Oxford Stadium
Encyclopedia
Oxford Stadium is the home of greyhound racing
and speedway
in Oxford, located in Sandy Lane, Cowley
.
A main grandstand building was erected and the stadium joined the regulatory governing body of the NGRC (National Greyhound Racing Club). The inaugural race night was on 31 March 1939 and was officially opened by Lord Denham.
In 1986 a huge expansion took place with a multi million pound rebuild and the stadium quickly became one on the biggest provincial tracks in the country. A further facelift in the year 2000 resulted in an extension to the restaurant to seat 350 customers and three executive suites with private facilities for 24 customers per suite.
Evening races start at 7.35pm and end at 10.30pm. A trial day is held on Mondays.
The Two Year Old Produce Stakes
was discontinued in 1975.
. Speedway is likely to return because the facilities remain intact.
Greyhound racing
Greyhound racing is the sport of racing greyhounds. The dogs chase a lure on a track until they arrive at the finish line. The one that arrives first is the winner....
and speedway
Motorcycle speedway
Motorcycle speedway, usually referred to as speedway, is a motorcycle sport involving four and sometimes up to six riders competing over four anti-clockwise laps of an oval circuit. Speedway motorcycles use only one gear and have no brakes and racing takes place on a flat oval track usually...
in Oxford, located in Sandy Lane, Cowley
Cowley, Oxford
Cowley in Oxford, England, is a residential and industrial area that forms a small conurbation within greater Oxford. Cowley's neighbours are central Oxford to the northwest, Rose Hill and Blackbird Leys to the south, New Headington to the north and the villages of Horspath and Garsington across...
.
History
The stadium was built in 1938 on the site of a 'flapping' (non regulated) 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.A main grandstand building was erected and the stadium joined the regulatory governing body of the NGRC (National Greyhound Racing Club). The inaugural race night was on 31 March 1939 and was officially opened by Lord Denham.
Greyhound racing
The greyhound racing has been held every year since 1939 with the exception of occasional breaks for bad weather and twice in 1976 and 1977 following a successful local petition against the council who wanted to sell the land for housing.In 1986 a huge expansion took place with a multi million pound rebuild and the stadium quickly became one on the biggest provincial tracks in the country. A further facelift in the year 2000 resulted in an extension to the restaurant to seat 350 customers and three executive suites with private facilities for 24 customers per suite.
Track layout
The circumference of the track is 395 metres, with race distances of 250, 450, 595, 645 and 845 metres. Most races are run over 450 metres and the run to the first bend is around 110 metres with the sectional time at 55 metres.Stadium facilities
There is a 350 seater grandstand restaurant overlooking the track, with three executive suites and large general public areas aptly named after Oxfords greatest greyhounds. Conference and business facilities are also available.General information
Races are held every Thursday and Saturday evening with afternoon BAGS (Bookmakers Afternoon Greyhound Service) racing on Friday and Sunday.Evening races start at 7.35pm and end at 10.30pm. A trial day is held on Mondays.
Competitions
During the year there are five main greyhound events held at Oxford, they are -- The prestigious Pall Mall StakesPall Mall StakesThe Pall Mall Stakes is a prestigious greyhound competition held at Oxford Stadium.Run at Harringay Stadium from 1939 until 1987, it moved to Oxford Stadium in 1988.-Past winners:...
(June - 450 m) - The original classic race The CesarewitchThe CesarewitchThe Cesarewitch is a greyhound competition held at Oxford Stadium.It was originally one of the classic races held in the British Racing Calendar and was inaugurated in 1928 and held at West Ham Stadium until its closure in 1977. The event switched to Belle Vue Stadium until 1995 when it was...
(August – 645 m) - The Trafalgar CupTrafalgar CupThe Trafalgar Cup is a greyhound competition held at Oxford Stadium for puppies under the age of two.Run at Wembley Stadium from 1929 until 1998.It Moved to Oxford Stadium in 1999.-Past winners:...
for puppies (March - 450 m) - The Oxfordshire Stakes (Greyhounds)Oxfordshire Stakes (Greyhounds)Oxfordshire Stakes is a greyhound competition held at Oxford Stadium. It was inaugurated in 1964 and was a major event in the sixties and seventies, it changed its name to the Oxfordshire Trophy in 1982 but reverted to its original name in 2008...
(November - 450 m) - The Oxfordshire Gold CupOxfordshire Gold CupThe Oxfordshire Gold Cup is a greyhound competition held at Oxford Stadium. The competition was won three times in succession by Jolly Poacher, a remarkable achievement.-Past winners:...
(August - 450 m)
The Two Year Old Produce Stakes
Two Year Old Produce Stakes
The Two Year Old Produce Stakes was a greyhound competition held throughout Great Britain for greyhounds bred only in Great Britain.Many Tracks held their own version of the event, but due to the emergence of many new competitions with more prize money on offer they were discontinued. The Oxford...
was discontinued in 1975.
Track records
| Distance | Greyhound | Time | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 250 m | Miss Lee | 14.65 sec | 24 March 2009 |
| 450 m | Up For Sam | 26.20 sec | 11 February 2010 |
| 595 m | Bower Turbo | 35.87 sec | 25 March 2008 |
| 645 m | Primitive Way | 38.98 sec | 25 March 2008 |
| 845 m | Tralee Crazy | 52.16 sec | 22 March 1998 |
| 450 h | Druids Mickey Joe | 27.12 sec | 5 April 2005 |
| 645 h | Bozy Blue Blaze | 40.94 sec | 6 February 2001 |
Speedway
The speedway had been run every year from 1939 up to 2008 and the team were known as the Oxford CheetahsOxford Cheetahs
The Oxford Cheetahs were a British Speedway team based in Oxford, England. From 1972 to 1975 they were known as Oxford Rebels, which was the name the team took to White City in 1976 as White City Rebels. The new Oxford team, in the National League, took back the name of Cheetahs...
. Speedway is likely to return because the facilities remain intact.