Owlerton Stadium

Owlerton Stadium, sometimes referred to as Sheffield Sports Stadium, is a greyhound racing track in Owlerton near Hillsborough in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England.[1] Greyhound Racing takes place on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday evenings and every Monday and Thursday afternoon. There is a modern glass-fronted Panorama Restaurant accommodating up to 300 people, executive suites, fast food facilities and a number of bars.

For Sheffield Wednesday F.C.'s home stadium, see Hillsborough Stadium.

Owlerton Stadium

Aerial view of Owlerton Stadium from Shirecliffe to the NE.
Full name	Owlerton Stadium
Location	Owlerton, Sheffield
Coordinates	53°24′23″N 1°29′33″W
Owner	A&S Leisure Group
Capacity	4,000
Construction
Built	1929
Expanded	2019 conference centre and executive suites
Tenants
Greyhound Racing (1932-) Sheffield Eagles (2014-15) Sheffield Eagles (1984) (1984–89) Sheffield Tigers (1929–)

The stadium is also home to the Sheffield Tigers Speedway team and hosts BriSCA Formula One stock car racing events.[2][3] Speedway takes place on a Thursday evening and the stadium has a total capacity for 4,000 spectators.

It is operated by the A & S Leisure Group, the majority shareholder of which is Dave Allen. Allen was previously the chairman of football team Sheffield Wednesday who play at the nearby Hillsborough Stadium, which coincidentally was originally named Owlerton Stadium.

Rugby League

The stadium hosted the Sheffield Eagles' first ever game in September 1984; they left five years later following changes to crowd rules, however they returned for one season in 2014 after their previous home the Don Valley Stadium was demolished.

Greyhound racing

Origins and opening

In 1929 construction began on a 20-acre freehold site to build a new greyhound stadium in Owlerton. The site was surrounded by steel works with a steel forge directly on the north side and a cutlery forge directly on the west side. To the south was the Birley Meadow steel forge and Owlerton Bridge Rolling Mills steel works. The only area without steel works was on the east side where allotments and gardens were to be found. The Penistone Road ran alongside the west and where Lowther Road originated it could take you directly to the stadium although today the main car park is on Livesey Street on the south side. With the Darnall Stadium opening in 1927 Owlerton track became the second oval circuit greyhound racing in Sheffield. On 12 January 1932 an official opening night took place in regards to greyhound racing. The venue had initially been used for speedway with a first meeting held on 30 March 1929. The stands were subsequently altered to accommodate the impending greyhound racing with a newly built glass fronted grandstand.[4]

The opening night attracted a crowd of 10,000. The press described the tote as a "mechanical and electrical marvel as it registered bets within fractions of a second as they were placed". Seven races were held and the first race over 525 yards the 'Oxford Stakes' was claimed by 3–1 shot 'Carbrook Ted' winning by two lengths in 33.63 secs. Adding variety to the meeting was a 700-yard race and a hurdle race. The five 525 yard flat race winning times spanned 32.40 to 35.78 secs.[5]

Pre-war history

A third track arrived to the city of Sheffield in the form of Hyde Park Greyhound Stadium which would always remain independent leaving Darnall and Owlerton to licensed racing. Owlerton owned by Sheffield Sports Stadium Ltd became the primary track in Sheffield and the set-up of the track consisted of a 472 yards circumference with distances of 300, 500, 525 and 700 yards. The grandstand and club were situated on the home straight and there was a parade ring to be found behind these which allowed the public to view the greyhounds pre-race. The track had two hares, an 'Inside Sumner' and an 'Outside MS Cable'. The racing kennels were next to the parade ring and there were another 120 resident kennels that replaced the kennels formerly located at Wardsend Farm in a range of stone buildings.[6]

Sam Vinter joined the track in the thirties as Racing Manager and owner/breeder Alf Morton bred and supplied the track with greyhounds using Irish Derby winner Marching Through Georgia as the sire. Morton was responsible for breeding Victor Ben Hur a track champion and record holder over both 500 & 700 yards in 1940. Duffys Arrival was once trained at the track before he went to (Coventry) trainer George McKay and two of the early trainers at the track were Harry Bidwell, who would have a thirty-year association with Owlerton, and Ted Brennan.[7]

