Elland Road Greyhound Stadium

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Coordinates: 53°46′30″N 1°34′30″W / 53.77500°N 1.57500°W / 53.77500; -1.57500
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Elland Road Greyhound Stadium
Map
LocationLeeds, West Yorkshire
Coordinates53°46′30″N 1°34′30″W / 53.77500°N 1.57500°W / 53.77500; -1.57500
Field size456 yards
Opened1927
Closed1982
Tenants
Greyhound racing

Elland Road Greyhound Stadium also known as Leeds Greyhound Stadium was a greyhound racing stadium in Leeds, West Yorkshire.

The stadium is not to be confused with the football ground Elland Road or Fullerton Park.

Origins and opening

Elland Road football stadium was built in 1897 and thirty years later in 1927 two stadiums were constructed on its west side. The first Fullerton Park was built directly next door to the football stadium on the north side of Elland Road and the second Elland Road Greyhound Stadium was constructed opposite Fullerton Park on the south side of Elland Road.[1]

The stadium opened on Saturday 16 July 1927 and featured racing every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday evening with an additional Saturday matinee at 3.00pm. Races took place over 300, 500 and 750 yards on a circuit with a tight 400 yard circumference. Resident kennels within the stadium grounds numbered 120 and exercise grounds were situated adjacent to the stadium.[2]

Pre Second World War history

A bitter battle took place during 1927 between the Leeds Greyhound Association Ltd (LGA) owners of the Elland Road track and the Greyhound Racing Association (GRA) owners of Fullerton Park which had opened just three months later. 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.[3][4]

The GRA quickly realised that their greyhound stadium being so close to Elland Road stadium would not be able to monopolise trade in the city. This resulted in them closing Fullerton Park to greyhound racing and buying a stake in the LGA. The early 1930s brought about government legislation issues with the totalisator; it would have to be closed down on more than one occasion following questions over the legality of using the system. Despite the issues the track maintained a very healthy business and even introduced professional baseball before the start of the war. Mark Barker the Racing Manager and a Director at Leeds United died in 1943 following illness and the racing was held sporadically during the duration of the war.[5]

Post Second World War history

Elland Road Greyhound Stadium c.1950

Following the war business boomed in 1946 with the tote turnover being £1,167,103.[6] The profits enabled the company to upgrade the facilities and Harold Richards was brought in as Racing Manager in the early 1950s. Two competitions were inaugurated; the Ebor Stakes was introduced in 1951 followed by the Yorkshire Two Year Old Produce in 1958.

In the early 1960s Totalisators and Greyhound Holdings (T.G.H) purchased the track and added it to their portfolio of existing tracks. Racing was held on Monday and Saturday evenings and the amenities included five buffet bars, five licensed bars and a restaurant. The hare was an 'Outside Sumner' hare and the resident trainers were Tommy Brown, Joe Kelly, Alf Eggleston and Ann Harrison.

Successful Leeds greyhounds were Lisamote Precept trained by Joe Kelly who won the International, Lincoln and the 1968 Scottish Greyhound Derby, Brilane Clipper won the 1970 Scottish Derby. In 1971 Leeds won the annual Duke of Edinburgh Cup after defeating Clapton Stadium in the final.

During the 1970s

Ladbrokes acquired the Totalisators and Greyhound Holdings (T.G.H) group which included the tracks at Brough Park, Crayford & Bexleyheath Stadium, Gosforth, Willenhall and Monmore. The track kennels were demolished in 1979 forcing Tommy Brown and Jim Brennan to retire and Joe Kelly switched to Owlerton; they were replaced by contracted trainers Pete Beaumont, Jim Brown and Ray Andrews.[7]

Between 1973 and 1980 the stadium was the home ground of

Hunslet RLFC, the original club's Parkside
ground not being available to the new club.

Closure

Elland Road police station on the grounds of the former greyhound stadium (2015)

Tim Hale and Derek Bowman replaced Racing Manager Harry Bridger on 1 January 1981 but would only oversee the action for one year because Ladbrokes closed the track. The last meeting was held on 15 March 1982 with the last winner being Mike Supreme.[8] In 2014 the new Leeds District Police HQ opened on the site of the stadium.

Competitions

  • Yorkshire Puppy Derby [9]

Ebor Stakes

The Ebor Stakes was a competition held from 1951 until the stadium closed.[10]

