Kings Heath Stadium

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Kings Heath Stadium
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LocationKings Heath, Birmingham
CoordinatesLua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found.
Construction
Opened21 May 1927
Closed31 March 1971

Kings Heath Stadium was a greyhound racing track in Birmingham that existed from 1927 to 1971.

History

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Origins and Opening

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In 1927 the British Greyhound Sports Club (BGSC) acquired the lease of the King's Heath Horse Show Ground, on the south side of Taylor Road and which was accessed off the east side of Alcester Road South.[1][2] The first race meeting was on 21 May 1927, beating rival track Hall Green Stadium in the race to open by two months.[3] The BGSC company also owned four other tracks in 1927, Darnall Stadium in Sheffield, Knowle Stadium in Bristol, Boulevard Stadium in Hull and St Annes in Blackpool.[4] The new facilities included a main grandstand with a capacity of 3,000 and a concrete slope in front of the grandstand that could accommodate a further 2,000 people. The stadium capacity was estimated to be around 20,000 and the new build was overseen by Mr J. P. Hughes of the BGSC.[5]

A nearby football ground used by Birmingham Corporation Tramways F.C. was also called King's Heath Stadium at the time.

Pre-war

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File:Kings Heath Greyhound Stadium c.1960.png
Kings Heath Greyhound Stadium c.1960

Towards the end of 1927 greyhound racing had proven successful and a new company called the Associated Greyhound Racecourses Limited was formed and they purchased eight tracks including the five BGSC tracks.[6]

On 7 October 1935, an 18 year lease was acquired by Herbert Leo Craven (the Managing Director of the Long Eaton and Perry Barr stadiums at the time) and he introduced a major new event called the Lincoln.[7] The first running of the Lincoln was in 1936 and was won by Slightly Polly trained by Arthur Doc Callanan.

On 27 May 1939 a serious fire destroyed the on-site kennels killing 17 greyhounds and the actions of a local resident Fred Shaw and four others stopped further tragedy by rescuing the remaining number that were kennelled (around 100 were in the kennels at the time).[8]

Post-war

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In 1949 the freehold was finally bought outright by the Kings Heath Racecourse Ltd. The track was described as a fair sized course with fairly easy turns and a good length run in despite the circuit having a small 390 yard circumference. The main distances were 480 and 675 yards and greyhounds chased an ‘Outside Sumner’ hare. On the Alcester Road South entrance there was the main stand featuring the Silver Club and Best Ring Club with matching betting rings. On the opposite side of the course were two covered stands, to the west was the popular betting ring and to the east were the racing kennels, isolation kennels and home kennels that included a rest room and surgery. Rest kennels were located at Cookhill in Worcestershire. Perspective owners had to pay kennel charges of one guinea per week and the greyhound would be accepted into the track kennels on the understanding that all greyhounds were subject to veterinary examination, National Greyhound Racing Club rules and company conditions.[9]

The first track trained success came in 1948 when King Hero trained by P.E Frost won the Cambridgeshire at West Ham Stadium. Another race called the Midland Oaks was introduced and trainers included Jim Todd, Bill Bryant, Alf Gibbins, Len Bane and Mr Allen.

Following the 1964 closure of the Lythalls Lane Stadium in Coventry, a major race the prestigious Eclipse Stakes was transferred to the track. Following the formation of the Bookmakers Afternoon Greyhound Service (BAGS) in 1967 the track was chosen as one of the first four tracks to host live betting shop race meetings along with Oxford, Park Royal and Stamford Bridge.[10]

Closure

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The Greyhound Racing Association (GRA) purchased the stadium in 1970, which spelled the demise of the stadium. Under the GRA's Property Trust policy at the time, Kings Heath was one of many tracks that was to be sold for re-development.[11]

The final race meeting was held on 31 March 1971[12] and the last race was won by Zansy Token[13] before the developers demolished the stadium.

The north part of the stadium is now Wynfield and Leander Gardens and the south part is where the Cocks Moors Woods golf course stands.

