Crayford Stadium

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.

Crayford Stadium
LocationBexley, Greater London, England
Coordinates51.44852°N 0.17572°W / 51.44852; -0.17572
Operated byLadbrokes Coral
Date opened1986
Race typegreyhound
Official website

An evening meeting takes place every Tuesday, a matinée race meeting takes place on Thursday and morning meetings are held every Tuesday, 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 to allow plans for rebuilding the entire stadium as part of a development project. The twenty-acre site would be redeveloped, with five acres of it being 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. [3]

The grand opening took place on 1 September 1986, 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. [3] The stadium was opened by the mayor of Bexley and Ladbrokes Chairman Cyril Stein.[4]

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. [5] 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.[6] 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 the track resurrected the original classic Gold Collar competition and the Guys and Dolls.[7] In 2017 Ladbrokes merged with Gala Coral to form Ladbrokes Coral.[8]

In 2018 the stadium signed a deal with SIS to race every Tuesday morning and evening, Thursday afternoon, Friday morning and Saturday morning.[9]

Competitions

Golden Jacket

Gold Collar

Kent St Leger

Guys And Dolls

Crayford Vase

[10] [11]

(1967–1984 held at Crayford & Bexleyheath over 490 yards/462 metres), (1985–86 not run), (1987–2010 held at Crayford over 540 metres)

Crayford Rosebowl

[15]

(held over 380 metres)

Track records

Current

Metres Greyhound Time Date Notes
380Brinkleys Poet[19]22.8529.05.2018
540Mayshighlandreel[20]33.0926 September 2017Gold Collar final
714Stardom[21]44.5224 August 2019
874Burgess Borna[22]55.8926 December 2014
1048Roxholme Magic[23]67.8321 February 2017
380 HRazldazl Raidio[24]23.188 October 2016
380 HDroopys Cruiser[25]23.1828 September 2019
540 HRazldazl Raidio[26]33.5721 February 2017

Former

Extended content
Metres Greyhound Time Date Notes
380Justa Mo23.6609.05.1987
380Sail on Delaney23.5328.01.1989
380Clonlusk Villa23.4626.01.1991
380Genotin Laura23.3117.05.1993
380Lots of Jolly23.3116.07.1994
380Rossa Ranger23.3615.04.2002
380Chasing A Dream23.1805.05.2002
380Skibbs Flyer23.0614.10.2002
380Kingdom Club23.0127.09.2003Guys and Dolls Final
380Tictac Tyson22.9707.05.2011
380You Never Listen22.9719.02.2015=equalled
380Target Harris22.8818.07.2015
540Baby Pol34.0104.08.1987
540Hello Blackie33.9311.08.1990
540Side Wink33.4609.01.1992
540Break On Thru33.4314.10.2002
540Sportsman33.2603.02.2003
540Sunshine Sophie33.1328.02.2004
714Favourite Return46.8622.05.1987
714Harry Lime46.1731.08.1987
714Fort Leader45.6116.02.1989
714Heavenly Lady45.2508.02.1993
714Blues Best Tayla45.1924.02.2001
714Rosden Image45.0714.10.2002
714Foreign Chick45.1314.10.2002
714Centour Corker45.0203.02.2003
714Centour Corker44.7403.03.2003Golden Jacket Final
714Double Take44.5721.02.2004Golden Jacket semi-final
874Astrosyn Trace57.2126.10.1987
874Clonbrin Black56.1515.10.1993
1048Stansted Flyer69.8107.09.1996
1048Musical Fawn68.8022.02.2014
1048Roxholme Magic68.5923.02.2016
380 HOff You Sail24.2915.06.1987
380 HParktown Ranger23.9621.01.1989
380 HLadys Champion23.8624.09.1994
380 HDynamic Display23.701996
380 HRazldazl Raidio23.2826.03.2016
540 HBreeks Rocket35.301988
540 HCahara Gamble35.0817.06.1991
540 HCahara Gamble35.0103.08.1991
540 HRainys Pet34.8510.08.1991
540 HRainys Pet34.6717.08.1991
540 HSunshine Sandy34.3211.03.1993
540 HEl Tenor34.1613.04.1998
540 HSelby Ben33.6826.05.2003

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.
  3. Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File, page 91. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-15-5.
  4. "Remember When - September 1986". Greyhound Star.
  5. Barnes/Sellers, Julia/John (1992). Ladbrokes Greyhound Fact File, pages 53-58. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-22-8.
  6. Hobbs, Jonathan (2007). Greyhound Annual 2008, page 184. Raceform. ISBN 978-1-905153-53-4.
  7. "Crayford wait on clearance to bring back the Gold Collar". Greyhound Star.
  8. "Ladbrokes finalises merger with Coral". igaming business.
  9. "SIS announces schedule for SIS British Greyhound Service for 2018". SIS.
  10. Barnes, Julia (1991). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File, Vol Two. Ringpress Books. p. 49. ISBN 0-948955-61-9.
  11. Barnes/Sellers, Julia/John (1992). Ladbrokes Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. p. 58. ISBN 0-948955-22-8.
  12. Fry, Paul (1995). The Official NGRC Greyhound Racing Yearbook. Ringpress Books. pp. 109–110. ISBN 186054-010-4.
  13. "Ladbrokes.com Crayford Vase - Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
  14. "Crayford race meeting". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  15. Fry, Paul (1995). The Official NGRC Greyhound Racing Yearbook. Ringpress Books. p. 199. ISBN 186054-010-4.
  16. "LADBROKES.COM CRAYFORD ROSE BOWL - Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
  17. "Crayford 17 October 2020". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  18. "LADBROKES.COM KENT ROSE BOWL - Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  19. "POET IS RECORD BREAKING MOTION". Greyhound Star.
  20. "LADBROKES GOLD COLLAR - Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  21. "DEANRIDGE TROPHY". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
  22. "874m". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  23. "LADBROKES 1048". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  24. "CRAYFORD BOOKMAKERS HURDLE". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  25. "track record". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
  26. "CHIEF RAMSBOTTOM HURDLE". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
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