Crayford Stadium

For the former Crayford Stadium, see Crayford & Bexleyheath Stadium.

Crayford Stadium
The entrance in 2008
Map
LocationBexley, Greater London, England
Coordinates51°26′53″N 0°10′35″E / 51.448°N 0.17629°E / 51.448; 0.17629
OperatorEntain (Ladbrokes Coral)
Opened1986
Closed2024
Website
Official website

Crayford Stadium is a greyhound racing stadium located in the London Borough of Bexley in England.[1] The stadium, which has featured races since 1986, has private suites, a restaurant and a number of bars.

Evening meetings takes place every Tuesday and Sunday, a matinée race meeting takes place on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Crayford is owned by Ladbrokes Coral.[2]

History

1980s

In 1984 Ladbrokes announced that racing would cease at the Crayford & Bexleyheath Stadium following the sale of part of the site to Sainsbury's.[3] The sale also included plans for rebuilding the entire stadium on the west side of the closing stadium. Five acres of the twenty-acre site would be converted into a new greyhound track and sports stadium. Racing ended on 18 May 1985 and work began on the new stadium. Following sixteen months of development and construction, it was ready for action.[4] The press falsely claimed it was the first greyhound track to be built for 30 years because several had been constructed within the previous decade including Nottingham and Reading.

The grand opening took place on 1 September 1986,[5] and the new stadium would be called Crayford after the decision was made to drop the Bexleyheath part; the stadium was situated in a different five-acre part of the original twenty acres.[4] The stadium was opened by the mayor of Bexley and Ladbrokes Chairman Cyril Stein.[6]

In 1987 the track took possession of a major competition called the Golden Jacket which had struggled to find a new home since the demise of Harringay. The event had been temporarily held at Hall Green and Monmore and was a popular afternoon competition with television exposure. Crayford also provided a new matinee meeting for their Ladbrokes betting shops and another new competition called the Crayford Rosebowl was inaugurated.[7] In 1988 Dinky Luckhurst trained Breeks Rocket to Grand National success.

The dimensions of the all-sand circuit were a small 334 m circumference with distances of 380, 540, 714 and 874 metres with an outside Sumner hare. Facilities included a restaurant for 138 covers, two bars and a twin-tier glass-fronted covered stand. Also within the stadium was a sports hall complex, a fitness area and a swimming pool. The racing manager was Roy Dwight and general manager Roger Lakey, soon to be replaced by Paul Lawrence and Barry Stanton respectively.

1990s

Crayford Ladbrokes Greyhound Stadium c.1990

In 1996 Dynamic Display repeated the Grand National achievement for trainer Barry O'Sullivan. The Guys and Dolls competition arrived at the track in 1997. Pure Patches won the 1998 Gold Collar and also made the 1999 English Greyhound Derby final and Bubbly Prince won the 1999 Cesarewitch.

2000s

Lady Jean won the 2000 Cesarewitch, and Haughty Ted won the 2001 Gold Collar for Dinky Luckhurst. Racing manager Paul Lawrence parted company with the track in 2000, replaced by Harry Bull, with Danny Rayment promoted to deputy.[8] Trainer Lorraine Sams introduced a greyhound to the industry in 2006 called Spiridon Louis. The black-and-white dog would become the 2007 Greyhound of the Year after winning the St Leger, TV Trophy and Regency.

2010s

A third Grand National win by the Gemma Davidson-trained Plane Daddy, in 2010, continued Crayford's success with hurdle racing. In 2015, Danny Rayment became the Racing Manager taking over from Harry Bull.

In 2015 the track resurrected the original classic Gold Collar competition and the Guys and Dolls.[9] In 2017 Ladbrokes merged with Gala Coral to form Ladbrokes Coral.[10]

In 2018, the stadium signed a deal with SIS to race every Tuesday morning and evening, Thursday afternoon, Friday morning and Saturday morning.[11]

2020s

In 2022, Entain signed a long-term deal with the Arena Racing Company for media rights, starting in January 2024.[12] In 2023, the stadium held the Champion Hurdle for the first time.[13] In 2024, Crayford trainer Ricky Holloway won the Golden Jacket with Dazl Rolex, the first home victory since 2007.

