Oxford Stadium

Oxford Stadium

The new grandstand in 2000
Location	Sandy Lane, Cowley, Oxfordshire, OX4 6LJ
Coordinates	51°43′35″N 1°12′1″W
Owner	Galliard Homes
Operator	Kevin Boothby
Surface	Sand
Construction
Opened	31 March 1939
Renovated	1986
Expanded	2000
Website
Official website

Oxford Stadium is a greyhound racing and speedway venue in Oxford, located in Sandy Lane, Cowley.

Races were historically held every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday evening with afternoon BAGS (Bookmakers Afternoon Greyhound Service) racing on Friday and Sunday. Race evenings also included Friday evenings at various times throughout the history of the stadium.

Stadium facilities

There was a 350-seater grandstand restaurant overlooking the track, with three executive suites and large general public areas named after some of Oxford's most successful greyhounds Sandwinder, Security Sam, Self Made and Perth Pat. Conference and business facilities were also available.

Origins

The stadium was constructed in 1938 on the site of a 'flapping' (unregulated) track where owners could turn up and run their greyhounds around an oval on the days selected for racing. The rear wheel of a jacked up motor car was used to drive the lure around the track. The location on Sandy Lane, in Cowley, Oxfordshire is a short walk from the famous Oxford motor factories built by Morris Motors.

The back straight was adjacent to the Great Western Railway Thame Branch line (now the BMW freight line). A main grandstand building was erected and the stadium joined the regulatory governing body of the National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC). The owner of the land at the time was a Mr Johnson, and he agreed a 99-year lease with Mr Leslie Vernon Calcutt.

Speedway

Main article: Oxford Cheetahs

Speedway was an integral part of the stadium and was run every year from 1939 up to 2008. The team known as the Oxford Cheetahs won the United Kingdom's premier competition five times. They were champions in 1964, 1985, 1986, 1989 and 2001. Speedway returned to Oxford Stadium in 2022 with the Cheetahs competing in the SGB Championship 2022.

Speedway at Oxford Stadium

Speedway at Oxford in 1981

Greyhound racing

Opening

The inaugural race night was on 31 March 1939 and the stadium was officially opened by Lord Denham with races over 310, 525 and 735 yards. The track trainers were Bill Davies, Bill Higgins, Paddy Mullins and Mr Preston. The first race was won by Hunting Snipe, the 2-1 favourite.

1940s

During World War II the track closed and reopened on several occasions, but generally raced on Saturday afternoons. In 1941 Leslie Calcutt purchased Irish Grand National winner 'The Gunner' for £400 and the Jack Young trained hurdler won 11 successive open races, drawing in large crowds. In 1943 Dark Tiger won the Trafalgar Cup.

In 1944 a fire destroyed the main stand: it was reported that a newspaper had blown onto a heater. Also in 1944 Winnie of Berrow won the Eclipse Stakes.

The track was described as a good size course with a good run-up to the first bend. The hare system was an 'Inside McWhirter track-less' and race distances were now 290, 455, 500 and 715 yards. There were kennel facilities on site for 132 greyhounds; fees were charged at one guinea per week, i.e. three shillings per day. Amenities included the Oxford Stadium club five shilling enclosure, Oxford Stadium racing club 2s 3d enclosure.

In 1947 Calcutt was appointed as Director of Bristol Greyhound Racing Association Ltd and one year later Narrogar Ann won the Western Two-Year Old Produce Stakes.

1950s

In the summer of 1952 Calcutt fell ill and had to go to hospital for a major operation. Whilst recuperating at Acland nursing home he suffered a relapse and died on 3 August aged just 49. The Bristol Greyhound Racing Association was soon to change their name to Bristol Stadium Ltd and they took control of Oxford following the death of Calcutt. Kensington Perfection won the 1952 British Breeders Produce Stakes Finals at Catford Stadium and Stamford Bridge and the 1953 Eastville Stadium Produce Stakes and Regency.

Owner-trainers were allowed to race their greyhounds at the track; these included Paddy Sweeney, a respected veterinary surgeon. In 1957 Racing Manager John Hare introduced the Two Year Old Produce Stakes. Bill Higgins (10) and Jack Young (9) won the first 19 Oxford trainer championship titles between them from 1939 to 1957. Higgins died in 1958 and was replaced by Joe Farrand for a second spell at Oxford.

