Oxford Stadium

Oxford Stadium
Speedway in 1981
Location	Sandy Lane, Cowley, Oxfordshire, OX4 6LJ
Coordinates	51°43′35″N 1°12′1″W / 51.72639°N 1.20028°W / 51.72639; -1.20028Coordinates: 51°43′35″N 1°12′1″W / 51.72639°N 1.20028°W / 51.72639; -1.20028
Opened	31 March 1939
Renovated	1986
Expanded	2000
Owner	GRA Ltd.
Operator	GRA Ltd.
Surface	Sand

Oxford Stadium is the home of greyhound racing and speedway in Oxford, located in Sandy Lane, Cowley.

History

Speedway at Oxford Stadium

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.^[1]

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 Stakes (June - 450 m)
• The original classic race The Cesarewitch (August – 645 m)
• The Trafalgar Cup for puppies (March - 450 m)
• The Oxfordshire Stakes (Greyhounds) (November - 450 m)
• The Oxfordshire Gold Cup (August - 450 m)

The Two Year Old Produce Stakes 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 Cheetahs. Speedway is likely to return because the facilities remain intact.

References

1. ^ Baiden, Gary (2009). The History of Oxford Stadium. authorhouse. ISBN 978-1-4490-2054-5. 

External links

• Official website