Year Winner Breeding Trainer Time SP
1951 Bearnaburn Ron Chamberlain (Private) 28.88
1952 Richards Choice Bahs Choice – Gay Primrose Paddy McEvoy (Private) 28.46 1-1f
1953 Town Belle Ron Chamberlain (Private) 28.54 13-8
1954 Rushton Spot Rushton News - Rushton Panda Frank Johnson (Private) 28.73 6-4f
1955 Rushton Spot Rushton News - Rushton Panda Frank Johnson (Private) 28.54 4-6f
1959 Champion Swank Ballymac Ball - Vandado Alf Eggleston (Leeds) 28.51 4-9f
1960 Sufi Broadway Darkie II - Stylo John Bassett (Coventry) 28.58 2-1jf
1961 West Bermuda Prince of Bermuda – Orelino Ted Brennan (Sheffield) 28.67
1962 Cushmine Snob Racing Snob – Rolling Tide A.Dryhurst (Darnall) 28.82
1963 Super Car Glittering Coin – Tansys Daughter Norman Oliver (Brough Park) 28.27
1964 Autumn Twilight The Grand Canal – Rosegarland Lass Ted Brennan (Sheffield) 28.54 5-1
1965 Batchelor Pays Jockeys Glen – Bleville Lass Norman Oliver (Brough Park) 28.40
1966 Stately Boy Knockrour Again – Little Margo George Gooch (Preston) 28.45
1967 Union Cert Jerpoint Prince – Scottish Welcome W.Fletcher (Bradford) 28.53
1968 Shady Pagoda Crazy Parachute – Shady Contempera Norman Oliver (Brough Park) 28.07
1970 Colonel Imp Booked Out – Hi Gracie Barbara Tompkins (Private) 37.27 16-1
1972 Dramatic Ace Yanka Boy – Sheilas Prize Ted Brennan (Sheffield) 37.92 7-1
1973 Pit Lamp Booked Out – Ballingaddy Fly Norman Oliver (Brough Park) 36.95 4-7f
1974 Black Caprice Supreme Fun – Funny Flash Jimmy Smith (Brough Park) 37.52 1-1f
1975 Star Port Irish Airport – Love A Lassie Paddy Milligan (Private) 37.08
1976 Ardbeg Star Ballyseedy Star – Betsys Flash Andy Agnew (Perry Barr) 40.27 6-1
1977 Kinards Cross Monalee Champion – Tetty Bowe Ken Reynolds (Wolverhampton) 39.98 5-1
1978 Be Splendid Cragville Jet – Melodic Theme Jim Brennan (Leeds) 40.94
1979 Lime Lane Mortor Light – Lemon Prize Pete Beaumont (Leeds) 40.63
1980 Tory Kotty Tory Snowball – Monalee Sunset 41.85
1981 Lois Lane Tullig Rambler – Misty Kilbeg Terry Munslow (Derby) 41.02 11-4
1982 Hopalong Dandy Linacre – Hopalong Millie Christine Lawlor (Sheffield) 39.76 7-2
  • 1951-1968 (500 yards), 1956-1958 (not held), 1970-1974 (650 yards), 1975-1976 (600 metres), 1977-1981 (650 metres), 1982-1982 (held at Owlerton)

Yorkshire Two-Year Old Produce Stakes

Year Winner Breeding Trainer Time SP
1958 Beaurepaire Reject Magourna Reject – Rimmells Pearl Jim Hookway (Owlerton) 28.75
1959 Canadian Crawler Rushton Spot – Gentle Flame Jim Hookway (Owlerton) 28.67 4-6f
1960 Waldorf Flame The Grand Fire – Local Brunette Jimmy Jowett (Clapton) 28.87 7-2
1961 Old Berry Silver Ardskeagh Ville - Skylark Jack Toseland (Perry Barr) 28.42
1962 Spartan Sacrifice Ford Spartan – Madam Riche Ted Brennan (Owlerton) 28.82
1963 Burniston Boy First Prize – Burniston Beauty P.Goodison (Bradford) 28.68
1964 Konig Seiger Low Pressure – Dark Knight Len Bane (Kings Heath) 28.03 8-1
1965 Batchelor Pays Jockeys Glen – Belville Lass Norman Oliver (Brough Park) 28.32
1966 Ryedale Owl Chubbys Choice – Printing Rosedale Harry Bidwell (Owlerton) 28.71
1967 Sutton Valley Wonder Valley – Peace Sprite Colin McNally (Perry Barr) 28.02
1968 Whistling Rusty Pigalle Wonder – Whistling Duchess Jim Hookway (Owlerton) 28.52
1969 Rum Club Maryville Hi – Lindsay Sue Gordon Hodson (White City) 29.02 7-2

(1958-1969 500 yards)

Track records

Distance
yards 		Greyhound Time Date
325 Celtic Chief 18.16 17 March 1945
325 Hepicoleum 17.95 28 June 1947
500 Flinstone 28.01 20 June 1964
500 Fly Dazzler 27.92 1972
500 Princess Quail 27.92 1972
512 Chatterton 29.04 1947
512 Cheerful Comedy 28.75 25.10.1947
650 Marvellous City 37.40 17.05.1965
650 Elland Rumba 37.10 1970
650 Passing Look 36.98 1968
650 Shady Pagoda 36.85 1972
700 Western Stream 1954
700 The Cherry Tree 40.36 23.06.1960
700 Passing Look 40.17 1968
700 Gleneagle Comedy 40.16 1972
743 All Out 44.02 1947
743 Paddy the Gag 43.84 10.11.1948
880 Claudyne 23.05.1966
880 Miss Thorn 51.95 1970
500 H High St Boy 28.95 1970
512 H Kyle Champion 30.53 02.06.1945

References

  1. ^ "OS County Series Yorkshire 1938". old-maps.co.uk.
  2. ISBN 0-85020-0474
    .
  3. ^ "Warning to Investors, 5 April". Daily Press, Bristol. 1927.
  4. ^ "The Law Courts, June". Yorkshire Evening. 1927.
  5. ISBN 07207-1106-1
    .
  6. ^ Particulars of Licensed tracks, table 1 Licensed Dog Racecourses. Licensing Authorities. 1946.
  7. ISBN 07207-1106-1
    .
  8. ISBN 0-948955-15-5
    .
  9. ^ "Remember When - September 1977". Greyhound Star.
  10. ISBN 07207-1106-1
    .
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