Peterborough Greyhound Stadium was a greyhound racing track located in Fengate, less than a mile from the centre of Peterborough, England.
Racing at the stadium took place every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday night with racing starting at 7:30 pm.
On Tuesday 19 May 2020, the stadium announced that it would cease trading with immediate effect after 75 years.
Origins and opening The Liberty of Peterborough was an historic area comprising around thirty parishes, and it was in 1931 that the Peterborough Racing Club opened their new greyhound track within the Liberty. The venue was described as being off Star Road which is misleading because although this is in the Fengate area the actual track was off the Fengate Road. The plot of land chosen for the track was in south-east Fengate directly north of Peterborough Corporation sewage pumping station. The opening night was on Saturday 4 April 1931, consisting of twelve races. The managing director was G Hooke and organised racing was held every Monday and Saturday which consisted mainly of greyhounds but also whippet races.
The first ever winner was a greyhound called 'Dewdrop'. The second meeting on Monday 6 April was recorded as being a record crowd for the area with 400 being present. Racing continued up until the war with a maximum capacity of 700 being able to attend the track. It is also reported that facilities were very basic with the hare still being moved around the track by the power of two men cycling.
History After the war there was a major milestone for the track when Reg Perkins from a farming and transport business family and George Ellingworth a garage owner purchased the track in 1945 and quickly began to improve facilities. The purchase came at the right time because greyhound racing hit its peak in 1946 and it is known that one year later in 1947 the track had a totalisator turnover of £49,719. By this time it was also known as the Peterborough Sports Stadium and Reg Perkins took sole control several years later following the death of George Ellingworth.
The racing continued independent of the National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC) but remained popular with the local population and by the sixties the stadium offered licensed bars and refreshments, photo finish apparatus and on course bookmakers and an 'Outside Sumner' hare. The immediate area also underwent major changes with industrial units appearing with frequent regularity and a road called First Drove serving as the entrance to the stadium.
In 1977 Reg Perkins retired leaving the day-to-day management to his sons Rex and David with racing on Tuesday and Saturday evenings at 7.15pm. Track distances at this time were 275, 475 & 675 yards and there were now nine track bookmakers. The second major milestone arrived in 1982 following the decision of the management to join the NGRC permit scheme that was in operation at the time. This allowed smaller tracks to run under NGRC rules at reduced rates and was the catalyst for Peterborough to improve in stature. In 1983 the Peterborough Derby was inaugurated and soon became a very popular event at the track. The stadium reputation began to grow and Rex Perkins was elected the Mayor of Peterborough from 1987 and with his wife Margaret raised thousands of pounds for charities.
Renovation In 1988 grand plans were unveiled by local architects T. E. Titman Associates for a new grandstand and restaurant and following the completion of the half a million pounds project. The 'Raceview Restaurant' could seat 200 with a further 600 seats available on the glass fronted grandstand.
Recent history John 'Ginger' McGee Sr. joined the track and the Irishman won Greyhound Trainer of the Year in 1991 whilst attached to Peterborough. In 1998 Racing Manager Mike Middle left the track to assist with a new track at Wisbech Greyhound Stadium and was replaced by Con Baker. On 24 March 1999 the stadium suffered severe damage when a fire spread from an adjoining warehouse and destroyed two bars, a tote booth and a 250-person seating area. The damage resulted in a six-month closure but the management remained positive and rebuilt and refurbished, re-opening on the 21 September 1999.
2003 was a pivotal year for the track because Rex Perkins died after a long illness and his son Richard and nephew Rob dedicated a new £3 million extension to his name. The raceview seating area could now hold 1,000 spectators and corporate boxes were also added. Peterborough dropped Tuesday night racing in 2008 and was rewarded with a Bookmakers Afternoon Greyhound Service (BAGS) contract in 2012. At the end of 2014 the track became BAGS national champions after defeating five other tracks in the final at Nottingham Greyhound Stadium.
In 2018 the stadium signed a deal with ARC to race every Wednesday evening.
Closure The track closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and when racing returned (18 May) following the lock-down Peterborough announced that they would not be re-opening until they sought further clarification from the Greyhound Board of Great Britain. The concerns over the financial implication of racing behind closed doors was evident and the following day (20 May) the Perkins family announced the permanent closure of the track.