1960s

Oxford Stadium c.1960

Drum Major II recorded a fiftieth track win in 1961 and in 1964 the Oxfordshire Stakes was introduced. In 1967 Oxford was one of the first four tracks to be awarded an inaugural BAGS (Bookmakers Afternoon Greyhound Service) contract along with Hackney, Kings Heath and Park Royal. The decade ended with new investment which saw a new supporters club building constructed, it would be used for functions.

1970s

Perth Pat trained by Jim Morgan brought the first ever classic race success to Oxford following her win in the 1970 Oaks. In the same year Henry Kibble secured a tenth track trainers title. In 1974 a new 'Outside Sumner' hare system was introduced but the following year Bristol Stadium Ltd agreed a deal worth £235,000 with the Oxford City Council housing committee. A group formed SOS (Save Our Stadium) and a petition with 27,000 names was lodged with the council. Local MP Michael Heseltine called for a public meeting which gave SOS the chance to find a buyer. The stadium closed on 31 December 1975 until further notice but reopened during March 1976 and eventually found a buyer in 1977 when Northern Sports purchased the track for £250,000. The threat of permanent closure had been prevented by David Hawkins the managing director of Northern Sports.

1980s

The resident kennels were demolished in 1980 because the contract trainers were now employed and one of the trainers called Jack Coker reached the final of the 1980 English Greyhound Derby with Young Breeze. In 1981 Careless Dragon trained by Jim Morgan won the Trafalgar Cup one year before Northern Sports announced plans to invest heavily into Oxford and sister track Ramsgate Stadium. Mick Wheble arrived as Racing Manager in 1984, Joe Farrand retired after 45 years as a trainer and Arthur Hitch won the 1984 BBC TV Trophy with Weston Prelude.

The investment promised came to fruition in 1986 when Northern Sports spent £1.5 million on a new three tier grandstand restaurant and sports centre including squash courts, a snooker club, gymnasium, sauna and various other facilities. The stadium underwent considerable success with significant increases in attendances and totalisator turnover. Charity events featured appearances from Desert Orchid, Bob Champion, Henry Cooper, Jenny Pitman and many others. The sports leading trainer Geoff De Mulder joined the track and the speedway team became the leading team in the United Kingdom with four times World Champion Hans Nielsen as their captain.

Sandwinder

In 1987 Sandwinder trained by Vicky Holloway became the track champion and in 1988 the Pall Mall Stakes was switched from the closing Harringay Stadium to Oxford. The first running was won by Fearless Ace and the winning trophy was presented by George Best. As the 1980s ended Maurice Massey won a fifth trainers track title.

1990s

The recent success had made Oxford one of the leading provincial tracks in the UK and the first ever Derby success came in 1994 when Ringa Hustle trained by Tony Meek won the 1994 English Greyhound Derby. Kind of Magic won the 1993 Scurry Gold Cup for Litzi Miller who herself would win eight trainers titles.

However, as the 90s progressed Northern Sports parent company Hawkins of Harrow were beginning to suffer from the recession that was affecting their other business interests in construction and garden centres and in 1995 Hawkins of Harrow called in the receivers and Oxford was made a going concern. The stadium attracted a list of potential buyers but it was Donald Joyce a former member of SOS who purchased the stadium in 1996 and then sold it on for a considerable profit to the Greyhound Racing Association (GRA) in 1999.

2000-2012

The GRA made immediate changes with a new multimillion-pound extension completed during 2000. The old supporters club had been demolished making way for an extension to the grandstand restaurant and addition of three large executive suites. In addition there was a new racing surface and Swaffham hare system costing a further £130,000. The circumference of the track remained at 395 metres, with race distances of 250, 450, 595, 645 and 845 metres.

A classic race called the Cesarewitch switched to Oxford from Catford in 2001 and the major competitions were screened live on SKY television. Angie Kibble won six trainers titles and traditional boxing day meetings continued to draw in a capacity attendance from the local population. The stadium continued to be frequented by the famous which included Ant & Dec, Zara Phillips and Vinnie Jones.