Post-war history

Trade during the war was exceptional but there was very little open racing due to travel issues and it was not until 1950 that Ted Brennan started to establish himself as one of the leading northern trainers. The track claimed the 1951 News of the World Intertrack Championship, the greyhound racing equivalent of the F.A. Cup at the time. Jim Hookway became a resident trainer in 1953 and joined Brennan in dominating the northern scene. In 1959 Ted Brennan’s brother Jack switched from the Darnall kennels to join Owlerton and Dancing Sheik trained by Ted Brennan became the first Derby finalist for the track.[8]

The sixties saw rival track Darnall close down and Owlerton was bought by the Sheffield Corporation after a £185,000 offer had been accepted. The corporation converted the three private clubs into public bars which helped boost attendance figures and in 1969 they made £30,000 improvements to the Lowther Road grandstand. Hookway was rewarded with the title of Trainer of the Year which he shared with John Bassett in 1965.[9] The accolade had been helped considerably by a greyhound called Clonmannon Flash who had won the Scottish Greyhound Derby & Edinburgh Cup double.

In February 1965 an Irish litter by Crazy Parachute out of Supreme Witch bred by Leo Stack included Tric-Trac, Spectre II, Forward King and Forward Flash. This litter made its way to Hookway and the Brennan brothers kennels and would become one of the greatest litters of all time. At White City on 24 June 1967 Tric-Trac defeated his brother Spectre II by one length in the 1967 English Greyhound Derby final. Hookway received the Trainer of the Year accolade for a second time.[10]

By 1970 Owlerton introduced the Steel City Cup and as the decade progressed Sam Vinter the long serving Racing Manager retired in 1973 to be replaced by Terry Meynell. Ted Brennan retired the following year and his place was taken by Harry Crapper and Jim Hookway also retired after a very successful career. Sheffield replaced the grass circuit with an all-sand surface in 1978.[11]

Terry Corden who held the lease at Derby Stadium added Sheffield to his portfolio by obtaining the lease at the track but the ageing stadium became a problem following the Hillsborough disaster in April 1989 which resulted in ramifications for the track. The Taylor Report and subsequent government actions on stadium safety meant a substantial financial boost was required at many stadia and as a result Corden sold Derby and the local council closed Sheffield until the improvements were completed. Corden, General Manager Jon Carter and Racing Manager Jimmy Nunn were powerless to stop the stadium closing for the first time since it had opened in 1932.[12]

The stadium was to re-open following investment and David Gunson was brought in as Racing Manager but the track suffered a second closure in the spring of 1990 following a mistake with the betting licence. Tennents provided major sponsorship deals[13] until 1991 when A&S Leisure (owners of five casino restaurants) stepped in and purchased the track spending a £3 million on refurbishment. Attendances rose and Dave Baldwin stepped in to take over from Dave Gunson and Barrie Draper became a major trainer.

21st century

Another major refurbishment took place in 2008.[14] Former Greyhound Racing Association manager John Gilburn arrived as Managing Director and secured the prestigious trainers' championship for the first time in the track's history in 2009 and then again in 2014. Additionally a second home competition the Three Steps to Victory was inaugurated in 2003.[15]

In 2018 the stadium signed a deal with ARC to race every Monday and Thursday afternoon and every Tuesday and Saturday evening.[16] In November 2019 the stadium opened a new £6 million conference centre and executive suite facility.[17]

Competitions

• Steel City Cup
• Three Steps to Victory
• Northern Sprint
• Puppy Cup
• Ebor Stakes (1982)

Track records

Current records

Distance (metres)	Greyhound	Time	Date	Notes
280	Brogan Tee Bone [18]	15.67	15 December 2015
480	Candlelight King [19]	27.32	06 August 2014
500	Domino Storm [20]	28.27	26 April 2016
660	Billys Bullet [21]	38.29	07 April 2015
720	Ballyard Buddy [22]	42.33	14 August 2012
800	Hollinwood Poppy [23]	48.25	27 December 2000
915	King Kane [24]	55.58	06 August 2014	TV Trophy final
934	Roxholme Magic [25]	56.28	26 April 2016
500 H	Razldazl Raidio [26]	28.96	25 April 2017