Competitions

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The Lincoln

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Year Winner Breeding Trainer Time (sec) SP Notes/Ref
1936 Slightly Potty Bright Brindle – Burnbrite Arthur Doc Callanan (Wembley) 36.70 7/4f
1937 Hexham Bridge Rally Round – Dainty Duchess Bill Cowell (Southend) 28.64 3/1 [14]
1938 Demotic Mack Beef Cutlet – Kaiti Hill Charles Cross (Clapton) 28.72 7/4f [15]
1939 Loyal Judy Erins Best – Disputed Biddy Bill Cowell (Wembley) 28.20 7/2
1952 Sound Sprig Astras Son – Nancys Sprig Tom Perry (Private) 27.10 6/4f
1953 Kettle Drum Smoky Cutlet – La Saqlle Street Dal Hawkesley (West Ham) 26.86 5/1
1954 Manganstown Major Sandown Champion – Good Night Kentucky Ron Chamberlain (Private) 26.77 4/5f
1955 Manganstown Major Sandown Champion – Good Night Kentucky Ron Chamberlain (Private) 26.60 7/2
1956 Suir Villa Champion Fedamore Victory – Slaney Rut Ron Chamberlain (Private) 27.18 6/4f
1957 Wish Me Luck Marsh Harrier - Chaser Ron Chamberlain (Private) 26.42 10/1
1958 Five Up Nine Up - Duplicate Ron Chamberlain (Private) 26.60 5/4f
1959 Wincot Clifford Fly Prince - Whoosh Jack Toseland (Perry Barr) 26.65 8/11f
1960 Welcome Home Hi There - Ophelia Bill Gigg (Private) 26.38 4/6f
1961 Welcome Home Hi There - Ophelia Vivien Pateman (Private) 26.51 5/4f [16]
1962 Poetic Licence Knockrour Again – Tanyard Tan Joe Booth (Private) 26.36 2/1 Track record[17]
1963 Blackamoor Graceful Man – Bright and Merry Jimmy Jowett (Clapton) 27.21 8/1 [18]
1964 Old Berry Silent Silent Worship – Dromin Lass Fred Berrow (Private) 26.42 5/2
1965 Red Captain Uncommon Man – Gower Grand Ron Chamberlain (Private) 26.81 6/1 [19]
1966 Kiddie Kut Hi There – Carols Pride Tony Dennis (Private) 27.42 5/1 [20]
1967 Stately Boy Knockrour Again – Little Margo George Gooch (Preston) 27.26 9/2 [21]
1968 Nancy's Flash Prairie Flash – Biddy Mulligan Paddy McEvoy (Wimbledon) 26.46 4/9f [22]
1969 Lisamote Precept Hi Spark – Lisamote Queen Joe Kelly (Leeds) 26.73 4/7f [23]
1970 Shady Shuffle Lucky Hi There – Patrician Lady Norman Oliver Brough Park 27.07 7/2 [24]

1936-1970 (480 yards), 1940-1951 (not held)

Track records

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[25]

Yards Greyhound Time Date Notes
480 Demotic Mack 28.37 25 March 1938 [15]
480 Hexham Bridge 28.22 2 April 1938 [15]
480 Ilsley Darkie 27.70 12 October 1940 [26]
480 Special Intention 27.12 September 1950 [27]
480 Poetic Licence 26.36 14 April 1962 Lincoln final[17]
480 Nancy's Flash 26.24 7 September 1967 [28]
495 Peace Sprite 27.08 11 July 1964 Midland Oaks final[29]
660 Konig Seiger 37.08 17 July 1965 [30]
700 Inferior Cracker 39.94 25 May 1963 [31]
880 Joystick 50.86 8 April 1964 TV Trophy heat[32]
495 H Happy Reveller 27.91 25 August 1965 Eclipse Hurdles semi final[33]
495 H Happy Reveller 27.79 28 August 1965 Eclipse Hurdles final[34]

References

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