Closure 2012-2020

The closure of the stadium was sealed when GRA's parent company Wembley plc was broken apart and GRA were subject to a takeover by Risk Capital Partners with development partner Galliard Homes in 2005 for £52.4m. Plans for 150 houses and 75 flats were mooted but the council publicly stated they were in favour of keeping the site for leisure use. The racing continued for seven years until the GRA closed the stadium; the last greyhound meeting was held on 29 December 2012 in front of a capacity crowd, with the last winner being Moorstown Mystiq, trained by Richard Baker.

2022 to present

The stadium reopened (on a 10 year lease, under Kevin Boothby) on Wednesday 13 April 2022 with a speedway meeting. Greyhound racing recommenced on Friday 2 September 2022. The stadium took on the Hunt Cup competition in 2023.

Competitions

Current

• The prestigious Pall Mall Stakes (450m)
• The Hunt Cup (650m)

Former

• The original classic race The Cesarewitch (645m, 2001–2012)
• The Trafalgar Cup for puppies (450m, 1999–2012)
• The Oxfordshire Stakes (Greyhounds) (450m, 1964–2012)
• The Oxfordshire Gold Cup (450m, 1985–2012)
• The Two Year Old Produce Stakes (450m, 1957–1975)

Track details

Current track records

Metres	Greyhound	Time	Date
253	Coolavanny Finn	14.78	22 April 2023
450	Coolavanny Shado	26.49	4 August 2023
650	Havana Top Note	39.29	8 December 2023
847	Bubbly Inferno	52.37	23 March 2024

Previous track records pre-metric

Extended content

Yards Greyhound Time Trainer Date 290 Golden Monarch II 16.26 Mrs.V.Bevis 17 July 948 290 Gortnagory 16.16 P.J.Power 18 September 1948 310 Hunting Castle 17.86 Bill Higgins 10 April 1939 310 Oldcastletown Hope 17.52 Jimmy Rimmer 13 April 1939 310 Manhattan Mercury 17.48 Bill Savage 19 May 1939 310 Hot Knight 17.44 Philip Dooley 27 June 1939 310 John Reaper 17.36 Jack Young 20 September 1940 310 Galtee Ham 17.36 Bill Davies 9 November 1940 310 Galtee Ham 17.28 Bill Davies 23 November 1940 310 Black Invasion 17.26 Bill Higgins 24 May 1947 455 Earl of Kilally 26.22 Reg Holland 24 July 1948 455 Lucky Stoker 26.15 Bill Gigg 24 August 1948 455 Knocker's Latest 26.00 J.P.H.Bott 7 September 1948 475 Lord Peter 27.88 Jack Young 24 March 1945 475 Sound Touch 27.59 Jack Young 7 April 1945 475 Anglesey Angel 27.45 Paddy Boyle 14 June 1945 475 Special Display 27.40 Unknown 1945 475 Please Peter 27.39 G Scadgell 5 