Pre Metric records

[27]

Distance (yards)	Greyhound	Time	Date	Notes
300	Silver Wire	16.70	12.05.1939
450	Brilliant Shore	25.63	06.03.1938
500	Victor Ben Hur	28.02	19.10.1940
525	Latin Pearl	29.25	29.07.1946
525	Mad Astley	29.16	1954
525	S.S.Leader	28.66	22.09.1961
525	Tric Trac	28.48	09.09.1966
550	Airbourne General	30.07	10.04.1964
550	Eleventh Wonder	29.95	06.07.1971
550	Kudas Honour	29.88	1972	Steel City Cup Final
700	Victor Ben Hur	40.28	17.08.1940
700	Leinster Elm	39.04	19.07.1963
770	Black Magic	44.03	09.08.1955
770	Airbourne General		27.05.1966
770	Rainbow Trout	43.12	22.07.1966
880	Poor Barney	49.70	09.10.1971
525 H	Gaullsmill Again	30.67	1950
525 H	Celtic Rebel	29.78	1970
525 H	Bingo Basher	29.76	24.03.1972

Post Metric records

[28]

Distance (metres)	Greyhound	Time	Date	Notes
280	Parliament Act	16.38	22.07.2000
280	Laser Beam	16.27	14.08.2005
280	Magna Maisie	16.26	30.09.2006
280	Smooth Mac	16.19	17.10.2006
280	Camp Bugler	16.14	17.11.2006
280	Lunar Vacation	15.94	23.06.2007
280	Tyrur Hestor	15.84	28.02.2009
280	Tyrur Hestor	15.78	17.03.2009
280	Boherbradda Mac	15.78	04.04.2009
280	Droopys Quincy	15.70	07.05.2013
290	Fearless Prince	16.78	13.08.1980
290	Melton Hill	16.78	19.10.1990
290	Fosse Way	16.77	27.02.1999
290	Fosse Way	16.72	08.05.1999
362	Check Out	20.97	03.05.1989
362	Farloe Bubble	20.82	04.10.1997
380	Loughlass Champ	22.09	1987
480	Cheeky Hero	28.07	1994
480	Reggies Hero	28.04	14.11.1997
480	Farloe Superman	28.00	23.02.2008
480	Coolavanny Smoke	27.86	17.03.2009
480	Farloe Firefox	27.76	16.06.2009
480	Carden Bert	27.66	04.08.2009
480	Bandicoot Mafi	27.64	01.11.2009
480	Reluctant	27.55	06.07.2010
480	Eden Star [29]	27.39	21 June 2011
500	Tillbrook Herald	29.21	1976	Steel City Cup final
500	Desert Pilot	29.65	1978	Steel City Cup semi-final
500	Jebb Rambler	29.61	1979	Bass Cup final
500	Desert Pilot	29.38	25.04.1980	Steel City Cup final
500	Galtymore Lad	29.25	19.01.1990
500	He Knows	29.01	02.05.1997	Embassy Cup Final
500	Plasterscene Gem	29.00	08.08.1998
500	Zigzag Dutchman	28.93	05.09.2006
500	Farloe Hobbs	28.90	12.09.2006	Steel City Cup heats
500	Farloe Reason	28.83	14.02.2009
500	Thurlesbeg Joker	28.79	07.03.2009
500	Thurlesbeg Joker	28.50	17.03.2009
500	Boher Paddy [30]	28.44	31 August 2010
650	Brainy Prince	39.36	11.08.1979
650	Desert Pilot	38.80	09.08.1980
660	Suncrest Sail	39.40	19.07.1996
660	Droopys Rhys	39.40	27.11.2001
660	Larkhill Bird	39.39	10.12.2006
660	Stepaside Yoda	39.26	15.02.2008
660	Capel Wilson	38.88	07.03.2009
660	Raving Black	38.71	04.08.2009
660	Ballymac Eske	38.61	24.06.2014	Three Steps to Victory final
715	White Rooms	43.78	1987
720	Let Us Know	43.48	30.03.2001
720	Cherry Andy	43.44	27.11.2001
720	Top Plan	43.40	29.03.2003
720	Droopys Sporty	43.28	17.01.2006
720	Tinrah Lad	43.04	21.01.2006
720	Swift Ninja	42.80	03.11.2007
720	Run of the Hawk	42.80	29.09.2009
730	Beano Blondie	44.63	22.08.1986
730	Suncrest Sail	43.64	30.04.1995
800	Change Guard	49.02	15.08.1986
800	Hollinwood Poppy	48.25	27.12.2000
915	Souda Bay	57.97	22.03.1998
915	Hollinwood Poppy	56.25	04.07.2000
915	King Kane [31]	55.80	29.07.2014	TV Trophy heats
934	Thornfield Poppy	58.83	13.11.1998
934	Seathwaite Robby	57.87	05.09.2006
934	Barley Bussell	57.69	03.11.2013
500 H	Castlelyons Cash	30.85	22.08.1986
500 H	Autumn Merlin	29.94	04.07.2000
500 H	Trojan Flight	29.72	24.04.2005
500 H	Jills Fault	29.65	06.11.2007
500 H	Bomber Bailey	29.23	04.08.2009

