Reading Stadium
Reading Stadium also known as Smallmead Stadium was an English greyhound racing and speedway stadium in Bennet Road, Reading in the county of Berkshire.
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| Location | Bennet Road, Reading, Berkshire |
|---|---|
| Operator | Allied Presentations 1975-2001 BS Group/Gaming International 2002-2008 |
| Opened | 1975 |
| Closed | 2008 |
It is not to be confused with Reading Stadium on the Oxford Road that closed in 1974 and was located further to the north of Reading.
Origins
In 1974 the Reading Stadium on the Oxford Road, north-west of the town was closed by the Greyhound Racing Association but the town of Reading soon had a replacement stadium when a company called Allied Presentations opened a new track accessed from the Bennet Road much further to the south of the town. The stadium was constructed on disused sludge beds and south of Island Road and north of Smallmead Road.[1]
The stadium build was assisted by owner trainer Bill Dore who sat on the board of directors with Reg Fearman, F Higley and Len Silver.[2] Martin Haigh would be Racing Manager.[3]
Speedway
Greyhound racing
Opening
The first greyhound meeting was held on 10 June 1975. The first race was won by Mr T Coleman's Journeywork over 433 metres in a time of 27.84 secs.[4] The circuit was all sand surface with an 'Outside Sumner' hare system. The circumference was 385 metres with usual race distances consisting of 275, 465 and 660 metres.[5]
1980s
The stadium introduced a significant competition called the Berkshire Cup and also resurrected the Hunt Cup.[5] and attracted a good class of trainer including Terry Dartnall and Jerry Fisher, the latter won the Cesarewitch title with Jos Gamble in 1983. Fisher also trained Game Ball who he bought with owner Brian Smith for the sum of £8,000 at the end of 1982. Game Ball was put with Sean Bourke for the English Greyhound Derby and nearly fulfilled his promise being a losing favourite in the 1983 final. game Ball also won the Pall Mall Stakes before becoming a prominent sire.[6]
Daleys Gold won the 1985 Scurry Gold Cup before Mollifrend Lucky trained by Colin Packham won the 1986 Scurry and Laurels in 1986. Martyn Dore (the son of Director and General Manager Bill Dore) was Racing Manager by 1988 as the track became renowned for having a strong class of runner.[5]
1990s
In 1990 the Maldwyn Thomas trained greyhounds with the prefix ‘Trans’ began to win trophies and 1992 proved to be a very successful year starting with the announcement that a competition called the Reading Masters would take place. The race offered substantial prize money with only the English Derby and Scottish Derby able to top the £15,000 winner's prize. Poor Brian won the Oxfordshire Stakes for Ron Jeffrey (a former trainer at the old Reading track) and Bob Gilling's Skelligs Smurf became Oaks champion with Bixby (Bill Black) becoming the Puppy Derby winner.[7]
Champion trainer John 'Ginger' McGee joined the training ranks in 1993 and won the Greyhound Trainer of the Year twice as a Reading trainer in 1993 and 1994.[7] The Keith Howard 'Hedsor' prefix was next to provide the track with more success Walthamstow Stadium greyhound Palace Issue claimed a third consecutive Hunt Cup in 2001. In 1998 John McGee returned for a second spell at the track and Paul Young also arrived as a trainer.[8]
2002-2008
