Peterborough Greyhound Stadium

Peterborough Greyhound Stadium was a greyhound racing track located in Fengate, less than a mile from the centre of Peterborough, England.[1]

Peterborough Greyhound Stadium
LocationFengate, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire PE1 5BP
Coordinates52°34′08.2″N 0°13′17.1″W
Construction
Opened1931
Renovated1988
Expanded2003
Closed2020
Tenants
Greyhound racing

Racing at the stadium took place every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday night with racing starting at 7:30 pm.[2]

On Tuesday 19 May 2020, the stadium announced that it would cease trading with immediate effect after 75 years.[3] [4]

Origins and opening

The Liberty of Peterborough was an historic area comprising around thirty parishes, and it was in 1931 that the Peterborough Racing Club opened their new greyhound track within the Liberty. The venue was described as being off Star Road which is misleading because although this is in the Fengate area the actual track was off the Fengate Road. The plot of land chosen for the track was in south-east Fengate directly north of Peterborough Corporation sewage pumping station. The opening night was on Saturday 4 April 1931, consisting of twelve races. The Managing Director was G Hooke and organised racing was held every Monday and Saturday which consisted mainly of greyhounds but also whippet races.[5]

The first ever winner was a greyhound called 'Dewdrop'. The second meeting on Monday 6 April was recorded as being a record crowd for the area with 400 being present. Racing continued up until the war with a maximum capacity of 700 being able to attend the track. It is also reported that facilities were very basic with the hare still being moved around the track by the power of two men cycling. [6]

History

After the war there was a major milestone for the track when Reg Perkins from a farming and transport business family and George Ellingworth a garage owner purchased the track in 1945 and quickly began to improve facilities. The purchase came at the right time because greyhound racing hit its peak in 1946 and it is known that one year later in 1947 the track had a totalisator turnover of £49,719. [7] By this time it was also known as the Peterborough Sports Stadium and Reg Perkins took sole control several years later following the death of George Ellingworth.

The racing continued independent of the National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC) but remained popular with the local population and by the sixties the stadium offered licensed bars and refreshments, photo finish apparatus and on course bookmakers and an 'Outside Sumner' hare. The immediate area also underwent major changes with industrial units appearing with frequent regularity and a road called First Drove serving as the entrance to the stadium. [8]

In 1977 Reg Perkins retired leaving the day-to-day management to his sons Rex and David with racing on Tuesday and Saturday evenings at 7.15pm. Track distances at this time were 275, 475 & 675 yards and there were now nine track bookmakers. The second major milestone arrived in 1982 following the decision of the management to join the NGRC permit scheme that was in operation at the time. This allowed smaller tracks to run under NGRC rules at reduced rates and was the catalyst for Peterborough to improve in stature. In 1983 the Peterborough Derby was inaugurated and soon became a very popular event at the track. The stadium reputation began to grow and Rex Perkins was elected the Mayor of Peterborough from 1987 and with his wife Margaret raised thousands of pounds for charities. [9]

Renovation

In 1988 grand plans were unveiled by local architects T. E. Titman Associates for a new grandstand and restaurant and following the completion of the half a million pounds project. The 'Raceview Restaurant' could seat 200 with a further 600 seats available on the glass fronted grandstand.[10] [11]

Recent history

John 'Ginger' McGee Sr. joined the track and the Irishman won Greyhound Trainer of the Year in 1991 whilst attached to Peterborough. In 1998 Racing Manager Mike Middle left the track to assist with a new track at Wisbech Greyhound Stadium and was replaced by Con Baker. On 24 March 1999 the stadium suffered severe damage when a fire spread from an adjoining warehouse and destroyed two bars, a tote booth and a 250-person seating area.[12] The damage resulted in a six-month closure but the management remained positive and rebuilt and refurbished, re-opening on the 21 September 1999. [13]

2003 was a pivotal year for the track because Rex Perkins died after a long illness and his son Richard and nephew Rob dedicated a new £3 million extension to his name. The raceview seating area could now hold 1,000 spectators and corporate boxes were also added. Peterborough dropped Tuesday night racing in 2008[14] and was rewarded with a Bookmakers Afternoon Greyhound Service (BAGS) contract in 2012. At the end of 2014 the track became BAGS national champions after defeating five other tracks in the final at Nottingham Greyhound Stadium. [15]

In 2018 the stadium signed a deal with ARC to race every Wednesday evening.[16]