Competitions Peterborough Derby +YearWinnerBreedingTrainerTimeSPNotes1983Dutch Jet Indian Joe – Flying Socks Jean Talmage (Rye House) 26.11 10-11984 Decoy Moon Decoy Sovereign – Tibbys Girl Pam Cobbold (Private) 25.92 4-11985 Decoy Tulip Decoy Sovereign – Tibbys Girl Pam Cobbold (Private) 26.12 14-11986Stylish StartYellow Band – Flying Chick Jean Talmage (Private) 26.28 5-2f1987 Quick JudgementBlushing Spy - Marsena Linda Pruhs - Peterborough 26.61 7-11988 Lissadell TigerBold Work –Cleonas Style Ernie Gaskin Sr. (Private) 25.80 4-6f1989 Sky JackKyle Jack – Kingdom Flower David Pruhs - Peterborough 26.62 6-11990Bolt HomeMurlens Slippy – Supreme Peg Ernie Gaskin Sr. (Private) 26.02 5-11991 Chief CanaryEasy And Slow – Champagne Lady Kim Marlow (Milton Keynes) 25.77 5-21992 Pineapple MagicI'm Slippy – Michigan Moira Michael Compton (Private) 25.80 4-5f1993 Gentle WarningGlen Park Dancer – Gentle Sarah John McGee Sr. (Reading) 25.76 3-11994 Highway LeaderLeaders Best – Highway Mystery Michael Bacon (Perry Barr) 25.47 7-4jf1995 Gold BusterDaleys Gold – Spot The Blue Nigel Saunders (Belle Vue) 25.81 5-11996 Dynamic FairFair Boot – Seventh Dynamic Patsy Byrne -(Wimbledon) 25.46 6-11997 Dynamic FairFair Boot – Seventh Dynamic Patsy Byrne (Wimbledon) 25.45 7-21998Spoonbill SnoweyRight Wish – Clohast Wish Michael Bacon (Perry Barr) 25.20 4-6f2000 Reactabond RebelSome Picture – Droopys LarrainePaul Young (Romford) 25.78 11-10f2001 Kinda Magic Deep Decision - Enchantment Linda Jones (Walthamstow) 25.523-12002 Letter SlippyShanless Slippy – Slick City Patsy Byrne (Wimbledon) 25.57 2-12003 Tims Crow Lenson Lad – Churchtown Spice Peter Rich (Romford) 25.59 4-5f2004 Run On TrooperSplit the Bill – Oddsonlookon Mick Mavrias (Sittingbourne) 25.73 6-12005 Fear No One Toms The Best – Step And Go Mark Wallis (Walthamstow) 25.41 5-4f2006 Too RiskyDaves Mentor – Micks Bozz Lady Mick Puzey (Walthamstow) 25.66 6-42007 Westmead PrinceDroopys Kewell – Mega Delight Nick Savva (Private) 25.29 4-5f2008 Me BuddyBallymac Maeve – Ballymac Peg Matt Dartnall (Reading) 25.71 2-1f2009 Salisman Droopys Agassi – Droopys NatashaJulie Calvert (Sunderland) 25.17 6-12010 Lainedans Flyer Droopys Vieri – Westmead SwiftPaul Young (Romford) 25.26 11-22011 Mountjoy Rock Black Shaw – Noelles Amarillo Elaine Parker (Sheffield) 24.88 9-2Track record2012 Lil Risky Ballymac Maeve-Risk The Town Mark Wallis (Yarmouth) 24.99 7-4f2013 Frisby Barney Head Bound – Airport Boss David Pruhs - Peterborough 25.69 1-2fTrack record2017 Hiya Butt Hondo Black - Hather for Pat Hayley Keightley (Private) 25.771-2f (1983-2012 420 metres), (2013-2017 435 metres), (2014-16 & 2018 not held)
