paddy McEvoy	27.08.1965		525 H	Gypsy Win	30.82	W Franks	26.04.1943
500	Thats Airy	28.01	Geoff De Mulder	19.08.1966		525 H	What A Lad	30.70	Jack Young	25.09.1943
500	Laughing Flame	27.94	Peter Collett	19.08.1966		525 H	Baytown Brougham	30.60	Bill Higgins	21.04.1945
500	Tell Nobody	27.88	Eric Adkins	19.08.1966

* After the introduction of ray timing

Former (Post-metric) [11]

Yards	Greyhound	Time	Trainer	Date		Yards	Greyhound	Time	Trainer	Date
250	Start Again	15.61	Jim Morgan	25.03.77		595	Little Honcho	36.18	Linda Pruhs	05.02.05
250	Tonapandy	15.31	Maurice Massey	03.02.79		595	Bower Turbo	35.87	Richard Yeates	25.03.08
250	Ballybeg Sailor	15.29	Vicky Holloway	1984		645	Black Beetle	40.93	Henry Kibble	11.05.76
250	Westmead Account	15.28	Terry Atkins	05.10.85		645	Hunscote Dan	40.80	Brian Price	31.05.76
250	Hardy Champ	15.10	Geoff De Mulder	23.11.85		645	Black Beetle	40.21	Henry Kibble	08.06.76
250	Rapid Mover	15.10	John Wiseman	23.06.87		645	Hunscote Dan	40.19	Brian Price	07.09.76
250	Debbys Lad	14.96	Tony Meek	28.10.88		645	Ballybeg Delight	39.92	Vicky Holloway	13.10.79
250	Kirks Late Again	14.95	Gloria Stringer	10.05.05		645	Lugwardine Lord	39.70	Ann Finch	07.10.86
250	Ballymac Gloria	14.88	Nick Colton	14.03.06		645	Run Free	39.46	Tony Meek	11.11.86
250	Blonde Chico	14.76	John Mullins	12.06.07		645	Aztec Sun	39.39	Nick Savva	22.03.98
250	Jacksheaboy	14.71	Afzal Ali	08.04.08		645	Black Pear	39.36	Wayne Wrighting	05.08.04
250	Miss Lee	14.65	David Pruhs	24.03.09		645	Primitive Way	38.98	David Pruhs	25.03.08
450	Clear Reason	27.50	Mrs Dorin Clark	12.07.74		845	Donovans Bar	54.61	Des Ellington	1975
450	By Chance	27.32	Henry Kibble	03.10.75		845	Askinvillar King	54.29	J Hammond	18.03.77
450	Dale Silver	27.30	Jim Morgan	04.05.76		845	Gan On Rita	54.19	Ted Dickson	10.11.79
450	Oulartwick Kybo	27.19	Unknown	1976		845	Gan On Rita	53.90	Ted Dickson	25.04.80
450	Greenfield Fox	27.18	Terry O'Sullivan	04.10.77		845	Crickets Delight	53.49	Vicky Holloway	17.09.82
450	Rathduff Spring	27.13	Geoff De Mulder	07.10.77		845	Jaroadel	52.91	Bertie Gaynor	20.08.86
450	Rathduff Spring	27.03	Geoff De Mulder	14.10.77		845	Tralee Crazy	52.16	Nick Savva	22.03.98
450	First General	26.97	Tommy Johnston	05.10.79		450 H	Right Arkle	28.42	Ted Dickson	10.11.79
450	Nippy Law	26.90	Geoff De Mulder	29.09.84		450 H	Hunday Doss	28.35	Unknown	1980
450	Parkers Sage	26.89	Bertie Gaynor	28.09.85		450 H	Shyan Trader	28.19	Phil Rees	1980
450	Local Fan	26.87	Derek Law	28.06.88		450 H	Tom View Yard	28.19	Unknown	1981
450	Money Matters	26.81	Geoff De Mulder	27.08.88		450 H	Cushie Sandy	28.19	Paddy McEvoy	02.04.82
450	Fearless Ace	26.80	Theo Mentzis	25.03.89		450 H	Growing Power	28.05	Norah McEllistrim	1983
450	Carmels Prince	26.72	Michael Compton	20.10.90		450 H	Burgess Rocket	27.85	Jim Morgan	05.10.85
450	Droopys Eric	26.64	Henry Tasker	14.03.98		450 H	Trelawney	27.81	Vicky Holloway	18.02.87
450	Seskin Judy	26.62	Angie Kibble	17.03.98		450 H	Cygnet Man	27.49	Tommy Foster	10.01.89
450	Lets Go Ebby	26.61	Tony Meek	17.03.98		450 H	Faoides Country	27.47	Terry Kibble	24.08.91
450	Farloe Club	26.57	Terry Dartnall	17.03.00		450 H	Lord Pat	27.34	Ron Bicknell	07.03.00
450	Droopys Keegan	26.57	Brian Clemenson	09.12.03		450 H	Enjoy Your Luck	27.32	Jason Foster	18.07.00
450	Paramount Silver	26.37	Paul Liddle	01.04.05		450 H	Born To Go	27.25	Tommy Foster	14.08.01
450	Up For Sam	26.20	Carol Weatherall	11.02.10		450 H	Druids Mickey Jo	27.12	Seamus Cahill	05.04.05
595	Black Toto	37.51	Gilly Hepden	24.05.01		645 H	Keen Fowler	41.89	Andy Agnew	14.05.82
595	Graceful Amy	37.34	Steve Davis	29.05.01		645 H	Monarch Tom	41.63	Norah McEllistrim	19.01.85
595	Magpie Express	36.91	Ron Bicknell	23.06.01		645 H	Trap Flier	41.45	Norah McEllistrim	19.07.88
595	El Tara	36.75	Angie Kibble	14.08.01		645 H	Mixer Mick	41.17	Gordon Hodson	25.10.88
595	Easy Dilemma	36.70	Angie Kibble	17.08.02		645 H	Cygnet Man	40.96	Tommy Foster	07.02.89
595	Greenacre Lin	36.36	Brian Clemenson	20.05.04		645 H	Bozy Blue Blaze	40.94	John Mullins	06.02.01

References

1. "Track Search". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 25 December 2011. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
2. Baiden, Gary (2009). The History of Oxford Stadium. authorhouse. ISBN 978-1-4490-2054-5.
3. "OS County Series Oxfordshire 1937-1939". old-maps.co.uk.
4. Tarter, P Howard (1949). Greyhound Racing Encyclopedia. Fleet Publishing Company Ltd.
5. "Oxford Greyhound Stadium, Lord Denham Performs Opening Ceremony, Saturday 1 April". Oxford Mail. 1939.
6. Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 07207-1106-1.
7. Genders, Roy (1990). NGRC book of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 0-7207-1804-X.
8. "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When)". Greyhound Star. 2012.
9. Hobbs, Jonathan (2002). Greyhound Annual 2003. Raceform. ISBN 1-904317-07-3.
10. http://www.glasgowwired.co.uk/news.php/1472307-Last-races-for-Oxford-greyhound-stadium
11. "Oxford track records". Greyhound Data.