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Axe falls on Crayford greyhound track as imminent closure is confirmed

Crayford
Crayford will host racing for the final time on SundayCredit: Steve Nash

Greyhound racing will cease at Crayford stadium following this week’s scheduled meeting on Sunday evening.

Owners Entain declared their intention to close the track, which was rebuilt on its current site in 1986, in an announcement in November last year, stating it was no longer “financially viable” and have now completed a consultation process with staff and trainers.

An official statement issued on Wednesday said: “We are saddened to announce the permanent closure of Crayford greyhound track. Our last racing day will be Sunday, 19th January 2025, with the track formally ceasing operations as of Tuesday, 21st January 2025.

“We have explored various avenues to avoid this outcome, but ultimately it is no longer viable for us to continue operating the site. Since announcing our intention to close the venue, several parties have expressed interest in exploring alternatives. We held discussions with these parties and carefully reviewed and evaluated their proposals. Regrettably, none of the options put forward were viable.

“Ladbrokes have a long history in greyhound racing, helping to build and open the Crayford venue in 1986, so the decision has not been taken lightly.

“All impacted colleagues have gone through a two-stage consultation process informing them of the closure of the track with a view to relocate colleagues at alternative locations within the business or support them with their onward journeys.

“We will also continue to support all trainers impacted by the decision and hope that many of them will continue to race their dogs at other UK greyhound tracks.

“We remain committed to the highest levels of animal welfare, as such every affected greyhound will be cared for through an enhanced investment and rehoming strategy.

“We will continue to fulfil the current fixture schedule at our remaining tracks at Romford, Hove and Monmore.

“We would like to thank all those colleagues, trainers and customers who through their support and dedication to greyhound racing, made Crayford the track it was for the past 30-plus years and we wish them all the best for the future.”.

Entain has raised its profit forecast for 2022
Entain: assumed ownership of Crayford in 2017

The current stadium was rebuilt and reopened in 1986 as part of the deal struck when a large chunk of the site of the former Crayford & Bexleyheath Stadium was sold by owners Ladbrokes to supermarket giant Sainsburys in 1984.

Major competitions which migrated to the track following the closures of other venues included the flagship Golden Jacket, the Gold Collar and Grand National.

The first Golden Jacket to be staged at Crayford was in 1987, won by local trainer John Gibbons with Clover Park and for years it featured as a Saturday morning competition.

The final staging of the 714m annual – sponsored since 2022 by Premier Greyhound Racing – was won by the Rick Holloway-trained Dazl Rolex. Other competitions synonymous with the track in recent times include the Kent St Leger, Guys & Dolls, Kent Vase and Champion Hurdle

Crayford came under the Entain umbrella in 2017 when Ladbrokes merged with Coral, and in 2018 a media deal was struck with SIS, before allegiance was switched in 2022 when Entain – whose portfolio also includes Hove, Monmore and Romford – signed a long-term deal with Arc, which led to the tracks being removed from the Greyhound TV channel and also saw Entain no longer accepting bets on tracks still aligned with SIS.

There was consternation expressed by frontline staff last year when a new schedule saw the loss of the popular Saturday morning and evening meetings, replaced with Saturday afternoon and Sunday evening fixtures on the Premier Greyhound Racing platform.

With attendances falling and fewer dogs available, Crayford suspended its Tuesday fixtures in October last year, before the announcement by Entain on November 20 of its intention to close the site.

The news was revealed by Entain UK communications director Simon Clare, who said: “We are saddened to announce the intended closure of the Crayford greyhound track. We have been exploring various avenues to avoid this decision for some time but, ultimately, it is no longer viable for us to continue operating the site.

“The dwindling support for the venue has led to insufficient trainer interest to fulfil our schedules, fewer competitive racedays and, therefore, lower attendance which has sadly driven our decision to close.

”Meanwhile, in response to the news yesterday, Premier Greyhound Racing issued a statement saying: “PGR acknowledges Entain’s statement today regarding the closure of Crayford Greyhound Stadium and shares Entain’s sadness that the track has closed.

“We are currently taking steps to adapt the PGR greyhound schedule to minimise the impact of the news about Crayford.”


Read this next:

'It is no longer viable for us to continue operating the site' - Entain announce intention to close Crayford greyhound stadium after 38 years


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