37-577: The Arena Racing Company Grand Prix (formerly the William Hill Grand Prix ) is a greyhound racing competition inaugurated in 2007. It was held at Sunderland over 640 metres and formed part of a festival of racing at the track which also included the Classic . The race is not to be confused with the defunct classic race The Grand Prix formerly held at Walthamstow before its closure. Prize money levels were significant which propelled
74-504: A Stow Marathon victory in 1973 and Norman Oliver was voted Greyhound Trainer of the Year in 1973 but Patricias Hope stopped Ramdeen Stuart from taking Greyhound of the Year . 1974 brought about new owners to Brough Park as the TGH which included Crayford & Bexleyheath , Gosforth and Leeds was taken over by Ladbrokes . New joint Racing Managers were Tony Smith and Paul Richardson and
111-654: A free car park. The first ever winner was trap 2 'Percheron' at odds of 5-2 in a time of 28.35 secs. The greyhound track at Sunderland has had a varying past with affiliation to the National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC) on two separate occasions and a long stint as an independent track. It was known as the Newcastle Sports Stadium and the Boldon Greyhound Stadium throughout its history, before being renamed
148-668: A great run of form for the kennels as Shady Begonia reached the 1968 English Greyhound Derby final one year later as well as securing the Television trophy title . In 1969 Shady Begonia won the Regency . In 1971 Ramdeen Stuart (trained by Oliver) won the classic races the St Leger and Gold Collar ; other successes were the Stewards Cup , Ben Truman Stakes and Scottish St Leger . Trainer Bill Raggatt steered Cute Caddie to
185-605: A management team that leased the track and then he bought the track from the Neeshams in September 1986. The legendary Scurlogue Champ won the 1986 Television Trophy at the track. Jubilee Rebecca won the 1994 Television Trophy for trainer Gordon Rooks. A major milestone and turning point for the track arrived in 2003. William Hill bookmakers purchased the track which then underwent major investment similar to that of Sunderland Greyhound Stadium whom William Hill had acquired
222-782: A rarely seen centre green hare controller was in operation (the vast majority of tracks drove the hare from a home straight position). Two more competitions called the Northumberland Stakes and Northumberland Cup were introduced. In 1946 Brough Park experienced the unique situation where during the 1946 running of the All England Cup all four national Derby champions competed. The English Greyhound Derby champion Mondays News, Irish Greyhound Derby winner Lilac Luck, Scottish Greyhound Derby winner Lattin Pearl and Welsh Greyhound Derby champion Negro's Lad all lined up for
259-420: Is a greyhound racing and former motorcycle speedway stadium, located on The Fossway, Byker , Newcastle . Racing at the stadium takes place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The circumference of the greyhound track is 415 metres. From 1929 until mid-2022, speedway racing took place at the stadium. The stadium used to be known as Brough Park until it changed its name to Newcastle Stadium and
296-530: Is now owned by the Arena Racing Company . In 1927 an area of land in Byker was selected for a new greyhound stadium. The site had previously been a racecourse for trotting, that had been laid out 1899 and a football team called Newcastle City had played on the site from 1912 to 1914. The stadium plot had previously contained garden allotments and the north section of the football ground. The stadium
333-503: Is owned by ARC and racing takes place every Wednesday and Friday evening as well as an additional BAGS meeting on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. The circumference of the track is 378 metres. Speedway races were held at the track from 1964 to 1974, with home teams including The Saints, The Stars and The Gladiators. Sunderland host one major competition called the Arena Racing Company Grand Prix (formerly
370-568: The Arena Racing Company (ARC) acquired both Sunderland Greyhound Stadium and Newcastle Greyhound Stadium from William Hill. The annual UK William Hill festival of racing was the principal event at the track, the meeting included the William Hill Grand Prix and William Hill Classic and was shown live on Sky Sports . In 2018 the stadium signed a deal with their parent company ARC to race every Tuesday afternoon, Wednesday evening, Thursday lunchtime and Sunday lunchtime. In 2021,
407-558: The Arena Racing Company (ARC) acquired both Sunderland Greyhound Stadium and Newcastle Greyhound Stadium from William Hill. The stadium gained one of the sports most prestigious competitions the Laurels in 2017 from the GRA . There is now renewed hope that the competition may regain its category 1 status and increase its prize fund. In 2017 Angela Harrison took over the trainer's licence and Newcastle contract from Jimmy Wright and in 2018
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#1732797471142444-611: The Easter Monday. Fred Gillespie was brought into the track to act as General and Racing Manager, along with other officials A E Hawkins from the Coundon track and George Hall from the White City Stadium (Newcastle) . The opening meeting saw eight races over 450 yards and the meeting was advertised as a Sunderland super greyhound stadium with a wonder totalisator and three luxurious clubs, large covered enclosures and