Football

The world's oldest football club, Sheffield, used the stadium before their move to Dronfield.[32]

References

1. "Find A Track". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
2. Bamford, R & Jarvis J.(2001). Homes of British Speedway. ISBN 0-7524-2210-3
3. "About Owlerton Stadium Sheffield". Sheffield Sports Stadium Ltd. Archived from the original on 11 September 2007. Retrieved 3 January 2008.
4. "Greyhound Racing, Auspicious Opening at Owlerton Wednesday 13 January". Daily Telegraph. 1932.
5. "Greyhound Racing, Auspicious Opening at Owlerton Wednesday 13 January". Daily Telegraph. 1932.
6. Tarter, P Howard (1949). Greyhound Racing Encyclopedia. Fleet Publishing Company Ltd. p. 59.
7. Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. pp. 58–61. ISBN 07207-1106-1.
8. Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. pp. 58–61. ISBN 07207-1106-1.
9. Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. pp. 58–61. ISBN 07207-1106-1.
10. Genders, Roy (1975). The Greyhound and Racing Greyhound. Page Brothers (Norwich). pp. 94–95. ISBN 0-85020-0474.
11. Genders, Roy (1990). NGRC book of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. pp. 57–58. ISBN 0-7207-1804-X.
12. Genders, Roy (1990). NGRC book of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. pp. 57–58. ISBN 0-7207-1804-X.
13. Barnes/Sellers, Julia/John (1992). Ladbrokes Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. pp. 108–110. ISBN 0-948955-22-8.
14. "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 2008) January edition". Greyhound Star.
15. Hobbs, Jonathan (2007). Greyhound Annual 2008. Raceform. p. 205. ISBN 978-1-905153-53-4.
16. "Arc Schedule Released". Greyhound Star. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
17. "Great Conference Call from Sheffield". Greyhound Star.
18. "2015 result". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 4 January 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
19. "2014 result". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 4 January 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
20. "2016 result". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 24 December 2018. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
21. "2015 result". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 24 December 2018. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
22. "2012 result". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 24 December 2018. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
23. "2000 result". Greyhound Data.
24. "2014 result". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 9 December 2018. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
25. "2016 result". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 24 December 2018. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
26. "2017 result". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 25 December 2018. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
27. Genders, Roy (1975). The Greyhound and Racing Greyhound, page 61. Page Brothers (Norwich). ISBN 0-85020-0474.
28. "Sheffield Track records". Greyhound Data.
29. "2011 result". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
30. "2010 result". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
31. "2014 result". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
32. "World's oldest football club Sheffield FC unveils housing plan to fund new stadium". Sheffield Star. 10 April 2018. Retrieved 6 July 2020.

External links

• Official Website