Reading Stadium

Reading Stadium
Location Bennet Road, Reading, Berkshire
Operator Allied Presentations 1975-2001
BS Group/Gaming International 2002-2008
Opened 1975
Closed 2008

Reading Stadium also known as Smallmead Stadium was an English greyhound racing and speedway stadium in Bennet Road, Reading in the county of Berkshire.

It is not to be confused with Reading Stadium on the Oxford Road that closed in 1974 and was located further to the north of Reading.

Origins

In 1974 the Reading Stadium on the Oxford Road, north-west of the town was closed by the Greyhound Racing Association but the town of Reading soon had a replacement stadium when a company called Allied Presentations opened a new track accessed from the Bennet Road much further to the south of the town. The stadium was constructed on disused sludge beds and south of Island Road and north of Smallmead Road.[1]

The stadium build was assisted by owner trainer Bill Dore who sat on the board of directors with Reg Fearman, F Higley and Len Silver.[2]

Speedway

Greyhound racing

Opening

The first greyhound meeting was held on 10 June 1975. The first race was won by Mr T Coleman's Journeywork over 433 metres in a time of 27.84 secs.[3] The circuit was all sand surface with an 'Outside Sumner' hare system. The circumference was 385 metres with usual race distances consisting of 275, 465 and 660 metres.[4]

1980s

The stadium introduced a significant competition called the Berkshire Cup and also resurrected the Hunt Cup.[4] and attracted a good class of trainer including Terry Dartnall and Jerry Fisher, the latter won the Cesarewitch title with Jos Gamble in 1983. Fisher also trained Game Ball who he bought with owner Brian Smith for the sum of £8,000 at the end of 1982. Game Ball was put with Sean Bourke for the English Greyhound Derby and nearly fulfilled his promise being a losing favourite in the 1983 final. game Ball also won the Pall Mall Stakes before becoming a prominent sire.[5]

Daleys Gold won the 1985 Scurry Gold Cup before Mollifrend Lucky trained by Colin Packham won the 1986 Scurry and Laurels in 1986. Martyn Dore (the son of Director and General Manager Bill Dore) was Racing Manager by 1988 as the track became renowned for having a strong class of runner.[4]

1990s

In 1990 the Maldwyn Thomas trained greyhounds with the prefix ‘Trans’ began to win trophies and 1992 proved to be a very successful year starting with the announcement that a competition called the Reading Masters would take place. The race offered substantial prize money with only the English Derby and Scottish Derby able to top the £15,000 winner's prize. Poor Brian won the Oxfordshire Stakes for Ron Jeffrey (a former trainer at the old Reading track) and Bob Gilling's Skelligs Smurf became Oaks champion with Bixby (Bill Black) becoming the Puppy Derby winner.[6]

Champion trainer John 'Ginger' McGee joined the training ranks in 1993 and won the Greyhound Trainer of the Year twice as a Reading trainer in 1993 and 1994.[6] The Keith Howard 'Hedsor' prefix was next to provide the track with more success Walthamstow Stadium greyhound Palace Issue claimed a third consecutive Hunt Cup in 2001.

2002-2008

The track underwent a major change in 2002 when the BS Group/Gaming International bought the venue from Allied Presentations. Terry Dartnall returned to the track as a trainer once again and won two Select Stakes with Cleenas Lady before retiring and handing the licence to son Matt who then won the Juvenile in 2008 with Ballymac Under.[7]

Competitions

Track records

At Closing

The track records at the time of closing[8] were -

Distance Greyhound Time Date Notes
275mGreenfield Box16.3223.10.1982
465mBlue Murlen27.5628.04.1997
660mDouble Take40.5014.12.2003Hunt Cup Final
850mGreenacre Lin53.2616.09.2004
1045mSlaneyside Demon68.8201.10.2006
465mHDruids Mickey Jo28.4022.09.2005
660mHGold Splash41.9524.04.1993

Previous

Distance Greyhound Time Date
465mFevata Spec28.1231.01.1987
465mFearless Mustang28.1009.04.1991
465mCoomlogane Euro28.0824.11.1994
660mRacewell Royale41.0217.11.1987
660mWaltham Abbey41.0022.10.1988
660mAirmount Flash41.0001.12.1992
660mHedsor Kurt40.9021.08.1997
660mLydpal Frankie40.7116.05.1999
850mJos Gamble54.5019.11.1983
850mCloverhill June54.281989
850mIvory Lamb54.1911.09.1990
850mHedsor Erika54.0321.08.1997
850mLady Flyaway53.5603.05.1998
1045mHome Yer Go68.6001.11.1986
1045mCoverall68.0930.11.1990
1045mSandollar Sophie67.9030.04.1994
1045mSouda Bay67.5803.05.1998
465mHThe Dingle Man28.9308.01.1983
465mHHarbour Knight28.9208.04.1991
465mHGis A Smile28.5830.04.1994
465mHWisley Wonder28.4522.05.1997
660mHTrixies Snipe42.5119.11.1983
660mHRun On Tar41.9630.11.1990

Closure

In 2008 the local council refused to extend the tracks lease citing redevelopment plans. The plans for the company to build a new modern stadium came to nothing with the final meeting being held on 22 October 2008 and the stadium was demolished.[9]

References

  1. ↑ "OS Plan 1976-1995". old-maps.co.uk.
  2. ↑ Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 07207-1106-1.
  3. ↑ Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-15-5.
  4. 1 2 3 Genders, Roy (1990). NGRC book of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 0-7207-1804-X.
  5. ↑ Dack, Barrie (1990). Greyhound Derby, the first 60 years. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-36-8.
  6. 1 2 Fry, Paul (1995). The Official NGRC Greyhound Racing Yearbook. Ringpress Books. ISBN 186054-010-4.
  7. ↑ Hobbs, Jonathan (2007). Greyhound Annual 2008. Raceform. ISBN 978-1-905153-53-4.
  8. ↑ "Track records". Greyhound Data.
  9. ↑ "Smallmead Stadium is set to shut in October". Get Reading.

Coordinates: 51°25′42″N 0°58′57″W / 51.42833°N 0.98250°W / 51.42833; -0.98250

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