Closure

The track closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and when racing returned (18 May) following the lock-down Peterborough announced that they would not be re-opening until they sought further clarification from the Greyhound Board of Great Britain.[17] The concerns over the financial implication of racing behind closed doors was evident and the following day (20 May) the Perkins family announced the permanent closure of the track.[3]

Competitions

Peterborough Derby
Year Winner Breeding Trainer Time SP Notes
1983 Dutch JetIndian Joe – Flying SocksJean Talmage (Rye House)26.1110-1
1984 Decoy MoonDecoy Sovereign – Tibbys GirlPam Cobbold (Private)25.924-1
1985 Decoy TulipDecoy Sovereign – Tibbys GirlPam Cobbold (Private)26.1214-1
1986 Stylish StartYellow Band – Flying ChickJean Talmage (Private)26.285-2f
1987 Quick JudgementBlushing Spy - MarsenaLinda Pruhs - Peterborough26.617-1
1988 Lissadell TigerBold Work –Cleonas StyleErnie Gaskin Sr. (Private)25.804-6f
1989 Sky JackKyle Jack – Kingdom FlowerDavid Pruhs - Peterborough26.626-1
1990 Bolt HomeMurlens Slippy – Supreme PegErnie Gaskin Sr. (Private)26.025-1
1991 Chief CanaryEasy And Slow – Champagne LadyKim Marlow (Milton Keynes)25.775-2
1992 Pineapple MagicI'm Slippy – Michigan MoiraMichael Compton (Private)25.804-5f
1993 Gentle WarningGlen Park Dancer – Gentle SarahJohn McGee Sr. (Reading)25.763-1
1994 Highway LeaderLeaders Best – Highway MysteryMichael Bacon (Perry Barr)25.477-4jf
1995 Gold BusterDaleys Gold – Spot The BlueNigel Saunders (Belle Vue)25.815-1
1996 Dynamic FairFair Boot – Seventh DynamicPatsy Byrne -(Wimbledon)25.466-1
1997 Dynamic FairFair Boot – Seventh DynamicPatsy Byrne (Wimbledon)25.457-2
1998 Spoonbill SnoweyRight Wish – Clohast WishMichael Bacon (Perry Barr)25.204-6f
2000 Reactabond RebelSome Picture – Droopys LarrainePaul Young {Romford)25.7811-10f
2001 Kinda MagicDeep Decision - EnchantmentLinda Jones (Walthamstow)25.523-1
2002 Letter SlippyShanless Slippy – Slick CityPatsy Byrne (Wimbledon)25.572-1
2003 Tims CrowLenson Lad – Churchtown SpicePeter Rich {Romford)25.594-5f
2004 Run On TrooperSplit the Bill – OddsonlookonMick Mavrias (Sittingbourne)25.736-1
2005 Fear No OneToms The Best – Step And GoMark Wallis (Walthamstow)25.415-4f
2006 Too RiskyDaves Mentor – Micks Bozz LadyMick Puzey (Walthamstow)25.666-4
2007 Westmead PrinceDroopys Kewell – Mega DelightNick Savva (Private)25.294-5f
2008 Me BuddyBallymac Maeve – Ballymac PegMatt Dartnall (Reading)25.712-1f
2009 SalismanDroopys Agassi – Droopys NatashaJulie Calvert (Sunderland)25.176-1
2010 Lainedans FlyerDroopys Vieri – Westmead SwiftPaul Young {Romford)25.2611-2
2011 Mountjoy RockBlack Shaw – Noelles AmarilloElaine Parker (Sheffield)24.889-2Track record
2012 Lil RiskyBallymac Maeve-Risk The TownMark Wallis (Yarmouth)24.997-4f
2013 Frisby BarneyHead Bound – Airport BossDavid Pruhs - Peterborough25.691-2fTrack record
2017 Hiya Butt [18]Hondo Black - Hather for PatHayley Keightley (Private)25.771-2f

(1983-2012 420 metres), (2013-2017 435 metres), (2014-16 & 2018 not held)

