Reading Stadium
Template:Short description Script error: No such module "For". Template:DMCA Template:DMCA
Page Module:Infobox/styles.css has no content.
| Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:InfoboxImage/data' not found. | |
| Script error: No such module "Infobox mapframe". | |
| Location | Bennet Road, Reading, Berkshire |
|---|---|
| Operator | Allied Presentations 1975-2001 BS Group/Gaming International 2002-2008 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1975 |
| Closed | 2008 |
Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters".
Reading Stadium also known as Smallmead Stadium was an English greyhound racing and speedway stadium in Bennet Road, Reading in the county of Berkshire.
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
Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote".
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
Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote".
Hunt Cup
Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote".
Track records
At closing
Page Template:Collapse top/styles.css has no content.
Extended content
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
The track records at the time of closing[13] were -
|
Previous
Page Template:Collapse top/styles.css has no content.
Extended content
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
References
Page Template:Reflist/styles.css has no content.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."OS Plan 1976-1995". old-maps.co.uk.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 07207-1106-1.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Greyhound Star (Remember When - June)". Greyhound Star. 2 June 2019.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-15-5.
- ^ a b c Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Genders, Roy (1990). NGRC book of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 0-7207-1804-X.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Dack, Barrie (1990). Greyhound Derby, the first 60 years. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-36-8.
- ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Fry, Paul (1995). The Official NGRC Greyhound Racing Yearbook. Ringpress Books. ISBN 186054-010-4.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When) November edition". Greyhound Star. 2012.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When) April edition". Greyhound Star. 2002.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Greyhound Star (Remember When - January 2002)". Greyhound Star. 20 January 2019.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Hobbs, Jonathan (2007). Greyhound Annual 2008. Raceform. ISBN 978-1-905153-53-4.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Smallmead Stadium is set to shut in October". Get Reading. 22 July 2008.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Track records". Greyhound Data.
- ^ a b c Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 1978) September edition". Greyhound Star.
- ^ a b c Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."All Those Aprils". Vol. 16, no. 4. Greyhound Star. 4 April 1998.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 1976) January edition". Greyhound Star.
Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. Template:English greyhound tracks Template:Motorcycle speedway tracks