In November 2024 Entain announced their intention to close the stadium, stating that "it is no longer viable for us to continue operating the site".[14] The stadium will be closed after the Christmas period of 2024.[15]

Competitions

Golden Jacket

Main article: Golden Jacket

Gold Collar

Main article: Gold Collar

Kent St Leger

Main article: Kent St Leger

Guys And Dolls

Main article: Guys and Dolls (greyhounds)

Champion Hurdle

Main article: Champion Hurdle (greyhounds)

Crayford/Kent Vase

[16][17]

(1967–1984 held at Crayford & Bexleyheath over 490 yards/462 metres), (1987–2010 held at Crayford over 540 metres)

Crayford/Kent Rosebowl

[24]

(held over 380 metres)

Track records

[31]

Current

Metres Greyhound Time Date Notes
380 Brinkleys Poet[32] 22.85 29.05.2018
540 Aayamza Sydney[33] 32.85 24 November 2024 Gold Collar final
714 Stardom[34] 44.52 24 August 2019
874 Burgess Borna[35] 55.89 26 December 2014
1048 Roxholme Magic[36] 67.83 21 February 2017
380 H Lenson Doolin[13] 23.10 15 April 2023 Champion Hurdle final
540 H Razldazl Raidio[37] 33.57 21 February 2017

Former

Extended content
Metres Greyhound Time
(sec) 		Date Notes
380 Justa Mo 23.66 9 May 1987
380 Sail on Delaney 23.53 28 January 1989
380 Clonlusk Villa 23.46 26 January 1991
380 Genotin Laura 23.31 17 May 1993
380 Lots of Jolly 23.31 16 July 1994
380 Rossa Ranger 23.36 15 April 2002
380 Chasing A Dream 23.18 5 May 2002
380 Skibbs Flyer 23.06 14 October 2002
380 Kingdom Club 23.01 27 September 2003 Guys and Dolls Final
380 Tictac Tyson 22.97 7 May 2011
380 You Never Listen 22.97 19 February 2015 =equalled
380 Target Harris 22.88 18 July 2015
540 Baby Pol 34.01 4 August 1987
540 Hello Blackie 33.93 11 August 1990
540 Side Wink 33.46 9 January 1992
540 Break On Thru 33.43 14 October 2002
540 Sportsman 33.26 3 February 2003
540 Sunshine Sophie 33.13 28 February 2004
540 Mayshighlandreel[38] 33.09 26 September 2017 Gold Collar final
714 Favourite Return 46.86 22 May 1987
714 Harry Lime 46.17 31 August 1987
714 Fort Leader 45.61 16 February 1989
714 Heavenly Lady 45.25 8 February 1993
714 Blues Best Tayla 45.19 24 February 2001
714 Rosden Image 45.07 14 October 2002
714 Foreign Chick 45.13 14 October 2002
714 Centour Corker 45.02 3 February 2003
714 Centour Corker 44.74 3 March 2003 Golden Jacket Final
714 Double Take 44.57 21 February 2004 Golden Jacket semi-final
874 Astrosyn Trace 57.21 26 October 1987
874 Clonbrin Black 56.15 15 October 1993
1048 Stansted Flyer 69.81 7 September 1996
1048 Musical Fawn 68.80 22 February 2014
1048 Roxholme Magic 68.59 23 February 2016
380 H Off You Sail 24.29 15 June 1987
380 H Parktown Ranger 23.96 21 January 1989
380 H Ladys Champion 23.86 24 September 1994
380 H Dynamic Display 23.70 1996
380 H Razldazl Raidio 23.28 26 March 2016
380 H Razldazl Raidio[39] 23.18 8 October 2016
380 H Droopys Cruiser[40] 23.18 28 September 2019
540 H Breeks Rocket 35.30 1988
540 H Cahara Gamble 35.08 17 June 1991
540 H Cahara Gamble 35.01 3 August 1991
540 H Rainys Pet 34.85 10 August 1991
540 H Rainys Pet 34.67 17 August 1991
540 H Sunshine Sandy 34.32 11 March 1993
540 H El Tenor 34.16 13 April 1998
540 H Selby Ben 33.68 26 May 2003