481-533: The London & North Eastern Railway on its north side. On the opposite side of the road (slightly east) was the East Boldon hospital for infectious diseases which would later become the sanatorium. Boldon had strong links to the mining community which was a common factor with new greyhound tracks. It all started on the afternoon of Saturday 23 March 1940 at 3pm, quickly followed by a second and third meeting on
518-494: The Sunderland Greyhound Stadium. Despite opening during the war , business grew year on year until peaking in 1946. The track included a large main glass fronted club on the home straight with ballroom attached, covered stand and clubs on the fourth bend, a covered stand on the back straight, with the racing kennels and paddock on the first bend. There was also accommodation for 170 greyhounds adjoining
555-561: The Totalisators and Greyhound Holdings (TGH) became owners of stadium followed by a new general manager in Dan McCormick and Racing Manager Mr R Slater. The hare was switched to an outside Navan type with racing held on Thursday and Saturday evenings. Distances were 525, 650, 700, 750 and 880 yards including hurdles over 525 yards. In 1967 Norman Oliver secured the 1967 Scottish Greyhound Derby with Hi Ho Silver. This started
592-565: The William Hill Grand Prix returned but was renamed to the Arena Racing Company Grand Prix and it was downgraded to a Category 2 event. In 2022, the stadium owners ARC signed a long term deal with Entain for media rights, starting in January 2024. 54°56′25″N 1°24′34″W / 54.940191°N 1.409378°W / 54.940191; -1.409378 Newcastle Stadium Newcastle Stadium
629-624: The William Hill Grand Prix). It is not to be confused with the defunct classic race, The Grand Prix , held at Walthamstow Stadium until its closure. Designed by architects Matkin and Hawkins, the stadium was built at a cost of £60,000 in 1940. The site chosen for the new Boldon Greyhound Stadium, as it was known at the time, was North of Sunderland and south-east of East Boldon where the Sunderland and Newcastle Roads merged. It ran parallel with this road on its south side and
666-493: The ageing stadium closed in June 1980, awaiting either an offer for the stadium or a lease agreement. John Young eventually stepped in to become the owner and acting as General Manager and Racing Manager and they also introduced whippet racing. Distances in the mid-eighties were 243, 420, 600, 777, and 957 metres. At the end of 1988, businessmen and race horse owner Terry Robson and former Brough Park trainer Harry Williams took over
703-620: The best in the country. Jimmy Wright scored a double success in 2010 when Target Classic picked up the William Hill Classic and England Expects lifted the William Hill Grand Prix on the same evening. Elwick Chris trained by Michael Walsh won the Laurels in 2010 and Droopys Hester won the Champion Stakes one year later. In 2012 Newcastle won the BAGS/SIS Track Championship. In May 2017
740-540: The control of Sunderland. A new track was designed and over £1 million was spent rebuilding the facilities. There was a new restaurant, private boxes, and an application to the NGRC thrown in. A £20,000 sponsorship deal from the Mailcom business owned by Eddie Shotton was secured before the opening night to boost open race competitions; Shotton was a well-known greyhound owner. The all-sand track had an 'Outside McGee' and racing
777-520: The event. The hope that all four would progress to the final failed to materialise but Mondays News and Lattin Pearl did finish first and second in the final. During the fifties the Racing Manager was Mr Greeves and he officiated during the period when greyhounds such as Endless Gossip and Just Fame claimed victory in the All England Cup. As the sixties arrived the track underwent considerable changes including new ownership and management. In 1964
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#1732797471142814-753: The greyhound industry influenced by the 'New Deal'. Following negotiations with Wilde, they agreed the purchase Sunderland for £9.4 million in September 2002. Wilde remained as the Director of greyhound stadia following the William Hill purchase of Brough Park one year later. The track was voted "Northern Greyhound Track of the Year" by the British Greyhound Racing Board in 2005. Following the departure of Kevin Wilde, William Hill appointed Joe O'Donnell as Director of Stadia. In May 2017
851-545: The mid-sixties which eclipsed many NGRC tracks. It was still an all-grass track, but there was now a 650 yard distance. Annual events included the Vaux Trophy and Milburn Trophy. During the late seventies, the track turned to an all-sand surface and raced mainly handicaps over 420 metres but underwent changes as the Sunderland Greyhound Racing Co pulled out. The betting licence was renewed but
888-437: The mining community to be able to race on separate race nights but the NGRC refused this request. With Sunderland also reliant on these forms of income the decision was made to leave. The next forty years would see independent racing only, with racing held mainly every Thursday and Saturday evening; prize money was very good for a 'flapper' (term given to unlicensed tracks) offering a substantial £75 winners prize for some race in
925-499: The new director of racing for Ladbrokes was Arthur Aldridge. The stadium underwent improvements with a new restaurant. Three years later in 1977 a new competition was inaugurated and was called the Trainers Championship , this involved a series races with greyhounds from the top six trainers in the country. Brough Park was chosen as the very first venue that saw a tie between Natalie Savva and Geoff De Mulder. In 1980