Peterborough Puppy Derby +YearWinnerBreedingTrainerTimeSPNotes1992 Bagshot Boozer I'm Slippy – Pilgrims Joy 25.90 1993 Sure Fantasy Phantom Flash – Lively Spark 25.83 1994 Pams Silver Skelligs Tiger – Cosy And Warm 25.58 1995 Slick Mick Staplers Jo - Aughaderney Mona 25.74 1996 Spring Gamble Slaneyside Hare – Spring Season 25.41 1997 Lenson Billy Slaneyside Hare – Ballydaly Flyer Norah McEllistrim (Wimbledon) 25.41 7-21998Del Piero Droopys Sandy – Audi Turbo Linda Mullins (Walthamstow) 25.60 4-5f2000 Reactabond RebelSome Picture – Droopys Larraine Paul Young (Romford) 25.49 11-10f2001 Reactabond Ace El Premier – Droopys Kylie Paul Young (Romford) 25.72 6-12002 Bocelli Chart King – Minnies Oxana Dinky Luckhurst (Crayford) 25.41 13-22003 Slinky Droopys Merson – Kylies Sonia Paul Young (Romford) 25.89 6-12004 Fire Height Dan Carlton Bale – September Mist Mick Puzey (Walthamstow) 25.46 4-5f2005 Fear No One Toms The Best – Step and Go Mark Wallis (Walthamstow) 25.41 5-4f2006 Too Risky Daves Mentor – Micks Bozz Lady Mick Puzey (Walthamstow) 25.66 6-42007 Westmead Prince Droopys Kewell – Mega Delight Nick Savva (Henlow) 25.29 4-5f2008 Me Buddy Ballymac Maeve – Ballymac Peg Matt Dartnall (Reading) 25.81 2-1f2009 Barnfield Rocky Hades Rocket – Ballymac Floss Sam Poots (Private) 25.31 7-22010 Total Reality Crash – Noirs Magic John Simpson (Wimbledon) 25.50 5-12011 Monleek Sloopy Brett Lee – Razldazl Pearl David Pruhs (Peterborough)25.44 11-22016 Holdem Rio Crash - Cornamaddy Maid Heather Dimmock (Peterborough) 26.247-2 (1992-2011 420 metres), (2016 435 metres), (1999 & 2012–2015, 2017-18 not Run)
Track records Current Distancemetres Greyhound Time Date Notes235 Rotar Wing 13.95 09 Oct 2010250 Kooga Kafka 14.80 31 May 2019420 Mountjoy Rock 24.88 06 Aug 2011Peterborough Derby final435 Kooga Klammer 25.68 18 Oct 2017605 Bower Surfer 37.10 12 Sep 2009Puppy Cesarewitch final620 Sensual 37.79 23 Nov 2018790 Greenacre Lin 49.61 14 May 2005805 Romany Rouge 50.68 16 Nov 2016975 Jangos Snowdrop 63.15 07 Jun 2008420 H I'm Henry 25.85 17 May 1997 Previous
Distancemetres Greyhound Time Date Notes235 Ports Delight 14.46 24 Sep 1983235 Small Song 14.44 1989235 I'm From Tallow 14.39 18 Jun 1990235 Mount Royal Fox14.31 19 Feb 1995 235 Razldazl Eddie14.28 11 Aug 2007235 DisBestBoy 14.19 08 Sep 2007235 Rotar Wing14.05 08 Aug 2009235Rotar Wing 13.95 21 Apr 2010 250 Monleek Town 14.87 27 Feb 2013250 Waspinajar 14.85 17 Apr 2013250 Scala Rodge 14.85 14 Sep 2018420 Siroco25.68 03 Mar 1984 420 Bali Hai Chief 10.1984 Fengate Collar final420 Town View Spring 25.58 29 Apr 1986 420 Slippy King 25.51 21 Jul 1990 420 Daleys Whisper 25.51 12 Oct 1990 420 Highway Leader 25.15 30 Jul 1994 420 Westmead Logan25.15 24 Apr 2009 420 Little Sensation25.05 28 Jul 2010 Peterborough Derby Heats420 Fancy Socks25.02 23 Apr 2011 Peterborough Derby semi-final435 Frisby Barney25.99 27 Mar 2013 435 Ramodi 25.97 17 Apr 2013 435 Bay City Impact25.95 22 May 2013 435Frisby Barney25.69 03 Aug 2013Peterborough Derby Final605 Decoy Lassie 37.71 04 Apr 1985 605 My Boy Mac 37.51 17 Mar 1990 605 Simply Free 37.24 12 Sep 1994 605 Glencoes Tom 37.11 09 Apr 2002 620 Ballymac Eliza 38.03 28 Oct 2017790 Aidans Choice 50.32 27 Sep 1983790 Gold Sash 50.24 04 Sep 1989790 Poor Sue 50.21 26 Jun 1991790 Poor Sue 50.10 01 Jul 1991 790 Fortunate Man 49.66 15 Jun 1992 805 Rearguard Bond 51.36 01 Nov 2014 975 Red Boss 64.08 19 Oct 1987 975Lenas Cadet 63.30 19 Nov 1988 420 HGis A Smile 25.90 27 Jun 1994
References