August 1946 475 Please Peter 27.22 G Scadgell 5 August 1946 475 Rushbrooke Bob 27.04 Stan Raymond 23 August 1946 500 Colin Ranger 28.60 Norman Merchant 3 July 1948 500 Pembroke Fair 28.32 Jack Young 6 July 1948 500 Patsys Record 28.24 Fred Farey 13 July 1948 500 Pembroke Fair 28.15 Jack Young 13 July 1948 500 Don Gipsey 28.04 Leslie Reynolds 14 September 1948 500 Kensington Perfection 28.25* Bill Higgins 11 May 1954 500 Lauradella Champion 28.19 Unknown 1963 500 Lindsay Sue 28.12 Henry Kibble 20 August 1965 500 Tony's Blaze 28.10 Frank White 20 August 1965 500 Orphan Swan 28.10 Paddy McEvoy 27 August 1965 500 Thats Airy 28.01 Geoff De Mulder 19 August 1966 500 Laughing Flame 27.94 Peter Collett 19 August 1966 500 Tell Nobody 27.88 Eric Adkins 19 August 1966 500 Lucky Me 27.87 Len Drewery 4 July 1967 500 Lucky Me 27.79 Len Drewery 7 July 1967 500 Billy The Mink 27.74 Cutler 18 August 1967 500 Discretions 27.70 David Geggus 23 August 1968 525 Connors Company 30.05 Paddy Mullins 14 April 1939 525 Grosvenor Friendship 30.05 Jim Syder Sr. 26 July 1940 525 Much Jay 29.99 Bill Davies 13 June 1941 525 Whitey Marsh 29.95 Jack Young 10 March 1945 525 Garnaman Invader 29.85 Bill Higgins 17 March 1945 525 Winnie of Berrow 29.84 Joe Farrand 20 July 1945 525 Good West End 29.84 Bill Higgins 28 April 1946 525 Ryans Rose 29.78 Jack Young 17 May 1946 525 Latest Surprise 29.55 Lilah Shennan 16 August 1947 715 Northam Star 41.18 Leslie Reynolds 6 July 1948 715 Come Up First 40.72 Bob Burls 13 July 1948 715 Carmen Lad 40.95+ Unknown 9 August 1964 715 Loyal Blue 40.89 George Waterman 3 May 1963 735 Duke McNab 42.80 Bill Davies 10 April 1939 dh 735 Courtenay Nigger 42.80 Paddy Mullins 10 April 1939 dh 735 Milton Maggie 42.25 Culley 21 April 1939 735 Nazeing Ambitious 43.39 Unknown 1946 735 Mischievous Red 43.20 C Crowley 20 August 1946 735 Mayfair Mite 42.92 Leslie Reynolds 26 June 1948 915 Jesters King 54.54 Unknown 7 April 1964 500 H Muncross Dan 29.95 Hugh Kennedy 26 August 1949 500 H Outlaw O'Leer 29.59 Jack Chadwick 19 June 1954 500 H Outlaw O'Leer 29.48 Jack Chadwick 27 May 1955 500 H Drealistown Leader 29.60+ Ernie Westcott 3 May 1963 525 H Brindled Beggar 30.91 Culley 30 June 1939 525 H Gypsy Win 30.82 W Franks 26 April 1943 525 H What A Lad 30.70 Jack Young 25 September 1943 525 H Baytown Brougham 30.60 Bill Higgins 21 April 1945 +After the introduction of ray timing