References

  1. ^ "Track Search". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 25 December 2011. Retrieved 24 December 2011.
  2. ^ "Opening Days". Crayford Stadium. Archived from the original on 10 December 2017. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  3. ^ "Open and Shut Case at Crayford". Daily Express. 18 May 1985. Retrieved 22 November 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  4. ^ a b Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File, page 91. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-15-5.
  5. ^ "Crayford backing high-tech winner". Daily Express. 2 September 1986. Retrieved 22 November 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. ^ "Remember When - September 1986". Greyhound Star. 30 September 2018.
  7. ^ Barnes/Sellers, Julia/John (1992). Ladbrokes Greyhound Fact File, pages 53-58. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-22-8.
  8. ^ Hobbs, Jonathan (2007). Greyhound Annual 2008, page 184. Raceform. ISBN 978-1-905153-53-4.
  9. ^ "Crayford wait on clearance to bring back the Gold Collar". Greyhound Star. 30 March 2015.
  10. ^ "Ladbrokes finalises merger with Coral". igaming business. November 2016.
  11. ^ "SIS announces schedule for SIS British Greyhound Service for 2018". SIS. Archived from the original on 27 August 2018. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  12. ^ "No Competition - No Progress". Greyhound Star. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  13. ^ a b "LADBROKES CHAMPION HURDLE - Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  14. ^ Brown, Paul (20 November 2024). "'It is no longer viable for us to continue operating the site' - Entain announce intention to close Crayford greyhound stadium after 38 years". Racing Post. Archived from the original on 20 November 2024. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  15. ^ "Crayford greyhound track to close after Christmas". BBC. 22 November 2024. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
  16. ^ Barnes, Julia (1991). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File, Vol Two. Ringpress Books. p. 49. ISBN 0-948955-61-9.
  17. ^ Barnes/Sellers, Julia/John (1992). Ladbrokes Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. p. 58. ISBN 0-948955-22-8.
  18. ^ Fry, Paul (1995). The Official NGRC Greyhound Racing Yearbook. Ringpress Books. pp. 109–110. ISBN 186054-010-4.
  19. ^ "Ladbrokes.com Crayford Vase - Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
  20. ^ "Crayford race meeting". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  21. ^ "Crayford, Saturday 21 May". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  22. ^ "LADBROKES KENT VASE - Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  23. ^ "Ladbrokes Kent Vase". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  24. ^ Fry, Paul (1995). The Official NGRC Greyhound Racing Yearbook. Ringpress Books. p. 199. ISBN 186054-010-4.
  25. ^ "LADBROKES.COM CRAYFORD ROSE BOWL - Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
  26. ^ "Crayford 17 October 2020". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  27. ^ "LADBROKES.COM KENT ROSE BOWL - Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  28. ^ "Ladbrokes Gold Collar Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  29. ^ "2023 LADBROKES GOLD COLLAR - Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  30. ^ "Ladbrokes Kent Rosebowl final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
  31. ^ "British Track Records as of January 2024". Greyhound Star. 11 January 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  32. ^ "POET IS RECORD BREAKING MOTION". Greyhound Star. 30 May 2018.
  33. ^ "Gold Collar final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
  34. ^ "DEANRIDGE TROPHY". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
  35. ^ "874m". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  36. ^ "LADBROKES 1048". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  37. ^ "Chief Rasmsbottom Hurdle". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  38. ^ "Ladbrokes Gold Collar final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  39. ^ "CRAYFORD BOOKMAKERS HURDLE". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  40. ^ "track record". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.