Peterborough Puppy Derby
Year Winner Breeding Trainer Time SP Notes
1992 Bagshot BoozerI'm Slippy – Pilgrims Joy25.90
1993 Sure FantasyPhantom Flash – Lively Spark25.83
1994 Pams SilverSkelligs Tiger – Cosy And Warm25.58
1995 Slick MickStaplers Jo - Aughaderney Mona25.74
1996 Spring GambleSlaneyside Hare – Spring Season25.41
1997 Lenson BillySlaneyside Hare – Ballydaly FlyerNorah McEllistrim (Wimbledon)25.417-2
1998 Del PieroDroopys Sandy – Audi TurboLinda Mullins (Walthamstow)25.604-5f
2000 Reactabond RebelSome Picture – Droopys LarrainePaul Young {Romford)25.4911-10f
2001 Reactabond AceEl Premier – Droopys KyliePaul Young {Romford)25.726-1
2002 BocelliChart King – Minnies OxanaDinky Luckhurst (Crayford)25.4113-2
2003 SlinkyDroopys Merson – Kylies SoniaPaul Young {Romford)25.896-1
2004 Fire Height DanCarlton Bale – September MistMick Puzey (Walthamstow)25.464-5f
2005 Fear No OneToms The Best – Step and GoMark Wallis (Walthamstow)25.415-4f
2006 Too RiskyDaves Mentor – Micks Bozz LadyMick Puzey (Walthamstow)25.666-4
2007 Westmead PrinceDroopys Kewell – Mega DelightNick Savva (Henlow)25.294-5f
2008 Me BuddyBallymac Maeve – Ballymac PegMatt Dartnall (Reading)25.812-1f
2009 Barnfield RockyHades Rocket – Ballymac FlossSam Poots (Private)25.317-2
2010 Total RealityCrash – Noirs MagicJohn Simpson (Wimbledon)25.505-1
2011 Monleek SloopyBrett Lee – Razldazl PearlDavid Pruhs (Peterborough)25.4411-2
2016 Holdem Rio [19]Crash - Cornamaddy MaidHeather Dimmock (Peterborough)26.247-2

(1992-2011 420 metres), (2016 435 metres), (1999 & 2012-2015, 2017-18 not Run)

Track records

Current

Distance
metres		 Greyhound Time Date Notes
235Rotar Wing [20]13.9509 Oct 2010
250Kooga Kafka [21]14.8031 May 2019
420Mountjoy Rock [22]24.8806 Aug 2011Peterborough Derby final
435Kooga Klammer [23]25.6818 Oct 2017
605Bower Surfer [24]37.1012 Sep 2009Puppy Cesarewitch final
620Sensual [25]37.7923 Nov 2018
790Greenacre Lin [26]49.6114 May 2005
805Romany Rouge [27]50.6816 Nov 2016
975Jangos Snowdrop [28]63.1507 Jun 2008
420 HI'm Henry [29]25.8517 May 1997

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References
  1. "Track Search". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 25 December 2011. Retrieved 24 December 2011.
  2. "Race Nights". Peterborough Greyhounds.
  3. "PETERBOROUGH CLOSES- FULL STATEMENT". Greyhound Star.
  4. "Coronavirus: Peterborough greyhound track to close". BBC.
  5. "A New Track Opened at Peterborough, 8 April 1931". Peterborough Citizen. 1931.
  6. Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File, pages 116-117. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-15-5.
  7. Particulars of Licensed tracks, table 1 Licensed Dog Racecourses. Licensing Authorities. 1946.
  8. Furby, R (1968). Independent Greyhound Racing, page 55. New Dominion House.
  9. Genders, Roy (1990). NGRC book of Greyhound Racing, page 51. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 0-7207-1804-X.
  10. Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File, pages 116-117. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-15-5.
  11. "Greyhound Star (Remember When - February 1989)". Greyhound Star.
  12. "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When) April edition". Greyhound Star. 2012.
  13. "Remember When". Greyhound Star.
  14. "Greyhound Star (Remember When November 2008)". Greyhound Star.
  15. "BAGS Track Championship 3rd for Hove!". Norah Mac Racing.
  16. "Arc Schedule Released". Greyhound Star.
  17. "PETERBOROUGH STATEMENT TO TRAINERS". Greyhound Star.
  18. "Peterborough Derby". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
  19. "THE WILLIAM HILL/UNDERGROUND GREYHOUNDS PETERBOROUGH PUPPY DERBY 2016 FINAL". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
  20. "235 track record". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
  21. "best of the Year". Greyhound Star.
  22. "420 track record". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
  23. "435 track record". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
  24. "605 track record". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
  25. "620 track record". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
  26. "790 track record". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
  27. "805 track record". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
  28. "975 track record". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
  29. "420mH track record". Greyhound Data.
  30. "Track records". Greyhound Data.
  31. "250 track record". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
  32. "2018 - equal 250 track record". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
  33. "Remember When - October 1984". Greyhound Star.
  34. "Track record". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.

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