The track underwent a major change in 2002 when the BS Group/Gaming International bought the venue from Allied Presentations.[9][10] Terry Dartnall returned to the track as a trainer once again and won two Select Stakes with Cleenas Lady before retiring and handing the licence to son Matt who then won the Juvenile in 2008 with Ballymac Under.[11]
Closure
In 2008 the local council refused to extend the tracks lease citing redevelopment plans. The plans for the company to build a new modern stadium came to nothing with the final meeting being held on 22 October 2008 and the stadium was demolished.[12]
Competitions
Reading Masters
Hunt Cup
| Year | Winner | Trainer | Time | SP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1932 | Guideless Joe | Mick Horan (Private) | 22.00 | ||
| 1933 | Beef Cutlet | John Hegarty (White City Cardiff) | |||
| 1934 | Light Lucifer | Arthur Doc Callanan (Wembley) | 22.50 | 6-1 | |
| 1938 | Produski | Paddy Quigley (West Ham) | 22.11 | 9-4 | |
| 1939 | Brave Reward | J P Young (Private) | 22.51 | 7-1 | |
| 1945 | Look Out Post | Jack Harvey (Wembley) | 22.14 | 7-2 | |
| 1946 | Ferry Robin | Paddy McEllistrim (Wimbledon) | 22.33 | 3-1 | |
| 1947 | Rowley | P. O'Shaughnessy (Wandsworth) | 22.32 | 6-1 | |
| 1948 | Kerry Rally | Paddy McEllistrim (Wimbledon) | 22.48 | 5-2jf | |
| 1949 | Burndennet Brook | Leslie Reynolds (Wembley) | 22.05 | 6-4f | |
| 1950 | Derrycrussan | Tom Smith (Clapton) | 22.00 | 4-6f | |
| 1958 | Knockarea Chancer | Jack Harvey (Wembley) | 25.74 | 4-7f | |
| 1963 | Sir Walter | Jimmy Jowett (Clapton) | 28.05 | ||
| 1964 | Captain Pike | Phil Rees Sr. (Private) | 28.16 | 7-4jf | |
| 1965 | Silver Glory | Paddy McEvoy (Wimbledon) | 28.26 | ||
| 1966 | Shamrock Clipper | Phil Rees Sr. (Wimbledon) | 28.40 | ||
| 1967 | Lucky Me | Len Drewery (Private) | 28.33 | ||
| 1968 | Dreaming Prince | Reg Webb (Private) | 27.87 | 5-1 | |
| 1969 | Beaverwood Wind | Stan Martin (Wimbledon) | 27.89 | 7-4jf | |
| 1970 | Spotted Rory | Paddy McEllistrim (Wimbledon) | 28.48 | ||
| 1978 | Westmead Manor | Natalie Savva (Bletchley) | 39.65 | ||
| 1980 | Mogeely Honour | 42.64 | |||
| 1981 | Curragh Bridge | John Honeysett (Crayford) | 42.31 | 5-1 | |
| 1982 | Wolf Cub | Ray Iremonger (Slough) | 41.24 | 3-1 | |
| 1983 | Astrosyn Doll | Ray Peacock (Harringay) | 41.42 | ||
| 1984 | Hot Candy | 42.08 | |||
| 1985 | Spill the Beans | 41.28 | |||
| 1986 | Milltown Genius | Kenny Linzell (Walthamstow) | 41.71 | 11-4 | |
| 1987 | Lowerton Susie | 41.14 | |||
| 1988 | Waltham Abbey | Adam Jackson (Wembley) | 41.17 | ||
| 1990 | Coloured Panther | Jo Burridge (Portsmouth) | 41.55 | 7-2 | |
| 1991 | Snow Shoes | John McGee Sr. (Canterbury) | 41.16 | 2-1f | |
| 1992 | Airmount Flash | Jimmy Gibson (Belle Vue) | 41.19 | 11-10f | |
| 1997 | Lydpal Frankie | Tony Meek (Hall Green) | 41.49 | 9-2 | |
| 1998 | Palace Issue | Linda Mullins (Walthamstow) | 41.10 | 4-7f | |
| 1999 | Palace Issue | Linda Mullins (Walthamstow) | 41.80 | 8-11f | |
| 2000 | Palace Issue | Linda Mullins (Walthamstow) | 41.32 | 1-6f | |
| 2001 | Southlodge Rage | Nick Colton (Oxford) | 41.34 | 5-2 | |
| 2002 | Princess Manor | Jo Burridge (Poole) | 41.15 | 16-1 | |
| 2003 | Double Take | Andy Heyes (Belle Vue) | 40.50 | 7-4f | Track record |
| 2004 | Shelbourne Lyn | Nick Colton (Oxford) | 41.25 | 7-4f | |
| 2005 | Call Girl | Paul Foster (Swindon) | 41.94 | 5-2jf | |
| 2006 | Well Tutored | Terry Dartnall (Reading) | 41.31 | 4-1 | |