962-525: The race to Category One status but the new stadium owners Arena Racing Company (who bought the stadium in 2017) did not run the event during 2019 and 2020. + dead heat Former competitions Former competitions Current competitions Former competitions Sunderland Greyhound Stadium Sunderland Greyhound Stadium is a greyhound racing track situated at Fulwell in the City of Sunderland and English county of Tyne and Wear . The stadium
999-605: The second greyhound stadium in Newcastle because the Tyneside Sports Stadium Ltd opened a track to the south of Scotswood Bridge called the White City Stadium just 28 days previous. The opening night was on 23 June 1928 with the first ever race being won by a greyhound called Marvin at odds of 3-1. In 1938 the All England Cup was introduced and the significant prize money attracted many of
1036-414: The south side of these kennels was the tracks third and fourth bends. The stadium had a main stand on the home straight with licensed club facilities and a smaller stand on the back straight, also with licensed club facilities. In addition to the stands there were several tote buildings located on the home straight and between bends three and four next to the tote indicator and coffee bar. Brough Park became
1073-411: The stadium signed a deal with their parent company ARC to race every Wednesday lunchtime, Thursday evening and every Friday and Saturday afternoon. Droopys Verve trained by Angela Harrison finished runner-up in the 2018 English Greyhound Derby and Droopys Expert reached the 2019 English Greyhound Derby final. Harrison also secured the 2019 British Trainers Championship at Sheffield . In 2021,
1110-464: The stadium which acted as the resident kennels. It was a 380 yards circumference track with an 'Inside Sumner' hare and distances of 348, 450 & 600 yards. The stadium first joined the NGRC set up after the war but withdrew in 1951 (believed to be on 26 February). The reason for the change was a system called 'Combine' which allowed tracks to run under rules similar to the latter day permit rules. Sunderland wanted owner-trainers that included many from
1147-432: The top greyhounds from London and the south. The competition worth £1,100, replaced the Northumberland Stakes as the primary event at the stadium. As with many tracks the war soon interrupted the regular racing. The surface was described as a good grass track, 430 yards in circumference with distances of 295, 500 & 520 yards with an inside Sledge-Trackless hare. The 500 yard distance had recently replaced 480 yards and
Arena Racing Company Grand Prix - Misplaced Pages Continue
1184-420: The track and then Dodds and Stephenson came into part ownership with Williams before Kevin Wilde became the latest owner in 1994. Wilde had been involved in the takeover of Brough Park, where Williams now returned to take up training again. Jimmy Nunn arrived as the new Racing Manager from Sheffield . Sunderland gained a lucrative BAGS contract before William Hill made it clear they were looking to invest into
1221-595: The track changed from grass to sand and Bill Hughes became Racing Manager. The future became uncertain when Ladbrokes decide to sell the track in 1983 to Glassedin Greyhounds Ltd; the company was headed by James Glass father of trainer Jane Glass. The kennels were sold for redevelopment into the Brough Park trading estate and soon after in 1984 the track changed hands from Glassedin Greyhounds Ltd to Bernard and Joan Neesham. Just two years later Kevin Wilde headed
1258-499: The year before. A rebranding took place in 2007 and because the track was the only one left in Newcastle the decision was made to rename the stadium from Brough Park to Newcastle. The investment in the new facilities and track was rewarded with selection as the host of the Television Trophy in 2009 and Newcastle under Operations Manager Ian Walton and Racing Manager Paul Twinn have seen the standard of greyhounds become one of
1295-611: Was constructed just south of the Fossway, east of Tunstall Avenue and west of the large garden allotments that ran alongside Roman Way. The transfer of the lease to the Greyhound Racing Association was arranged in June 1927. The resident kennels were constructed right next to the Fossway and sat directly on the route of Hadrian's Wall . The kennels were very large and accommodated the greyhounds that would supply both Brough Park and Gosforth in later years. On
1332-496: Was overseen by former Middlesbrough Racing Manager Ross Searle on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evenings. Ten contracted trainers were brought in, Michael Brunnock, Graham Calvert, Kevin Donnelly, George Elliott, Terry Hart, Shirley Linley, Eddie McDermott, Ken Thwaites, Malcolm Woods, and Dawn Milligan. NGRC racing returned over forty years after the last affiliation with a bumper 12 race card on Wednesday 6 June 1990. The track
1369-567: Was unrecognizable to the one that had existed just two years previous and ten days later open racing took place and attracted Ravage Again who was in the middle of his 29 consecutive winning streak. David Mullins and Ted Soppitt arrived as trainers in 1991 and the first ever Sunday greyhound racing fixture was held during 1992. Trainer Harry Williams won the Scottish Greyhound Derby with New Level in 1993. The ownership has changed hands several times; first Lloyd Milligan ran
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