Previous track records post-metric until 2012

Extended content

Yards Greyhound Time Trainer Date 250 Start Again 15.61 Jim Morgan 25 March 1977 250 Tonapandy 15.31 Maurice Massey 3 February 1979 250 Ballybeg Sailor 15.29 Vicky Holloway 1984 250 Westmead Account 15.28 Terry Atkins 5 October 1985 250 Hardy Champ 15.10 Geoff De Mulder 23 November 1985 250 Rapid Mover 15.10 John Wiseman 23 June 1987 250 Debbys Lad 14.96 Tony Meek 28 October 1988 250 Kirks Late Again 14.95 Gloria Stringer 10 May 2005 250 Ballymac Gloria 14.88 Nick Colton 14 April 2006 250 Blonde Chico 14.76 John Mullins 12 June 2007 250 Jacksheaboy 14.71 Afzal Ali 8 April 2008 250 Miss Lee 14.65 David Pruhs 24 March 2009 450 Clear Reason 27.50 Mrs Dorin Clark 12 July 1974 450 By Chance 27.32 Henry Kibble 3 October 1975 450 Dale Silver 27.30 Jim Morgan 4 May 1976 450 Oulartwick Kybo 27.19 Unknown 1976 450 Greenfield Fox 27.18 Terry O'Sullivan 4 October 1977 450 Rathduff Spring 27.13 Geoff De Mulder 7 October 1977 450 Rathduff Spring 27.03 Geoff De Mulder 14 October 1977 450 First General 26.97 Tommy Johnston 5 October 1979 450 Nippy Law 26.90 Geoff De Mulder 29 September 1984 450 Parkers Sage 26.89 Bertie Gaynor 28 September 1985 450 Local Fan 26.87 Derek Law 28 June 1988 450 Money Matters 26.81 Geoff De Mulder 27 August 1988 450 Fearless Ace 26.80 Theo Mentzis 25 March 1989 450 Carmels Prince 26.72 Michael Compton 20 October 1990 450 Droopys Eric 26.64 Henry Tasker 14 March 1998 450 Seskin Judy 26.62 Angie Kibble 17 March 1998 450 Lets Go Ebby 26.61 Tony Meek 17 March 1998 450 Farloe Club 26.57 Terry Dartnall 17 March 2000 450 Droopys Keegan 26.57 Brian Clemenson 9 December 2003 450 Paramount Silver 26.37 Paul Liddle 1 April 2005 450 Up For Sam 26.20 Carol Weatherall 11 February 2010 595 Black Toto 37.51 Gilly Hepden 24 May 2001 595 Graceful Amy 37.34 Steve Davis 29 May 2001 595 Magpie Express 36.91 Ron Bicknell 23 June 2001 595 El Tara 36.75 Angie Kibble 14 August 2001 595 Easy Dilemma 36.70 Angie Kibble 17 August 2002 595 Greenacre Lin 36.36 Brian Clemenson 20 May 2004 595 Little Honcho 36.18 Linda Pruhs 5 February 2005 595 Bower Turbo 35.87 Richard Yeates 25 March 2008 645 Black Beetle 40.93 Henry Kibble 11 May 1976 645 Hunscote Dan 40.80 Brian Price 31 May 1976 645 Black Beetle 40.21 Henry Kibble 8 June 1976 645 Hunscote Dan 40.19 Brian Price 7 September 1976 645 Ballybeg Delight 39.92 Vicky Holloway 13 October 1979 645 Lugwardine Lord 39.70 Ann Finch 7 October 1986 645 Run Free 39.46 Tony Meek 11 November 1986 645 Aztec Sun 39.39 Nick Savva 22 March 1998 645 Black Pear 39.36 Wayne Wrighting 5 August 2004 645 Primitive Way 38.98 David Pruhs 25 March 2008 845 Donovans Bar 54.61 Des Ellington 1975 845 Askinvillar King 54.29 J Hammond 18 March 1977 845 Gan On Rita 54.19 Ted Dickson 10 November 1979 845 Gan On Rita 53.90 Ted Dickson 25 April 1980 845 Crickets Delight 53.49 Vicky Holloway 17 September 1982 845 Jaroadel 52.91 Bertie Gaynor 20 August 1986 845 Tralee Crazy 52.16 Nick Savva 22 March 1998 1040 Honeygar Belle 67.63 Peter Billingham 14 November 1989 450 H Right Arkle 28.42 Ted Dickson 10 November 1979 450 H Hunday Doss 28.35 Unknown 1980 450 H Shyan Trader 28.19 Phil Rees 1980 450 H Tom View Yard 28.19 Unknown 1981 450 H Cushie Sandy 28.19 Paddy McEvoy 2 April 1982 450 H Growing Power 28.05 Norah McEllistrim 1983 450 H Burgess Rocket 27.85 Jim Morgan 5 October 1985 450 H Trelawney 27.81 Vicky Holloway 18 February 1987 450 H Cygnet Man 27.49 Tommy Foster 10 January 1989 450 H Faoides Country 27.47 Terry Kibble 24 August 1991 450 H Lord Pat 27.34 Ron Bicknell 7 March 2000 450 H Enjoy Your Luck 27.32 Jason Foster 18 July 2000 450 H Born To Go 27.25 Tommy Foster 14 August 2001 450 H Druids Mickey Jo 27.12 Seamus Cahill 5 April 2005 645 H Keen Fowler 41.89 Andy Agnew 14 May 1982 645 H Monarch Tom 41.63 Norah McEllistrim 19 January 1985 645 H Trap Flier 41.45 Norah McEllistrim 19 July 1988 645 H Mixer Mick 41.17 Gordon Hodson 25 October 1988 645 H Cygnet Man 40.96 Tommy Foster 7 February 1989 645 H Bozy Blue Blaze 40.94 John Mullins 6 February 2001

Previous track records since 2022

Extended content
Metres Greyhound Time Date 847 Space Jet 53.04 1 January 2023 847 Ballymac Taylor 52.90 1 March 2024 847 Savana Jazz 52.72 16 March 2024 847 Ballymac Taylor 52.54 16 March 2024

Track Dimensions

• NE bend 108 metres
• SE straight 81 metres
• SW bend 109 metres
• NW straight 81 metres
• Total 379 metres