| 2007 | Spankee Moved | Heather Dimmock (Peterborough) | 41.18 | 9-4 |
(1932-50 Blackpool), (1948–73 Reading Oxford Road), (1975-2007 Reading Bennett Road)
Track records
At Closing
The track records at the time of closing[14] were -
| Distance (metres) |
Greyhound | Time | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 275 | Greenfield Box | 16.32 | 23.10.1982 | |
| 465 | Blue Murlen | 27.56 | 28.04.1997 | |
| 660 | Double Take | 40.50 | 14.12.2003 | Hunt Cup Final |
| 850 | Greenacre Lin | 53.26 | 16.09.2004 | |
| 1045 | Slaneyside Demon | 68.82 | 01.10.2006 | |
| 465 H | Druids Mickey Jo | 28.40 | 22.09.2005 | |
| 660 H | Gold Splash | 41.95 | 24.04.1993 |
Previous
| Distance | Greyhound | Time | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 465 | Shiloh Jenny [15] | 28.77 | 09.1978 | Berkshire Cup heats |
| 465 | Kilmagoura Mist [15] | 28.74 | 09.1978 | Berkshire Cup heats |
| 465 | Saucy Buck [15] | 28.63 | 09.1978 | Berkshire Cup heats |
| 465 | Fevata Spec | 28.12 | 31.01.1987 | |
| 465 | Fearless Mustang | 28.10 | 09.04.1991 | Trainer's Championship |
| 465 | Coomlogane Euro | 28.08 | 24.11.1994 | |
| 635 | Ballybeg Story | 1975 | ||
| 635 | Ballybeg Gem [16] | Jan 1976 | ||
| 660 | Racewell Royale | 41.02 | 17.11.1987 | |
| 660 | Waltham Abbey | 41.00 | 22.10.1988 | |
| 660 | Airmount Flash | 41.00 | 01.12.1992 | |
| 660 | Hedsor Kurt | 40.90 | 21.08.1997 | |
| 660 | Lydpal Frankie | 40.71 | 16.05.1999 | |
| 850 | Jos Gamble | 54.50 | 19.11.1983 | |
| 850 | Cloverhill June | 54.28 | 1989 | |
| 850 | Ivory Lamb | 54.19 | 11.09.1990 | |
| 850 | Hedsor Erika | 54.03 | 21.08.1997 | |
| 850 | Lady Flyaway | 53.56 | 03.05.1998 | |
| 1045 | Home Yer Go | 68.60 | 01.11.1986 | |
| 1045 | Coverall | 68.09 | 30.11.1990 | |
| 1045 | Sandollar Sophie | 67.90 | 30.04.1994 | |
| 1045 | Souda Bay | 67.58 | 03.05.1998 | |
| 465 H | The Dingle Man | 28.93 | 08.01.1983 | |
| 465 H | Harbour Knight | 28.92 | 08.04.1991 | |
| 465 H | Gis A Smile | 28.58 | 30.04.1994 | |
| 465 H | Wisley Wonder | 28.45 | 22.05.1997 | |
| 660 H | Trixies Snipe | 42.51 | 19.11.1983 | |
| 660 H | Run On Tar | 41.96 | 30.11.1990 |
References
- "OS Plan 1976-1995". old-maps.co.uk.
- Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 07207-1106-1.
- "Greyhound Star (Remember When - June)". Greyhound Star.
- Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-15-5.
- Genders, Roy (1990). NGRC book of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 0-7207-1804-X.
- Dack, Barrie (1990). Greyhound Derby, the first 60 years. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-36-8.
- Fry, Paul (1995). The Official NGRC Greyhound Racing Yearbook. Ringpress Books. ISBN 186054-010-4.
- "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When) November edition". Greyhound Star. 2012.
- "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When) April edition". Greyhound Star. 2002.
- "Greyhound Star (Remember When - January 2002)". Greyhound Star.
- Hobbs, Jonathan (2007). Greyhound Annual 2008. Raceform. ISBN 978-1-905153-53-4.
- "Smallmead Stadium is set to shut in October". Get Reading.
- Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. p. 127. ISBN 0-948955-15-5.
- "Track records". Greyhound Data.
- "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 1978) September edition". Greyhound Star.
- "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 1976) January edition". Greyhound Star.