Houghton Stadium

Houghton Stadium was a greyhound racing stadium in Clarence Road, Houghton-le-Spring, County Durham.

Houghton Stadium
LocationHoughton-le-Spring, County Durham
Coordinates54°50′15″N 1°27′44″W
Opened1938
Closed1971

Origins

The track was constructed on the east side of Hall Lane and north of Gillas Lane and was initially used for horse racing and whippet racing.[1] The Hetton Race Company Ltd brought greyhounds to the Houghton Le Spring Racecourse in County Durham in 1938.

Opening

Greyhound racing started on Thursday 3 November 1938 serving as entertainment for the mining community from the nearby colliery.[2]

History

The racing was independent (not affiliated to the National Greyhound Racing Club) and racing was held on Tuesday nights and Saturday afternoons on a grass track 390 yards in circumference. Race distances were 290, 480 and 675 yards with an inside Sumner hare system. Facilities included a licensed club and free car park with the principal race being the Houghton Feast handicap. There were on course bookmakers and a totalisator in operation.[3]

Closure

The stadium continued to trade until 1971 before being turned into the Racecourse housing estate.[2] That same estate came to prominence in the 1990s after being named as a problem area in Britain. A report found that 80% of people with nothing to occupy their time had contributed to the problems.[4]

References
  1. "OS County Series Durham 1939". old-maps.co.uk.
  2. Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-15-5.
  3. Furby, R (1968). Independent Greyhound Racing. New Dominion House. p. 19.
  4. "Past the Winning Post" (PDF). popcenter.org.
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